Elena’s POVI wanted to scream at him. I wanted to throw something—or maybe just walk away and never come back. But instead, I stood there… staring at the person I thought I knew better than anyone in the world.“You want to fix it?” I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “You think an apology just fixes something like this?”Alex didn’t speak. He just stood there, towel around his waist, guilt etched across every inch of his face.“I defended you,” I whispered, the words tearing out of me. “I defended you to everyone. When people said you were distant, or hard to read—I said they just didn’t know you like I did. I thought I knew you, Alex. I trusted you with everything in me.”He stepped forward, his voice gentle. “You still can—”“No, don’t.” I raised a hand, stopping him. “You didn’t just hide this. You let me make a fool of myself. Do you know how many times I played matchmaker, thinking I was helping my best friend find love—when really, you were just standing there, letting me do
Alex’s POVMy head throbbed like it had been cracked open and stitched back together. I groaned, rubbing my temples as I blinked my eyes open. The sunlight stabbed through the curtains with no mercy.Then I felt it—warm skin pressed against mine. A hand draped lazily across my chest.Shit.I turned slowly and found a guy lying next to me—naked, fast asleep, his hair tousled, lips slightly parted like he didn’t have a single care in the world.The memories hit me like a flood—his hands on my waist at the bar, the way he leaned close and whispered things that made me forget Ethan even existed. The drunken laughter, the kisses, and then… the wild mess that followed here in my room.I sighed and sat up, my body aching in ways that confirmed every memory. Just as I was about to drag myself out of bed, the guy stirred.He opened his eyes, smiled sleepily, and said, “Morning, sunshine.”I gave a half-hearted chuckle. “Yeah… morning.”“You look like you wrestled with a hurricane.”“Well,” I s
Alex’s POVI sat there in the dimly lit room long after Ethan left, still stunned by the kiss, the rejection, and the ache in my chest that I just couldn’t shake. I stared blankly at the wall, letting the silence weigh on me like a punishment I deserved.What the hell was I thinking?I kissed him again. Let him touch me. Let myself feel something I shouldn’t. Something forbidden.I should hate him for walking away.But I hated myself more.I was having an affair with my best friend’s husband. Elena’s husband. And the worst part? I didn’t even want to stop.I didn’t plan this. I never wanted to feel this way. But it happened. And now, every time I see him with her, every time I watch him pretend like we’re nothing, it cuts deeper.I didn’t feel like going back to the masquerade ball. I didn’t want to face Ethan. I sure as hell didn’t want to see Elena, smiling like everything was perfect.Everything is not perfect.I needed to breathe. I needed something to numb this storm in my chest.
Clara’s POVI couldn’t move. I couldn’t blink. I couldn’t even breathe.There it was, the head. The man’s severed head lying right there in front of me. His lifeless eyes wide open, his mouth still twisted in agony, and worse—he was staring at me.Right. At. Me.Like I was the one who tore his head off. Like I had blood on my own hands.And hell, maybe I did because my entire body was splattered in blood. My dress? Ruined. My face? Coated. My appetite? Completely dead.The King stood slowly, picked up a white cloth, and calmly wiped his hands like he just spilled wine instead of slaughtering a man. Then he turned and walked out of the dining hall in silence composed, unbothered, dripping in crimson like some damn demon in a crown.I just sat there, frozen, praying the ground would do me a favor and open up to swallow me whole.And then…“Wow,” Elena said, breaking the silence with a cheery voice that made my skin crawl. “That was intense. What do you think the guy did?”I whipped my h
