Se connecter“Fine,” my mother said, though she didn’t look convinced. “Just discussing final details.” “Wonderful.” Adrian’s arm slid around my waist. “Elena and I should get going. We have the menu tasting this afternoon.” As we left, I felt my mother’s eyes on my back. She knew something was wrong. But knowing and being able to help were two different things. The menu tasting was another exercise in control. Every dish I preferred, Adrian rejected. “Too simple,” he’d say. Or “Not impressive enough.” He chose everything. The food. The wine. The presentation. “This is our wedding,” I finally said. “Shouldn’t I have some say?” “Of course you should.” His smile was indulgent. “But darling, you’re not thinking clearly. Still weak from your illness. Let me handle the details. I know what’s best.” What’s best. Translation: what he wanted. “I don’t like fish,” I said when he selected a seafood course. “You’ll learn to like it.” His hand covered mine. “I’ll teach you.” The head chef look
ElenaThe next morning, I woke to find Elinor shaking me gently.“You need to get up,” she said quietly. “Adrian sent word. He’s taking you to the seamstress this morning. For the wedding dress.”I wanted to refuse. Wanted to stay in bed and let the fever take me.But Adrian’s threats hung over me like a sword.“Help me dress,” I said.Elinor’s hands were gentle as she helped me into a simple gown. My body still ached from the broken bond. Every movement felt like wading through deep water.“You don’t have to do this,” Elinor whispered as she laced my dress. “Tell your father. Tell him what Adrian really is.”“I can’t.” My voice was hollow. “He’ll kill Kieran.”“Kieran is already gone—”“But not dead.” I met her eyes in the mirror. “And as long as he’s alive, I have to protect him. Even if it costs me everything.”She looked like she wanted to argue. But she just finished the laces in silence.Adrian arrived precisely on time.He smiled when he saw me, his expression warm and loving.
ElenaI watched from my window as dawn broke over the palace.Below, in the courtyard, a small group was preparing to leave. Horses. Supplies. Guards escorting a single rider north.Kieran.My hand pressed against the cold glass as if I could reach him from here. As if the distance between my tower window and the courtyard below wasn’t an impossible chasm.He didn’t look up.Why would he? The bond was broken. He couldn’t feel me watching. Couldn’t sense my desperation, my grief, my need to run to him.He mounted his horse with fluid grace despite the beating Adrian’s men had given him. Even from here, I could see the stiffness in his movements. The way he favored his left side.They’d broken ribs. Split his lip. Blackened his eye.All because he’d touched me.All because I hadn’t been brave enough to choose him before it was too late.The group began to move. Heading toward the gates. Toward the northern border. Toward a life that didn’t include me.I wanted to scream. To throw open t
Elena“Adrian—” I started.“Don’t.” He held up a hand. “Don’t lie to me. Not now. I can see it. I can see everything.”“It’s not what it looks like—”“Isn’t it?” His voice was cold. “Because it looks like my fiancée is on a terrace with her bodyguard. Looking very much like she’s been kissing him. Looking very much like there’s something between them.”Silence.Heavy and damning.“How long?” Adrian asked quietly.“Adrian, please—”“How long, Elena?” His voice rose. “How long have you been sneaking around with him? How long have you been lying to me?”I couldn’t answer. Couldn’t speak.Kieran stepped forward. “My lord, this is my fault—”“Stay out of this.” Adrian’s eyes never left me. “I’m talking to my fiancée. The woman who’s supposed to marry me in ten days. The woman I thought loved me. So I’ll ask again. How long?”“Since the storm,” I whispered.He laughed bitterly. “The storm. Of course. When you were trapped in the tower. When I was worried sick about you. You were with him.”
ElenaI avoided Kieran for three days.Three agonizing days where I threw myself completely into wedding preparations.Final dress fitting. Seating arrangements. Menu confirmations. Vow writing.I forced myself to be present. To be engaged. To commit fully to Adrian.Adrian noticed the change."You seem different," he said over breakfast on the third day. "More... here.""I am here." I squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry I've been so distant. But I'm ready now. Ready to be your wife."He smiled, relief clear on his face. "I'm glad. I was starting to worry you were having second thoughts.""No second thoughts." The lie came easily now. "Just pre-wedding jitters.""Well, ten days from now, you'll be my wife. And all the jitters will be worth it."Ten days.I had ten days to keep avoiding Kieran. To stay strong. To not break.I could do this.I had to.That evening, there was a ball. One of the final pre-wedding celebrations.I wore silver silk. My hair was elaborately styled. I looked every i
ElenaThe next week was agony.Wedding preparations intensified. Dress fittings. Menu tastings. Rehearsals.All while I snuck away to be with Kieran every chance I got.We were reckless. Desperate. Completely out of control.The library became our favorite spot. Late at night when everyone else slept.But also the training yard before dawn. The storage rooms in the east wing. Even once in the gardens after dark.Each time more dangerous than the last.Each time closer to being caught.“We’re going to get caught,” Kieran said one night in the library.We were tangled together on the floor behind the stacks, both still breathing hard.“We won’t.” I traced patterns on his chest. “We’ve been careful.”“We’ve been lucky.” He caught my hand. “But luck runs out, Elena. And when it does—”“Then it does.” I kissed him. “I don’t care anymore.”“You should care. The wedding is in two weeks.”Two weeks.Fourteen days until I married Adrian.The thought made me sick.“Don’t remind me.”“Someone ha
Glaring at Julius, the only emotion i felt was disgust. The way he said those words, the sick fascination in his voice, made my stomach turn. This wasn't just about the mission. There was something deeply disturbing about the way Julius was looking at me."That's none of your business.""Everythin
Sleep, when it finally came, brought no relief at all. Drifting in and out of consciousness, I tossed and turned in the small cot I lay in, sweat pouring out of my pores as I struggled with the drift.I was just drifting into unconsciousness when it hit me.A scream. A vague, bloodcurdling scream
LeahI watched as Ares stared at me, shock and embarrassment flooding me from the cursed bond. He regrets this. But that doesn't stop the fact that he mated with me. And now everything has changed. Because now, I knew everything he was feeling, and he knew everything I was feeling. Nothing more th
"What?" I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened."Your. Hand. Now."Panic clawed at my throat. I had no choice. He caught me. Slowly, I uncurled my fingers, revealing the small tablet pressed against my palm."I thought... for one fucking moment, I thought you..." He trailed off, running his







