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
VonThe moment I stepped into the room, my heart clenched at the sight before me. Rae sat curled up on the edge of the bed, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed quietly into her hands. The frustration I felt disappeared during that moment.The moonlight streaming through the window illuminated the tears streaking down her face. Seeing her like this made something inside me ache. I hated it. “Rae,” I said softly, stepping closer. She sniffled, barely lifting her gaze to meet mine. Her eyes, normally filled with warmth and fire, were dull with sorrow. “The people don’t accept me, Von,” she whispered, her voice cracking. I exhaled sharply and sat beside her. “Don’t think like that,” I told her gently, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “They just need time—” “No,” she cut me off, her voice rising slightly. “I was right. No one would like me.” “Rae—” “They never will,” she continued, shaking her head. “I’m not meant to be Luna. I don’t belong her
Rae“Anna told me we are leaving for the weekend,” I informed Von.The moment Anna told me we were going on a getaway, I was skeptical. I had so many questions. I was also finding it hard to believe that it was.“Is what Anna said true?” I asked peering into his eyes.“Yes, we’re leaving tonight,” he confirmed, in a rather deep tone. I hesitated, biting my lip. “Are you sure this is the right time? With everything going on?” Von tilted his head slightly, stepping closer until I could feel the heat radiating off him. His scent—earthy, mixed with a hint of cedar wood—wrapped around me like a blanket. “Rae,” he said in a soft tone, “we need this. You need this. After everything that has happened all we need right now is some time to ourselves. This would be our moment to breathe.” His words settled something inside me. I hadn’t realized how much I craved an escape until now. Just a moment to forget the weight of being his supposed Luna, the judgment of his people, the ever-loomin
RaeI woke up to the smell of home-cooked food drifting through the house. My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, I forgot where I was. The sound of waves crashing against the shore was a soothing reminder. The getaway!I stretched lazily, letting the sheets slip off my body, and sat up. The memory of last night—of Von and the way he had touched me, the way he had devoured me. I shook my head, pushing the thought aside before I completely lost myself in it. Curious, I slipped out of bed, padding barefoot across the wooden floors toward the kitchen. As I stepped in, the sight before me made me pause. Von stood at the stove, shirtless, his muscles flexing with every movement. He was stirring something in a pan, looking completely at ease as if he belonged in a kitchen just as much as he did on a throne. He looked so sexy, I couldn’t believe I got to have this hunk of a man to myself.Von was all mine. It was so unbelievable and it felt like a dream.I was so lost in his mesmer
RaeVon and I had decided to take a stroll later that evening, and as we walked the sound of the waves crashing against the shore created a rhythmic lullaby.It was very soothing, and so was the feeling of our fingers brushing occasionally.Von took a deep breath, letting the ocean breeze tousle his dark hair. "I don’t want to go back to the pack," he said suddenly. I turned my head sharply to look at him. "That’s impossible. You’re the king." He exhaled through his nose, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "What if I step down? Let someone else take over?" I stopped walking, my brows furrowing. "You’re clearly losing your mind." Von chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "I mean it, Rae. What if I just let it go? What if I stop carrying the weight of the entire kingdom on my shoulders?" I folded my arms. "You don’t get to run away from your responsibilities. That’s not who you are." His expression changed and I could tell he was frustrated, but I wasn’t about to let him wallo
Von The soft glow of candlelight flickered across the room, reflecting golden shadows on Rae’s skin as she stroked me slowly trying to tease me as much as I had teased her in the past. Her fingers moved against my cock, it was the slowest movement but each touch made me shiver.Then, her lips moved to my cock and I watched as the warmth of her mouth sent a shudder through me, my fingers curling as she kissed the length of my cock. An almost electric feeling flowed through me and I could do nothing but watch her. She was in control, and I let her be. There was something intoxicating about it—about the way she touched me, the way she looked at me with dark, mischievous eyes, knowing she had me entirely at her mercy. She kept sending kisses down my length while she stroked. I looked down at her and the moment she took my whole, I grabbed the base of her head holding her there then I slammed my cock deeper into her throat making her eyes water. She loved my forcefulness. She im
Von I watched Heron as he settled into the chair beside his wife. I motioned for my maids to serve drinks, but he waved them off with a tight-lipped shake of his head. Then my gaze shifted from Heron to the lady seated beside his wife. It was Calister’s younger sister. The last time I saw her, she was thirteen. Now, she was grown, nearly the mirror image of her dead sister. The sight of her unsettled me, stirring emotions I wasn’t ready to face. Heron cleared his throat, pulling my attention back to him. "Let’s get straight to the point," he said, his voice having a firm feeling to it. "I’m furious about my daughter’s death, and this whole situation makes you—" He pointed at me with a slow gesture. "indebted to me." I narrowed my eyes. "Indebted?" "Yes," he confirmed without hesitation. “I don’t remember doing any business with you.” I declared.“This isn’t about business it’s about my daughter.”I looked at him with a shocking daze. I understood where he was heading with
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