LOGINSerenaThe suffocating stillness of the master suite felt heavier than ever.I stood by the glass balcony doors, clutching the thick cashmere robe tightly against my chest, staring at the boundless wall of dark pines encircling the estate. The world outside looked cold, misty, and endless. Even though the sharp swelling on my throat had faded into a dull ache, the phantom memory of Zayden’s iron grip still felt pressed against my windpipe. Every minute behind these locked doors felt like slowly running out of air.A soft, distinct click came from the outside of the door.The heavy iron exterior bolt disengaged, and the mahogany door swung open.Lucian slipped inside with his usual effortless stealth, glancing briefly down the empty corridor before sliding the door shut behind him. He wore a dark woolen jacket over a casual shirt, hands buried in his pockets, that easy, disarming grin gracing his handsome features."Good afternoon, sunshine," Lucian whispered, leaning back against the
SerenaThe hollow, persistent ache in my stomach had transitioned from sharp hunger pangs into a dull, exhausting nausea.Ever since I had shattered the silver breakfast platter against the fireplace, the suite had fallen into a tomb-like silence. The shards of broken porcelain and the pungent venison gravy had been cleared away by trembling maidservants who dared not look me in the eye. I remained on the sofa, staring out the arched windows at the endless wall of dark pines, completely drained of energy.Around midday, the heavy iron lock on the outside of the door clicked back with a sharp metallic snap.The mahogany door swung open, and in walked Lucian.He wasn't empty-handed. In fact, he carried a chaotic mountain of takeout bags, a cardboard cup holder loaded with oversized fountain sodas, and two flat white cardboard boxes.The unmistakable aroma hit the room instantly, completely overpowering the sterile, herbal scent of the fortress.Crispy, salted french fries. Hot melted ch
SerenaThe pale morning light fought its way through the heavy drapes, doing little to chase away the suffocating gloom of the master suite.I sat curled on the plush velvet sofa, staring blankly at the cold, dark fireplace. My throat still carried a dull, lingering ache, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the violent tempest tearing through my chest. Every minute trapped in this mountain fortress felt like slowly drowning.A timid knock sounded at the door before the heavy exterior lock disengaged.A young maid entered, her eyes glued to the floor and her hands trembling violently as she carried a massive silver cloche covering a heavy breakfast platter. She walked over to the low table with hesitant, fearful steps, setting the meal down before carefully lifting the dome.A heavy aroma filled the room—thick, rare slices of seared venison dripping with rich dark gravy, accompanied by bitter steamed roots and an oily, pungent broth.A sharp wave of nausea surged straight up
The first thing that returned to me was the burning ache in my throat.Every swallow felt like dragging raw, jagged glass across an open wound. I opened my eyes slowly, squinting against the dim shafts of gray morning light cutting through the heavy velvet drapes. The ceiling above was high, vaulted, and draped in cold, oppressive shadows.I brought a trembling hand up to my neck. My fingertips brushed against thick, cooling ointment and layers of tightly wrapped medical gauze.The memory hit me with crushing, violent clarity.The terrifying sound of solid mahogany splintering beneath my spine. The unbreakable, suffocating band of iron clamped around my windpipe. The way the dark mahogany in Zayden’s eyes had dissolved into an incandescent, molten-gold inferno as he lifted me clean off the floor with a single hand, utterly unbothered by my entire body weight. I remembered the unearthly, suffocating pressure that had filled the room, dropping the temperature to an icy chill and making
"Serena...?"The name tore from my throat—raw, cracked, and completely stripped of the sovereign authority that had governed two worlds for over a century.Inside my chest, Night shattered into a wounded, feral whimper. The apex beast that had ripped through armies, slaughtered insubordinate packs, and forced global syndicates to their knees was suddenly drowning in sheer, paralyzing horror. In a single, unchecked surge of possessive madness, my unchained strength had crushed the fragile mortal throat of the only soul destined to anchor my tempest."Serena!"I released her neck, my arms catching her falling body before her knees could strike the stone floor. I sank to the marble, pulling her limp, weightless frame tightly against my chest. My hands—hands that had torn through iron and spilled oceans of blood without flinching—trembled violently as I cupped her pale, ice-cold face, frantically tapping her cheek."Serena! Wake up! Look at me! Goddammit, breathe!"I pressed my ear agains
The heavy iron exterior bolt engaged with a sharp, echoing snap that resonated through the corridor like the hammer of a gun falling on an empty chamber.The silence that settled over the master suite was immediate, toxic, and suffocating.I stood rooted near the threshold, my frame blocking the only exit from the room. The fabric of my dress shirt strained against my back, the top buttons torn open where the scorching heat radiating from my skin felt like it was melting the collar. The smell of ozone, burnt cedar, and boiling blood poured off me in waves.Inside my skull, Night was tearing at my sanity with bare fangs.She smiled at him. She laughed with him. Rip his throat out.Slowly, I tilted my head, the dark mahogany of my vision fracturing into an incandescent, blinding gold."You were laughing," I rasped.The sound was scraped raw, dragged from the darkest pits of a beast that had spent the entire morning freezing in mountain springs just to avoid crushing her fragile bones. I







