تسجيل الدخولSeraMy eyes snapped open to find a pair of eyes staring back at me, mere inches away, too close, too intimate. For a moment, my mind didn't register whose gaze met mine. But then my heartbeat slowed, the shock receding, and I blinked, bringing the face into focus. Amara."Fuck, what?"The curse died on my lips as my heartbeat returned to something resembling normal. "Amara, you trying to give me a heart attack?" I groaned, scrubbing a hand over my eyes.Sweet hell, she'd slept right next to me. Not in the little bedroll I'd set out beside my own, but right in the fucking mattress. I'd heard nothing all night, no stirrings, no swaying of the bed. I'd been so sure she'd stay in her own space."Morning, you little scamp," I murmured, reaching out to brush a few errant strands of hair from her face. Amara tilted her head, her eyes unfaltering. "Still not talking, I take it?" I sighed when she didn't respond, not that I'd expected her to. She just kept staring.I glanced down at her, tryi
Lyra"It's been a while since we've had a crowd," I said. "Nice to have some company."Nadia smiled at me like it was an inside joke between us, and for a second, I felt a rush of affection for her. Then doubt crept in, a worm burrowing under my skin. She leaned back in her chair, one arm draped over the back of it. Her other hand played absently with a curl of her hair. It reminded me of how she looked when we were alone together, relaxed and easy. But this morning, in this room full of people, she seemed different. Her smile wasn't quite as warm, her laughter a half-beat off. It was a subtle thing, but I knew her well enough to notice.I started to turn my attention back to the person speaking across from me, Gero or Rennick, I never could tell them apart, when my father spoke up."Lyra," he said, and I snapped my gaze to his. "Why don't you give Odile a tour of the castle later? Nadia looks a little down this morning and could use cheering up." I frowned slightly, unsure what to mak
LyraThe guards cleared their throats and announced, "Miss Nadia Voss."I froze, my fork hovering over the plate. I looked up to see her standing there, and my heart skipped a beat.Nadia never came through the front door. She always went straight to my room, a habit that had become as natural as breathing. The dining room was on the opposite side of the castle from my quarters. Seeing her here, now, in this public space, was utterly unexpected. It wasn't that I had forgotten she was coming. It was that she had never once, not in all our time together, walked through that door.Odile's head snapped up, her eyes locking onto Nadia's figure. A slow smile spread across her face as she turned to me, and I could see her nose twitching slightly as she breathed in, catching a scent on the air. Her smile widened.I felt my cheeks flush as she leaned in close, whispering, "Is that your girlfriend?"I whipped my head around, checking to make sure no one else had heard. My father and mother were
Lyra"We should eat," Odile said, already sliding into the chair beside me.Father cleared his throat behind me. "Lyra, is that any way to greet your old man?"I winced at his deliberately fatherly tone. My mood soured. I turned to see him flashing that same annoying, knowing smile. "What, you can't even spare a hello for your favorite parent? Surely you can't hate me that much."A laugh bubbled up in my throat, bitter and sharp. I swallowed it down with a tight mouth. No use getting dramatic in front of strangers. I crossed to him with measured steps, sank into a shallow curtsy. "My king.""Better," he said, cupping my elbow, pulling me up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm famished."I watched him for a moment, trying not to stare too long. It still didn't feel right, having him here, surrounded by the warmth of this makeshift family. I turned to my mother, who hadn't looked up once since I entered."Mother?" I called.No response. She shoveled food into her mouth with single-minded fo
LyraI stepped into the dining room, expecting the usual tedious affair, my parents, myself, and a handful of sycophants vying for my father's attention. Instead, a dozen unfamiliar faces greeted me, all eyes trained on the doorway I had just entered through.Odile stood immediately, beaming. "Lyra!" she called, already crossing the room toward me.I stared, bewildered, as she closed the gap and pulled me into a fierce hug. My whole body went still for a beat before I caught myself and hugged her back. "What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice coming out more breathless than I meant it to."Oh!" Odile laughed, releasing me from her embrace. "My brothers and I decided to pay your father a visit. The boys have been dying to see him."I glanced toward the table, taking in the two men Odile referred to as her brothers. They were visibly older, their faces lined with maturity and experience. It didn't add up. Odile talked about them like they were still boys, but they looked like grown
LyraI woke abruptly, like I had been startled from a dream, but couldn't remember dreaming at all. Morning light streamed through the gaps in my curtains, painting the room in pale, diffused color. A soft knock came at the door."Princess?" Sela's voice called in. "Breakfast."I groaned and pushed myself up. "Entrez."The heavy door swung open and Sela slipped inside, a silver tray balanced on one hand. She was one of the few people allowed to enter my quarters unannounced, and for that, I was grateful. It's a small thing, but small things matter when you're stuck in this godforsaken palace."Morning, Sela," I said, dragging the covers off and planting my feet on the floor.Sela set the tray down on the small table by the window. "Morning, Princess. Tea?""Please."She nodded, pouring a steaming cup. I took it from her, wrapping my hands around the warm ceramic. The scent of bergamot and lemon filled the air, familiar and comforting. I took a sip, letting the heat soak into my bones.
SeraNight fell fast, and with it, the temperature plummeted. We had three fires going, but the heat didn't seem to travel more than six inches past the flames. I sat on a log by the middle fire, pulling the wagon fur around my shoulders, shivering so hard my teeth were literally clicking together.
LyraShe ignored me. She dropped to her knees, her hands sliding down to the waistband of my trousers. She shoved her fingers inside the fabric, gripping my hips tight. With one sharp pull, she dragged the pants and my underwear down to my ankles. I stepped out of them, kicking my boots off in the
Lyra"Tell the girl to step into the room," he said."Leave her out of this," I said. My voice came out as a pathetic, raspy whisper. I cleared my throat, trying to find some spine. "She didn't do anything. It was my idea to come in here.""Tell her to step into the room," he said, his eyes going d
LyraThe voice didn't belong to Nadia. It didn't belong to me. It came from the metallic object resting directly behind my hip.Nadia froze. She pulled her mouth away from me and yanked her fingers out of my body. She stood up quickly, wiping her wet mouth with the back of her hand, her chest heavi







