Apex/canna

Finished

Her eyes, her breath, her scent, they keep ying in my head, and I can’t sleep. I flip open the page of the book I was reading. bus I’ve already zoned out.

She appears fierce, bold, and unyielding. I love it all. bShe’s /bthe first woman who would reject my advances, and it only

intrigues bme /bmore.

I bclose /bthe book and lie back in my bed in the ck Tower. A domain I’ve lived in all my life. In pain, bin /bagony, in chains and in istion. No one dares cross the threshold. Not even my sisters.

Trapped in a chamber covered in ancient runes and spells, I was confined to keep my beasts in check and my powers hidden.

The curse from the Moon Goddess was meant to weigh me down, but somehow btoday/b, when I saw it bdidnt /bwork on her, I felt fulfilled. Grateful, beven/b.

1 lower my gaze and try to get some sleep, but then the memory of her lips shes through my mind, and I flutter my eyelids Jopen bagain/bb. /bfnac04 Original content can be found at Find★Novel/fnac04

I’m a man who is not easily infatuated. I was groomed from age eight by the order of my own father. I know what sex feels. like, what it means to be in bondage and lust. He prepared me for everything and made me bleed for it.

But the one thing he didn’t prepare me for was her.

That hazel–eyed woman who met my gaze without flinching.

I have never wanted anything. Not even the crown. But bnow /bI bwant /bher lips,

I set my jaw against the feeling, bknowing /bfull well I must not indulge in anything that will weaken me. My enemies are waiting for prey.

I try to sleep again, but I sense him at the entrance, Chantel

I turn to see him standing in the shadows like he always does. Silent and deadly. That’s what he is. Loyal to the bone but only

to me.

He doesn’t leave the ck Tower. Few have ever seen him.

bA /bmaid steps forward and bows low, her eyes downcast, never daring to meet mine.

“It’s past curfewb, /band byour /bsister isn’t in her room,” he says.

I pause.

“bWhat/b? Mearez?” I bask/b, but he shakes his bhead/b.

I set my jaw in anger.

Serena.

I get out of bed, grab my brobe/bb, /band head bat /bonce toward the Royal Grand Hall where my sisters‘ chambers are located.

bMaids /bline the corridor, hundreds of them on duty, and the moment they see meb, /bthey fall to their feet. I ignore them..

I push open Mearez’s door and see her just climbing into bed.

set my jaw and turn to the chamber across from hers. I open the door. It’s empty. Serena is gone.

“What’s wrong?” Mearez asks from behind me bas /bshe enters, but I stay silent, jaw tight. She understands immediately.

She must still be at the afterparty.”

PMP P

#Finished

It’ste.”

“I know,” she agrees, then adds, “It’s your cormation. Why don’t we…”

bMy /bsingle re silences her and She goes quiet.

I walk to the window band /bpeer out.

We can’t stay out at nightfall, especially when the full moon is just in two days. It’s a luxury we, the Lycans, cannot afford. Not

now. Not ever.

We have curfews we bmust /babide by. Or else the enemies will attack when we are vulnerable.

I’m fuming when footsteps approach. The door opens.

Serena bwalks /bin, clearly not expecting me. But when her eyesnd on mine, I see her shudder.

She lowers her gaze and heads toward the bath chamber.

“You’rete,” I bsay/b.

She pauses their keeps walking.

“I apologize.”

“Apology won’t fix anything.” I reply curtly. She halts.

1 let my eyes scan her. Her hair, her scent

“You’ve been sleeping around?”

“And when did you start caring, little brotherb?/b”

*Serena. Mearez warns, but Serena goes on.

“We deserve to celebrate. Father is dead. We’re free.”

“We’re bnot/bb./b” I correct her, stepping closer. My hand cups her cheek. “And you can’t sleep around, Serena.”

“I’m sick of being told what to do,” she snaps, pulling back. “I’m not going to be under yourmand anymore. I’m tired of all the restraint!”

She turns to Mearez. You’re the eldest. Don’t you want to get married can’t do this anymore. It’s exhausting! I’ll get fucked by any man I choose and no one will stop me.”

I swallow hard at her deration, staring at her in silence. The air tenses.

Atst, I nod.

“What’s his name?” I ask and She freezes.

I walk toward her again, slow and deliberate.

“Tell me his name. bMaybe /bwe’ll barrange /ba meeting. See if he suits you,”

It’s a trap. She bknows /bit,

She knows that once I know the name, the man won’t live bto /bsee tomorrow,

close in on her, gently take her trembling hand, and cup her bcheek /bagain.

“Go on, I urge softly. “Hmmb?/b”

Tears well in her eyes. Not from fear but from being caged without chains. She looks into my eyes and slowly shakes her head.

Finished

It’s a wonder how someone so fiesty can break so fast,

“You sure?” I ask, searching her eyes. She sniffs and nods, “Good.”

I lean in and kiss her lips gently. When I pull back. I see the tears trailing down her cheeks.

“No one’s going to love us. Not now. Not when they know what we really are. Father is dead, but that doesn’t mean we’re free. We have benemies/b. More than ever.”

I turn toward the exit band /bspeak to the guards,

“Confine her in her chambers until the full moon bends/b. No guests are allowed to see her.”

b“/bYes, sire.”

I’m about to leave when her bitter voice cuts through.

“She’s not going to love you either.b” /b

1 freezeb. /b

“bThat /bRogue… she’ll never ept you for what you are. All she’ll ever see is a bloodthirsty, cursed, obsessive Lycan King. She’ll never see you as a man. And you’ll end up watching her marry someone else…. while you rot in your ck Tower.”

“Serena, that’s enough!” Mearez warns.

But the de bhas /balready pierced.

I walk out, pain wing at my chest. An bache /bI’ve never felt before.

*Bring my horse over.” I mind–link Chantel at once.

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