MasukCaelum’s POVI followed and found Fiona outside the ballroom.She was standing alone on one of the palace balconies, her hands resting against the stone railing as she stared across the kingdom.The music from the celebration drifted through the open doors behind her, but she didn’t seem interested in it anymore.“Fiona.”She didn’t turn around and I stepped closer. “I wanted to explain.”She finally looked at me. “There’s nothing to explain.”“There is.”She sighed.“You came to my birthday because you needed something from my parents.”“That’s not why we came.”“Maybe not at first.”Her eyes dropped.“But once you learned who I was…”“Fiona.”I waited until she looked at me.“We came here because we’re searching for the Worldstone. We didn’t know who you were when we met you.”She studied my face. “I’m telling you the truth.”She was quiet for a moment and then she looked back toward the city.“I actually believe you.”I exhaled. “Thank you.”“But that doesn’t make me feel any bette
Nyra’s POVThe question remained hanging in the room.“How do you know about the stone?”For a moment, none of us answered.The king’s expression had become unreadable, the queen looked equally uncomfortable and I could feel the tension growing.Caelum leaned forward. “We found records about it and we learnt this is where the first stone is.”The king’s eyes narrowed. “What records?”“Ancient records concerning the cursed.”The queen suddenly looked at me and her gaze moved to my face and then as if she could sense it, her gaze moved to my back.I instinctively stiffened.“You’re the one carrying the mark,” she whispered.I didn’t answer, she already knew the answer and the king walked slowly toward the window. “That stone is nothing but an old legend.”I frowned. “The records say otherwise.”“Old books contain many stories so we can’t say which is true or which is false.”“But you reacted when we mentioned it.”The king turned. “I reacted because I am familiar with the legend.”Cae
Nyra’s POVFor a few seconds, I simply stood at the bottom of the stairs Caelum was staring at me not subtly, either.He was completely frozen, I looked down at my dress, suddenly self-conscious. “Is something wrong?”He blinked. “No.”“Then why are you staring?”His lips curved into a smile. “Because you look beautiful.”My cheeks warmed immediately.I wasn’t used to compliments from him.Especially not ones that sounded so sincere.“Thank you.”He stepped closer. “I mean it.”I looked away.“You’re looking pretty good yourself.”Aria made a noise behind us. “Oh, please.”I turned and she was grinning.“Can we leave before you two start staring at each other all night?”Caelum laughed and I shook my head. “Let’s go.”The carriage waiting outside the inn took us directly toward the royal district as we approached the castle, the streets became more crowded.People dressed in beautiful gowns and expensive suits filled the roads, Lanterns illuminated the kingdom.Music drifted throug
Caelum’s POVI woke up earlier than usual.For some reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about Fiona.Not because I was interested in her at least, I didn’t think I was.You have only your mate in your mind Of course Something about meeting her yesterday had felt strangely convenient, she had appeared at exactly the right moment.She knew the kingdom and she knew about the princess’s birthday and somehow, she’d offered to help us get into the castle.It almost felt too easy, I got dressed and headed downstairs Aria was already sitting at a table, eating breakfast, she looked up.“Finally.”I sat down. “Good morning to you too.”“Where’s Nyra?”“Probably still sleeping.”Aria smiled. “She was exhausted last night.”I nodded.A few minutes later, Nyra came downstairs.Her hair was tied loosely behind her head, and she looked much more rested than she had the previous night.She sat beside me. “Morning.”“Morning.”I pushed a plate toward her. “Eat up”She looked at me. “You’re becoming bo
Nyra’s POVI closed the door behind me and leaned against it.For several seconds, I simply stood there.I could still hear the faint sounds of the inn downstairs, but they seemed far away.My thoughts were somewhere else.Precisely the bar about Caelum and that girl, Fiona.I frowned.Why was I thinking about her?I pushed myself away from the door and walked toward the bed.I sat down heavily and then I sighed. “What’s wrong with me?”My wolf immediately answered.You know what’s wrong.I rolled my eyes. “Don’t start.”You’re jealous.“I’m not.”You are.“I am not.”My wolf gave a smug little laugh inside my head.You were staring at her hand.I looked away.“I was not.”You nearly glared a hole through her.“I did not.”You wanted to remove her hand from Caelum.I grabbed a pillow and threw it onto the other side of the room.“Stop talking.”My wolf laughed and j hated that he was right.I had no reason to be jealous.Caelum and I weren’t even acknowledging the mate bond.We had a
Caelum’s POVThe man’s wrist was still trapped in my hand, for a moment, neither of us moved and the entire bar had gone silent.I could feel everyone’s eyes on us, but I didn’t care.The only thing I could see was the young woman standing behind him.She looked startled and the man, however, looked furious. “Let go of me.”I tightened my grip slightly.“Apologize to her.”His eyebrows shot up. “To her?”“Yes.”He laughed bitterly. “Who do you think you are?”I released his wrist.For half a second, I thought he’d walk away Instead, he swung at me and I ducked. His fist passed over my head.I stepped back and blocked his next punch.Then I shoved him away, the man stumbled into a table.Several cups fell to the floor. “You should’ve walked away,” I told him.He charged again.This time, I met him halfway, he swung at me and I blocked, he tried to grab my shirt.I caught his arm and twisted it behind his back.He grunted. “Enough.”He elbowed me in the ribs and I released him.He sp
Aria’s POV…..They made me scrub floors that reeked of old iron and vinegar, until my knuckles bled and my palms were raw. The servants — pale, hollow-eyed women and men who moved like ghosts — watched me with a mixture of scorn and pity. They dressed me in plain rough wool and braided my white hai
Aria's pov……..His palm grips the side of my neck, gentle but firm. He pushes his forehead against mine and his skin is burning.“Fuck. I can’t. . . I can’t handle this, Aria I said I would wait until after the war I told myself I’d wait. But I need you.” I need him too. I need him to be rough wit
The Evil King’s POV…..The fire never truly warmed the throne room.It only illuminated it.Black flames curled along the obsidian walls, licking ancient runes carved deep into stone older than kingdoms. The air tasted of iron and incense, of blood soaked into the bones of the mountain itself. This
Aria’s POV......The moment they came in, the world tilted.Kael’s arms were slick with blood, and Kaelen—my Kaelen—was looking emotionless and pale. His chest was torn open, the deep gashes raw and gleaming even through the healing paste they smeared over it. The scent of blood and burnt metal fi







