NATHAN'S POVI had been travelling for days through the woods of Drakharis.The sun had begun to set on the horizon as the smooth evening breeze helped to calm the prickly heat under my arms.I knew I had to take my bath soon to get over this piercing discomfort I was feeling right now.Soon I reached an open field, and from where I stood, I could see the water hit the shores as the waves kept rumbling toward them.I breathed a sigh of relief at the thought that at least I would be having a decent bath in days.I stepped closer to get a clearer view of the stream.I dragged myself lazily toward the shores. The cool breeze blew past my ears as I placed my hands over my face to avoid dirt from getting into my eyes. The wind here was strong.The water was cool, but the waves kept pushing toward the shores continuously.The water was clean, only a little dirty, but at least it was cleaner than any I had come across on my way here.I could not have a bath with the waves being this rough, s

AIDEN’S POVI sat in the cold stone room, slanted on the throne without even a crown on my head. It wasn’t appropriate for a king to be positioned this way, but I had certainly grown weary of all that formal stuff.Bottles of liquor surrounded me round about, as one of my hands circled a glass which I had been raising to my lips occasionally since last night, while the other played around with a chess piece on the board next to me.I didn’t know if I was drunk. Even if I was, who cares? Nobody. Not even my very own self.I hated everything. Hated myself right now more than anything.I lifted the glass again to my lips, taking another sip.Before refocusing on my thoughts.I hated the fact that I couldn’t get them… that I couldn’t get the girl, the sacrifice, the very cause of all this. They had been gone for eleven months.Eleven good months without a trace, and I had last seen them about eight months ago at the house in the woods.My body shook with fear. I had been strong. I had bee

HAZEL'S POVI kept staring at Morwenna as I began to walk closer to her.“Morwenna,” I called, walking closer to her.“No,” I heard her say again as she backed away from me continuously.She walked up to me as I kept staring at her intently.“Hazel, please, there’s something I need to check,” she said.Then she walked to my back in a bid to look at something, bending the collar of my combat shirt. She saw something and gasped.“No, this isn’t possible.”“Morwenna…,” I said as I turned to look at her. Her eyes held fear, and then just like that, she was gone.She vanished into thin air.Fear crept into my chest as I stared at where she had just been. My heart raced heavily in my chest.“What had she seen?” I thought.My heart pounded hard in my chest.“Why was Morwenna scared after she tasted my blood? What did she see in her visions, and what did she search for on my back?”I grazed my hand over the area, and I realized something. It was exactly where a mark was. My mother had told me

“Who… I mean, anyone I should know?”I took a sip from my drink as I smirked.“Um, I see…” I dropped the glass on the wooden stool close to me.“Crack!” I cracked my fingers.“Well… well… Zarin, it’s none you should know,” he said with a smirk.“Any problem?” I asked, looking at his expressionless face.“No, not at all, Your Highness. I’m sorry if my question disregarded my loyalty,” he said, looking into my eyes.He was the only one who did that. If it were someone else—being someone who wanted people to always fear and revere me—I would have hated it. But I didn’t. He was loyal, not even to a fault.“It’s okay, Zarin. It’s no big issue…” I tilted my head to the side. “But… some things are better left…” I looked straight into his eyes, “…in the dark.”He nodded.“Good,” I said, smiling at him.“Now, Zarin, what I want from you is to get my men together. We will be leaving for Voidfang soon,” I said.“Your wish is my command, Your Highness,” he bowed.“Anything else you would need me

HAZEL'S POV I had been sitting in my room for hours, and now I was a little bored. I walked towards the window.The evening was bleeding into the night quickly.My mind flashed back to Morwenna. I was worried, but I forced myself to push the feeling away.Just then, a knock came on the door.“Who’s there?” I turned to ask.“It’s Lilian, my lady,” a voice echoed from outside.“Come in,” I said.The door creaked open lightly as she stepped in, closing it behind her with a soft thud.Her footsteps echoed as she walked in.“Lilian,” I called, turning to face her.“Greetings, my lady,” she said with a curt bow.“It’s been long since you were posted here,” I said.She nodded. “You’re right, my lady. I was posted to the kitchen for two weeks.”I smiled. “Good to have you back.”She nodded as a shy smile made its way to her face.“I’m always glad to serve you,” she said.I loved Lilian more than any of the other maids who had served in my chambers. She was calm, reserved, and decent.She als