Himari’s POV.-Zorien pulls back a little while I whimper. He presses his lips against my forehead and when I look up at him, I find his eyes dim as they seem to contain emotions I can’t quite place a finger on. He leans in closer to brush his face against mine and drag his cool words along. “I brought you nothing but pain, and yet, you never once regarded me with hatred.”“I was too hot-headed and it prompted me to take the steps I’ve taken. I got consumed in my selfish rage and sought to kill you right the moment I felt you enter into my territory...and I got what I deserve” He pulls away, his face contorting into a rueful expression.I shake my head to negate his words, working my lips to speak when he shuts me up with a finger placed on my lips. Staring into my eyes, he whispers hoarsely, “You drove me crazy, pup. I lost my mind months ago, even after resolving to myself on the day you first entered my mansion, that I would bring you a miserable death...”“...but I’ve

Himari’s POV.-“Zorien, do you wish to mark me?”The way he promptly jerks, tells me of his surprise, and I rise slowly in his embrace that breaks loose. Zorien stares at me in bewilderment. Did I sound too desperate just now? I just wanted to know, since he’s been very particular about me lately. Did I seem assertive?His expression quickly changes, and he mutters a huff with his lips stretching into an appealing smile. I blush consciously, squirming into myself when his palm comes cradling my cheek and giving me the confidence to look right into his shimmering eyes.“It’s quite different with us Demons. We engrave a mutual sigil onto the skin of our mates. It could be anywhere, there’s no fixed place” He tells me, and I nod, “Oh, that’s how it’s done here? Is it painful?” I lean forward expectantly, and Zorien blinks at me for a moment before chortling in the next.He brushes his thumb across my brow, “Are you afraid?” He leans in, his breath mixing with mine while I pu

Himari’s POV.-“Your Alpha is only one of those controlling the Darklings with the agenda of capturing you and handing you over to the actual enemy who resides here”.I stagger and Zorien’s hands are quick to respond as they grab my shoulders to steady me. He pulls me into his arms while I continue to relish in jarring shock. “Pup, don’t be scared. I’m here with you. I’m never relinquishing my duty to protect you, and you know that”.I grip his arms, using them to cushion my ache. I never expected it to be of such a grand scale like this. All of this information is making me dizzy. Oh, goddess, I can only count on you to protect my Pack and the others long enough for me to go salvage them.“Are you okay now?” I hear Zorien ask worriedly and nod, bringing my body up into a sitting position. His hands don’t leave me and I manage a quivering smile, “Yeah”.My voice comes out too shallow and I lower my gaze to my hands on my thighs. I still feel stricken with a hurricane of w

Himari’s POV.-I pick on my nails anxiously and receive a curt swat of someone’s hand against my hands. I flinch to see Claire frowning at me with disapproval. She scolds, “Don’t ruin our work, Mari. You’re overreacting unnecessarily”. I cower into myself, shying from my transforming appearance reflecting in the mirror. I mutter in a timid voice, “I’m sorry, I just can’t help it”. I hear her sigh, and I feel Tess’ hands retreat from my hair. I lift my head with a flustered face and they both chuckle softly.Tess steps away from behind me to stand next to Claire and she says to me, “You know, it’s an annual Ball and the guest scroll seldom changes. You don’t have to be on the edge, master Zorien did assure you it’ll be alright. Besides, it’s not like you don’t have us there as well when you start to itch to escape”.My head sinks between my shoulders to hear that, and they both laugh at me. Claire claps her hands, “Bring the dresses in!” At her call, I’m also turning arou

Himari’s POV. - “You’ve kept this from us all so inconspicuously, Zorien. But not anymore, I know what they are. You’ve compromised our trust and let the Wolves in.” My feet screech to a halt upon that disdainful voice, and I look up at the solid back of my mate who huffs and scares me when he begins a slow and malicious deep laugh. I shudder and step back, what’s going on? How has Ashton come to know of what we are? Did something happen while I was still in the hall? Panic grips me, and I whip around to my family and see them all with unhappy faces. Then I notice someone is missing from the group. Where’s Vilma? “You must’ve thought I wouldn’t get a whiff of their scent, is it? Too bad then, this one got too excited and expelled her scent without knowing” Ashton speaks again, in a very disgusted voice and shock hits me upon realization. I whip back and step to Zorien’s side to gasp when I see Vilma begin held in Ashton’s hands. She whimpers from this grip on her neck and I frow