"Azrel?"

Azrel stopped looking at his changed form and saw that he was alone again save for one dark-haired girl; she held her hand to him. He tried to remember if they had met before.

"I am a monster." He shied away from her but she stepped closer regardless.

"Azrel take my hand." She spoke with the voice of a thousand women before her. Being close to her made him feel more at ease. He felt human again.

"Please?" She spoke softly and he felt his heart buckle for her.

He reached for her hand feeling like he might crush her with his new claws. When they touched, he felt calm for the first time since he was a child.

***

Anaya and Azrel are hiding secrets. She is a spy for the rebels against her own will. He has a new power that changes him into a beastly creature. Posing as siblings, their love becomes another secret they bare. Together they must find a way to save the kingdom and each other. 

Spoils of War is created by Jo Thromby, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Spoils of War

Anaya had hardly drank anything that night and yet she still felt like she was twirling around the main hall. She had lost sight of Azrel several hours ago. He was probably in the tightly knit group of young dukes who had started a conversation about hunting. 


“I've enjoyed spending the night with you Khanthar.” She leaned close to her pretend fiance who had been relatively silent to her most of the night. 


He nodded his head and pulled her close. His fingers clenched uncomfortably hard on her waist. 


“I hope our wedding has this much energy.” He said as he pulled her into another dance. 


Anaya could not show any signs of being tired. Supposedly she would have been to many summer festivals at this point and yet she could not hide her exhaustion. The music stopped and Khanthar drifted away from her. She suddenly was pulled from the main party and found herself under the grand stairs. It was a hidden place away from the eyes of the party. 


Chapter 35: The Betrayal