LOGINThe palace courtyard had slightly transformed overnight. Rows upon rows of royal guards stood at attention beneath fluttering banners bearing the crest of House of Theartera, The Outboards. Beyond them, hundreds of mammoth Lycan citizens had gathered outside the palace gates despite the early hour. Children sat upon their fathers' shoulders. Elderly women carried baskets overflowing with flower petals. Merchants had abandoned their stalls simply to catch one glimpse of the departing procession. The moment the great palace doors opened, cheerful murmur swept through the crowd. "They're coming. So beautiful!" "Behold the prince." "What a blonde princess." Aeryl stepped into the morning sunlight and instinctively slowed. She hadn't expected.... all this. People smiled at her. Some bowed. Others waved enthusiastically. Little children stretched out handfuls of wildflowers. As Aramisius descended the palace steps beside her, petals suddenly filled the air. They drifted around them
"So this is your decision. And you punctuate it with a decision to not eat." Aramisius asked, incredulously. There was silence and then, Aeryl's voice finally came. "I'm not hungry." He looked at the untouched meal. Then back at her. "No." His tone was flat. "You have chosen not to eat." There was silence. He folded his arms, watching her. "You mourn because your father has departed. At least he departed alive and well." Her fingers twitched. The words struck her immediately. Aramisius continued before she could answer. "If you choose to waste away from hunger, I cannot help you." His voice remained cold. "You will die. And then..." Aeryl shut her eyes while he looked toward the window and out into the dark night. "....you truly will never see your father again. It's a dangerous world today." The room became quiet. Her breathing faltered with horror as the words settled in her mind. "You speak as though refusing one meal is some noble display of grief." His eyes settled on
There was silence and Vinncero stared at her, completely lost and shocked and afraid of her at the same time.She couldn't look him in the eyes."I knew who you were before you knew me."His heartbeat slowed."Kaito was searching for something." She swallowed and pushed a hand into her blonde curls. "I thought if I stayed close to you.... I could survive."A tear slipped down her cheek and it ended there."I told myself I was only protecting myself."Her fingers tightened around the damp cloth."But somewhere..."She laughed bitterly and looked into his eyes blankly."....I stopped pretending. I realized.... we were mates and sex with you was rejuvenation."Vinncero said nothing. She finally forced herself to meet his eyes and said the words."I did use you, though. And that is the truth I feared to let you know most. Well.... for now, you need your strength to hear and bear more of what I have done. You should heal first."Then she sent him a stiff smile that turned her big green or
Far beyond the northern hills, where beautiful rivers ran through crystal caverns, gemstones lit the ceilings like stars and entire cities were carved inside mountains of emerald and ruby, lay the twin kingdoms of Pitshu and Markin.Unlike the kingdoms of men, the gnomes took very little seriously. Except money, jokes and inventions. And also, their courts had very little dignity.King Brammick sat upon a throne that was far too large for him and far too uncomfortable.He was attempting, for perhaps the fourteenth time that night, to wear a magnificent ceremonial hat.It refused to stay put. This hat was the most magnificent ceremonial cap ever created.It was taller than he was and decorated with white feathers. It had golden gears and tiny spinning propellers. Three diamonds. Six rubies. And one unnecessary spoon.His younger brother, Prince Brogg, walked behind him, looked at the cap, shook his head and murmured."Ridiculous...."Then.... SMACK!He slapped the enormous cap clean of
His vision exploded white. Another blow landed across his ribs. Then another.Boots hammered into his side as he hit the floor. Still, he struggled to rise.A spear butt slammed into his shoulder and someone drove a knee into his spine.The beating became relentless. The guards struck until he could no longer lift his arms.Blood spread across the stone beneath him.Tara was screaming."No! No! Stop! Stop it, you bastards. Stop it!"No one listened.Alpha Kaito slowly pushed himself upright, one hand pressed against his bleeding side. He looked down at the broken young man lying before him.Then— to everyone's disbelief— he smiled a genuine smile.He coughed blood onto the floor."Excellent."The guards hesitated. Alpha Kaito's eyes which had turned dark and agonized never left Vinncero."Leave him alive." He laughed weakly. "I finally know truly...."He wiped the blood from his lips."....he's exactly the one I was looking for. Bind him in silver and wolfsbane."********The castle
"Take off your clothes." Kaito repeated. Vinncero still stood motionless and Tara looked back at him. Neither spoke.The room seemed to disappear until only the two of them remained. Kaito leaned lazily against the table, watching with open amusement."Go on," he said. "You're both pretending not to want what you've been denied. Sadly, you Vinncero, are an omega and cannot scent your own mate. What a shame."Vinncero ignored him. Slowly, he reached toward Tara and his fingertips brushed lightly against her shoulder.She did not pull away. Instead, she stepped closer. And then closed enough that their foreheads almost touched.When their eyes met, the room vanished.A rush of memories that were not his flashed through Vinncero's mind.He saw cold cells, locked doors, a little blonde girl crying herself to sleep. A smiling man —Alpha Kaito — telling her she belonged to him.Again. Again. And again.Tara's voice echoed inside his thoughts."He is not my father."Vinncero's heartbeat sto
“It’s better to stay in the cage. Not everyone gets the chance to fly out and live.”Aeryl stilled.For the first time since she met him, he sounded tired in the middle of words that were absolute threats.The silence between them stretched quietly after his words. The fire crackled softly.Outside
Night settled heavily over the chamber and the fire crackled softly near the far wall, throwing flickering gold across the dark stone room. Aeryl lay quietly near the edge of the bed while Aramisius stared out the windows, one hand resting behind his back. The silence between them had become stran
For one brief moment, the corner of his mouth almost moved again.Almost.Then he walked past her toward the chamber doors.“The messenger waits.”Aeryl spun toward him immediately.“You cannot just leave after saying THAT. Tell me what's going on between the both of us.”“I have no words for now.”
In the mirror, his reflection looked terrifying.His eyes had darkened almost completely. And his fangs....his fangs were visible now.Longer than before and sharper.Aeryl instinctively stepped backward. Fear slammed into her chest instantly.Aramisi







