Leonidas POVI have not held a woman’s hand since the day my mother died. I had avoided the action because it reminded me of what I lost. Holding hands with Alora brought back a part of me I didn’t know was missing. I could not protect my mother, but I will protect Alora until my dying breath. Her hand feels so delicate in mine, and a possessiveness washes over me. As we wind through the castle halls, I know I will kill anyone who tries to hurt her again. I open the door to the dining room and Evanora is sitting in her usual seat. The table has been cleared, but she is waiting for me. “You will need a new Beta.” “Not now,” I snap at her. “Fine,” she hisses as she gets to her feet. “Don’t forget the stone.” As she walks past Alora, Evanora flips her hair off her shoulder to get a better view of the mark on Alora’s neck. She looks pleased with herself, but she doesn’t comment on it. Leading Alora through the dining room, I take her straight to the kitchens. The Ome
Alora POVI don't remember if I have ever seen spring, but here I am in the middle of a flowering field. The sun on my skin is a strange warmth. I have gotten so used to the bitter cold of winter."Hello," a soft voice calls to me.I spin quickly, casting my gaze on a beautiful woman. I do not know her, but she seems familiar. The way her eyes wrinkle when she smiles reminds me of someone."I have been watching you," she says.I glance around myself." I don't know where I am.”"I brought you here," she tells me. "I thought it would be better than the bitter cold of the Lycan Realm."The kindness of her voice draws me in, and I move closer to her. "Do I know you?""You do not," she smiles. "I am Morgan."I look at her with great curiosity. Her fingertips are free of magic remnants. I cannot be sure, but I don't think she is a witch. Chocolate brown hair hangs loosely down her back. She tucks a strand behind her ear, and I see its pointed tip. She looks Fae, but there is something diff
Alora POVLeonidas flips me onto my back and hovers over me. He pressed firmly against me. I can feel the steady beat of his heart and a strange feeling swarms in my stomach.I am frightened but also excited. My tongue swipes across my lips and his eyes flicker to my mouth."What do you want?" He asks."I don't know," I whisper in honesty.A frown pulls at his lips, and he tries to roll over, but I wrap my arms around his shoulders. Letting my fingers dig into his muscular back, I hold him in place. He raises an eyebrow and shifts himself on top of me. My legs part shamelessly, and he settles between them like it is the most natural thing.My heart is thundering in my chest. It is so loud. I know he can hear it. My face flushes at our proximity. "Does all of your skin blush as brightly as your cheeks?" He smirks."I didn't know my cheeks blushed," I respond. The heat between us only intensifies, and I worry I will explode if he doesn't kiss me soon.His nose brushes against mine. "Y
Leonidas POVMy Queen falls asleep quickly after our little tryst, but I am struggling to fall asleep beside her. Besides my throbbing cock, her arousal hangs thick in the air. My body is alight with a need I have never experienced before, but I will set my needs aside. She is worth waiting on. I will not rush her.She didn't bother to dress, and I can't stop looking at her. Everything about her is perfect. The swell of her breasts and the dip of her stomach is inviting. My fingers twitch to touch her, but she needs her rest. She is still healing from Anila’s spell.Then, something catches my eye. The glint of a chain around her neck. I don't know how I missed it before. The back of my hand brushes against her skin as I try to get a better look.A small brown stone is hooked onto the chain. I run my finger over its surface, and it stings my skin. I rip my finger away from it, and tiny blisters form where I touched it. Is it poisoned?Lifting it by the chain only, I inspect Alora's s
Alora POVI'm not angry at Leonidas, I'm just frustrated. He said he loved me before he knew me, and still, he took women to his bed. There has to be something in this library to explain why.I drop the books I've collected onto the table with a very unladylike grunt. The guard Leonidas commanded to watch me, steps a little closer to the door, and I glare in his direction. I do not need a babysitter.These are all books about the mate bond. Flipping the first book open, I thumb through the pages looking for anything that can explain why I am here. If Leonidas had other women to fuck, why did he search for me.Each page is full of useful information, but my mind continues to return to the subject of women in Leonidas's bed.With each turn of the page I grumble and groan under my breath. I am fully aware I sound like a feral animal but I don't care. The only one to see my tantrum is the guard."My Queen," he says cautiously. "Are you okay?""I am fine," I reply through gritted teeth.
