SelineAn hour whizzed past in a blur, and still no sign of Ferrara. I was getting bored, sitting idly all by myself while observing vampires lure unsuspecting humans into the shadows to drink from them. This was not my usual scene, and I could kill for fresh air.“Do you mind if I step outside for a bit?” I asked the head guard — he was tall, hunky and had a somewhat Irish accent. “I need some air.”His face was impassive, his voice thick. “His Highness instructed us to not let you out of our sights even for a minute.”I rolled my eyes. What a genuis. “Well, I'm getting suffocated in here. Plus, I need to take a pee as well.”“There's no restroom facility in the building, Miss. Would you prefer taking a pee at the back of the building while we watch from a distance?”At this point, I'd settle for anything. “Fine,” I shrugged, brushing past him.They followed me closely as I slinked down the stairs, the small crowd on the dance floor parting even before I got close, suspicion and fear

Seline“I'm over two-thousand years old, Seline. I've lived through things, met enough people, and had great experiences with people to know when someone is worth it.” He extended his finger, tracing it lightly over the skin of my face, curling a strand of hair around a finger — a habit he loved so much. His smile was genuine, and so sad, it hurt my chest to behold it. Then he did something drastic. Something I'd never expected in a million years to come.Something stupid.He turned his back to me.I took a step forward, holding out the stake. For some reason, my palms had become sweaty, and my fingers were trembling. Here it was. The moment I'd devoted my whole life, waiting for. I could kill the vampire king, and get my revenge just like I always wanted.I could get justice.Sighing as I shook my head, I tossed the stake aside on the floor. It clattered down, sliding to a halt by his feet. He whirled around slightly. “What's stopping you?”“I can't do it,” I said quickly, my voice e

SelineOne long, tiring hour later and I was still seated, muscles tight, lips pursed, as I stared hard at the fading portrait Iridessa had sent me. Jax's eyes appeared hooded in the shadows, his brows non-existent — a sharp contrast to how they looked a few days ago at the club. He looked younger. Deadlier. His nefarious smirk a slow poison to my guts.Every inch a killer.Seated upright on a wooden, rocking chair and holding up the portrait was the grown-up version of the little girl I'd seen in my dream. I recognized those soft blue eyes in reality anywhere, and now that I focused on recalling the events of that disastrous night, as well as the good times before then, I remembered that I'd always saved her from being bullied by some of the bigger pups in our pack. She was mute, and partially deaf — and these impairments made her an easy victim. As a visionary leader, who could've been next in line as Alpha, I tried to look out for her, offering comfort and being a true friend.It w

FerraraLike sunflowers peeling open their petals in the direction of sunlight, my chest puffed up, inflated with air the minute the sun sank down the horizon. All signs of sleep and sickness rolled away, my nerves refreshed and active more than ever.Quietly, I rose up, pushing open the glass coffin lid. My sole evening ritual whenever I woke up required me to gulp down a jar of pure, undiluted human blood. To keep up my supernatural strength, make me feel all powerful and immortal like a true king. But for once, in decades, I didn't feel like drinking anything. I didn't feel like recharging my drained body. I felt weak, confused...sad.Closing my coffin, I stretched out on it, my calloused hands clasped together as though in silent prayer. But who was I kidding? Who would I pray to? In all my years, ever since I was turned and became a king, I was the closest thing to a god. An immortal being, worshipped and revered by my people. By the world. I made the earth tremble underneath my

SelineWhen I regained consciousness, it was already nightfall. My chest felt heavy, and I couldn't feel my legs. Plus, I was hanging upside down in a crashed vehicle, covered in glass and wounds that had long healed, thanks to my shifter capabilities, and also Ferrara's blood. The fluid from the windshield wiper slowly drained out of the wood. I coughed, glancing around. The world was silent.Where am I? How did I get here?My temples throbbed as I shifted through my memory bank, trying to recall. At last the events came rushing back with a refreshing intensity. The road block. The vampires clinging onto the car metal. The crash.Oh, shit.Hurriedly, I ripped the seatbelt away, not ready when my back hit the roof of the battered sedan. My vision blurred. Pushing down a bitter taste in my mouth, I reached for the door lock in the dark. When my fingers stumbled onto the window opener as well, I heaved a sigh of relief. Muttering a quiet prayer, I pressed it gently, gasping when it slid