A story told from both sides of the blade. Eleanore: My husband rode off to war with a kiss and a promise. Days later, I received news of his death and the name of his killer—Perseus, the ruthless Lycan King. Now, I'm his bride. A pawn traded for a treaty. They say power demands sacrifice. I say vengeance deserves patience. I won’t scream. I won’t break. And I sure as hell won’t fall in love with the monster who destroyed my world. He expects a Luna. He’s getting a storm in a black dress and a sword in his chest. Perseus: I killed her husband. She’ll remind me every day. I ripped her black wedding gown. She hasn’t forgiven me. I gave her my name. She threw my gift into the fire. But I see it in her eyes—the fire, the fury, the pain, the heartbreak all that I made her feel. And it calls to something ancient inside me. She wants to bury a sword in my chest. Joke’s on her—I already gave her my heart.
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"Be safe, Tobias." I say for the umpteenth time as I adjust my husband’s armor, brushing off bits of barely visible dust from his shoulder pads as a way to keep him from mounting his horse too quickly. His men watch us, their faces cast in shadows of worry, weighed down by the gravity of our situation. This war—this conflict—I desperately wished he wouldn’t engage in. It wasn’t that I was the type of wife to hold my husband back from his ambitions; I simply couldn’t bear the thought of losing him, especially since our marriage was just a year old. Tobias was next in line for my father’s throne, his shoulders—the very ones I kept tapping—heavy with responsibilities that often placed the needs of the people above those of his own family. "I will, I will." He laughs, leaning closer to seize my lips with a mind-blowing kiss. I feel his smile against my mouth as his tongue dances with mine, igniting a moment of sensory bliss. The kiss is brief, though, and he pulls back to envelop me in a warm embrace. "I'll miss you, really. I promise to write as soon as we arrive at camp, okay?" "Hmm," I hum in response, a flicker of concern lurking in the depths of my heart. With a long sigh, he gently pulls away and retrieves his wedding ring, smiling down at me as he places it firmly in the center of my palm, wrapping my fingers around it. I look up at him, tears brimming in my eyes. "What are you doing?" "Just give it back to me when I return, alright?" He raises an eyebrow playfully. My hands tremble, but I push aside my fears. He won’t die. He'll return, and then I can give it back to him. I nod, speechless. He hugs me again, presses a soft kiss into my hair, and in moments, he’s mounted on his horse, leading his men away. "I love you, El!" he shouts, nudging his horse into a gallop. "I love you too!" I call back, running after him for as long as I can. I finally stop, watching him vanish into the distance, clutching his ring tightly in my fist while wiping the hot tears from my cheeks. I hear footsteps approaching, crunching dry leaves in the palace grounds. A soft, minty scent follows, and I recognize it as Dora’s, my personal maid. Turning to meet her gaze, I see a bright smile on her lips, wrinkles framing her face. Taking a deep breath, I sprint into her arms, sobbing helplessly. "Hush now, dear. He'll be back soon," she whispers, gently patting my hair. "I know, I just miss him," I manage to say through sniffles and laughter. As he promised, his letter arrives a few days later. I read it over and over, smiling at his cheeky remarks about thinking of me and wishing for the war to end so he can return home. The third day finds me once again examining his wedding ring while preparing at the vanity table. Keeping it locked away in a drawer felt too distant, and an idea surfaces, causing me to smile at Dora as she finishes styling my hair. "Dora, could you turn this into a pendant?" I ask, handing her the ring. "Of course, my dear! I'll have it ready for you before we visit your father," she giggles, taking the ring with her as she walks away. I slip on my shoes and earrings, then don my hat over my navy blue dress. I’ve saved the pink dress for Tobias’ return party, my favorite color—one he loves to see me in. I make a mental note to write back to him as soon as I return from my visit to my father's castle, who summoned me earlier that morning. Living separately had been my choice; not that I sought to avoid my father's presence, but rather to enjoy some privacy before Tobias succeeded him as Alpha. We could reside like a normal couple, with only Dora and a few maidens tidying up the place on weekends. Our partnership was ideal, especially given how our love had blossomed over the years. I had harbored a crush on Tobias since I was eleven; with just a two-year age difference, our dynamic was appropriately balanced. We began courting when I turned sixteen and wed months after my eighteenth birthday. I adored my husband. I relished the fact that I had fallen in love with him rather than being forced into an arranged union dictated by my family—a fate many princesses faced in the name of producing male heirs. As the carriage rolled through the courtyard of my father’s castle, memories of our wedding washed over me, magical and enchanting. "Till death do us part," our vows echoed in my thoughts, bringing with them an unsettling sense of dread. He wouldn’t die; neither would I. It’s a peculiar thing humans say, a phrase I had read in a book my uncle gifted me after returning from an assignment in the human world. I had admired those vows then, but they felt painfully inappropriate now, with my husband out fighting for our pack. Upon stepping out of the carriage, I notice an eerie silence—a stark contrast to the usual sounds of bustling activity. The guards bow their heads at the entrance, and there are no maids in sight. Suddenly, a loud roar cuts through the stillness, disquieting me as Dora grips my hand for support. "What is happening?" I manage to ask, confusion threading through my voice. A woman rushes toward me, wailing and clutching her head. She collapses at my feet, heedless of the scuffed stones beneath her knees. "M-mother?" I stutter, recognizing my mother-in-law as her hat