ie's

all. Looking up, my eyes locked with Ka

rowing yourself into my arms." His teas

ning toward him. I was fleei

ld protest, his eyes turned crimson red. In a flash, he moved

ry filled

igure lunging toward us, knife gleaming. F

ture let out a blo

form dissipating into black s

ne who had cast a sleeping spell on me

n time," Kael said, his dee

but the moment his gaze fell on me, he froze. His ex

ealized-I was still wrapp

ed as I squirmed against

whisper. "Do you want oth

ze and rolled my eyes

at. "I sensed a Shadrix

acknowledgmen

Kaiden le

ne, I renewed my str

've thought? You're actu

t before I could, he scooped me up i

voice was firm,

ike a puppet, I stilled as he

to murmur a reluctant "thank you," he turned on his heel

he door, my l

y lit room. Would another Shadrix appear?

d a dis

side of the room, where an array of neatly ar

s each one more luxu

ine?" I whisper

ey're al

lin

e had come o

narrowed my eyes. "

tely unbothered. "

Next time, k

htgown for me. After slipping into it, I dismissed h

caught my

pages. It was a historical account-one that tol

ruggles. Betrayal lurked within the palace walls, and soon, her own stepsister through

le, convinced by lies, turned against her. They claimed that ever since she

h was far mo

l been a

ed everything, poisoning the

ecuted, her cries drowned out by the cheers

he il

ly vanished a

it but because the true cul

, a chill runni

ng with frustration. The unfairness of the queen's fate gnawed at me. If only

ce suddenly cut t

el.

The voice was faint, yet it se

... C

he source. It was coming from the king

nvoluntarily. My eyes landed on a bag in the corner of th

u're almos

ered again, cal

the bag. My fingers brushed against

A

or bur

you doin

he was by my side, his grip tightening around m

e dragged me out of the chamber

oice remained ice-cold. "Don

d something deeper than just anger-it wa

n his crimson eyes stopped me. Anger and sadness flic

ce caught i

away. "Just stay where you're m

h a piercing glance, his

ath hi

seen him like this, but this

, still grasping for so

eed." His voice was harsh, cutting through the spa

before clenching my fists, f

dare

te where I could go? This wasn't

and yet, and he dares

auda

merely one of his wives, I wasn't so insignificant tha

ed mid-

thing but royal

the king's first son? From what I'd heard, the

's heir, it didn't give h

didn't come easily. I tossed and turned, frustration keeping me awake.

, warmth su

ong e

ng. I was too tired to resist

woke, my eyes

g was di

ide of the bed. The covers were dist

eath

as here?" I

warm embrace flic

my palm against the shee

jumped out of bed,

still