RaeVon's laughter broke through the silence and I clenched my fists. Nothing about this situation was funny. I was trapped in a ditch, covered in dirt and bruises, and now I was being laughed at. I was fuming. "Von, help me out of here," I demanded. He folded his arms and tilted his head, smirking. "Since you love acting all high and mighty, get yourself out." I scowled as he turned and started walking away, his footsteps crunching against the gravel. My heart pounded. "Are you seriously going to leave your breeder out here?" I shouted after him. Von didn't say a word. He kept walking, his figure disappearing into the growing darkness. Panic started creeping in. "What if there's something dangerous down here?" I called out. Von’s voice came back, dry and unconcerned. "Channel your inner wolf and kill it." I groaned, my frustration reaching its peak. "Von, please!" My voice cracked slightly, my pride taking a hit. Silence. I strained to hear his footsteps, but they had faded
RaeLandon’s voice kept replaying in my head, over and over again, like a haunting melody I couldn't escape. A day has passed since I discovered the truth about Landon, and I haven’t told Von anything.The minute I realized that Von’s death would mean my freedom a part of me kept fighting the urge to keep this information to myself.Von had done nothing but make my life miserable. He had threatened me, hurt me, and controlled me in ways I resented. It would be nice to get rid of him, to watch him take his last breath.But despite my joy, I still felt like keeping this information to myself was a terrible idea.I groaned. I was at a crossroads not knowing what to do next.The sound of Anna’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "You’ve been awfully quiet since you walked in here. Is everything alright?" I blinked, realizing I had wandered into the kitchen without even thinking. The smell of fresh bread and simmering stew filled the air, but I barely noticed. Anna lowered her voice a
Von I stared at her, waiting for her to speak. I had no patience for whatever game Rae was playing. It had been a long, exhausting day, and my mind was already occupied with figuring out who was behind Landon’s attack. I wasn’t in the mood for any of her nonsense. “Are you going to speak or what?” I snapped. Rae blinked, startled by my outburst, before she finally said, “I was just worried about you. I hadn’t seen you around.” I froze, narrowing my eyes at her. Of all the things I expected her to say, that wasn’t one of them. Worried? Since when did she care? I thought she saw me as Von the monster. I took a step closer, placing my hand on her forehead. “Are you feeling alright?” I asked, half-expecting to find her burning up with a fever. She slapped my hand away. “I’m fine.” “Are you sure?” I asked, still suspicious. Then I smirked. “You haven’t been messing around in my wine cellar, have you?” She scowled. “No.” I watched her carefully, still unsure what to make of
Von I carried Rae into another room, her body still trembling in my arms. She hadn’t let go of me since I pulled her from the fire, her fingers were still gripping my shirt like a lifeline. I had never seen her like this before—shaken, fragile. Vulnerable. As soon as I set her down on the bed, she suddenly screamed. “Fire!” she yelled, her voice filled with terror. “Fire!” I stiffened, watching as she bolted upright, her wild eyes darting around the room. She wasn’t here—not really. She was trapped in her own mind, reliving something I didn’t understand. Something that feared her. “Rae,” I called, stepping toward her. She didn’t hear me. She was gasping for air, her hands clutching at her head. Then, suddenly, she sobbed. “This is all my fault,” she whispered, then shouted, “I’m sorry, Mom!” My stomach twisted. I had never seen her like this—so lost, so broken. She had always been sharp-tongued, defiant, and always ready for a fight. But this? This was something else ent
RaeI remained in the room, staring at the door right in front of me. This room was quite different from the one that was set ablaze, despite that I still felt like I was trapped in a fiery shield.The scent of smoke still lingered, and at some point, I stopped myself from breathing. I thought to myself. Maybe it would all go away, maybe it would disappear. It hoped it would but when I stopped holding my breath it all returned.My hands trembled slightly as I ran them over the tattered fabric of my dress. I hated this feeling radiating through me.I hadn’t had a flashback like that in years. The last time was back in my old pack, the night I stumbled upon a burning bush in the woods. The sight of the flames had triggered something in me and sent me spiraling back into memories I wanted to forget. I had thought I was past it, that I had buried those horrors deep enough that they couldn’t resurface. But tonight proved me wrong. I guess people were right. You never truly heal.I inha
Rae My heart nearly stopped as I noticed Landon’s eye was still on me. I waited for him to act. But he didn’t move. He just stood there, staring. The silence between us stretched unnaturally long, and I knew he suspected something. I felt like running away, but instead, I smiled wearily, trying to hide the fact that I had just heard everything he said.“I thought Von was here!” I said coyly. “I’m sorry for interrupting you.”I didn’t wait for him to reply. I forced myself to walk at a steady pace as I took steps backward. I kept glancing over my shoulder, expecting him to be right behind me. But he wasn’t. The fact that he didn’t come after me was weird. Maybe he was planning to do something even worse or maybe he thought I didn’t overhear him.My thoughts kept racing and at some point, I managed to tune it down. I continued my search for Von, turning down another hallway.I arrived at his study and I realized he wasn’t there and as I made my way downstairs I nearly collided wi
