Tanya’s POVI wish I could spend forever like this dancing with Marco. But all too soon, the song ends, and the crowd turns to the ballroom’s main door as the Lycan King and Queen arrive. Everyone except for the royal family bows at their arrival. My gown swirls around me as I curtsy alongside the others, but I catch a glimpse of the Queen. She stands tall beside her dignified husband, but I’m surprised to see her eyes fixed on Marco. Her gaze is so filled with hatred and envy that it sends a chill down my spine as the King motions for everyone to rise. He stands at the edge of the balcony, officially welcoming his guest to the palace to celebrate the Autumn Equinox. Then, he gives a short but eloquent speech about the changing of the seasons throughout the kingdom and the fall harvest. Once the King is finished speaking, everyone disperses, and Marco is called by the Lycan King to have a talk. The ballroom feels far too large and crowded without Marco by my side, so I quietly slip

Marco’s POVLily’s screams ring in my ears, and she thrashes wildly in the pond, sending water in every direction. I race to her side, jumping in before Eric even reaches the edge of the pond. Lily wraps her arms around me with a gasp, her nails digging into my skin. I grimace as she splashes me, hauling her out of the water. “Lily, calm down. Stop it. I got you,” I growl at her, and she wiggles a bit less at my command. I carry her out, setting her down gently on the ground. Eric quickly joins us, his expression wrought with worry. “You shouldn’t have done that,” my brother says quietly to me. “I would have gone in to rescue her.”I know Lily is not mine to rescue. She’s with Eric now, and he’s the one that should be rushing to her aid. But I’m faster and stronger, and I would have done it for anyone. Even though Lily and I aren’t together anymore, I wasn’t going to stand by and watch as she drowned. “You’re welcome,” I growl at him sarcastically before nodding towards Lily. “Tak

Tanya’s POVOnce I’m fully recovered, I visit Lady Vivian’s home in the palace every few days to learn her craft. The days I get to work as her apprentice quickly become the highlight of my week. Her wing of the palace is not as grand as the ballroom or the main hall, but I can tell from the moment I step through the doorway that Lady Vivian’s home is filled with love. She has a delicate woman’s touch and carries herself with admirable grace and dignity. She looks young for her age, but there are a few tiny wrinkles around her eyes when she smiles that make her look friendly and enchanting. “Careful when diluting the oils, dear,” she says, watching as I pour the contents of a dropper into a larger bottle. “Remember that the concentration of the extract will affect the intensity and duration of the fragrance.”I follow her advice, carefully mixing the solutions. There’s something incredibly soothing about being around Vivian, and I can’t help but feel the need to make her proud.“Wel

Tanya’s POVHe’s here. Goddess saves me, Marco is here, and I don’t know what I’m going to do. There’s no way I have enough time to take down all the ribbons, balloons, and ornaments that I’ve used to decorate the interior of the townhouse. There’s no time. The best I can hope to do is hide the birthday cake, so I pick up the tray where I’d set the cake and gift down and whirl around to try and stash it away. But it’s too late.I turn around and freeze at the sight of Marco hovering in the doorway. He stands there staring at me, his face unreadable as his eyes scan the gathered crowd. Nobody dares cheer or yell ‘surprise!’ Everyone just stands there in deathly silence, and I wish I could disappear. I’m so ashamed I could crumple into the ground. Marco takes a step towards me. Then another. Each step echoes in the quiet hall and feels like a blow to my heart until he’s standing right in front of me. I stare at the floor, feeling like an utter fool. He doesn’t say anything for a while

Tanya’s POVI am walking back home with excitement clearly written all over my face. I have a bright smile on my face while I cling the application form closely to my heart.When I consider how my life has drastically changed, I am very surprised. My life has gotten much better, and I have a number of people to be grateful for. One of those people is Lady Viviane, Lily’s mother.We’ve only known each other for a couple of months, and it feels as though we’ve known each other since forever. She is slowly becoming the mother I never had.I finished early with Lady Viviane, and I want to enjoy an evening stroll before I reach home.My stroll takes me by the main gate of the palace. The main gate is truly a majestic work of art. It is adorned with gold and shines brightly under the evening sun. The gate was also peaceful. I expect to feel the same peace as I walk by but a loud noise startles me. I look towards the gate and am surprised to see the guards forcefully toss a man out of the pa