Chapter 1 He's Back

• "Do you know how it felt?" He raised a brow, closing in on me, watching in amusement as I pulled back. "How it felt to die?"
• "Knight—Knight, please KNIGHT..."
• He slammed my back against the wall, sucking in his breath while I whimpered in pain. "As I sank, all I could think of was what to do to you... with you," his eyes blazed. "Inflict every pain you caused me; carve out my name on your fucking skin until you bleed to the last drop."
• His fingers slowly wrapped around the base of my neck, and hungry eyes licked over the nightie barely hiding my skin.
• Hot tears rolled down my cheek, thawing my frozen face as his hands trailed to the lace's neckline.
• "Then I grew up and realized." In a swift motion, he shredded the clothes, baring me before him, "That there were other uses you'd be perfect for." His eyes darkened. "And by the time I finish, you'd wish you were dead."
• ***
• "Knight is coming?" Ayra repeated, gawking at the Messenger, and suddenly her heart began to pound..
• Lian nodded silently, understanding the implications for the priestess following the events of thirteen years ago. Now her karma was back—not alone, but with forces—but he couldn't tell her that; she had heard enough already.
• Two hours ago, she was ready to crown his brother as Duke. Now, she was planning her funeral.
• The Duke's second son was back.
• Ayra hid a shiver, then turned to Thorstein, and quietly, he blinked at her, just like he had always done, except this time, it did nothing to soothe her aching heart.
• If only he knew that she lied thirteen years ago, causing the deaths of two people. And all of a sudden, there was news that one of them wasn't dead.
• Why did she ever think she could outrun karma?
• Ayra turned to the large room entrance, gulping in terror.
• She was Scania's priestess; every Hierarchy had one, from the Alpha King down to their Dukes.
• On that seat of power, they suffered plagues from the demon god Mar and required intercession.
• Apart from that, there was another fundamental duty. It was said that the priestess chose the next Duke based on spiritual instructions, but this was not true.
• The leaders were responsible for selecting which of their sons would become the next leader, whispering the decision to the priestess, who then announced it as the goddess's command.
• Now, this was the best part: the rejected son or sons, instead of their father, got their anger directed at the priestess, who ended up dead.
• The next girl, brought from an orphanage and trained not to feel pain, filled her space, and the cycle continued.
• Except this time, only after Duke Martinelli died did the news come through that his second son was still alive.
• Stabbed in the back during a rogue raid, she closed his eyes after his death, ready to pronounce Thorstein Duke when the news came about Knight.
• "Leave us," Thorstein ordered, and Lian, understanding, began to pull out of the room.
• But Ayra was lost in her world, in the chill running down her spine and the sudden difficulty in swallowing.
• All the deadly visions she had witnessed months ago revolved around him. She just hadn't noticed it yet.
• "Ayra?" Thorstein called, drawing close, but not close enough to touch her. "Are you okay?"
• No, she wasn't. She felt death hovering around her; Ayra clutched at her plain white clothing, and Knight wouldn't spare her. But what if she told him it wasn't her fault? that she was forced and had no choice, would he forgive her? for ruining his life?
• "Hey," Thorstein murmured, catching her focus. "You'll be fine, I promise."
• And this was why she had had a huge crush on him since they were children.
• It wasn't because of the soft blue orbs or the beautifully sculpted face made by the goddess herself. It was his pure gentleness. If only she wasn't a priestess.
• The door creaked open, and they both turned in time to see a pale Mel, her assistant, standing at the doorway, slightly trembling.
• "What's going on?" Thorstein demanded. Most times, she forgot he was an Alpha because of how gentle he was with her. "Omega!"
• She had a clue; she knew what the problem was.
• "Mel?" Ayra murmured.
• "it-its - Knight."
• Ayra's gut sank.
• "He's in the courtroom..."
• ***
• The journey to the courtroom was faster than she wanted it to be. In just a few seconds, she found herself in the center of the packed hall, staring at the broad back and masculine straightened shoulder.
• He was gazing at the throne.
• It couldn't be.
• The hall had fallen silent, with every person sitting on the pew rising to their feet as if seeing a ghost.
• "Oh, goddess," she whispered.
• "Calm down, Ayra," Thorstein muttered. "He can't hold a grudge this long."
• But she had seen the vision of her destruction, and on that lean, muscular body clad in a thin, free shirt and damning the cold, she felt fear and a sense of urgency to flee.
• And then he turned.
• Even with sleeked-back dark hair, he stood a foot taller than most people in the room, just like his brother, but unlike his brother, those ash pupils were as cold as ice.
• and they were fixed on her.
• The scars on his face made him a jagged version of his brother. some shallower than others.
• Ayra's mouth opened and shut. There was nothing to say.
• Knight strolled between the pews, towards her and Thorstein. Finally, he stopped before them, and only then did she notice the late Duke's brother and his son following behind.
• Did they, by chance, have anything to do with keeping him alive? Something told her a loud, resounding yes.