RaeAnna took me to her chambers and once we got there. She turned to look at me."So, what do you want to say?" she asked gently, her voice filled with concern.I swallowed hard, struggling to form the words. "It’s Landon," I said, after finally finding my voice. "He’s behind the fire." The words felt like lead in my mouth. I had been holding this secret inside for days, debating whether or not to tell her. But now that I had said it aloud, it felt like the weight I had carried around had vanished. “How did you find out about this?” She asked with an intense look in her eyes.“I overheard him saying he was planning to kill Von!” I said in a firm voice.Anna blinked, and I noticed the look on her face had changed. "Is that what’s been getting you worked up?" she asked. "Yes," I admitted, my gaze falling to the floor. "I found out about it two days ago, and I’ve been torn ever since about whether or not to tell Von."“This is crazy!” Anna exclaimed.“It is!” I replied. “And gets ev
Von I stormed out of the room, my jaw clenched so tight it ached. My mind was still reeling from Rae’s accusations. How could she be so stupid? Did she really think she could twist the truth and make me turn against Landon? The audacity of it made my blood boil. As I walked down the corridor, I nearly ran into Landon. He raised an eyebrow at the look on my face. "What’s wrong?" he asked, in a sharp tone. “You look pissed.” I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "Rae is the reason for my current mood.”“What did she do?” Landon asked.“Here I was, actually giving a damn about that bitch, and the whole time, she was playing with my emotions." My voice dripped with frustration, and I ran a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the anger building inside me. Landon frowned slightly. "Slow down. What happened?" I scoffed. "Rae said you were behind the fire. She’s been sitting on this idea for days, probably waiting for the perfect moment to drop it on me." I shook my head. "And the
Von The sound of the crowd's cheers echoed through the gate, as I raised the artifact in my hand. “I have found a way to end the curse,” I repeated.“To save us all!” I continued. “This would wipe off the pain and suffering we have endured.”“Our lives shall once again be filled with joy.” They continued to cheer me on but their joyous voices faded behind me as I turned my back on them, my heart hammering in my chest. I needed to see Rae. Now.“The Luna has given birth,” Roy said as I stepped through the entrance. His voice was calm, but the weight of his words brought me to a halt. I looked at him in disbelief. “What?” “It’s a girl,” he added, smiling. I didn’t waste a second. My feet carried me up the stairs like the wind was at my back. When I opened the door, I saw Rae—cradling the child in her arms, her face bathed in soft light. My breath caught in my throat.She looked up at me with tired eyes, and then down again at the tiny baby bundled against her chest. I moved c
RaeI stood in front of the mirror, my hand hovering gently over my stomach. My skin was stretched, round, and tight.I rubbed my hands round my stomach and I smiled, but the smile didn’t last. It had been four months since Von had left. Four months since I had last seen him. I never got to say goodbye. The thought still ached deep inside me. I wished I had listened to Anna, wished I had stopped him or at least spoken to him before he left, but I didn’t. I let my emotions take over and eat my mind.Behind me, a voice broke the silence. “Are you okay?” Anna’s voice was soft. I turned to face her and nodded slowly. “I’m fine… I was just thinking. The baby’s almost here.” She stepped closer, worry written all over her face. “Are you scared?” I hesitated before answering. “I’m worried. Not for myself… for the baby.” Anna furrowed her brow. “Why? The baby will be born into a better world—once Von returns with the artifact.” “That’s what scares me,” I whispered. “What if they
Von The distance between Rae and me grew day by day. And I didn’t try to close it. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I understood why it was happening. This was too much for her to process—there was too much pain involved. She needed space, and I wasn’t going to force my presence into a storm she hadn’t calmed yet.So I kept to myself, locking the emotions away and burying my mind in strategy. Every hour was spent thinking, reading old texts, flipping through scrolls.I was searching for any solid thread that could lead to the artifact the seer spoke of. I wanted to be sure that it was real and just something that was made up, when I finally found an old book that documented old artifact I was happy. So it exited. As I closed that book, I made my decision. I was going to find it. And I wasn’t going alone.Landon was coming with me.The idea settled like steel in my bones. I dragged myself out of bed, the morning chilly air biting at my skin as I stood before the mirror and
