LOGINHis expression changed and Aeryl's voice rose.“I begged you!” Her eyes filled with tears. “I begged you to release her!”Aramisius lowered the cigarette.“I remember that.” He said, quietly. “No, you don't.” She snapped and pointed at him. “You remember hearing me. You don't remember caring.”“Aeryl, what....”“You wanted to prove something!” Her voice cracked. “You wanted everyone to know you were the biggest, wildest Lycan in the entire realm!”Aramisius stared at her.“You had your laws. Your punishments. Your prisoners. Your beheadings.” Her tears finally spilled. “You enjoyed it! You enjoyed frightening people!”He said nothing.“You enjoyed making everyone tremble when you walked into a room!” She wiped her cheeks angrily. “And when I begged you to release one poor maid, you couldn't simply do it.”Aramisius's face tightened. “I told you I would.”“Yes.” Aeryl laughed bitterly. “Eventually. But it was too fucking late!”She shook her head.“Now, look where that got her.”There
Senora immediately gasped and shook her head.“No. My Princess, I have done nothing.”“You're lying!”“I didn't do anything!”Lilah suddenly began crying as she yelled.“I saw her! I know that face!”Several servants exchanged uncertain looks. Aeryl stared between them, completely lost. And immediately, Senora dropped to her knees, unsure where this implication was coming from and fearing for her life.“My Prince, please!” She cried.She bowed her head to the floor. “I swear I didn't kill Velveta!”Lilah screamed, “She's lying! She's lying!”But Aramisius didn't move. He simply stared at Senora and his Lycan senses immediately began to search her. Her scent was there. So normal for a young Lycan girl. Nothing obvious.Senora lifted her tear-filled eyes toward him.“Please believe me, My Prince.”Aramisius said nothing. Then his gaze moved briefly to the old witch. The old woman was staring at Senora but not accusing her and not defending her.Just watching.And somehow, that unsettled
The woman entered the cell. The others followed. Aramisius stayed outside. And for several minutes, nobody spoke.The old witch crouched beside Velveta. She examined the bruises, touched her fingers, lifted one eyelid. Then placed two fingers against the maid's throat.Her white eyes narrowed. One of the younger witches whispered a spell.Nothing happened.Another sprinkled a handful of dried herbs over Velveta's body. The herbs remained perfectly still. Then, the old woman slowly rose.“There is no poison.”Aramisius's eyes hardened. “Magic?”The witch looked at him.“Yes.”“What kind?”She glanced back at Velveta. “Old forgotten magic.”The corridor fell silent and Aramisius stepped closer.“What does that mean?”The old witch studied the body again. Then, she spike quietly. “She was not strangled by another person.”His gaze moved toward Velveta's hands. “I know.”The woman nodded. “She was made to strangle herself.”Aramisius's jaw tightened. Then, he asked. “Can you identify the
Aramisius walked through the prison corridor without saying a word. The guard hurried ahead of him, his footsteps echoing against the stone.“My Prince.…”“Where is she?”The guard stopped before the cell. His hand trembled as he reached for the keys. “I don't know what happened.”Aramisius's eyes narrowed. “Open it, Pascal.”The lock clicked and the iron door swung open. Aramisius stepped inside. Then he stopped and his entire body went still.Velveta was lying on the stone floor. She had gone completely stiff and her skin was blue.Her eyes were shut and both of her hands were still wrapped tightly around her own throat.For several seconds, Aramisius simply stared. He couldn't understand what he was seeing.He slowly approached her. “Velveta.…”Nothing.He crouched beside her. His fingers hovered over her face before finally touching her cheek. It was cold. Far too cold for someone who had just died.Aramisius's expression changed. Shock crossed his face and he grumbled. “She was a
Everyone remained silent. Montessa's fingers tapped slowly against the arm of her throne.“I don't care whether you were curious.”Tap.“I don't care whether you were frightened.”Tap.“And I certainly don't care whether you thought the story was too interesting.”Tap.“I want to know who spoke. Or my wrsth shall before you all.”A maid immediately fell to her knees, trembling.“My Queen, I swear it wasn't me.”Montessa looked at her. “Then who was it?”“I don't know, My Witch.”Montessa's eyes narrowed. “You don't know?”“No, my Queen.”A small flame appeared between Montessa's fingers and the maid began trembling and whimpering.“Please....”The fire swallowed her and her screams echoed through the hall. Several servants cried out and Queen Cerci laughed softly, rolling her eyes in irritation.Montessa looked at the next maid.“You. Tell me. Who was it?”“I.... I-I don't know! My....”“Liar.”Another burst of fire and the hall filled with screams. And like that, Montessa continued q
Velveta was still crying when she heard footsteps approaching.mHer head snapped toward the corridor. “No….” The footsteps stopped outside her cell. Then a guard appeared. “Velveta.” She scrambled backward. “What?” “The Princess has asked to see you.” Velveta's face drained of color. “No.” She gasped. The guard frowned and snapped. “She returned safely. You should be happy.” “No!” Velveta screamed. Then suddenly, her hand flew to her throat and she gasped. Something was squeezing her. Something invisible. Something impossibly strong. Her eyes widened as her fingers clawed desperately at her own neck. “No...!” She gurgled and stumbled backward. The guards froze. “What is she doing?!” Velveta tried to speak, but only a strangled sound escaped her. Her fingers tightened around her throat but she wasn't doing it. Yet, she couldn't stop it. An invisible hand was wrapped around her neck, forcing her own hands to follow its command. “Help….” The word barely e
Meanwhile, Aeryl was being held out of the tub that was filled with roses and warm milk when it hit her.A very strong pull. Her breath caught sharply as pain slammed deep in her chest. The calm the roses had given her shattered all at once. She gasped and pushed herself upright.The room felt wron
Not angrily but with alert.“Describe him.” Aramisius said.She shook her head, tears gathering again. “Don’t tell me you didn't see him.""Well....""You caused this!"Silence followed.Finally, Aramisius spoke, voice lower now.“If you see him again....” He said. “....you come to me. Immediately.
Aeryl gasped, her breath scattering. His grip pinned her there, firmly, every beat of her pulse hammering beneath his palm."Careful. You don't know what you're walking into, hybrid," Aramisius hissed, his lips grazing her ear. "You should know your enemies. I am one of them.""What... do you want
"Rot in hell, cursed mongrel! My king's fire will scorch your cursed hide to ash!" The dark stone room was a warground and a shotgun was raised to head of the kneeling man. The prince didn't flinch. Instead, his eyes turned darker. "From the other side, whisper to your king. Tell him traitors may