Kaia POVThis cabin is disgusting, but it is better than being on the streets. After Elaine and I were killed by the Lycan King, Hecate was quick to return us to the world of the living. She met us at the crossroads of the living and dead with a scowl on her face. She was displeased that we had been tricked by Anila, but she showed us mercy. Two sisters were dying of a strange illness. We assumed their bodies and disappeared deep into the Lycan Realm. We know the Lycan King is searching for us. I doubt after learning about our betrayal that he would let us live our next life comfortably. He will hunt us over and over, and we will never survive. I can only assume that is why Elaine is so angry with me right now. I made a decision which will make it harder for us to hide. “You have to push, Kaia,” Elaine coaches me. “It is almost over. I promise.” I rest my head on the pillow and close my eyes. “I can’t,” I breathe. “It is too hard.” “Kaia,” she chides me. “You are the
Alora POVI can’t take my eyes off Bruno. He is barely breathing. “Did you kill him?” “He will live,’ Evanora says through gritted teeth. “Walk with me.” I need to put as much space between us as possible. If she touches me, I will not be able to tell her no. I have experienced her mind control before. “I think I will stay here.”Throwing her head back, Evanora cackles loudly. The sound rings in my ears, and I have to resist the urge to cover them. “You think you have a choice. I can control you with a simple touch of my finger, but I would prefer you come willingly.” “I know what you want,” I hiss through my teeth. “And you cannot have it.” She steps forward and I step back. We continue this dance around the library, until I misstep and my back hits a bookshelf. I have backed myself into a corner, and Evanora knows it. Her black finger traces along my neck, pulling out the chain that is hidden beneath my dress. The stone dangles between us and I resist the urge to t
Leonidas POVI am pissed off. Actually, I am livid. I don't care what my mother said to Alora in a dream; she should have told me she had the baetyl. But for now, I will choke down my anger. I can't risk pushing her away more than I already have."It is lunch time," I tell her. "Would you join me?"Alora looks at Bruno. He is still crumpled on the floor. I don't have to ask what happened. I know Evanora's handiwork when I see it."What about Bruno?" She asks timidly.She holds concern for him and it makes me jealous, but only slightly. There is a reason I chose Bruno as her guard. She is not his type, and therefore, he is harmless."He will recover in time," I respond, trying to drag her to the library door."Are you certain?" She whispers."Very," I say stepping over his body.She follows me, but she keeps glancing back at Bruno. Something tells me we won't have a peaceful lunch if he is on her mind. Opening up the mind link I hold with my subjects, I reach out to the doctor.'Your
Alora POVI am lounging on a couch in one of the many Fae Castle drawing rooms, and Leonidas is rubbing my feet. It has been hours since we have heard from Ivy or Elric. The lower levels of the castle aren’t flooded, so I don’t think she has killed him, but I can’t be so sure. I have only known her for a short time, but she seems terrifying. “What is there to do around here?” Leonidas growls. “I’ve got something you can do,” I snort and wiggle my eyebrows at him. “What has happened to you?” He smiles. “You used to be different.” “Did I?” I smirk.He drops my foot off his lap and puts my other foot behind him. With skill, he spreads my legs and crawls up my body. “I am not complaining. I like horny Alora,” he says, running his hand up my leg. “I think we should move this party upstairs.” I throw my arms behind me dramatically. “But I am too tired to move.” He pins my hips to the couch and bunches my skirt around my knees. “My Queen,” he whispers against my ear. “If I
Kaia POVI rush back to our room with Anila in my arms. “Elaine,” I shout. “We have to go.” Setting Anila in her cot, I begin to toss my clothes into the nearest bag I can find. Anila is watching me intently. Sometimes the way her milky eyes follow me is unnerving. Her eyes are the only thing that alludes to her real age. I forget that despite her human age, she is older than Elaine and I combined. I turn my back on her and focus on the rest of the room. “Elaine,” I shout. “Where are you?” Still, she doesn’t reply. It isn’t like her to roam about the castle. She doesn’t like to mingle. I peek my head into the adjoining bathroom and she isn’t there either. I am beginning to feel a pit in the bottom of my stomach. Someone knocks on the door, and a Fae woman stands just outside. There is a letter in her hands, and my heart drops. I already know it is from Elaine. “You can come in,” I whisper.She steps inside, but she doesn’t look at me. Her eyes are focused on Ani
Alora POVThe only sound in the dining room is the clinking of silverware against the plates. Leonidas is tearing apart his meat with his hands, glaring at Naridah from across the table. Ivy is refusing to sit beside Elric, and he is mumbling curse words under his breath. Vesper is blissfully unaware of what is happening around him. He is just happy to have his mate by his side. Naridah begins humming a song as she chews. Leonidas tenses beside me. I could sift through her memories for hours, but there will never be enough evidence for him to trust her. “Naridah,” I gain her attention. She looks up from her plate and smiles. “Please call me Nari.” “Nari,” I continue. “I think your humming makes my mate uncomfortable.” She cuts her eyes at Leonidas and presses her lips together in a hard line. “Fine.” The room is silent once again. This is possibly the most awkward family dinner since the creation of the Two Realms. Ivy is desperate to fill the silence. “Are mates com
