to

y from the little food they gave me. I had fallen from an alpha's daughter to a prisoner in a place that

n that first terrible night. I had been naïve to hope that he might show mercy. But mercy was not somethin

t instinct was disbelief. I was released with order

alpha wants you to prepare his

small, dim room with a basin of water and a ragged towel, my clothing clinging to my bruise

k like me. Pale skin, hollow cheeks, and haunted ey

searched for the kitchen. It was bustling, but the servants didn't pay me any att

red, and seasoned. Every movement was calculated and careful, ensurin

steps were very cautious as I made my way down the long corridor toward

ith someone; a solid, warm, rocky body that sent the tray tumbling from my hands. The s

King Marcellus would kill me for this. "I'm so sorry!" I blurted out, my

logizing," a deep voice

late, as the man knelt beside me. I looke

waves around his shoulders, and his deep hazy eyes seemed to burn with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat

ngers

my body. My heart hammered in my chest, my sk

ked onto mine. Time seemed to slow as we knelt there, neither of u

air between us crackled with something that I couldn't explain, something that made my

ed softly, his voice send

for the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't afraid. I

d as it lingered on mine, the way his eyes seemed to see right through me

e I was and who I was. I was a prisoner in King Marcellu

the spell. I couldn't believe I had allowed myself

ried to gather the ruined food. "I

voice gentle. "Ther

from the touch of his hand. It was from fear. "I can't. King Mar

His expression darkened, just for a moment, before softening again

ing up and stepping back. "

g and yet not threatening. His eyes softened as he looked

so close that it would only take a slight movement for our lips to

ight of his gaze, the strange pull between us. It was too much. Too confusi

, backing away. "I have to

urried back down the hallway, my heart poundin

, I couldn't shake the memory of his tou

wa

ink about him. I had more pressing matters to d

used to settle. Something had shifted in me in that brief, electr

. This feeling stirring inside of me

se feelings would either make or mar me, and I was sta