Shadow Queen 소설 & 이야기

But the way she leaned forward, gripping my chin so tight her manicured nails pressed crescents into my skin, burned the words into me like a brand: “Say little. Obey. Dance to his music.” That was her golden rule. Her number one commandment. She repeated it so many times that night I could hear it in the rhythm of my pulse. Speak little. Obey. Dance. To. His. Music. I pressed my lips together in the dark window, staring at my reflection. Her reflection, not mine.

"You've taken enough from me." *"Because,"* the Shadow-Queen said, her form beginning to fade. *"I was the first Queen who signed I'ma contract with them. Look at me, Kaima. This is what's left when they're finished with you. A ghost with no name and no home."* --- ### The Choice at Dawn The night felt like a second. I didn't sleep. I sat by the fountain, watching the stars—the same stars that the Tailor had once used to weave the world.

Within seconds, the freezing rain completely soaked her dark hair, gluing the wet strands to her pale face. Her body was aching with a brutal, white-hot heat. The royal magic inside her blood was thrashing violently behind her ribs, reacting to the extreme danger of the coming dawn. The dry, bitter taste of copper blood flooded her mouth. She tightly clamped her mouth shut, forcing her teeth together as she forcefully swallowed the hot blood down. She kept her posture perfectly straight, her face a flawless, stoic mask of absolute innocence. Beneath her wet grey sleeve, her golden star birthmark remained hidden in the dark.

She had something more important to be dealt with at the moment and that was to reject her mate outright before this could get out of control. “You heard me, Omega. You’re the lowest and the weakest of the pack. I’m sure you’re aware that I am the Ultima—the last two living ones of the Shadow Pack. Do you think my brother would accept you as his brother-in-law, the worthy mate for his sister? In your dreams, Adamos,” Samantha hissed between her teeth as Zack was staring at her.

It fits my schedule, helps with my mama's expenses in her recovery from cancer, and doesn't taint my reputation because of the mask I always wear. Ever since I started this job I was immediately known as reina de los muertos or the midnight queen. This is because of how I hunt my prey and how I kill them in the most brutal way possible. I never knew how exhilarating danger was if I just stayed inside my shell. Now I tasted blood, I never wanted to stop. My soul is tainted and it is irrevocable. Every mission I give to my mama's treatment and for my brother's expenses at school. This is usually how my life is every day. I treat people with care at day then at night, the underworld hires me to

Sitting up abruptly, she scanned her surroundings, realizing she was in the altar of the Witch Queen Mother of the Ocean. "You're so lucky, Anne," the Queen Mother remarked, pouring a substance into a calabash. Anne turned around to see the Queen Mother behind her. The Queen Mother was a beautiful mermaid adorned with a golden crown atop her head and holding a golden scepter in her left hand. "All hail the Queen Mother," Anne said, bowing humbly. The Queen scoffed. "Not yet." Anne lowered her gaze, expressing her regret. "I am sorry this happened, Mother," she said humbly.

"But Lilith—the Queen of vampires, isn't going to be happy when this comes out tomorrow. I doubt she's aware Lycaon has done this." “The queen of the vampires?” Emily said in a slightly mocking tone. “She's going to be angry with me?” That sounded just about right, considering everything else that had happened. Why not? Paoli gave her an apologetic look. “Not with you, exactly. But she'll be angry when she learns the truth. This hints at betrayal. The best thing you can do is try to appear meek and stay behind William and me. We'll shield you as much as possible.”

The Queen’s eyes sweep the group, landing on Liam and softening, then hardening again. “Rise, all of you,” the Queen says. “I want to see my daughters’ faces.” Zayla stands, flanked by Bella, Liam, Jenifer, Alex, and Amanda. The Queen’s gaze lingers on Bella’s jaw, the tilt of her chin, and a faint line of pride. Then, she moves to Zayla, inspecting the violet shimmer of her scales. “So. You have shifted. Congratulations. Few survive the first time without… incident.”

“Before I tell you, you must know that whatever the outcome, one thing is for certain. I will go down in flames or die trying to save us. We need to take every risk necessary to reach our endgame.” “And what exactly is our end game here, Leo?” Since the moment I first saw her, I have concealed a dark secret behind the facade of trying to be her hero. The heart of the now-defiant Queen may belong to someone else... But the truth is, Zeynep Volkov belongs to me and I will reduce cities to soot and ash to claim what is rightfully mine. No matter what it takes. I'll make her mine. If I have to wait... Kill for her...

“You think you’re the only one?” “You wound me, Delia,” Gray chuckles. She slaps his arm playfully, letting him know it's time to get serious. He straightens up, as all signs of amusement snap from his face in a split second and holds still while she goes to work on the chain in his hands. She places both of her hands a few inches above the metal and whispers some incantation until a low blue glow can be seen from underneath her palms. When the glow fades she moves her warm copper brown hands and sighs.