Alora POV“It has never been done before,” Ivy snaps at me. “Your place is here among the Fae.” I shake my head. “My place is with all the creatures. I think that is why Morgan chose me. So I would unite the Two Realms.” Ivy turns to Elric. “Will you talk some sense into them?” Elric flushes bright red and looks down at the massive table between us. I can tell he has never told Ivy “no” a day in her life, and I don’t think he is about to start now. But he doesn’t say anything. All of the lycans have gone back to the Lycan Realm, and we are waiting for Vesper to return. It feels like it is Leonidas and I against the world. Ivy and a few Fae council members are being so stubborn. They won’t listen to reason. When Elric doesn’t speak up, water begins to drip from Ivy’s fingertips. She is about two minutes from losing her temper and drowning us all. “You can’t take up residence in the Lycan Realm. We need a Queen.” “I know you do,” I say gently. “I am planning on stayi
Alora POVLeonidas pauses, looking down on me. There is an eagerness in his gaze, but also concern. My magic reaches for his feelings without my permission. It latches onto his emotions, and it is suffocating. They are intense, and tears sting my eyes. I force my magic away and reach for him. “I am not made of glass,” I assure him. “You won’t break me.” He joins me on the bed, carefully positioning himself between my legs. His fingers swipe my hair out of my eyes, and he sighs. “You look so fragile.”“I am not,” I say. Wrapping my leg around him, I force him to roll onto his back. His hands rest lightly on my hips as I straddle him. Moving my body slowly, I run my core over the length of his harden cock, and he tightens his grip. I moan in satisfaction and continue to tease us both. A growl rumbles in his chest, and he flexes his fingers on my hips. I chuckle, and he glares at me. “What is so funny?”“Do you want to be inside me?” I smile. He nods with a silly grin
Leonidas POVMy warriors scatter, and several Fae do the same. I refuse to leave Alfred alive, but I can't bring myself to leave Alora's side. I didn't realize being away from her would be so painful. I don't understand how my father could betray the mate bond. Alora is all I will ever want.Her shoulders slump over, and a stray tear leaves a track through the blood on her face. In one night, she has lost and gained so much."Let's find a place to get you cleaned up," I whisper."Aren't you going to look for Alfred?" She asks."There is no need." I pull her close. "My men have it covered.""I just want to go home," she cries as she collapses into my chest."This is your home," the Fae woman that killed Estes interrupts us.Alora straightens her shoulders and sucks in a sharp breath. "This realm has never been my home.""You are our Queen," the woman pleads. "You can't leave us without a ruler.""Ivy," Alora groans. "I don't know anything about this realm. Just let me leave.""This is
Alora POVEstes puts up a fight even though his powers are no match for mine. It is wind against wind. Gusts of powerful air move across the room, whipping angrily against my skin. I do my best to retaliate, but these powers are new to me.I am desperate to keep the rest of the party safe from our battle. My concentration is split. One hand controls the vortex surrounding Estes and me, and the other is blasting air at him.My arms are growing tired, and Estes's attacks are cutting into my flesh. I can only hope that mine are doing the same to him. Sweat is beginning to form on his brow, and he looks tired. This might be my chance to end this. But I am not paying attention, and I don't see the silver glint of the knife in his latest attack until it is too late.The blade sticks in my arm, and I scream in frustration. I can't risk pulling it at and losing the vortex. My arm hangs limply at my side, and I fear he has won.He lifts his hand to deal the final blow, but only whisps come fro
Leonidas POVThis is possibly the biggest mistake I have ever made as king. The Fae Queen is dead in my castle, the future Fae King is hiding in one of my guest rooms, the full moon has disappeared from the Fae Realm, and it is likely we won’t be able to shift. Still, I am marching into the Fae castle with my army.Lobo is at my side. There is a feral look in his eyes. It seems as if he has been waiting for this fight."What's the game plan?" He asks."Honestly," I laugh." Find Alora.""No diplomacy?" He cracks his knuckles."Not this time," I snarl. "Not after what I learned from Queen Fauna, but let’s not kill everyone in our path."A smile spreads across his lips. "But those who resist?” “Fair game,” I reply. Somehow, we have managed to make it into the forest surrounding the Fae Castle. Either they are so confident in their abilities that they do not feel the need to protect themselves, or this is a trap. I am leaning toward the latter.I peer through the trees, looking for a
Alora POVElric is chasing me down the hallways of the castle, quietly pleading for me to stop and return to my room. He is trying to tell me how Leonidas will kill him if anything happens to me, but I ignore everything coming out of his mouth. My mother did not bestow her powers to me so I could hide in a dark room of the Fae castle and let men do all the work. She gave me her powers so I could restore the natural order of things. I hate to admit it, but I might need his help. Spinning around, I look him in the eyes. “Where can I find Estes?” He looks away and shuffles his feet. “There is another party in the castle tonight. He is probably there with Ivy.” I look him up and down. There is a sneer on his lips. He cares for my aunt, but why? Then I realize how blind I am. “She is your mate.” His teeth grind together, and his jaw locks. “Yes.” “Interesting,” I mutter. Then I step closer to him, studying his features carefully.Suddenly, it feels like I am transported i