"You want me to be your mistress?" I repeated slowly, fixing my gaze on Elias through the tears I was fighting so hard to keep from coming, causing the world around me to blur. "How could you possibly even ask me that?""Is something wrong with what I asked?" He asked, seeming confused. "I thought you would be happy.""Happy?"I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped me as the first tear slid down my cheek. He had to be out of his mind to think something like that would make any woman happy."How in the world would being a side piece possibly make me happy?"I didn't know if the man was daft or if he was truly that oblivious to human emotion. There was no way any normal person would think someone would be thrilled to be second-best. Not to mention that Veronica already hated my guts; she would do everything in her power to kill me if I became his mistress, not that I ever would anyway.Nothing about his offer was appeasing to me. He may have thought that he was helping me deal with my in
For a week, I didn't leave my room. Instead, I stayed and wallowed in self-pity over the current situation I had made for myself. I knew that allowing my depression and heartache to take over wouldn't get me anywhere, but damnit, it hurt, and I just couldn't get past it.It wasn't until the seventh day that I finally began to feel even remotely better. The initial sting had faded, but the dull ache was still there. However, I couldn't let myself live like this any longer. After all, there was so much more that needed to be dealt with.After the three Lycan attacks, King Nigel had already announced that a war was imminent. Since anyone could join the army that would be setting off to fight the lycan, I decided I would sign up. I had come to realize that somewhere in my lost memories, there was a time that I had learned hand-to-hand. My ability to take out two lycans was proof enough. With a little more training and fine-tuning, I truly felt that I could be of help.Of course, I didn't p
I quickly made my way towards the training grounds on the morning of my assessment. I spent the week practicing with Roland and Derrick, making sure that I became stronger, even if it was only the slightest bit. I was going to prove to them and myself that I was capable of helping. I wasn't some useless human, as I had been deemed.Many servants eyed me as I passed them, their voices rising and falling in whispers. Ever since the night of the banquet, this is how it had been. Most managed to learn about the strange relationship I had with Elias through the grapevine. I couldn't help but admit that rumors were powerful things, and they were becoming the bane of my existence.Ignoring their looks of disgust and judgement, I continued forward. At the moment, I had no room to worry about them."Valerie!" Whirling, I turned to face Nathan, who was quickly making his way towards me. "Thank goodness I caught you.""What's wrong?" I asked, raising my brow.Nathan seemed to be on edge. Even as
I continued to cling to Elias even after my orgasmic high had washed away. Laying my head on his shoulder, I listened silently to his even breathing."We should..." He began only to stop."We should probably get ourselves together." I offered for him, lifting my head and looking into his eyes. "Was that what you were going to say?""Something like that." Elias responded solemnly.Unwrapping my legs from his waist, I allowed my body to slide down his until my feet touched the ground. Looking around, I located my pants and quickly pulled them on. Keeping my gaze fixed on the hall's exit, I tried to get my whirling thoughts together.What the hell had just happened? Now that I was out of the moment, I couldn't believe I did that. What's worse, Elias started it. What was going through the man's head? I wasn't sure, and I didn't have the energy to try to figure it out."Where were you heading to?" Elias asked, breaking me away from my thoughts. "Allow me to escort you there."Slowly looking
"How am I supposed to depend on a man who is engaged to someone else?" I asked as a sour taste began to form in my mouth.I kept my gaze firmly fixed on Elias as he considered my question. Though I hoped for some remorse to appear on his face, it simply remained cold and impassive."Have I ever openly said I would marry Veronica?" He asked, taking me by surprise."But you're engaged." I murmured, not quite knowing how to take his words. "And you've never openly said you wouldn't."Even if he was being serious, that still didn't change the fact that he asked me to be his mistress. If he didn't intend to marry Veronica, then he still had no intention of doing anything deep with me either, and in the end, that was what mattered the most."This ridiculous engagement is my father's doing." Elias sighed in frustration. "I don't know how many times I need to repeat this. I have no interest in Veronica other than as an annoying little sister."How many times? For me, it would be however many t
"HOW CAN YOU SIT THERE AND ASK ME WHAT YOU'VE DONE?" I yelled, not even caring if I looked like a woman throwing a tantrum.I was pissed, I was exhausted, and I couldn't continue to deal with all this. Something absolutely had to change about mine and Elias' relationship. I couldn't continue to play this game of push and pull anymore. It was wearing on my nerves and driving me mad."Valerie, you should..." Elias began, looking around with discomfort. "Calm down before we draw too much attention.""I WON'T CALM DOWN!" I shrieked as tears began to form in my eyes. "HOW CAN I? YOU'VE BEEN DOING NOTHING BUT HAUNTING ME EVERY SINGLE DAY!"How could I? I was madly in love with this man, and he didn't even realize it. Instead, he treated me like a whore at his beck and call."Elias, I can't do this anymore." I sighed, trying to fight back the tears that were threatening to fall. "What are we?"Though my heart was beginning to beat wildly in my chest, I fixed my gaze firmly on his, determined
In the burlap bag, I felt the ropes coming free. Strengthening my attempts, I fought until I felt them loosen enough for me to get out. Sitting up and looking around, I took in my surroundings. It seemed that whoever kidnapped me threw me into the back of a carriage, and we were currently heading to some unknown location.Under me, the carriage rattled with each rock and bump and occasionally swayed on the uneven road it was taking."Think Valerie." I murmured, looking around at the crates that surrounded me in an attempt to come up with an escape plan.Slinking forward, I pulled aside a flap and stared at the dirt road quickly racing past. Immediately, I began to wonder just how badly I would be hurt if I were to simply fling myself onto it. Deciding that whatever damage I took was better than being taken to who knew where, I settled on this being my only route.Sucking in a breath, I climbed to the edge and waited until the carriage managed to make its way across a grassy field. Clos
My protests continued until Tristan burst through the woods, making the darkness of Allsbrook disappear. Looking up, I took in the much-too-bright sun and the clear blue sky. It was a stark contrast to the sky that I had become accustomed to in the Kingdom of Allsbrook.Allowing my eyes to adjust, I examined the large white castle with bright blue flags sitting high atop massive spires that seemed to reach to the heavens themselves. Where in the hell were we?This place was so different from the kingdom of Allsbrook, and though I was seeing it with my own eyes, I couldn't help but feel that I was dreaming."Beautiful, isn't it?" Tristan asked, drawing my attention to him."It is something." I murmured, unable to quite understand why it felt oddly familiar to me. "But I really should get back where I came from."Despite the pull I was feeling for this place, I couldn't shake the urge to want to get back to Elias. Even though he rejected me and we were at odds, where he was was where I b