I watched tiny dust motes dance around in the sunlight streaming in through my room window.

Outside, birds sang sweetly heralding the start of the new day but I heard none of it. All I could hear were the screams of my people as they jumped into the treacherous sea.

They didn't just scream in fear and pain anymore. Now, I could hear the accusations lacing their screams. I could hear the pain that I had caused them resonate through it and I heard it all night. I had tossed and turned, unable to shake off my guilt.

I didn't feel guilty because I had kissed that man. No. I was willing to do that and more to get that Ardenite. I would do anything to ensure the satisfaction of seeing severed wolf heads at my feet. I would do anything for my imprisoned brethren.

I felt guilty because ...I had really enjoyed the kiss. I had craved more. My thoughts when I had put my hands around his neck was that I would remain stoic through the 'ordeal'. It had hurt to think that I would give myself to a Werewolf but now it hurt more that he had been able to kiss that hurt away.

" Oooh." I groaned. Just thinking about that kiss sent pleasurable jolts coursing down to my vulva. It was moist again and I bit my still bruised lips. My fingers grew minds of their own and moved down there.

What would it feel like to -

" Devenity!"

I sat up, startled out of my train of thought. A fresh wave of embarrassment washed over me.

Sierra climbed up the ladder. Her face was lit up like a star filled night.

" What is it?" I asked.

" The Dowager Luna. She's here!"

〰️〰️〰️

Milah was all thumbs as she poured tea into a tiny China teacup and served the Dowager Luna.

Even I couldn't help but feel nervous as I regarded the Queen mother. Like most Werewolves, in her old age she still looked young and beautiful. Her body which was swathed in a long overflowing dress of emerald green silk was still muscular. I had heard that she had been a warrior in her youth.

She accepted the small, inexpensive teacup with much grace, the very epitome of a royal.

" To what do we owe the honour of your visit, your majesty?" Milah asked, her voice small and shaky.

The Dowager Luna sipped the tea. That simple act seemed to hold everyone in awe ...except Czar. He sat the furthest from her and regarded her with little interest.

" Your isolation." She said, her voice somewhat haughty. " I believe it is to end a week from today?"

" Yes, your majesty." Milah answered.

The Dowager Luna nodded.

" That has been changed. Your isolation has ended as of today. You will still have the land, horses and the sheep, of course, but now you will be allowed to work in whatever occupation you so desire. In Aradia."

Our faces dropped in surprise and joy. This was great! This way, I could get an Ardenite faster. The Dowager Luna had no idea how stupid this decision was.

" But why this change your majesty?" Milah asked.

" I'm not finished yet." The Dowager Luna said, her voice clipped. " That is for the men. The women on the other hand are obliged to reside in the palace for a month. They are to be trained in the ways of the court."

" Ways of the court?" I blurted out, speaking for the first time. " What does that even mean?"

The Dowager Luna regarded me with a strange look in her eyes and I realized I hadn't added 'your majesty'. I bit my lip stubbornly, refusing to say it.

" This," The Dowager Luna said, gesturing in my direction. " Is exactly why you have been obliged to be trained in the palace. In Aradia, women with no manners, no character and no knowledge are looked down upon." She looked directly at me. " No matter how fine of face they are."

I realized that she had just called me mannerless and illiterate but I realized that I didn't care. I knew for certain that there were Ardenites in the castle and the dungeons were also directly underneath it. They were only making things easier for me.

" Your majesty?" Sierra piped up. " You said that our isolation as of now has ended. When are we to be transferred to the palace?"

The Dowager Luna looked away from me, finally and said,

" If you look outside, you'll notice two waiting carriages. One is for my use and the other is for you all because you are to leave today. Now."

〰️〰️〰️

As I packed, I wondered why the Dowager Luna was rushing our move to the castle. Something was definitely going on.

Cayden climbed up the ladder.

" They're waiting for you." He informed, his voice solemn.

" I know, I know." I said looking through my drawers once again. " I'm just ... looking for an earring ...I wore last night. I want to give it back to Aspen."

" I'm sure they won't mind." He said. I heard his footsteps getting closer and turned.

He was standing right infront of me.

" Cayden..." I began but he didn't let me finish. He leaned down and kissed me. I was so surprised that it was almost difficult to stop myself from pushing him away but I managed it for fear of hurting his feelings.

I was glad when he pulled away. The kiss was nothing like the mans' - I caught myself, horrified that I was comparing sweet Cayden to that barbaric man. Of course Caydens kiss was better.

In an effort to convince myself of that, I pulled him in for another kiss. It was shorter than the first ...but no better.

I despised that barbaric man but I had to admit, he knew how to kiss.

Cayden beamed at me and I forced myself to smile back.

" I'll help you with your trunk." He said and I refrained from sighing. The last thing I wanted to do was to lead Cayden on, but I had other things to worry about.

