LOGINANNABETH’S POV The door clicked shut behind Kael, and I was left staring at the empty space where he had stood.My fingers flew to my lips before I even realized it. They were still swollen, still red and tingling from the way he’d kissed me like he was trying to brand me with his mouth and was terrified I’d disappear if he didn’t kiss me harder.Goddess, I Can't believe I attacked him like that.I pulled him down onto the bed and ground against him like I didn’t care who was listening. And he could have marked me and ended this war inside me in one bite.But he stopped. He had stopped when I didn't.I fell back onto the pillows with a shaky breath, pressing the heels of my hands to my eyes. I don't know why I felt ashamed of my actions. The room smelled like him now and My body still hummed from his touch, from the way his hands had slid into my hair like he owned it.“I’m an idiot, a big idiot.” I whispered to the ceiling.But even as I said it, I was smiling.I didn’t sleep f
ANNABETH'S POVThe footsteps didn’t stop at the door. They came straight through it.The door swung open without a knock or warning and Kael came through slowly.His face was gloomy. No sign of rage, just exhaustion. His dark hair was damp at the temples, like he’d run his hands through it too many times. His shirt was half-undone at the collar, and there was a smear of dirt across his knuckles.He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. The sound of the latch clicking making me jump a little.For a long moment he didn’t speak. He just looked at me. Like he was trying to think of what to say to me. I kept my face straight.The silence stretched until it hurt. My heartbeat speeding up by the tension that lingered. I wanted to say something. But I didn’t. Finally, he looked away from me. His jaw locked Then his eyes came back to mine, and when he spoke, his voice was low and firm.“Let’s get one thing clear.”He took a step closer. Then another. Until he was close enough that I
ANNABETH'S POVGasps rippled through the crowd when the words came out of my mouth. Some even muttered my name like it was a curse.Goddess, I didn’t know where all that bravery came from.I kept walking until I was standing in the center where they were, right between Kael and Tommy. I could feel Kael’s gaze burning into the side of my face, but I didn’t look at him. Not yet. I looked at Tommy instead.His eyes were glassy now. “Annabeth, you don't have to do....”“Shut up,” I whispered to him. Then louder, to Kael, “You don’t get to do this. You don't get to torture my friends this way.”Kael’s jaw ticked. “You don’t get to tell me what I don’t get to do in my own fortress.”“I’m not telling you,” I said. “I’m begging you.”That seemed to catch him off guard. His brows pulled together, just slightly.“You think I don’t know what they did?” I went on, my voice rising. “I know. I heard about the guards. I know people died. And I’m not saying Tommy shouldn’t pay for that. But this,” I
ANNABETH’S POVI moved forward, trying to squeeze my way to the front door so I could see clearly. My shoulder knocked into someone, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t breathe right. My chest felt like it was caving in with every step.I held my breath all through, and once my eyes caught sight of the people that were caught, it felt like I was going to have a heart attack.Tommy. No.My breath hitched and tears pooled up in my eyes, hot and fast. He was kneeling on the cold stone with his hands bound behind him, blood smeared on the side of his jaw. His hair was messy, his shirt torn. But his back was straight. He didn’t look broken yet, He looked furious.I turned to look at Kael who already had his eyes on me. He had a distant look in his eyes and I couldn’t really guess what he was thinking at the moment. His face gave nothing away. It was Stone cold. Like he wasn’t the same man who’d brought me breakfast this morning and teased me about faking sleep.He looked away from me and focus
KAEL’S POV~The training hall still smelled like blood and sweat when I left it. I should have felt better after getting it out of my system but I didn’t. Lucien’s words followed me down the cold stone corridors.“Are you even sure she values you as much as you value her, Kael?”I told myself I didn’t care what he thought. But It was evidently getting to me.My feet moved on their own, carrying me back to the east wing. Back To her. I didn’t knock when I reached Annabeth’s door. I caught her, pretending to still be asleep while her pulse moved rapidly.She was very much awake.She lay on the bed, eyes closed, face turned toward the wall. The act was almost convincing. I chuckled under my breath and shut the door quietly behind me. “I'll just go take a quick shower. Feel free to join me instead of trying to take a sneak peek.” I murmured. No answer. I allowed her have her little fake sleep victory.First, I needed to wash this dry blood off my hands and face.The bath
KAEL’S POVI barely got a blink of sleep last night. It was impossible to sleep while she was lying this close to me. Every breath she took, every shift against the sheets, pulled me in. I lay there watching her, memorizing the way her lashes fanned across her cheeks, the way her lips parted slightly when she dreamed. Once the first light came up, I forced myself up, stretching out the tension in my shoulders. I checked in on Annabeth. She was still fast asleep, her face peaceful in a way it rarely was when she was awake. I smiled without meaning to and leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Soft. Barely there. I hoped it wouldn’t wake her. I dressed quickly in a simple grey top and sweatpants. I was free of palace duties today and planned on dealing with Lucien.The air outside was sharp with morning cold. I took a deep breath, letting the scent of damp snow clear my head. Then I caught it, Lucien's scent. Just who I was looking for. Sweat, steel, and that infur
The Lycan Enforcer ~~ANNABETH'S POV~ As the SUV door shut, a cool mountain wind whipped around the clearing, sending a fresh wave of shivers up my arms. It was so much more colder here than in the valley of Red moon park, the air felt thinner, sharper, smelling of fresh pine and something ancient
~THE LYCAN ENFORCER ~Annabeth's POV~The world went silent. A high pitched ringing filled my ears, a siren of pure panic. I felt the blood drain from my face as I grabbed onto Tommy’s arm, my nails drawing blood through his shirt."Kael," Dorian reasoned, though his voice lacked any real fight. "Y
The Lycan Enforcer~~Annabeth’s POV~The air around me felt heavy, charged with a static electricity that made the fine hairs on my arms stand up. I looked at the Lycan Enforcer, Kael, and for a split second, I saw death. He wasn't just a man, he looked like a mountain of muscle, staring at me with
~THE LYCAN ENFORCER ~~Annabeth's POV~"If this art isn't finished by dawn, my Uncle will have both our heads."Tommy’s voice was shaking so hard the paintbrushes in his hand rattled like dry bones. I sat up on my thin mattress, looking hard at the blank canvas in front of us."A Lycan Enforcer doe







