Katharine's Point of ViewMother had told me that I was to stay home for the next few days, or until my ball. The walls had grown suffocating, the music bland. I wanted out. A dress had been picked and would arrive shortly. All the finer details for the ball was planned out and I needed a breather from it all. From being Royal.Sneaking out of the palace wasn't the hard part. The hard part came when Reverie insisted that she came with. Along with Claire and Emory. Apparently they didn't like being cooped up the way they were. Sonja had retired to her room, leaving us to scheme. Emory was in her dark pit again, as her mate had left her only two weeks prior due to Emory constantly needing to be away. And Claire... Well she was just Claire. Amethyst had opted out, rather staying in with Willa and watching a movie. Neither had found their mates yet, but they wouldn't find them in their bedrooms either.Yes Reverie was expecting and Sebastian won't b

The day had finally arrived. My coming out ball was tonight and the nerves within my body stood on end. There was no escaping the spotlight now. Nowhere to run or hide. From tonight on, my face will be splashed all over the tabloids. I could already see the titles. 'Long lost princess, finally home.' It made my stomach roll even more. No more sneaking out and expecting no one to know who I was. No more causing trouble beneath white strobe lights. Drowning. This was what drowning felt like, I was sure of it.Luciana walked in front of me, her hair swaying in the light breeze, Mikaela tense beside her. An event planner, I had no idea the name of, walked on Luciana's other side. They were finalizing the decor for tonight, along with where everyone would sit. Royals had started coming in late last night, some of whom I had never even met before. Great-grandma Lillian had rolled her eyes at most of them and I had to stifle my giggles with the comments she made. Power hungry and se

When I was young, my mother would tell me stories of how I would find the right person. The way they would fit you perfectly. Someone to compliment you. After all, you are already whole, now you are just a matching set. They would come in and sweep you off of your feet. Change the way you saw the world.But all I saw now was red. Blinding red.This was too much to take in. I wasn't ready to find him yet. I had barely tasted the world. Barely had a chance to explore all it had to offer. Besides, he had Emma."This can't be happening," I muttered and ripped my arm from his grasp. Levi couldn't meet my eyes. I didn't want him to. I was too scared that I would fall into them and never get out. Wasn't that how this went? You found your mate and suddenly you couldn't think for yourself anymore."Katharine, I-""You don't have to say it, I don't want you to say it. I already know what you are thinking," I whispered and turned to leave again."We ca

Luciana's Point of ViewHe couldn't handle her. Had simply stood there and watched as the world around her had crumbled. Was he the perfect fit? Our decision to make Katharine join another house sounded absurd after seeing what had happened. Levi had panicked and if he hadn't gotten out of it, he would have been badly injured. Levi Emmerson. He was a mighty wizard, close to even Katharine, but was he the correct one to guide her forward?Mikaela had walked in at the right time as well. She saw the incompetence dancing in his eyes. Smelt the fear hanging over him. None of us could have touched her. Could have stopped her. But he had gained access to her skin. Soothed her until all her magic had vanished into thin air.Once upon a time, I would have believed it to be a fluke, but I knew better. Miranda had trained Katharine for years now and she had never reacted so poorly to the training. There was something else afoot. Mikaela knew it as well. C

Luciana's Point of ViewWashing away the remnants of what had taken place, I savored the cascading water down my body. Every drop brought me closer to feeling like myself. Caspian and Julian had hit up the spare bathroom. I needed to be alone for a moment. To just take my time in processing what was happening with Katharine.Levi seemed to be more of a hinderance to Katharine than an asset. He would reject my daughter, then expect her to follow him. Arrogance would be his greatest downfall. Nonetheless, Julian wouldn't budge on having Levi removed. He was right, no one else matched Katharine in power or stamina. That still didn't mean that he was the right choice for our daughter. She needed someone who believed in her and clearly he didn't.Closing the taps of the shower, I stepped out and folded myself in a white towel. Steam curled all around me as I walked towards the mirror. Wiping the condensation from the shiny surface, I faced m