I couldn't keep a Dowager Luna waiting.

〰️〰️〰️

Sierra squealed with joy as the carriage rode past the castle gates.

I surveyed the magnificent structure and I wondered where the Ardenite was being kept. Most likely it was in the treasure vault. That would make things harder but I had to get it. When I had asked the Dowager Luna if we would be given Ardenites, she had pursed her lips and said that practicing magic would still be denied to us. So, no Ardenites for us.

Finally, our carriage stopped and we got down. The Queen mothers' continued on. Apparently she had something else to attend to. We were handed over to Aspen who stood by the palace steps.

She beamed at us as we approached.

" Congratulations." She said. " It must be nice to be somewhere else for a change. If you follow me, I'll take you to the Eastern wing of the castle where your quarters are. Come along."

We followed, looking around in awe. Last night, we had only been able to see the ballroom but now, we could see the castle in all its glory and indeed it was glorious.

As we walked followed by three guards, Aspen talked about the castle. I stopped listening when we reached a long corridor with arched windows that offered a view of a garden.

My heart jumped. I could see the huge Fidem tree in its middle. This was the garden where I had -

" Aspen?" I asked, stopping the group. " I think I lost something, an earring in that garden last night."

Aspen waved it off.

" Is this the earring we gave you last night? You don't need to worry. They're yours to keep."

" I would rather return it." I persisted. I couldn't contain the urge to go into the garden again. Deep down, I knew it wasn't for the earring.

Aspen shrugged and said to one of the guards.

" You, take her down to the Fidem garden. When she done, bring her to the eastern wing."

I beamed at Aspen.

"Thank you."

〰️〰️〰️

Rhydian pov,

He hadn't slept a wink.

He was too restless. His wolf was too aroused and in need of release. He could have easily sent for Juneau or any one of his mates. It hadn't even occured to him to do so. He only craved one person ...and she was a basket case.

Rhydian couldn't understand how she could have kissed him with such passion one second and the next, reject him with equal passion.

He couldn't understand how she could have rejected him, period. He was convinced that she was crazy. He was soon to be Alpha king of the greatest kingdom in the West. His experience with rejection was ...non-existent! No woman, whether a fae, a witch, or a human had ever refused him before and certainly not a wolf.

Who the hell was she? He hadn't sensed a wolf in her. All he had smelled was lavender, light but encompassing. He would never forget her scent and he knew that he could find her easily with it. Especially because he had something of hers, an earring rich with her scent which he had seen lying on the grassy ground after she had fled from him.

Rhydian picked up the tiny stud and brought it close to his nose. He inhaled deeply and his wolf howled in him with need. It was torture not going after her but he had too much to do today already. There was more trouble at the borders.

A sigh escaped him and he placed the earring underneath his pillow where it had been all night, torturing him with her delicious scent.

On a good day, he would have been up and about by now, neck deep in his duties but today, he just couldn't function.

A breeze blew in from his open balcony door, causing him to sit up. The breeze smelled of flowers and grass but there was also a hint of lavender in it.

Her scent.

Was his mind playing tricks on him? Or could she possibly be in the palace? He got up speedily and rushed to his balcony to investigate. The balcony offered a good view of the Fidem garden and he saw her easily.

She stood by the Fidem tree, caressing the huge trunk with her slender fingers. He groaned. What he wouldn't give to be that tree trunk right now.

Even from a distance, he could see her clearly thanks to his enhanced vision. She was beauty personified, exotic in every sense of the word.

His wolf urged him to go to her. He had a lot to do that day. The reasonable thing to do would be to go back into his chambers, shut the door and get ready for his duties ...but he was beyond reasoning. She was so close. His wolf was clawing at him.

Go after her!, It urged.

With movement too fast for the human eye to follow, he grabbed the railing and jumped over, landing from the great height with a barely audible thump.

No. He couldn't resist.

〰️〰️〰️

Deven,

Beauty personified..." Those words slid into my mind, making me pause. I looked around the garden. It was empty. The guard was still waiting by the garden entrance.

Shaking my head, I got to my knees and ran my hand over the even grass. It seemed my lack of sleep was getting to me. I needed to find that earring fast. It was made of diamonds and there was no way I could replace it. I didn't want to owe anything to a wolf. As soon as I was done here though, I would collapse into whatever bed was allocated to me for some much needed sleep.

First I had to find the stupid earring. I didn't know exactly where I had lost it. It could have been in the ballroom or in the -

A pair of bare legs caught me by surprise and I looked up, startled. There was a man standing a few feets away.

" What are you doing here?" He asked, his voice clipped.

Was he maybe the gardener? I rushed to my feet.

" I'm sorry I -" I realized that I knew that voice. It was the voice of ...no! But when I looked at him, I realized he was the man from last night.

He obviously lived in the castle. That had to be why he was wandering around the garden so early in the morning in such a state of undress.

