ANMELDENKira’s POVWhat if I don’t make it out of here? What if he traps me inside this hollow tunnel forever?“Faster Leah, faster!” I screamed at her in my head.The tunnel blurred around us as Leah sprinted faster.Stone walls flashed by in streaks of shadow, the air slicing against Leah’s face as she ran with everything she had. Her paws slammed against the uneven ground so fast it sounded like thunder trapped in a narrow grave.Behind us, that thing was getting closer.I didn’t need to look back to know it.I could feel it.That foul stench of rot and old blood kept surging stronger, like each breath it took landed at the back of my neck.“Leah!” I shouted in my head. “Sprint faster! He’s right behind us!”‘Can’t you see that I’m doing my best? I’m literally running from a creature that has lived for Goddess knows how long!’ Leah snapped back between ragged breaths. ‘I am trying!’Another roar tore through the corridor.“You cannot escape me!”The walls trembled with the force of it.“Yo
Kira’s POVNot human? Is this real?‘I smell black magic,’ Leah pushed on. ‘Ancient black magic. It is choking this place. We need to leave now!’Cold swept over me so suddenly my teeth nearly chattered. What?So I’ve been talking to a non-human thingy?Every hair on my body rose instantly like my body was reacting to something foreign, and my hands went numb immediately.Slowly, I turned back toward the thing in front of me.And suddenly, the girl was gone.In her place stood something tall and twisted.Its limbs were too long with shoulders too broad and odd.Its pale skin stretched tight over sharp bones like it had borrowed a human shape and worn it badly.Its fingers ended in black claws with a mouth that split too wide.And its eyes…Dear God.Its eyes were endless pits of darkness.Smoke curled from its body like shadows leaking from skin.I couldn’t breathe.I couldn’t move.I couldn’t even scream. I just stood there like a statue.The creature tilted its head and smiled with
Kira’s POVOkay.Let’s try this again.I opened one eye carefully, like maybe if I did it gently enough reality would also be gentle back.Dark stone ceiling.Rough walls.Cold air.Unfamiliar surroundings.I shut my eyes immediately.Nope.I opened it again slowly this time…praying silently that this was just a dream.But no! Still there.I shut it harder this time, as if commitment might help.By the third attempt, I accepted two things.One, I was awake.Two, I was in some damp, cave-looking nightmare that smelled like mold, death, and bad decisions.I slowly sat up and instantly regretted it when pain throbbed at the back of my head.“Wonderful,” I muttered. “Concussion in a medieval cave. Love that for me.”“You are awake.”I nearly screamed. No. I screamed. But I nearly peed on myself.What the hell?The voice came from directly in front of me.I jerked my head up and found a girl crouched a few feet away, staring at me with such intense devotion that my soul immediately tried t
Adrain’s POVCaroline broke first.Not with truth.With more performance.She collapsed dramatically to the floor, sobbing so hard her shoulders shook, hands clasped together like some saint dragged into a sinner’s court.Her eyes went wide as saucers, darting around like a cornered animal. But I didn’t miss how she looked away quickly when her eyes landed on Margaret.“My king, please!” she cried. “I’m innocent. I have done nothing wrong! I am only a poor woman trying to protect my child…our child!”Tears streamed down her face.Too fast.Too perfectly timed.She crawled a little on her knees, reaching toward me before the guards yanked her back.“I have always respected the crown! I would never deceive you, your majesty! Never!”Her voice cracked prettily.She looked around the room like she expected sympathy.Pathetic.I said nothing.I just watched, giving her more chances to say the truth…trying to keep my wolf down so we don’t end up snapping her in half.I watched the tremble i
Adrain’s POVThe council erupted instantly with their voices overlapping as they expressed their confusion and shock.“What the hell does that mean?!”“Can bloodsuckers die that easily?”“Did he really kill her?”“The marriage was supposed to be an alliance! How could she be dead?!”“The bride is dead?”“This means war! The vampires will surely wage war!”Voices crashed over each other from every direction.Some shouted.Some whispered in horror.Some were already pale with fear and worry.I still remembered the last war between us and the bloodsuckers.Let’s just say it was a chapter of history no one ever wants to read again.I clenched my fists so tightly my knuckles whitened.My wolf raged beneath my skin. Was this their plan?Margaret and Levi’s plan?To bring me down?To throw this kingdom into chaos?To cause a war when we were supposed to be forming an alliance?I moved before anyone could breathe.My hand shot out and wrapped around Levi’s throat.I yanked him upward so fast
Adrian’s POVThe scream ripped through the meeting hall like a knife dragged across glass…high, raw, and full of pure terror. My stomach dropped instantly. For one frozen second, all I could think was Kira. That Silas had done something to her. That he’d hurt her while we stood here wasting time on curses and rituals and bullshit politics. My wolf surged forward, claws pressing against the inside of my skin, ready to tear the entire palace apart if it meant getting to her.Then, the heavy doors slammed open wider and Levi sprinted in like death itself was chasing him.I nearly groaned out loud. ‘Not now. Not this overgrown child. Not today!’Through the mind-link I fired at Thomas, sharp and impatient… ‘How’s the ritual preparation going? I’m not interested in any of this circus right now, just give me something good.’Thomas answered immediately, steady as always. ‘Almost ready, my king. I’ll send two of our men to escort the three women to the courtyard. Everything is almost set.
Kira’s POVJust as Miranda opened her mouth…probably to scream for security again or defend herself, a deep, commanding voice boomed from the corner of the lobby.“What’s going on here?”I whipped around, and my heart slammed into my ribs so hard I almost staggered.There they were.Frederick and E
Kira's POV I am about to lead Victoria into chaos.I couldn’t hold back anymore. The sight of Miranda…my treacherous fake sister…pressed against the wall, her lips devouring Victoria’s mate like he was hers to claim, lit a fuse straight to my core. Victoria’s body vibrated beside me as we moved…m
Kira’s POVHe pulled me closer, guiding me toward the open helicopter door. “How are you feeling this morning, princess?” he asked, voice raised over the noise, all gentle concern.I ignored him. Full cold-shoulder mode activated.He didn’t push. Just helped me in, buckled my seatbelt for me like I
Kira's POV I couldn’t stop grinning as we stepped out into the lobby, Miranda’s frantic escape playing on repeat in my head. She hadn’t recognized me…not even a flicker…but I’d planted something. A seed of doubt. Good. Let it grow. Let it choke her.Victoria glanced at me sideways as we wandered t







