RaeI woke up to the sound of the door creaking open. My head pounded, and as I stirred, I felt the cool sheets against my bare skin. A slow, creeping realization hit me—I was naked. My eyes flew open, and I took in my surroundings. I was in Von’s room. What was I doing here naked?I sat up quickly, clutching the blankets against my chest. My breath caught in my throat. What the hell happened last night?The door fully opened, and Anna stepped inside, carrying a steaming cup of tea. “Morning,” she said, her voice calm, as if nothing was out of the ordinary. I stared at her closely until she acknowledged my presence.“What happened?” I demanded. “Why am I naked? Why am I in Von’s room?” Anna walked over and handed me the tea. “You were drunk last night,” she explained. “Your friend told me to brew this for you and he is also the one who told me you were pretty drunk.”I hesitated before taking the cup. My fingers curled around the warmth, but my mind raced too fast to focus o
Von Rae approached me with a firm look on her face. I could already tell she had something on her mind, but the moment my eyes swept over her, my thoughts drifted back to last night. The way she had clung to me, whispering my name, the heat of her skin under my touch—it was intoxicating. If it hadn’t been for that damned councilman and his letter, last night might have ended differently. “Earth to Von! Earth to Von!” Rae snapped her fingers in front of my face, her voice pulling me from my thoughts. I blinked, my jaw tightening. What the hell is wrong with me? I had more important matters to deal with, but here I was, lost in the memories of her. “Did you even hear what I just said?” she demanded, and I noticed there was an edge to her voice.I straightened my posture. “Yes.” It was all lies but she didn’t need to know that.Rae narrowed her eyes. “Then answer me.” I sighed. “I have important things to do. I can’t talk.” Her brows furrowed in frustration. “Why are you
RaeAfter the whole drunken incident, I refused to let Malcolm take me anywhere. Instead, we spent most of our time in the palace. Von, on the other hand, seemed distracted—his brooding nature more intense than usual. He had disappeared for a day, only to return and bury himself in work, barely acknowledging my presence. Not that I wanted him to be close to me after he referred to me as a whore.What made things even stranger was Jace. He was always nearby, hovering like a shadow, asking where I was going, what I was doing—like some overprotective bodyguard. “You don’t need to follow me around, Jace!” I snapped at him one evening when I caught him watching me from across the hall. He barely flinched. “I’m just doing my guard duties.” I narrowed my eyes. Something about the way he said it felt off, rehearsed. “Did Von put you up to this?” “No,” he said quickly, a little too quickly. I could smell the lie. But I wasn’t in the mood to push it. “I’d really appreciate it if you
Rae“Von!” I called out, my voice was filled with frustration. He was walking away, just like he always did, but I was not going to let him.“Why do you always keep walking away?” I spat. “You call yourself the hybrid king but you always end up acting like a coward and end up fleeing when things get intense.”“Stay and let’s finish this.” I added.He stopped mid-step but didn’t turn around. “There’s nothing to finish.”“You’re lying Von.” I declared. “I can see through your lies.”Von exhaled heavily, then turned slightly, just enough for me to catch the edge of his profile.“I mean every word I said.” “I also mean it, when I said that you aren’t going anywhere with Malcolm.”I took a step closer, my heart pounding. “Give me one valid reason why?”“I don’t owe you any more explanation. You know the reason why and if you haven’t told Malcom you better do.”“I feel there’s more to it. I know this isn’t about some deal you made with the Alpha in my pack. This is about what you said
Rae“This is the part where you tell me I was right,” Malcom said smugly, leaning back against the stone railing of the balcony. His arms were crossed over his chest, a self-satisfied smirk plastered across his face. The cool night air played with his hair, and the glow of the moon illuminated his sharp features. I sighed, rolling my eyes but unable to suppress a small smile. “Fine. You were right.” Malcom chuckled, tapping his temple. “Told you, Rae-Rae. I know these things. Call it instinct.” I shook my head, wrapping my arms around myself. After everything that had happened, the weight on my chest had finally started to lift. Malcolm had been there to push me toward a truth I had hoped for.“I guess that means your job here is done,” I said, trying to keep my tone light, though a part of me already felt the sting of his impending departure. He nodded, exhaling deeply. “Yeah. Time for me to go.” I frowned. “You don’t have to leave.” Malcom gave me a small smile. “I do,
VonThe sunlight filtered through the large windows.It was morning and I smiled enjoying the air filled with the scent of Rae’s skin, still warm from our shared night. She lay before me, and for a moment, the entire world seemed to be still. I moved my fingers along the lines of her back, but then my fingers halted when my eyes landed on a scar. I had noticed it weeks ago, but I had never asked. Rae shifted slightly, sensing my pause. She turned her head, eyes still heavy with sleep, and looked my way. “What happened?” she asked softly. “Nothing,” I murmured, attempting to wave it off, but I knew I had been caught. She propped herself up, watching me with curious eyes. “Is it the scar?” I nodded. Rae sat up fully, letting the blanket slip down her body. My eyes flickered away, suddenly aware of how vulnerable we both were. “I actually got it in the fire,” she admitted. “The fire that killed my parents.” I stilled, at the sound of her words, remembering how the wh
Rae The scent of freshly baked bread and simmering broth filled the kitchen as I stepped inside. The kitchen was warm when I stepped in, but before I could fully take it in, Anna’s voice echoed through the walls. “Here comes the lover girl!” She chimed. I rolled my eyes, already knowing where this was going. “Stop that,” I muttered, shaking my head. Anna grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “You’re glowing, you know.” She leaned in, lowering her voice as if sharing a scandalous secret. “Let me guess, you and Von—” Before she could finish, I reached out and lightly smacked her shoulder. Anna let out a dramatic gasp, clutching at her chest as if I had truly wounded her. “Oh, come on, Rae! It’s obvious!” “To you and not to others. You don’t have to yell, what if the headband or someone hears you?” “Then they would know that our hybrid king is finally in love,” Anna said. I gave her a warning look, but she only smirked. “If someone had told me months ago that you a
VonThe full moon hung high above us, its pale glow illuminating the gathering ground. I could feel the weight of a hundred gazes following my every move and I knew who they were looking at. It was Rae. I turned to look at her, squeezing her hands tightly.“I’m here okay!” I whispered.“That’s all that matters.”The moment Luigi sighted me he walked in my direction. His sharp eyes flickered toward Rae before snapping back to me. “Do you remember what you’re supposed to do?” he asked in a low voice. I gave a small nod, but before I could respond, his gaze hardened as he returned to Rae.“Why is she here?” He asked.“She belongs here,” I said firmly. Luigi exhaled sharply. “Von, she’s supposed to be hidden.” “No,” I said, with boldness in my tone. “I won’t do that. I won’t hide her.” Luigi’s expression darkened, but he held his tongue. The full moon gathering officially began, and the voices of the people hushed as the ceremony commenced. One of the elders stepped forward
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