Clara’s POVI walked back into the ballroom, smoothing my dress and trying to erase the image of what I’d just witnessed. But whatever calm I thought I had was shattered the moment I stepped in.And then I saw him.The King.Covered in blood.He stood tall, dominant, terrifying—his powerful frame soaked in deep red that dripped slowly from his claws to the polished marble floor. In his arms was Amelia, unconscious, her head resting limply against his chest like a broken porcelain doll.Every eye was on him.No one spoke. No one moved.The music had long stopped. Even the air felt frozen.The only sound was the subtle drip… drip… drip of blood.“Everyone. Get. Out.” the King roared, his voice dark and primal.The room broke into chaos, no screams, no protests, just a sudden and desperate rush to obey. Guests practically tripped over one another as they scrambled out of the ballroom, skirts swishing, shoes clicking frantically against the floor.Two maids, visibly shaking, rushed forwar
Amelia’s POVThe ball was in full bloom. Gilded chandeliers bathed the palace ballroom in golden light, casting soft glows across crystal glasses and glittering gowns. The orchestra played a slow, haunting melody, and couples twirled like they were in a dream.I stood alone, a glass of wine in my hand, smiling politely at anyone who caught my eye, but the truth? I felt like a shadow.Elena, as always, had outdone herself. Every detail—from the flower arrangements to the velvet-draped balconies—was perfection. It was the kind of event people would talk about for weeks.But I didn’t want to be here.Not tonight.Not when I looked across the room and saw him.Klaus.And not just Klaus.Klaus and Lily.She stood close to him, her hand brushing his chest as she laughed at something he said. She was radiant, effortlessly beautiful—his favorite. The girl who had his heart long before our names we got married.I swallowed hard, the bitter taste of jealousy creeping up my throat.They looked l
Clara’s POVIt’s been a few days since I started staying at this ridiculously massive palace.and believe me, I’ve been doing more than just admiring the royal curtains.I’ve been observing, listening, collecting little pieces of information like a squirrel hoarding nuts before winter.And tonight was the masquerade ball.Fancy dresses, glittering masks, and people pretending they’re more elegant than they actually are.Classic royal stuff.I stood near the center of the ballroom, letting the slow music swirl around me,pretending to enjoy it while secretly watching everyone.Every smile, every glance, every suspicious little whisper.Then, I felt it—a hand sliding around my waist.A smirk tugged at my lips, and I turned with a slow, knowing smile,fully expecting to find Kai standing behind me with that dreamy “I’m here to protect you” energy.But no.Fate clearly hated me.Because instead of Kai’s warm eyes, I was met with the infuriating smirk of none other than Klaus.I blinked,
Alex’s POVWe were still kissing, lost in a world that belonged to just the two of us, when suddenly—a voice pierced through the fog of passion.“Ethan, Ethan, where are you?”It was Elena.Her voice echoed down the corridor, getting closer, each step dragging us harshly back to reality.Ethan froze against me, his lips still barely brushing mine.I felt the hesitation ripple through his body.The conflict.The guilt.His hands, which had just moments ago been desperate and needy on my body, now dropped to his sides as if they had touched fire.I saw it in his eyes—the war between desire and duty.Without a word, he pulled away from me, leaving me cold, breathless, and aching for him.I reached out impulsively, grabbing his wrist, trying to pull him back.Needing him to stay.Needing just a second longer.But he shook his head, his expression tortured.His voice was low, hoarse from the intensity of what we just shared.“Elena is calling me… I need to go,” he said, his words slicing
Alex’s POVI kissed Maddie because I had no choice.And maybe, just maybe, because I wanted Ethan to see it.The truth is, I’ve never been interested in girls. I’m strictly, hopelessly, undeniably gay.But Elena didn’t know.No one knew.I had kept that part of me buried deep, locked behind a thousand walls, because telling Elena—my best friend—was not an option.She couldn’t keep a secret if her life depended on it.If she knew, the whole world would know.And I wasn’t ready for that kind of fallout.I knew Elena had taken it upon herself to “fix” my love life, determined to find me the perfect girlfriend. If she saw me disinterested in Maddie, she would just line up more of her friends. More blind dates. More awkward setups.I couldn’t live like that.I couldn’t keep pretending.So when Maddie smiled at me and leaned closer, I made a choice.A terrible, desperate choice.I kissed her.Pretended like it meant something.Pretended like it didn’t tear me apart inside.But then—Then I