Mag-log inRaziela My heart stopped. Then it crashed against my ribs so violently I was certain he could hear it echoing through the silent corridor.King Dakor stood before me in the dim light, and gone was the formal attire, the commanding presence that made him seem untouchable that he had during dinner. Instead, he wore a simple dark trousers and a white shirt that clung to his broad chest, unbuttoned at the collar to reveal a tantalizing glimpse of skin.His gunmetal eyes held mine with an intensity that made my knees threaten to buckle. There was something burning there, something that made the air between us crackle with electricity so thick, I could taste it on my tongue. I couldn’t look away even as panic flooded through me like ice water.What was he doing here? Had I done something wrong? He knew I had run from him today. Was he here to punish me for my disrespect?I suddenly became acutely aware of my appearance, the simple cotton nightgown that barely reached my knees and left far
Raziela “I’m so sorry!” I gasped, spinning around to face the person I had bumped into.The woman standing before me was breathtakingly beautiful in the way that was bound to command attention. Blonde hair fell in perfect waves around a face that belonged in paintings, and her dress, although simple, was clearly expensive. She was also radiating fury.“You clumsy little bitch,” she snarled, her voice dripping with venom. “Look what you’ve done!”I followed her gaze down to see the remains of what had once been an ornate glass bottle, its contents spreading across the ground in a pool of what smelled like expensive perfume.“I’m so sorry,” I repeated, my voice shaking as I dropped to my knees to try to gather the broken pieces. “Please, let me pay for it. I didn’t see you, I was being careless—”“Pay for it?” she laughed, the sound sharp and cruel. “Are you not one of the servants from the castle? Do you have any idea what that cost? That perfume was imported from the eastern kingdom
Raziela “Diane!” I called out, unable to keep the excitement from my voice.She looked up with a smile. “Well, you look considerably more cheerful than you did this morning. What’s gotten into you?”“Agnes is taking me to the city markets today,” I said, flicking my hair that had loosened from the bun I put it in, out of my eyes. “I can hardly believe it. I’ve only seen the city from the—” I caught myself just in time, my cheeks flaming as I realized what I had almost said.Diane raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment on my slip. “That’s wonderful news. You deserve a bit of adventure after everything you’ve been through.”“Will you watch Enid for me while I’m gone?” I asked, though I already knew what her answer would be.“Of course I will. That little angel and I always have the best time together.” Her expression grew more serious. “Just promise me you’ll be careful out there.”Something in her tone made me pause. “Careful of what?”Diane glanced around as if making sure we weren’t o
RazielaThe morning light streaming through the windows felt harsh against my tired eyes as I mechanically went through the motions of preparing breakfast in the kitchen. My hands moved with practiced efficiency, chopping vegetables, but my mind was elsewhere entirely, trapped in the memory of waking up in silk sheets that smelled faintly like steel. The King’s bed. I had fallen asleep in the King’s bed.Heat flooded my cheeks for what felt like the hundredth time since I had fled his chambers in the early hours of dawn. The memory of panic that had seized me when I opened my eyes to find myself surrounded by his scent, his pillows, his space, still made my heart race. I had gathered my nightgown and practically sprinted back to my room, praying no one would see me emerging from the royal chambers at such an inappropriate hour.What had I been thinking? The rational part of my mind knew the answer, I hadn’t been thinking at all. Something inexplicable had drawn me to his door, some
DakorI had sent for one of my regular mistresses hours ago to meet me in the Red Room. Eleanor had undoubtedly been waiting, and while I no longer felt the desperate need that had driven me to summon her, I couldn’t leave her there all night. Guilt twisted in my gut as I realized I had left her in there for over an hour now. She would be positioned exactly as I had instructed. Naked, kneeling in the center of the bed, waiting for my pleasure. It was a familiar scene, one that had brought me satisfaction countless times before.But the thought of it now, brought no excitement.The walk to the Red Room felt longer than usual, each step taking me further from where I wanted to be. By the time I reached the familiar door, something dark and cold had settled over me like a cloak. The moment I stepped inside, I felt the familiar shift in demeanor. Here, in these rooms designed for pleasure and power, I became someone else entirely. The beast that Raziela somehow managed to soothe stirred
DakorThe sight of her sleeping against the balcony chair stirred something deep in my chest, something I hadn’t felt in centuries. Her face had relaxed into peaceful lines, her wild midnight curls spilling over her shoulder like dark silk. Even in sleep, she still looked ethereal, she looked impossibly young, impossibly innocent, and the sight of it made my throat tighten.A smile touched my lips despite myself. When was the last time I had smiled at something so simple? When was the last time anything had moved me to such… softness?I reached out, unable to resist brushing a wayward curl from her face. The contact sent electricity racing through my fingertips and I welcomed the intensity to burn through me. As my hands drew back, I caught sight of the mark on her neck. That damned brand that marked her as a rogue.My jaw clenched involuntarily. The sight of it never failed to stir something violent in my chest. I hated it, hated even more whatever story was behind it, because it we
Dakor As we drove on, the suburban sprawl gave way to a wild borderland of dense forest and rocky outcroppings. A patrol of warriors approached us the moment we got to the border. I climbed down to meet the warriors that had now gathered from their various outposts. I exchanged pleasantries with t
Raziela I dropped my gaze to the floor automatically, the image of my mistake earlier in the war room flashed through my mind and it caused my heart to drum even faster against my ribs.“I-I made a mistake. I-I’m r-really sorry Your Grace, it’ll never happen again, I swear it.”“You are a plague,”
Raziela Tears burned behind my eyes, hot and sharp, but I refused to let them fall. Not here. Not in front of him. I would not give him the satisfaction. The pain of his words was a physical thing, it was far worse than any physical blow I had ever endured. He had taken every insecurity, every fe
Raziela“You will watch your tongue when you speak to me. Remember the Beta is not here to come to your rescue and I could have your head on the floor in an instant.” she said, and the coldness in her voice made me shiver even when she wasn’t addressing me.Diane opened her mouth to speak but I whi







