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Erica's P.O.V.
Frustrated, I returned to my room, hoping to come up with a better plan. I lay on my bed, my mind blank as I stared into the distance. Suddenly, a throbbing pain struck my head, followed by flashes of images: me embracing someone, and then I heard a voice—my voice—saying, "I don't want you to go. Don't leave me." The person in the vision looked down at me, and I realized it was Azreal, though younger. He held my chin, making me face him. His eyes were filled with complex emotions.
A pleasurable sensation surged through me at his touch. He leaned in and gently kissed my temple.
"I promise I'll come back, Erica. We'll meet again, and when that happens, we'll be together."
"Okay," I whispered, pulling off my bracelet and placing it in his palm. Before I knew it, I was embracing him once more. But then, he began to fade. The mountains, the flowers, the blue sky, the sunset, and the tree we stood under slowly disappeared. The last thing I saw was a heart-shaped carving with the letters A and E carved inside. Then, everything went black.
I awoke, the pain in my head gone. "Were we really that close? Why would my father stop me from remembering you?" The questions flooded my mind, questions I needed answers to. My uncle was the first person who could help me. I just had to get out of here.
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Azreal's P.O.V.
I sat back, listening to the generals when I heard the doors open and hurried footsteps approaching. It was Lyrik, but why was he here?
"Master! We have a problem!"
I looked up and met his gaze. Beneath his collected demeanor, I could sense a brewing storm. With a wave of my hand, the generals quickly exited, leaving just me and Lyrik alone.
"What's troubling the king of wolves?" I asked lightly, though the tension in my voice betrayed me.
"It's Asher." That name immediately piqued my interest. My little one was about to face him, and I couldn't wait to deal with that arrogant fool.
"He attacked one of my parks," Lyrik continued. "Not only that, but several villages under your kingdom as well. All of the attacks were brutal—no survivors. Men, women, and children slaughtered in cold blood, and he made demands."
I fell silent as I processed the news, struggling to keep my emotions in check. I could feel my demon stirring within me, craving release.
"What does he want?" I asked through gritted teeth. Sensing Lyrik's hesitation, I lost my patience.
"Speak!" I roared, my voice filled with fury.
"He demands that you surrender Erica..."
"No!" My voice was sharp with disbelief. "He dares threaten us over her?" I felt my fury ignite, burning deep within me.
Lyrik nodded quickly, "He wants to cause a bloodbath unless you give her to him."
"I don't care," I snapped. "Erica stays with me. If he wants a fight, he'll get one. Wipe out all those who've dealt with him. Let's show him what happens when you cross me."
"Yes, Master." Lyrik quickly turned and fled the hall, not daring to look back. I was losing control. The anger inside me threatened to consume everything.
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Jarel's P.O.V.
"Hmm, interesting," I mused as I leaned back in my chair, listening to the report before me. The warm room was filled with the scent of my lady's perfume, the soft pressure of her hands on my chest sending a thrill through me. In front of us, my spy stood, giving his account of the events unfolding.
"Darling," she purred, her voice laced with honey. "Why make a fuss over a silly little girl when you have me?"
Her body pressed close to mine, her soft skin driving me wild. Normally, I would have dismissed her, but she knew how to play her cards.
"Baby, that girl is powerful," I explained, my eyes focused on the spy. "Once I have her, I can use her for my own gain. And Azreal—he's bonded with her. With her, I can manipulate him as well, killing two birds with one stone."
"But how are you sure the cold, ice prince cares for a slave?" She raised an eyebrow. "He might just want to use her himself."
"Maybe you're right," I conceded. "But regardless, she's important to him."
"So, what's next?" She asked, her deep brown eyes glowing in the dim light, her seductive smile giving me a sense of satisfaction.
"Now, we wait," I said, my smile cold and calculating. "Let Asher and Azreal fight it out. Hopefully, they'll destroy each other, and when that happens, I'll take over Azreal's kingdom."
"Smart, darling," she cooed, her approval igniting something inside me.
"Thank you, love," I whispered in her ear, wrapping my arms around her exposed waist.
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TWO MONTHS LATER
Erica's P.O.V.
"It's been so long since the battle between Azreal and Asher began. So much blood has been spilled because of me. Every night, I sleep with a troubled heart. Sometimes, I try to talk to Azreal, to convince him to let me go, but he only locks me in my room in anger. He spends all his time behind closed doors, barely eating."
I trembled as I felt the weight of the guilt pressing down on me. He was doing all of this for me. He could have walked away, but instead, he was fighting, risking everything to protect me.
Today, I decided to serve him dinner. I hadn't seen him much lately, and strangely, my heart longed to. The desire to see him, to make sure he was alright, had become impossible to ignore. I took a deep breath, gathered the tray of food Miss Grump had packed, and made my way to his room.
A man in a staff uniform stopped me as I approached.
"I'm here to deliver the king's dinner," I said sincerely, the scent of the food filling the air. The man nodded, entering the room, and then closed the door behind him. I waited for some time before the door opened, and a flood of people hurried out. Once they were gone, the staff ushered me in, and I was alone with Azreal.
In the center of the room, a large table was covered in scrolls and papers. Azreal sat at the far end, his eyes fixed on a document before him. The sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting an ethereal glow around him. He looked even more enchanting in the golden light.
"Are you going to stand there all night?" His voice broke my trance, making me flush in embarrassment.
I quickly set the tray down and turned to leave.
"Your work is not done," he called after me, his commanding tone freezing me in place. "Do you expect me to dish out the food myself?"
I turned back, meeting his gaze. His eyes were locked on mine, dark and intense. I rolled my eyes, muttering to myself, and walked back to the table to serve him.
I carefully placed the plates in front of him, trying to avoid his piercing gaze. But his presence was suffocating, and it was impossible to ignore.
"Feed me," he commanded again.
"What?" I was taken aback. Did he seriously expect me to feed him?
"You heard me," he said, his arrogance evident.
"You have hands, feed yourself," I retorted, but he wasn't having it.
"I don't want to. I want you to feed me." He said shamelessly.
This guy was unbelievable!
I rolled my eyes again, grabbing the spoon and bowl. As I fed him the soup, I could feel his eyes on me, sharp and unwavering. Suddenly, he laughed.
"What's so funny?" I asked, growing impatient.
"Why are you blushing?" He smirked, teasing me. "Seems my presence has some effect on you."
"No, it doesn't," I said quickly, but my heart was racing.
"Hmm, let's test it." Before I could react, he grabbed me, pulling me into his lap. Panic surged through me as I struggled to free myself, but his grip was unyielding.
"What are you doing? This is wrong!" I cried, my voice filled with panic. "What if someone sees us like this?"
"My guess was right," he murmured, pulling me closer. "I do have an effect on you."
His head rested on my shoulder, and I could feel his hot breath on my neck. I shivered at the sensation, my body betraying me. Strangely, I didn't pull away, but instead yearned for more.
"I missed you too," he whispered, his voice low and possessive. I bit my bottom lip, fighting the desire rising within me.
When he finally loosened his grip, I seized the opportunity to escape. I gathered the dishes quickly, not caring about his disapproval, and hurriedly left the room.
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