DAHLIA:We were driving by the harbor when I decided to open my carriage window. Papa hated it whenever I do so. He always wanted me to sit still until we get into the destination we were aiming to reach. I never really liked traveling with papa.As soon as I opened my window, the feel of the sea breeze swept inside, making me feel a little bit calm and peaceful.I struggled to control my thoughts and emotions once again. I had lost it earlier, resulting to that slap in my cheek that was still stinging despite the measures that the maids did, including rubbing ice on my cheek for some time to make the swelling subside.I could have healed my face if I wanted to, but I didn’t. I wanted a reminder to myself that I mustn’t lose my head this time… Kaist did promise me he will make separation between us possible. I just hoped in my heart that it was true…There was also another reason why I never tried healing myself despite po

DAHLIA:As that long and eventful day turned into night, I felt nervous in a good way. Tristan and I would be spending our first night together. I will finally be with my mate. It was a dream come true!Right after the wedding that afternoon, we went straight into Tristan’s fief at Crohmwall District, which was in the northern part of Talandor, just a little bit beyond the palace gates. Although it wasn’t too far away from the capital, Crohmwall was surrounded by mountain stretches and a deep, lush forest, which made it an easy hideout for any rogue wolf or vampires.Despite the looming danger, I was not afraid. On the way to the district, I saw that plenty of knights were in patrol.“They are our own personal knights,” Tristan said, responding to my questions through our mind-link. Miraculously, after we shared our wedding kiss, our mind-link was re-established. I can now happily talk to this wolf inside my head, and so can Eva.

**Warning: This chapter contains scenes that are sexual in nature, which are suitable for readers 18 years old and above.**DAHLIA:“Dahlly, Dahlly, you’re so beautiful… Cry for me some more,” Tristan continued to whisper in an almost hypnotic tone, which made me feel more and more in heat.I wanted to stop moaning but I just can’t. It was as if he was stirring a part of my soul I never knew had always craved for his warmth, his presence, his lust. What kind of magic was this?Tristan bit the ends of the strings that held the front of my dressed closed. He looked like a rabid wolf that was eager to eat his prey, and I was right. As soon as the ribbons around my chest fell open, he opened his lips and took the left mound of my flesh into his moist mouth like a famished animal.  I felt myself gave into the flares of passion as he began to move his tongue against this very sensitive spot. I tossed in bed as he trie

DAHLIA:I was still stuck in reverie on what happened during my wedding night with Tristan two months prior when a pair of arms came across my waist.  I smiled without even looking to see who it was.“You like the trees and flowers here so much, hmm,” that familiar raspy voice said in my ear.I nodded. “I like summer time,” I said back, “that’s why I like you.”I looked up to my left and saw Tristan’s smiling face. His eyebrows went up in wonder at what I said. “How am I related to summer?”“You smell just like summer time,” I said, blushing a bit. His citrus and wood land smell always reminded me of the season, and today, it was the same.Tristan nibbled at the upper corner of my earlobe a bit in an affectionate manner, and I blushed even harder. He started to kiss me heatedly on the neck.“Ah, Tristan… We just got back. We still have to unpack,

TRISTAN:My heart beat quickly in anger. My mother, my poor mother, who was heavily pregnant at that time, was carried off like some hunted animal in the dead of winter by this blasted creature just so he could snatch away her spirit stone and make her own darn daughter live!Ever since I had begun my investigation on Lady Dahlia and Duke Hurst, my anger often boiled like so to the brim. Every night, I agonized at the thought that my mother had taken her last breath so that Dahlia Hurst might live longer…“So what now, father? Why the pale face? I thought you’d be the first one to congratulate my wife for entering the university, considering how steep the competition is to get in every year,” I said as calmly as I could. “Would there be a reason why she shouldn’t show the world her capability?”If I so wanted it, I could lie to the teeth in a whim. I had practiced killing him in my sleep each night. I could still