“I’ll head back to the ceremony,” Lucas after many beats of silence and began to leave, striding away quickly.Lylah stood still, a little pale and worried.“He is a great man,” a voice sounded behind her, and she turned to see Brigid approaching.“I thought you said you weren’t going to attend,” Lylah smiled. “I love your dress, by the way.”“I changed my mind, and thank you,” Brigid replied, glancing back at the corridor Lucas had just disappeared into. “He’s a man who would bury himself deep within his own aching heart just to protect those around him.”Lylah’s eyes squinted. “What do you mean?”“I heard that many years ago, during the Mask Ceremony, Lord Lucas’s mate rejected him for a Southern noble Lycan. She claimed Lord Lucas wasn’t enough.”Lylah’s lips parted in disbelief. “Is she insane? I knew it. Mating bonds suck.”“I heard she’s a dark-skinned female Lycan, one of the most beautiful women in the realm.”Lylah scoffed and mumbled under her breath, “Beauty, my ass.”Brigi
My woman?Her breath hitched, her face turned red beneath the mask as those two words repeated over and over in her head while she froze in place.The world seemed to blur out, making it seem as if she was here with the king alone."Ari…"His voice vibrated through her veins, making her aware that he still had his hand outstretched to her. Gently, she reached for it, warmth spreading through her like second her skin made a contact with his.The music slowly began again—soft, melodic, perfect.He led her to the dancing floor, and heir bodies moved together effortlessly, like the music was made for them.Eyes of the onlookers pricked her skin, but she was barely aware of them, thanks to the male who had his arm around her waist."You're good. Surprisingly," Arianna grinned."I am.""Care to tell me the woman who taught you?" A teasing smile played on her lips."My mother." Her smile disappeared, but he soothed it out by swirling her around on the dance floor and letting her fall into h
"Feel the fire."Arianna took a deep breath, her eyes fluttering open as she focused on the flame before her.She stretched out her hands toward it, trying to concentrate. Seconds passed. A minute. Then more minutes, until she gave up."Not again," she muttered, turning to Selene. "Why isn't it working? It did before, and now it's not. The fire isn't listening to me.""It's because you're not feeling it, Aria," Selene replied calmly. "The times you were able to control the fire, you were in danger. Your instincts were sharp, and the fire responded."Selene approached and stood beside her. "Watch."Arianna gasped as Selene suddenly placed her hand in the flame of the burning lamp."What are you-" she paused when she saw Selene didn't flinch. The head maid simply smiled while the fire danced around her palm. It was a beautiful sight."H–how?""Once you connect to your dragon, your body will become one with fire," Selene smiled."That's awesome," Arianna chuckled."Madam Selene!" a screa
The gate creaked open, allowing Toran into the small chamber where his father was being kept—a room more like a cell.Toran stared at his father, observing his disheveled state. The man reeked of the word unkept. Just as the King had declared, no one attended to this male.No bath. No treatment. Poor meals.Magnus looked like a battered man abandoned on the streets. His hair was messy, skin pale, his clothes marred with dirt, and the dried blood from the banquet ceremony still stained his inner pants—the only fabric that clad him.Magnus slowly met his gaze, chest rising and falling weakly. His eyes were empty.*Toran*Magnus mind-linked him. Toran’s blank expression shifted momentarily before he spoke.“You look like shit, Father. Lucky for you, creatures like us can mind-link—if not,” Toran took a dramatic sigh, “I wonder how you'd sound without your tongue.”Rage burned in Magnus’s eyes as he shot a hard glare at his son.*Bastard!* he cursed through the mind link.“Oh, I’m sorry.
~THE MASK CEREMONY~"Are you attending the ceremony?"Lylah asked as she struggled to put on a gown, feeling awkward in it. It wasn't her style. She had worn trousers all her life-femininity wasn't her thing, unlike her sister. Sometimes, people even mistook her for a boy, and she never minded it."I don't think so," Brigid replied from where she lay on the bed behind Lylah, absentmindedly playing with a small hairpin."Why not?""Because celebrations like that aren't my thing. They bore me... I only looked forward to the combat trial-the blood spilling and all. And I've had my fill."Lylah sighed. "Me too." She groaned in frustration as she struggled with the zipper of her dress. "Why won't it... go up?""Let me help you." Brigid stood and pulled up the stuck zipper."There," she muttered once it was done.Lylah turned to the mirror, studying herself. The gown was midnight blue with a touch of violet. It was off the shoulder with a high slit, and a belt cinched her small waist, accen
Arianna’s breath hitched, shock clear in her silver eyes as they stared down at the male whose arms were wrapped possessively around her waist.His words echoed in her mind, making her heart hammer hard in her chest.Treasure. He called her treasure.A light giggle escaped her lips before she could stop it, her fingers threading through the king's long, dark hair.“Alright, my king,” she whispered.Duncan glanced at the male kneeling with ragged breaths. “You are not to look away, Kael. Do you understand?”Kael was on the brink of tears. He couldn't feel any of his limbs. Each breath was like a stab to his lungs. Everything hurt. So much.He had thought escaping the Silver Inferno would be a break from the torture—something he had craved for the past two to three days.But at this moment, he felt worse, watching the woman he had once betrayed sitting on the king's lap. Straddling him as if she had no care in the world.A whip cracked against his back, sending searing pain through his