The sun flooded my usual perch within my office whilst Julian sat tensely at the desk. His shoulders were hunched in concentration, eyebrows furrowed in thought. Papers were strewn all about the table in the same way it always was when he wanted to figure something out. Our situation with Mikaela was growing more tense by the second. After our little conversation with Caspian, we had turned the chat around to something else entirely. Mikaela. None of us had actually spoken about or brought up rules and boundaries for the coming relationship and that was fine. Mikaela came first above all.
Caspian sat on a chair close to my feet, fingers never leaving the bridge of my foot. His thumb would stroke me from time to time and sparks would travel up my leg in response. Any excuse to touch me was a good enough excuse for me. I felt the same, but couldn't help and think what Mikaela would say. She wasn't even here to see all this drama unfold. Every time I had a problem, Mikaela was b
Everyone was up well before the sun had risen. Sonja made sure of that. My Valkyrie was huddled in the kitchen, Emory in front of the stove. Scents lingered in the air of fried foods, making my stomach growl in approval. This felt like home, seeing them all together here. Since Julian had joined us, we had a private chef at our beck and call, but he enjoyed a more healthy version of what we were used to. Apparently, Julian only had our best interest at heart, and our taste bud's worst interest. Various conversations flooded my ears as I walked in, but everyone turned towards me the moment I got closer. Amethyst bounced closer to me, her platinum hair framing her face lightly. "I'm glad to see you are looking better this morning." She giggled and pulled me in for a hug. I smiled slightly, but let her pull me lone. Jasmine floated to my nose as Amethyst pulled away. "A good night's rest was all I needed apparently." I said and shoved past her. Amethyst's smile broadene
Sonja was on her fifth bloody Mary before we decided to leave. We had given Reverie enough time with her boy toy and frankly, we were tired of waiting for her. Boredom was a strange thing when it came to soldiers. We needed more entertainment and harassing Reverie always turned out more fun than we had first anticipated. "Can we get the check please?" Twila asked our waiter, who we now knew as Ezekiel. To say we were loud, obnoxious and drunk was an understatement. Amethyst had shamelessly started flirting with poor Ezekiel whilst the rest of us teased him relentlessly. He was 22 and from a close pack. His brother had only taken over as Alpha a year ago. Parents were still around, but retired. We didn't listen to the rest much, alcohol rushing to our heads rather quickly. "Give the boy a big tip!" Emory shouted from the other side of the table. Her face was as dark as ever, but red tones glowed on her cheeks. She had eight martinis. Wolves had fast metabolisms, most
Caspian had come to town solely to speak with Ezekiel. The latter had started posing as a simple waiter in hopes that his brother would come find him. Rooted him out and charged in to rescue their desperate pack. Men were dying every day and there was nothing Ezekiel could do to stop it. After my mother had informed my father of Caspian's standing, his pack was the main target for my father's fury. The pack saw Caspian as a new beam of hope in the dying light. Someone who might save them all, with the Killer Queen by his side. Since word had gotten out, plenty of soldiers had revolted against my father, losing their lives in the process. The only reason Caspian had ever agreed to do my father's dirty work was because his pack was at stake. Losing even one life weighed heavily on his shoulders and I could see that now. Deep frown lines had taken hold of his face. Sorrow had clouded his eyes the moment Ezekiel spoke of how many women were now widows. He was a true and just Alp
Somehow it felt easy to speak to Caspian in his wolf form. There was nothing stopping him from turning back, of course, but I think he knew I needed to talk. Needed to let everything I had been holding on to out in the open. There were no signs within his face to show me that he was displeased, nor worried. His ears would perk up at certain times, the only sign he was still listening to me. For once I didn't want advice. I had the Valkyrie for that. I needed someone that would just listen. So my entire life story bled into being. Every trouble I had, every worry. I voiced it all to him. Julian and I had barely shared such a bond. He knew of my history and all I had endured, but I so rarely spoke to him about any of it. He had his own problems, as king, and I didn't want to increase the weight upon his shoulders. Instead, Julian had turned towards Mikaela. I knew of their late night conversations and all the emotions they held between each other. When I had left for war, they
Sophie's Point of View After Luciana and Caspian had left us, I had insisted we head back to the palace. None of the Valkyrie objected to my plea, although they weren't keen on staying with us either. Ezekiel was more than happy to stay with me. Although I had an inkling it had more to do with the palace than with my presence. The Valkyrie had headed off to some or other bar for the day, leaving the two of us to find some or other form of entertainment. But I didn't mind. Zeke fascinated me for some reason, although I didn't see his necklace on him. Even a glimpse of the pendant could tell me exactly why the two of us gravitated towards each other. Ezekiel had lavished in the Palace's appearance, often staring dumbstruck at this thing or that. where he came from, such wealth was absurd. Not that they were down in poverty, more like Caspian managed the books so that most of their money went into savings. Ezekiel had ranted about the palace for long en
Julian's Point of View Flashes of despair throbbed through me the entire way down that mountain. Images of Luciana splayed on the forest floor, blood soaking into the ground. It was all I could muster not to rip out Ezekiel's throat when he and Sophie had run to me. My baby girl. Sophie was on the verge of tears as they told me to go with them. That something had happened with Luciana whilst she was out. I barely had time to think, let alone ask why Caspian was with her. Why they were frolicking in the woods when our enemies could be anywhere. Gripping the steering wheel even tighter, I put my foot down, increasing my speed faster than Sophie could keep up behind me. We had called Sonja to inform her. The Valkyrie was on their way. You could practically feel all of their guilt for leaving her. For being drunk whilst she might be losing her life. Sonja would never forgive herself for easing up her protection over Luciana. The woman would blame herself
Mikaela's Point of View Katharine hadn't taken well to her grandfather. Partly due to Luciana speaking so ill of him and little girls overhear everything. Mainly due to him being an utter monster. He had no sense of humanity. Treating us worse than animals. In another life, they wouldn't have needed to lace everything surrounding me with wolfsbane. I would have gladly complied, simply due to my submissive nature. Yet motherly instincts took over the moment they involved Katharine. Wolfsbane didn't harm her in any way, thanks to her beautiful genes. But after my hissy fits the first three days, I'm surprised they hadn't just put the plant in whatever I ate. Or simply inject me with the substance. Katharine shouldn't be treated the way her mother was, yet I knew Adriaan was leading up to it. He wanted to hurt Luciana more than anything, even more than converting her to his side. Adriaan also knew that hurting me was one thing, but hurting Luciana's pro
Mikaela's Point of View Katharine woke before me, her fingers gripping my bicep with considerable strength. Worried blue eyes came into crystal view and I panicked, shooting up in my bed. What else could have gone wrong in the short amount of time I had been asleep? Katharine seemed in one piece, no bruises on her small body. Loosening a breath, I raised my eyebrows at her. "What's wrong?" I asked urgently and gave her another once over. She had tied back her own hair into a messy ponytail. Curls fell into her eyes, but that didn't stop her from staring into my soul. Last night's events flashed in my mind. Katharine was more than likely a witch. Shoving away that thought as well, I listened. "We need to leave. Adriaan wants to move on mommy and them. He wants to keep us here. He was never planning on exchanging us for her." She whispered harshly and stepped towards the window. The usual smell of fresh wolfsbane had died down considerably. It