He wore a pair of low hanging trousers ...and nothing else. I couldn't take my eyes away from his chest. He was powerfully built, with huge arms. He looked like someone has carved a human torso out of marble. His left hand was tattooed from the shoulder to the wrist, coating the hand in black.

I stared, mouth open at his body. I could see clearly the outline of every muscle, every ab. Then I caught myself and groaned inwardly.

Not again!

I snapped my eyes away from his broad chest, up to his face.

The was laughter in his bright green eyes. He was grinning at me, very much aware of my staring. The nerve of him! I straightened my back and plastered a frown on my face.

" Oh, it's you. What are you doing here?" I asked, keeping my tone brisk, unwelcoming.

The grin on his face only widened at my tone.

Oh moon goddess help me! He was just too incredibly good looking. His eyes were emerald green, surrounded by thick and long lashes. No man should have lashes that long. It was unfair. I could feel my breath increasing. I had to remember that I hated what he was ...but his face and that body of his was too distracting.

" I should be asking you that. I live here." He answered, still smiling at me.

I forced the bored smile to remain on my face, and my eyes to remain on his face. If I didn't, I was certain they would stray back to his chest ...and then down his waist ...which tapered down tantalizingly to his trousers which hung loosely on his lean hips ...to his happy trail which went down to his -

With a jolt, I brought myself out of my increasingly dirty thoughts. This conversation had to end now before I did something that I would most certainly regret.

" My purpose in the castle is none of your business." I said and turned to leave.

His next words stopped me in my tracks.

" Are you looking for something?" He asked suggestively.

Ugh! Of course he had the earring. It must have fallen off when he cupped my face. I turned sharply and said,

" Give it to me."

A wider grin spread over his face and the light in his eyes increased at my words. I couldn't understand why until he said,

" Oh I'll give it to you baby. Anytime, any day."

Give it to me. Simple, innocent words. How could he possibly have turned those words around in his mind? His reply evoked dirty images in my mind. Images of us lying naked on the grass, bodies entwined, his tongue in my mouth, his fingers moving down between my thighs...

With a gasp, I cleared those thoughts from my mind.

He narrowed his dark eyes at me with a strange look on his on his face.

" You have a dirty mind." He said, his voice suddenly low.

What? Could he possibly have known what I had been thinking about? No. There was no way he could have seen those images in my mind.

" The earring!" I demanded, unable to keep the shakiness from my voice. I wasn't used to having these kind of thoughts ...these desires. It was making me nervous.

" I don't have it with me now, but I could bring it to you. Where do you stay?"

I needed that earring but I wasn't so sure I wanted him to know where I slept. I bit my lips as I pondered on what to do.

He drew a deep breath and swallowed hard.

The air around us thickened and I realized he was aroused! Just like that? I involuntarily took a step backwards. I was ready to bolt if he came near me.

" You do realize that I am a Werewolf, right? I can find you easily. Asking is just courtesy." His voice was rough ...like it had been last night.

I can find you easily. His words made my toes curl. He was right. He obviously had my scent. It would be easy for him to find me. I wasn't so sure of how I felt about that.

" I live in the castle." I gave in with a sigh. " Somewhere in the eastern wing. I'm not sure where exactly. I'm only just moving in today."

His eyebrow went up in surprise.

" Today?" He queried. " I wasn't informed of any new additions to the palace occupants. Are you a worker here?"

Did I look like a worker to him? I suddenly became conscious of my attire. I was in a simple blue dress that Willow had made for me. According to her, the material brought out the blue of my eyes. My hair was held up with a matching ribbon, the excess left down in a cascade of curls. No, I was certain I looked good to him ...to anyone! Not just him. I didn't care what he thought of me ...at all!

" Her majesty, the Dowager Luna invited me among others to be trained here in the castle." He was a royal but he seemed so uninformed. That was probably because he was low ranking.

He narrowed his eyes at me.

" The Dowager Luna?" He demanded, his voice suddenly feral, making me jump. That arrogant quality was back in his voice.

" Y-yes." I stuttered and then caught myself. " Yes." I squared my shoulder, determined not to be intimidated by him. Again.

" If you have a problem with that," I continued, tauntingly. "You can take it up with the Dowager Luna." I said, certain that he wouldn't. He was definitely low ranking. Not an omega, but maybe a head of guards. Or a head warrior. It would explain why he didn't know the happenings of the palace and was still so cocksure.

" I intend to." He said his voice low, and with that, he turned to leave.

" Wait!" I called out to his retreating back. " My earring!"

But he disappeared behind some hedges and I was left alone reeling in my anger.

" My lady?" Someone said, startling me. I turned hurriedly. The guard stood a few feets away.

My lady?

" Your presence is needed in the gold drawing room." It seemed he was talking to me.

Me? My lady?

" Er ..." I was still reeling from my encounter with ...I still didn't even know his name. " Um ...lead the way."