All Chapters of Bound to The Enemy of My Mate : Chapter 91 - Chapter 100

The forest surrounding the royal palace was a pool of shadows in the pre-dawn gloom. Elira stood at its edge, a stiller shadow among the trees. Her senses, stretched to their limit, painted a detailed map of the world around her. She could hear the distant, rhythmic tread of the guards at the main gate, the rustle of a mouse in the dry leaves, and the slow, deep breathing of the stable hands asleep in the hayloft. She smelled the dew on the grass, the smoke from the night's dying fires, and the distinct, metallic scent of the palace guards.Satisfied the coast was clear, she moved.It was not a run but a blur, a streak of darkness that crossed the open grounds between the forest and the palace walls in a heartbeat. She used a lower balcony as a stepping stone, her powerful legs propelling her upward in a single, fluid leap that carried her to the highest level where the noble quarters were housed. She landed on the familiar stones of Kael's balcony without a sound, her body coiled and

It was too much. Her touch, her words, the raw openness on her face—it was everything he had ever wanted. His control shattered. With a choked sound, he moved. His hands came up to frame her face, his touch desperate. He searched her eyes for any hesitation, for the shadow of Thane. He found only his own longing reflected back at him."Elira," he whispered, a final, broken question. And he kissed her.It was not a gentle kiss. It was a collision. It was years of suppressed want, of heartbreak, of lonely nights, all pouring out at once. It was salt from unshed tears and the bitter taste of despair turning into something new and fierce. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her tight against him as if he could fuse them together, as if he could erase the other man from her soul through sheer force of will.Elira didn't pull away. Her hands clutched at his shoulders, her fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt. She met his desperation with her own, the dam of her conflict finally bre

Two royal guards stood as unmoving as stone statues outside Princess Ilyana’s door. Their purpose was twofold: to keep threats out, and to ensure the princess stayed in. For four long months, her luxurious suite of rooms had been her gilded prison.The King, her father, had finally reached his limit. Her last, brazen attempt to force her way into Kael’s room was the reason of this long punishment.Inside, the scene was deceptively serene. Afternoon sunlight poured through the tall windows, Princess Ilyana sat alone at her ornate dining table, picking at her lunch. Each movement was a study in practiced grace. She sliced her food into precise, manageable pieces, bringing the fork to her lips without a sound.Her servant, Mira, stood

Now she understood the ice in his demeanor, the rigid posture. The dukedom was the final, crowning goal of their political agreement. Once he was secure and recognized as a Duke, her part of the bargain was done. Her debt would be paid. She would have the freedom she had once craved. For both of them, this title had always represented the beginning of the end.“In the end, you insist on this because you want to be free… from me,” he added, the words sounding torn from him, raw and vulnerable.“No,” she answered, her voice stern and clear, her grip on his arm tightening. She needed him to feel her certainty.“It might have been that way months ago, but it’s different now. Everything is different.&rdquo

"Your Highness," Elira replied, her tone equally polite, her back straight as a rod. She would not give an inch."The King's generosity is indeed overwhelming. We are both deeply grateful.""It is no more than you both deserve," Ilyana said, her eyes glinting with a challenge disguised as warmth."Kael has always been destined for greatness. Everyone at court knew it. It is a pleasure to see him finally receive his due, and with a woman of such… unique talents by his side." She let the pause hang in the air, the insult sharp beneath the pleasant words.The barb was subtle but its point was needle-sharp. Elira simply inclined her head, refusing to take the bait. As she did, h