tumbles away. She seizes my dress tightly, panic etched across her features. "Dora, quickly. Let’s help her up—” "He’s dead. Tobias is dead. The Lycan king killed him, and he’s coming for us too."P E R S E U SWhen we finally reach Eretria, the town is slowly stitching itself back together after the war. People are everywhere—repairing roofs, repainting signs, sweeping debris from the cracked streets. The air smells of fresh sawdust and damp stone, a weird mix of ruin and renewal. Thomas and I keep our hoods up, hiding our faces. We don’t need anyone recognizing us now, not when we’re this close to pulling this off.I walk quickly, my focus sharp and narrow. Every second counts. We need to find the prince, convince him to marry Athena, and get back before her deadline runs out. People glance our way as we pass—not with recognition, but with wariness. They sense it—the danger that clings to us like a second skin.I’ve never actually been here before, not in person. But I’ve studied maps, read reports from spies like Bernadette. Now, walking these streets, I can’t help but wonder about my mother. How did she sneak in and out during her affair with Thomas? How did she slip past g
E L E A N O R"James is scared to death of the dark, so please leave the lights on and the door open," Bernadette tells me for what feels like the tenth time, her voice rushed but sincere. I nod with a understanding smile as she gives my hand one last squeeze before turning toward the waiting carriage."Goodbye, Daddy. Please come back soon," Eliza says, her voice soft but clear. "Of course, darling,”Severus has just set her down after giving her a playful twirl. Now he squats to meet Hildegard at eye level. She reaches out and ruffles his already messy hair with a mischievous grin."Don't forget you have to tell me everything about your trip, especially when you get to the serpent shifters," Hildegard instructs, her tone serious despite her playful actions."I'll keep it in mind, Hildie. Don't miss me too much," Severus replies, a fond smile touching his lips."I should be saying that to you," she fires back without missing a beat. "I know Mama can be a bit boring, but don't worry—
A U T H O RIn the middle of the night, Bernadette woke to the sound of the bedroom door clicking shut. She blinked sleep from her eyes just as Severus yawned heavily and dragged his feet toward the bed. He looked exhausted but peaceful, his movements slow with fatigue.“Bern?” he called softly, his voice rough with sleep. He noticed her shifting under the covers and stilled, not wanting to startle her.“Yes,” she whispered, turning fully to face him as he settled onto his side of the bed. She couldn’t hold back a yawn of her own, but her eyes stayed on him, warm and awake now.He lay facing her, and a slow smile curled his lips as he watched her. She was beautiful, there was no doubt about that, in a way that still made his heart flutter even now. In the quiet dark, it hit him all over again: he had this woman. After everything, after all the waiting and the pain, he had her. And it was worth it. They would be together forever.“I fell asleep in the girls’ room,” he murmured, voice l
A U T H O R"Goodnight, Mama," James mumbled sleepily, already turning to his favorite side of the bed and curling up beneath the soft blankets. His small fingers clutched the edge of the duvet, pulling it up to his chin as his eyes drifted shut."Goodnight, my love," Bernadette replied softly, a warm smile touching her lips as she smoothed his covers one last time. She lingered for a moment, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest before turning to leave. She left the door slightly ajar, just enough to hear him if he woke frightened from another nightmare, the way he sometimes did since everything had changed.She paused outside the girls' room, pushing the door open just enough to peek inside. Her heart swelled at the sight within. Severus lay fast asleep in the middle of the spacious pink bed, with Eliza and Hildegard nestled on either side of him like bookends. Both girls had their heads resting gently on his chest, their breathing deep and even. A storybook lay open in h
P E R S E U SI pull out my sword in one swift motion, the metal glinting coldly in the damp air. The rogues approach with low, snarling growls, and I meet their wild eyes with a stern, unflinching gaze. When the first one launches at me, aiming to rake his claws across my face, I sidestep and slice clean through his neck. His body hits the forest floor with a heavy thud, shifting back to human form as he falls. The serpent shifters were really good swordsmiths, I’d give them that.More come at me without pause, and I fall into the rhythm of battle—slicing, stabbing, moving. Blood spills dark and thick, only to be washed away moments later by the relentless rain soaking the forest floor. Thomas matches my pace, cutting down rogue after rogue with a grim efficiency that almost feels like teamwork.But their numbers keep growing. I find myself slowly backing toward Thomas, my shoulders tense. I hate working with him, but right now, I just need to clear these bastards out so we can get b
P E R S E U SI stop beneath the thick canopy of trees to adjust my boots, my fingers fumbling with the wet laces. The rain has turned the ground to mud, and every step feels heavier than the last. Thomas lingers a few paces behind me, and a familiar unease prickles at the back of my neck. I slow my pace deliberately, not willing to let him out of my sight.I don’t trust him. Not enough to feel safe around him, and certainly not enough to risk a blade in my back—literally or otherwise.The man disgusts me more than anything I’ve ever known. I hate the sight of him, the sound of his breathing, the mere fact that he exists beside me. Maybe some small, broken part of me might have softened when I first revealed who I was. But that part died when I was thirteen, when I learned the truth about what I am.I’ve been cursed because of him. Because of the choices he and my mother made. Selfish, reckless decisions that left me feeling like some polluted mistake—a creature that shouldn’t exist,
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