Von I was torn between two options—go after Rae or deal with the information that the guard just delivered to me.My feet itched to chase her down the servants’ quarters, and to make her feel better… but duty pulled me in the other direction.Roy was already a few steps ahead, and I followed him down the corridor, my gaze still locked on the hallway Rae had disappeared into.“He told you he found a witch?” I asked, my voice sharp.Roy nodded without looking back. “Yes, Your Majesty. Said he found her near the valley.”“And you believe that nonsense?” I pressed, picking up my pace.“What do you mean?” Roy glanced back at me.“Do you really think he found a real witch? Or is this just some random old woman he picked up to fool us again?” My tone was filled with suspicion.Roy hesitated. “I… I don’t know. He seemed sure of her. That’s all I can say.”I didn’t push him further. I clenched my jaw and kept walking, letting silence carry the weight of my thoughts. Landon was a snake—one wh
Rae I stared at Anna in disbelief, my lips parted but no words coming out. I couldn’t believe what I just heard. I felt like I was in a nightmare. I managed to pull myself out of the haze staring back at Anna. “You’re saying… I have to die to save the kingdom?” My voice cracked as I spoke, and my legs felt unsteady beneath me.Anna gave a slow nod, her eyes filled with sadness.“I don’t understand,” I said, forcing myself to stand. “Why me? How am I the reason for the curse?”“I don’t know, Rae,” she replied gently. “But Von might. He’s been keeping everything to himself. I think he knows more than he’s saying.”I shook my head. “This can’t be real. I refuse to believe it.”My heart pounded in my chest. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. The walls were closing in. A thousand thoughts ran through my mind, crashing into each other. I didn’t want to cry, but tears burned behind my eyes anyway.Anna stepped closer. “Please calm down. Landon’s looking for a witch. He believes there might b
RaeThe dim light crept into view, it was blurry and soft at first, like a distant memory trying to settle into focus. My head felt heavy, and my body… foreign. I blinked a few times, trying to ground myself in the space around me. Everything was unfamiliar. I was disoriented. My arms ached, and when I looked down, I noticed wires—tubes—stripped across my body. I couldn’t tell if they were for healing or restraint.Then suddenly I heard soft sobs which broke through my haze.I turned my head, and my eyes landed on Anna. She was hunched over in a chair across the room, her shoulders trembling. Her voice cracked as she muttered to herself, “I think I’ve made a mistake… I shouldn’t have let him go…”What was she talking about? And why was she crying?“Anna…” My voice came out hoarse, it was low and if she wasn’t sitting close by. I was sure she wouldn’t have heard it.Anna’s head jerked up after those words left my lips. Her eyes widened like she’d seen a ghost. “Rae?” she gasped. T
VonThe moment, I saw Landon move I halted my steps, trying to figure out where he was heading. He directed his horse towards the side of the river while he rested on one of the stones. He was facing me now, but because of the trees I was well hidden and I couldn’t be easily detected. I kept watching, waiting for the opportunity when he would finally turn his back. Eventually, he did, and just as I was about to launch myself at him, my horse let out a sharp, loud snort.Landon jerked his head up and during that moment his eyes found mine. I wondered if he had seen me, but the moment I saw him reach for his horse I got the answer to my question.Landon pulled his horse out of the river in one fast move, climbed onto the saddle, and kicked hard. The animal responded instantly, racing through the shallow water, splashing and tearing through the trees.“Landon!” I growled, then yanked my reins.I mounted quickly and dug my heels in. My horse moved forward, its hooves digging into the t
VonI stared at Anna with a coldness that could freeze fire. My eyes locked onto hers, searching for answers, for some kind of remorse, but all I saw was silence. Her lips stayed pressed together, and it was clear she wasn’t planning on explaining anything anytime soon.My anger ignited. It roared up from my chest like a beast unchained. I hit her against the cage once again.“You dare remain silent?” I growled through clenched teeth. “You set him free and you stand here with your mouth shut like it means nothing?”Her gaze flicked to mine, and finally, she spoke in a soft tone. “Even if I explain things to you… you’ll never understand.”I scoffed, tightening my grip. “Did he promise you something? Huh? Is that it? Did Landon feed you some sweet little story?”“No,” she snapped back. “He didn’t promise me anything.”I let out a humorless laugh. “Then why? What in the hell made you think this was a good idea?”She yanked her arm out of my grasp. “Because he said he wants to help this c
Von The night had arrived.I sat in my chambers, wide awake. My sword rested beside me on the table, a sharp glint catching the flicker of torchlight from the wall. I hadn't slept, not even for a second. My instincts told me tonight would be the night they'd try it—the traitors among my guards. Anna’s warning had been clear, and my men were ready. My loyal guards were stationed throughout the palace, hiding in shadows, crouched in corners, armed to the teeth.I paced slowly across the room, boots echoing faintly against the stone floor. Then—just as I paused—came the sound. A low grunt. Then another. It started outside my door. The fight had begun.I moved quickly into the shadows, pressing my back against the cold wall. I could hear the scuffle grow louder. Then came footsteps rushing toward my chamber. Someone was coming for me.I didn’t move.I waited.The door creaked open. I saw the silhouette step in, sword drawn. He didn’t see me. He thought I’d be asleep.He took three step