Ryder, Lord of Astaroth

ircle, events happening within the palace or anywhere for that matter, which was why I had tried to convince mother that I would not be ab

nouncement father had made at the dinner table a week before. "This is a good opportunity to get to

crush or a sou

nd at that age, you get to find your soul mate. Are you not excited?" Mothe

ss-like" at the dinner table because the Duke of Brigham had shown up, unannounced late in the evening and he had brought along his eldest son. Father had said it was impromptu and unarranged but

oughout dinner and he sweated a lot. He was a daunt, I could tell but he had stolen glances at me a lot during the meal, which had made me uncomforta

ughter?" He had asked. "You have bee

frozen, exchanging glances at my two sisters also seated

n't frighten

his son by the shoulder. Eric kept his head low and chuckled nervously, he looked up and met my angry sta

hen he smiled to mother and back at the duke. "Doe

uld plan my marriage to this... man if it were po

he men from laughing. "We find our soul mates at the age

marriage and the two men had gone on to discuss oth

hteen and find my soul mate but excited about marriage to Eric? No. In absolutely no

your soul mate? Would you

re not so c

-

l stupid. I felt that I and Gwyn looked like lost twin princesses wearing the same outfit, which in the actual sense was not totally wrong, since we were both pri

t and right and staring at myself in the

dress through the mirror, she was ten years younger than I was but seemed to be

nd cupping my full breasts, mother had said I had developed early. The lower part of the dress was loose an

who was sitting on the bed to ask f

ix-year-old eyes roam all over my body once, from my perfect

-

rom the sight of my father after I had sighted him talking to the Du

your soul mate? Would you

ng to dance with some of them whom I found to be attractive and whom I wanted to be my soul mate but neither of us did feel any ki

going to do th

Eric was destined to be my soul mate, then I would, by all means, avoid us meeting today. I sl

ng to crown prince who would eventually become the next king. I had lived in the castle all my life, for eighteen

. It was the painting of a handsome Prince in his royal regalia. 1800AD

inting moved. Its eyes followed my every movement. For a while,

shook

yelp when it winked at me, my back colliding into th

easy red."

dor was dim but I could see him clearly. His well-defined features

s which seemed wet and shiny. He was taller. Much taller and muscular and I found him irresistibly charming. Somehow,

way from the party.

e spoke. I felt the urge to reach out and touch them, he was mesmeriz

palace, my castle and someone could have just waltzed in here without being noticed? His bright red

linched and pressed my back into the wall, my eyes on his hand as if warni

I literally felt his gaze on my exposed leg, cool and chilling, causing goosebumps to form and I instinctively drew the dress to

returned. "Who are you? An

darkest part down the corridor.

snapped.

e continued. "She is mine." The man, whom I now knew as Rider, grabbe

a quick brea

s gaze was fixed towards the dark corridor like he was looking at someone standing there. I followed his gaze and saw nothing, but the voice that boom

I can smell her."

to me. His breath fanned my ear and I felt goosebumps form on my skin. Whoev

t whatever I do, ca

him away, shaking my head negatively. My feeling safe

asked, shaken to my bones but still trying to put up b

His touch tingled, he placed his fingers on my forehead, drawing it down slowly to my che

tually wanting him to, then

on my waist tightened, like he was squeezing, pulling me into him. The pain only lasted a second the

on you Lyra ." I heard h