Magnus“Explain, Gottlieb! How did you let this happen on your watch?” I cornered the guard I assigned to Erina. Three days. I turned my back for three days and this happened.“I am sorry, my king. They tricked me.” The man groveled before me, head almost touching the floor. “They must have planned this…”I didn’t want to hear any more. She disobeyed me. Her disobedience cost the lives of two of my pack members. “I will deal with you later.” I dismissed him and called Gisela to my office.“I hope you’re not blaming me for this, Magnus,” she came in, looking annoyed, and, as usual, ready to give me a piece of her mind. “That little mouse of yours is nothing but trouble. You should do yourself a favor and give her to a brothel.” With her hands on her hips, she gave me her glare of disapproval. “Or better yet, cut off her head and put it on a pike outside like the pack demanded. Need I remind you of the prophecy? She’s dangerous, that one. Looks like a sweet angel, but she’s death. Poor
ErinaI hardly felt the icy sting of his leather-clad palm against my face, hardly recognized the man that gave me life. His eyes, like stone, devoid of any love, compassion or anything to make me believe he was human, bored into mine.“They are not your friends!” Fingers dug into my shoulders as he shook me so hard that my teeth rattled. “They are monsters!”My tears formed ice crystals on my face. “Any yet, you want me to go back? You hate me that much?”“Oh, stop your hysterics, Sister!” Daphne holstered her weapon. She joined our father to scowl at me. “Listen to Father. You had one important task. One!” She held up one gloved finger. “And you’re already failing,” she sneered.“Daphne is right, Erina. This is the most important task of your life. You must return to the Lycan.” He released my shoulders. “I don’t hate you, my daughter. You must believe me. It is the hardest sacrifice I’ve had to make in my life.”“Sacrifice? I am the sacrifice, but it’s hard for you?” The Lycan was
IgnatiusGarth was dead. My son was dead. The certainty of it lay heavy as a tombstone in my heart. His disobedience cost him his life.“Let me go, Father. I will search for him.” Erik pleaded, his voice tight with worry. His determination felt futile. Nothing would bring Garth back, and I would not risk losing another son.“You will not. He should not have gone back.” Guilt gnawed at me. I should never have sent him on that mission. I blamed myself for sending him on that mission. He was determined to prove himself, and he successfully tracked Erina to the Lycan castle. But then he wanted to do more.Erik spun, his eyes hard and full of accusatory rage. “Gone where? Where did you send him to?”My confession hung in the air that I sent Garth rather than Erik, for fear of him rescuing his sister. “But then he wanted to infiltrate the castle from the caves. I told him no. They caught him. I know it.”“Isn’t it enough that they have Erina? Now they have him too,” he said, his tone bitter
ErinaI wished he would kill me, end my misery. When I attacked him, scratched him, screamed like a demon, I thought he would. But he just let me hit him until I had no more strength left. Then he carried me to my room. I begged him to kill me. Begged him. But he said nothing, just left me and I haven’t heard or seen him since. It’s been three days.“You must eat something, Erina. Keep your strength up.” Sophie sat at my bedside, softly stroking my hair. Her presence was a welcome comfort to me in this unfriendly place. How could I bring myself to eat?Didn’t even want to get out of bed, had no desire to live. I kept on seeing my brother’s head on that plate, his dead eyes staring at me. Did my father know his son was dead?I’ve cried so much, there weren’t any tears left in me to cry. “I hate him, Sophie.” Hate was an understatement. I wanted the Lycan dead.Her soft hand on my shoulder was both kind and reassuring. “I know. But you are strong.” She lowered her voice, mindful of the
MagnusHours Earlier‘My king, we have captured an intruder.’ A guard alerted me when I was with Erina in the solarium.‘Bring him to the throne room,’ I ordered. ‘I want him alive.’ I left her with the guard I appointed to her with instructions to take her back to her room.Angry shouts and the sounds of a scuffle reached my ears as my guards dragged the intruder to the throne room. The moment I saw him; I recognized the similarity between him and Erina. They had the same pale blue eyes, fine bone structure. He was her brother, a few years younger. Was Saul getting reckless with his offspring?They dragged him to my throne and forced him to kneel. He still struggled against their hold; defiance etched on his features. Foolish boy. He was doomed. He might as well accept it.“Who are you?” I asked, although I already knew.He lifted his fair head to glare at me. “You know who I am. Let’s not waste each other’s time.”So much arrogance from such a young boy. “Well, then…” I came down fr
Whispers and curious looks followed us as I followed him through the passages. I dreaded every step, not knowing where he was taking me or what torture he had in store. The beast looked elegant. I couldn’t deny it. If you didn’t know what he was, you would have thought him to be someone regal. Maybe even a king. The king of monsters.Dressed in an expensive black suit that fitted him like a glove, showcasing his broad shoulders, narrow hips and powerful thighs, thick, dark hair combed back from his broad forehead. Golden cufflinks in his black silk shirt and a golden wolf’s head pin in his tie. Shiny black shoes. Black from head to toe. As black as his soul.The sheer scale of the dining hall stole my breath; a breathtaking expanse of golden velvet and gleaming tables reflecting the dazzling light of low-hanging crystal chandeliers. The air itself shimmered with their brilliance. My heart pounded seeing the mistresses, radiant in silks and jewels, their laughter abruptly silenced. Th