"Really?” Arianna chuckled as Selene spoke about beyond the realm. Even though the head maid was smiling ear to ear, Arianna could see a hint of sadness in her eyes.“Yeah. He was a stubborn little kid. Lylah reminds me of him,” Selene said.“Ashton is probably all grown up by now. And alive—he’s a survivor, after all,” Arianna shrugged. As the head maid's smile brightened, Arianna decided to change the topic.“I’ve been wondering… did Valkyrie go through all this Queen training before the Grand Festival? I only remember her proudly walking around the palace with no intention of studying.”Selene chuckled. “No. Valkyrie was lazy while she was the King’s betrothed, and the King didn’t force her since he didn’t really have any interest in making her his Queen.”Lylah chuckled from around the corner. “Sure she was. I knew the bitch was lazy—wanting something that wasn't meant for her,” she said, indirectly referring to someone else.She was lounging in a chair, reading a combat book, her
Lord Valoreth stood frozen, jaw slack. The goblet in his hand would have fallen if he hadn’t gathered himself in the next second.Lord Damaris wore the same expression, the color drained from his face.Both ancient Lycans stared at the messenger, who had just finished reading from the small scroll, their eyes wide as if waiting for him to laugh and admit it was a fucking joke.“Are you certain?” Damaris finally managed to speak.“Yes, my Lord—” the messenger’s words were cut off as Valoreth snatched the paper, its sympathetic ink revealed, from his hands.Reading through it, anger flared through Valoreth’s bones and he smashed his goblet against the nearest wall, sending its pieces scattering.“Fuucckkk!!!” he roared, raking his thick, long brown hair back.Damaris was barely holding himself together, his fists clenched with rage.Valoreth cursed under his breath over and over, searching for something else to destroy but, finding nothing, forced himself to stay calm.“Could that be a
A FEW HOURS AGOAs Lylah explained what she meant--how she feels around the Grand Lord: the pounding of her heart, reddened cheeks, unbidden thoughts spiraling around him, the way his voice and presence made her feel on top of the world, how upset she got seeing him with another—Arianna couldn’t keep her mouth shut.Lylah was kind that despised the word couples. She scoffed at the sight of two people whispering sweet things to each other. Rolled her eyes when mates meets.The only pair she tolerated was their parents—but even then, the way their father lost himself after their mother’s death only made her hate love more.It was no surprise Lylah didn’t want a mate and rejected every single young male who managed to ignore her cold façade and approach her.Lylah had broken three young he-wolves' noses just because they tried to kiss her.Arianna even thought her sister might never feel anything close to love—at least not the kind that made hearts race and logic scatter. So, hearing L
“Can’t the idiot Lords just get arrested by the King?” Lylah asked Arianna as they had lunch together.“And why should they be arrested?”“I don’t know,” Lylah shrugged. “They’re… disobeying the King.”Arianna dropped her fork and explained, “That’s not how politics works, Lylah. They’re the pillars of the realm. They see me as a threat and are doing what they think is right. All of this depends on the realm’s decision. If we get most of the realm on our side, then it’s game over for them.”Lylah’s lips twitched. “But they’re not going to sit still and wait.”“We know,” Arianna nodded. “But the King can’t just arrest them without proof. Lord Valoreth has had a clean record ever since he was appointed to his regal post. There’s no evidence—yet. Duncan is still digging… but right now…” her lips tightened, “it’s a thin line. Acting out might make the realm believe I really did manipulate the King and turned him against his people.”“Ohhhh…” Lylah drawled. “That’s why the King is holding
If Lucas could do anything to suppress the ache in his head, he would. They felt like it was going to split open at any moment from the relentless pounding of an invisible hammer.With an arm draped over his face, he lay on his bed with his eyes shut.“Breakfast, my Lord,” the maid announced in a whisper.He dismissed her with a flick of his finger and turned back, trying to find some sleep.However, a strong scent caught his nose, and he sighed.“Please don’t tell me Falcon reported to you,” Lucas mumbled.“I knew you’d be this stubborn, so I asked him. Turned out I was right, Lucas. What the in the heavens is wrong with you? Are you going to keep letting yourself suffer?”Opening red, tired eyes, Lucas rose from the bed and greeted the king, then headed to the table and drank a good amount of the water that had been served.“I’m fine, your Grace.”“No, you’re not. Werewolves can go on without satisfying themselves, but Lycans? Not satisfying that craving especially on the full moon
Rain poured from the sky, thunder roaring as lightning flashed its zigzag pattern across the dark heavens.Falcon found the regal Grand Lord standing by a corridor, eyes tightly shut, his arms clamped behind his back. The tension in his broad shoulders showed the male was raging with his Lycan within.Worried that Lucas might lose himself, Falcon suggested, “Shall I call Yvonne back?”The male didn’t reply for what felt like too long. His mind replayed everything he had said to Lylah. Apart from Duncan, Falcon and a few females he had harshly mounted, Lucas had never spoken of his sick desire. Now that Lylah knew of it, it felt… strange.After realizing what he had said, he had added more.‘If you want to keep your soul still intact, little wolf… run as fast as you can. Before I stop caring whether I’ll break you…’He had left her there after those words—words he had meant. Now, knowing how she felt, and how crazily her scent intoxicated him under the full moon, Lucas feared it woul