“I followed her here! I know she is here! Why the fuck are you lying to my face?” A woman’s voice booms in George’s shop lounge. “Do you have a death wish or something?”In the back room, Bree, Sasha, Naomi, and I stare at each other in silence. Even though I strain to hear, the deep, bass notes of George's voice fail to penetrate the door, drowned out by the high-pitched shrillness of the woman's boisterous rant.Frozen like statues, we wait for her to leave. But instead, her voice gets louder. “Fucking shit! I need to see her! Is that so hard for you to understand, you idiot?”The widow steps closer and taps my shoulder. “David, I think I recognize that voice. It sounds familiar.”Bree draws closer, her voice laced with caution. "Do you know who she is, Naomi?"The widow's gaze turns distant. "There was a time when I encountered a girl with a voice as fiery as the sun. She went by the name of Alex. But I haven’t seen her since way before I married."To further solidify the certaint

I spent five long days or so rotting away in this godforsaken dungeon, surrounded by damp walls and an orchestra of squealing rats. The only visitors I've had are the foul stench of stale bread and a bowl of broth that looks and tastes like it's been strained through a dirty sock. Let's just say the culinary delights of the palace aren't exactly Michelin-star-worthy.But today, something's different. The clanging of armored boots echoes through the stone corridors, growing louder and louder until it stops right outside my cell. As he opens the door, the light coming from his torch blinds me.I have to blink several times until my gaze focuses on a guard with a perpetually scowling face, keys jangling on his belt."Get up, prisoner," he grumbles, his voice as welcoming as a swarm of hornets.With a slow motion, I push myself up from the cold, damp floor, my stiff joints protesting after being deprived of movement for so long."Finally, some excitement!" I say, feigning enthusiasm. "Wha

The grand hall remains steeped in a charged silence, like the calm before a tempest. The weight of the recent revelations hangs heavily in the air, threatening to unleash a storm of uncertainty and conflict upon the kingdom. I stand at the center of it all, keenly aware of the growing tension surrounding me.The crowd begins to stir, whispers of disbelief and skepticism swelling like a rising tide. As the news of Prince Theodore's abdication spreads through the hall, murmurs and gasps can be heard among the assembled courtiers. Some of the more impudent nobles have already begun to voice their doubts about my legitimacy, but I am prepared to prove them wrong. Among them, influential nobles step forward, their expressions hardened and their eyes fixed upon me with disdain.Lord Harrington, a man known for his cunning and manipulative ways voices their concerns, his voice dripping with scorn. "This is an outrage! How can we allow a mere blacksmith to assume the mantle of leadership? It

“You?” Kaya asks with a raised eyebrow before letting out a chuckle. “Didn’t take you long to step into your new role I see…”Alex — dressed in the resplendent armor of the royal guard —- steps forward, her gaze unwavering, and her voice resolute. "Princess, since I have accepted the offer, I am here to fulfill my duties as a member of the palace guard. But first I have to have a talk with David, or Wrenn, or whatever his name is…" She turns to me. “While we were handling Lord Avery back at his mansion, Bree told me about Naomi. That she's a member of your... harem… Is it true?”Kaya's eyes dart between Alex and me. "David? Harem? I don't understand... What have you been up to behind my back?"I rise from the bed. "Kaya, I planned to tell you when I’d have the time."As I look at her, I realize the princess can’t possibly comprehend my needs, even if she’s going to be my wife and the surrogate mother of my child — or Wrenn’s child, or whatever. Not like Bree or Naomi… The thought of

A stray strand of Alex's platinum hair catches my eye as it falls over her face. With an instinctual desire to remove the barrier between us, I reach out my hand, ready to tuck the hair behind her ear. But just as my fingertips graze her soft hair, she takes a subtle step back, avoiding my touch.She blushes and tucks the strand away herself. A flicker of confusion passes through me, but I quickly recover, a playful smile curling on my lips. "Playing hard to get, are we?" I tease. "Well, I do enjoy a challenge."Alex's eyes meet mine, vulnerability swirling within them. "Maybe I'm just not ready yet," she says, her voice a delicate whisper.I take a step closer, closing the distance between us. "That's perfectly alright," I reply, my tone soothing. "We'll go at your pace. No rushing, no pressure."A hesitant, but appreciative smile tugs at the corners of her lips. "Thank you," she murmurs."But," I add, "that doesn't mean we can't have a little fun in the meantime."With a surge