LOGINThe corridor stretched empty. Distant screams and the clash of steel echoed from deeper in the palace, mixed with the low, guttural roars of beasts.Eryndra moved carefully, bare feet silent against the stone.Several footsteps approached with haste and fear.People were running, and it wasn’t long before several servants burst from the end of the corridor.“Monster!”“Run!”They cried as they ran past her. The last one was slow, a deep claw wound designed across his back. He collapsed before he could take another step past her. His body jerked once, and his blood soaked the floor.Then his breathing stopped.Eryndra’s eyes widened as she caught the sight of her own trembling hand. Despite trying to control it, the silver candlestick threatened to fall.Then she heard it.A scream—loud and familiar.She caught the whiff of her scent.“Mira.” She dashed toward the direction, her breath seizing as the scent of blood grew thicker."Mira!"The corridor opened to the scene of Jasmira strug
Eryndra stared long at the wall as if it would offer her some impossible solace.The world around her no longer made sense, but Theron’s words wouldn’t stop echoing, only shredding her heart even more.He feared she would be killed by the rogues.But she was an Aetheria.Her presence here would only make things worst for both of them.If he really cared so much about her, then he would regret it soon enough.Kallias was already suspicious of her.If he or anyone else found out about what her Aetheria blood could really do, then she would spend the rest of her life locked away.Perhaps this was the life the moon goddess had chosen for her.Perhaps there was no freedom.If only she had accepted this sooner.Zarin wouldn’t have…Eryndra curled herself tighter on the bed, her tears soaking the sheet.Should she just expose herself in court and take a swift death?No.She wouldn’t bear it if Theron’s name got ruined because of her.Perhaps she could tell everyone he didn’t know about it. P
THERON It’s crazy how a single female could so easily turn a male like him into disarray. Into an unending turmoil with no space to breathe—except when she was near and smiling at him. All this in the span of six fucking months. Or perhaps seven, if he added the month he’d spent searching for her. Theron didn’t know how long he’d been staring at Eryndra. He hadn’t imagined he would sit here counting her lashes and how many freckles she had on her cheek. “She will wake up soon, MiLord,” the healer said and left without getting a reply. Theron’s hands were locked against each other. His mind drifted to what she’d said to him. Her claims about Kallias. Was there something he was missing? Was he wrong when he thought she hadn’t broken? His gaze settled on her neck. He stared long at it. A fated mate bond snaps right back if the rejector marks them willingly. Why was he thinking of this? A slight movement of her lashes broke his thoughts. A soft moan followed. Eryndra shifted o
Eryndra would be lying if she said leaving him didn’t hurt. She wanted nothing more than for them to have a possible future together. But in this life… As long as that cursed blood ran through her veins, she was cursed never to be happy. “True,” Theron finally spoke. “I wanted nothing but you gone after what you did. You drove me to the brink of madness I couldn’t sate. You made me restless for so many nights, strategizing various ways to ruin and destroy you without bringing the court to destruction. I wanted nothing more than to see you finally stripped of your rights, reduced to servitude, to watch males strip your dignity before taking your head.” Chills traveled up her spine as he closed the space between them and gently locked her jaw between two fingers. “And then, impossibly slowly, those images became forbidden in my thoughts. Deep down, I wanted to understand you. Wanted to understand how you managed to make a male like me break his word so many times. How you make my w
Surging through the forest, fear and guilt gripped Eryndra. This time it wasn't like the usual thrill she felt when being chased by him.Her freedom was at stake.Because she knew too well Theron would drag her back to the Citadel without a second thought. He would hate her all over again, and Zarin would die.The thought made her sick. If she hadn't taken the necklace, wanting something of Theron's to hold onto, they would still have a chance. That one stupid, sentimental decision had destroyed everything."He will catch us!" Eryndra screamed through the night.Zarin turned his head to her."I have to shift!" she shouted. "I can carry you. The horse is exhausted and Theron is a mad hunter!"Suddenly Zarin pulled his horse to a halt. Eryndra did the same, breathing hard.He looked back the way they came. Fear flashed in his eyes before he could hide it.He thrust the border letter toward her. "Go. I'll hold him off.""Are you insane? He will kill you.""You cannot be caught. There is
The soldier narrowed his eyes, looking between them with quiet curiosity.But then his expression changed when he looked Zarin close.“Wait, aren't you Lord Theron’s squire?” The surprise was clear in his voice. “It’s you. I remember you from the last patrol inspection. You came with Lord Theron to check the wall.”Zarin forced a weak smile as he rose to his feet. “Yes… it’s me. Good to see a familiar face, Captain.”The soldier, Captain Marek, Zarin recalled, rubbed his chin, still suspicious but less hostile now. “What in the gods’ name are you doing here instead of being in the Citadel?”Eryndra stiffened even more at the mention of Theron’s name, but she tried not to show it.“She is my cousin,” Zarin lied smoothly. “She is escorting me to the border to deliver something for Lord Theron. We found a little girl on the way. Her mother was… taken by a Nightling. We couldn’t leave her behind.”Captain Marek looked back at Eryndra. “Cousin, huh? You two don’t look alike at all. But if







