LOGINRavenThe morning sun bled through the arched windows of our bedchamber, casting warm, golden rectangles across the mattress. Eilis was still asleep beside me, his arm draped heavily over my waist, anchoring me against his broad chest. His breathing was deep and even, the dark lines of exhaustion smoothed away by the first restful night he’d had in weeks.I lay still in his arms, staring up at the carved wooden ceiling beams, waiting for my mind to settle. The quiet didn't last.A sharp flutter rippled through my lower abdomen.I froze, holding my breath. A second later, the strange flutter turned into a firm press against my inner wall, a rolling, solid kick from within.Panic hit me like a splash of ice water.My heart hammered against my ribs, and my entire body locked up. I gasped, frantically trying to pull back, my hand slapping over my stomach as if I could shield myself from what was happening inside my own skin. I had known I was pregnant for more than a month, the growing
RavenI stayed awake in our bedchamber, waiting for the thud of Eilis’s boots in the corridor. The fire in the hearth was burning down to low embers, casting long shadows across the stone walls.When the door finally creaked open, Eilis looked exhausted. His shoulders were tense, his dark hair unkempt, and his chest heaved with the rage he had been carrying for weeks. He locked the door behind him and unbuckled his leather sword belt, letting it drop to the floorboards with a dull thud."You should be resting, Raven," he said softly, his voice rough as he looked toward the bed. "It’s late.""I was waiting for you," I said.I stood up from the edge of the mattress, letting my thick robe slip off my shoulders onto the floor. Underneath, I wore only a thin tunic. Eilis stopped in his tracks, his dark eyes darkening as he watched me.He walked forward and pulled my tunic up over my head and off, then did the same to his own shirt, stretching back between his shoulder blades to grab it.
RavenI spent most of the morning sitting by the window in our bedchamber, watching the heavy rain slick the stone courtyard below.Two weeks of staying in bed had made me restless, but every time I tried to step out, the guards outside our door politely escorted me back inside. Eilis had placed them there for my protection, but it felt more like a cage.A soft knock sounded at the door.Denis walked in carrying a tray with tea and a small plate of dried fruit. He set it on the table near my chair, his expression completely blank as he bowed."The kitchen sent up tea, my Consort, I thought to bring it myself," Denis said in his usual quiet tone.As he leaned down to adjust the teacup, his fingers slid a small, folded piece of parchment onto my lap, hiding it under his sleeve. He gave me a brief look before stepping back, folding his hands behind his waist."Thank you, Denis," I said softly.He bowed again and quietly exited the room, closing the door behind him.I had to smile, he was
EilisTwo royal guards stood outside the towering double doors of the throne room. They bowed hastily, throwing the doors open before I even reached the threshold.My father sat at the head of a massive mahogany table strewn with maps, boundary reports, and wax seals. He looked up as I entered, setting a parchment aside. "Eilis. I was wondering when you would surface from your searches.""Father," I greeted, pulling out a chair across from him and sitting down. I didn't bother hiding the exhaustion or the murderous edge in my voice.The King studied my tense posture for a moment, his gaze softening slightly. "First things first. How is Raven? The palace servants are still whispering that he collapsed in his chambers two weeks ago. Is your mate recovering?”"He's fine," I said, my voice softening just a fraction at the mention of Raven. "The healer checked him again yesterday. It was severe emotional distress and exhaustion. I'm surprised you're not asking about the baby."He pursed h
EilisTwo weeks.Two intolerable weeks, and the trail was still cold.Every morning I woke up with my wolf clawing at the inside of my ribs, furious, restless, and starving for blood. A traitor had walked into my palace, unlocked the silver anti-magic chains, and spirited away a high-value prisoner under the noses of my entire guard rotation. And despite locking down every gate, searching every cellar, and interrogating half the palace staff, we had found nothing.No scent. No tracks. No slip-ups.It was as if the witch had vanished into the air, leaving me with a palace full of anxious servants and useless guards.My anger hadn't dulled over the fortnight, it had only sharpened. The only thing keeping my rage from burning the castle to the ground was Raven. He was still pale, quiet, and delicate, spending most of his days resting in our quarters. The healer had insisted on absolute quiet for him, so I forced my anger down every time I stepped through our bedchamber doors. I held h
RavenThe darkness pulled at me, warm and heavy from the healer’s potion, but I couldn't stay under. The knot of fear in my stomach was too tight, dragging me back toward consciousness piece by piece.My eyelids felt weighted, but I managed to open them just enough to take in the dim firelight flickering across the bedchamber. Eilis was still right beside me. He hadn't shifted an inch. Every beat of my heart felt like a betrayal. Every quiet breath I drew under his watchful eye tasted like salt and ash.A soft knock rattled the outer chamber door.Eilis’s head snapped up instantly, his jaw tightening, his wolf scent flaring with sharp alertness. "Enter," he commanded, keeping his voice low so as not to startle me.The door creaked open, and Denis stepped into the room. He carried a silver tray with a fresh pitcher of water and a clean washcloth, his head bowed deferentially. He looked every bit the quiet, dutiful servant, his steps light and measured as he crossed the plush carpet.
I was navigating the edge of the dance floor, trying to reach a pillar where I could disappear for a moment, when it happened.A servant, darting through the crowd with a heavy silver tray of crystal flutes, misjudged the turn.We collided.It wasn't a hard hit, but my body was a map of raw nerves a
EILISThe bond burned.Not like fire though, this was a constant, pulsing pressure beneath my skin, it was a low ache that tightened every time I tried to ignore it.I braced both hands against the cold stone wall of the training chamber and bowed my head. Sweat slid down my spine, my scars pulling
My gaze took in the suffocating opulence of the hall. Gold leaf clung to every surface, reflecting the harsh glare of a thousand candles until the room felt like a polished fever dream.The air was heavy with the cloying scent of lilies and the rhythmic, predatory pulse of the orchestra. Between the
I awoke to a stinging pain on my lower back, I winced as I tried to sit up; my vision swimming for a moment. Gods, what had he done to me? No one told me this was what it felt like, even my neck hurt from the claiming bite. My back went rigid when something moved. Slowly turning to look, I flinche







