LOGINIRIS.I slept the whole night after we took my mother home but the first thing I did when I woke up the next day was rush to her room—wanting to make sure that she was really alive—only to find her sleeping peacefully in my father’s arms. Dad motioned for Draco and me to leave the room without making any noise so even if I had many questions, we did as we were told. Dad eventually told us about what happened the night before but requested not to say a word about it, as he didn’t want Mama to be uncomfortable around him. So of course, I agreed. I was happy that Dad was putting her first. The days after that went by swiftly. Dad stayed with us and had been doing so well as her bodyguard. He was always around her and the only time he would leave her alone was whenever she was with me. He also moved to the bedroom beside hers, but I knew at night it was either Mama would go to his room, or he would go to hers. Dad kept saying they would only sleep, which I totally believe because that wa
PRINCESS CASSIOPEIA/PIA.My eyes snapped open, and I was gasping for air. I had another nightmare but I couldn’t remember it. All I knew was I was terrified. I pushed the blanket off my body and sat up before letting my eyes roam around the dark room. I saw a figure lying down on the other bed, and for a second, I thought it was Iris until the figure took form and I realized it was a man. Slowly, the memories of how Vaidas ended up there came to my mind. He was sleeping on his side, still facing me with his arms crossed across his chest. He looked cold, or maybe he just fell asleep in this position. But either way, I saw the blanket neatly folded at the edge of the bed. So I stood up and walked toward his bed. I carefully grabbed the extra sheet and just as I was about to cover him with it, he grunted in his sleep. Then his arms loosened, and one was positioned in a way as if it were waiting for someone to lay its head on it. I was just looking at him, biting my bottom lip.This w
*AUTHOR'S NOTE: I overlooked this detail from the previous chapter. Vaidas should be addressing Iris' mother as Miss PIA and not Miss Cassiopeia.PRINCESS CASSIOPEIA/PIA.I felt someone was watching me as I walked further into the forest, but no one was around. I couldn’t remember anything or how I ended up in this place. I didn’t even know what my name was or where I came from. All I knew was that it was cold, and the fabric of my clothes was so thin that I could feel the night air pricking my skin. I kept walking. The sun came up and went down and was replaced by the moon. But the moon vanished as well and another day started. The cycle continued but nothing had changed. I was still walking to the unknown. It felt like a never-ending journey, and I just found myself crying. I wanted the walking to cease, but my feet wouldn’t stop.“Please!” I screamed. My body jolted, waking me up from another nightmare.Tears trickled down my cheeks while I was panting hard as if I had been runni
PRINCE VAIDAS.“Hi…” A soft voice came and my body jolted, not expecting to hear anything. A soft giggle followed and my heart warmed in an instant. I felt nostalgia hearing her laughter, like I was teleported back to the first time I heard her giggle in the forest and had no idea where the sound was coming from. “I’m sorry… I startled you.”I smiled and shook my head as I helped her sit, placing a pillow on her back. “No need to apologize. But you shouldn’t be sitting. Maybe it’s better if you lie down.”It was her turn to shake her head. “I don’t like... I’d been… lying down forever.”“Very well then. Are you comfortable?”She nodded before her gaze focused on Iris. “Is I… Iris okay? What happened to her?”“She’s sleeping. We traveled far and she was sleepy, but she didn’t want to leave your side so she stayed here.” I replied, and I saw her shoulders relax. I was glad I had thought of this earlier so the answer came out naturally. “I see…” She spoke and met my gaze. I was doing my
DRACO. My feet landed on solid ground, and the first thing I checked was Iris. I wanted to make sure we were not separated and when I saw her still locked in my embrace, I let out the breath I was holding. I would never get used to this teleportation, but what choice do I have? Still, this power was a gift that had helped us in many ways, so I shouldn’t be complaining. Iris tilted her head back and our gazes met. I smiled warmly at her, raising my hand to remove the stray hair blocking her eyes, but then her body turned around and swayed. My reflexes moved quickly and I caught her even before she bent backward. “Fuck!” I growled. “Open a guestroom with two beds!”Roman sprang into action and ran toward the stairs.“Janice! Follow me and take two helpers with you.” I continued to order as I walked with fast strides to the stairs.“Is she okay?” Vaidas asked as he followed me with Cassiopeia in his arms. “I think she exhausted all her energy to make sure we ended up here. She needs
IRIS. It had been far too long since the last time I heard her, but I still knew her voice. It was the only thing that kept my hope alive during my darkest days. “I’m sorry…” The voice was throaty yet so soft. “I must have collapsed again. Thank you, for holding me.”My body immediately spun around, my eyes widening in shock—mirroring the expression that my father carried as he stared at the female he was holding.My mother, Princess Cassiopeia of the Wicker Forest, had her eyes open, and an embarrassed smile curled on her lips with her face flustered as she looked at my father. “I think... I can sit up straight now…” She added.It was only then that Dad adjusted her position so she was not leaning onto him, but he didn’t take his hands off her arms. He remained quiet, just staring at her, and there must have been too many questions in his head, but I was glad that through all of this, he didn’t let go of her. Or he wasn’t freaking out. “Mama...” I took one step but stopped the mom
DRACO.“Do you still want her back?” Iris asked.“Will my answer matter to you?” I asked back.I had kept things from Iris, but I had never lied to her. And looking at those brown eyes that captivated me since I first saw her three years ago, it was getting harder to keep things from her. Her eyes
IRIS.I stood by the door of my room and watched as he walked back and forth, still on the phone with Roman.Tonight was a laid-back welcome dinner for the guests — a semi-formal or no-coat dinner, so he only had a gray formal shirt with his hair brushed up nicely. And he looked so perfect, even wit
FELICITY. (continuation of the flashback)“The safest way to go is to kill her.” A grin so wicked formed on her dry, black lips before an evil cackle left her throat. “Why don’t you kill her now?” Mom asked. “You need her alive for the next full moon until her spirit settles with your wolf. Afte
IRIS. Draco placed a finger on my lips to silence me, and that made me nervous. I was glad that he kept holding me as we walked toward the door.“Fuck!” I heard him mutter under his breath. It was as if he didn’t want me to hear him say that. He then swiftly turned around to face me. “No matter wha







