SEVEN TALES OF LOVE

6. WHATEVER IT TAKES

~ISSA

My heart was hammering hard against my chest.

My wolf danced with fear and doom. My world was slowly disappearing from my vision. Memories and sounds echoed in my head and I feared that I was going to die this time.

"Never stop fighting to survive. . ."

My mother's voice echoed in my head as I saw her face flash through my mind. I knew my brother was not going to forgive me if I ended up dying.

"Do whatever you have to do to survive. . ."

Miles' voice echoed in my head. I thought of how gloomy the palace was and I did not want to end up as one of the souls that died here.

I suddenly felt a new surge of energy flow through me as fire began to burn in my gaze and I glared at Silver's maddened red eyes.

"If you k— kill me. . ." I struggled to speak. "You'll never h— hear the end of the tale. . ."

His eyes suddenly went wide with shock and the red glow died down before releasing me immediately.

He released a growl of frustration and swiftly brought his hand down— hard on the glass table before us.

I muffled a scream as the table shattered and the glass shards scattered across the room. Some of them cut my skin and I squeezed my eyes shut in fear.

He released another growl as he glared at me before rising to his feet. I looked down at the hand he had crashed into the table and saw that it was already bleeding.

My body began to tremble at this point and my wolf resumed its dance of fear. I tried to run my fingers over my face but gave up when I realised how badly they were trembling.

I balled my hands into fists instead and tried to seem as poised as ever. When in actual fact, I was dying inside and I could feel death gazing upon me.

Again, I had succeeded in slipping past its grip but just how long could I keep evading death?

As if he read my mind, he turned to face me. "You can't keep holding off that tale forever. . . I'm curious as to how long you'll keep it up. Just know that the moment you run out of tales, I will gladly bathe in your blood." His voice was dangerously calm the entire time.

Then he suddenly chuckled and I could only watch him from my teary eyes. He was like a dangerous madman who had just escaped the asylum.

"You're like a little bird learning how to fly, trying to be too careful about predators and thinking you can outsmart them..."

I swallowed hard at his words but remained mute.

He walked back to me, slowly leaned over me, and used his hands to cage me on the couch so that I would not be able to escape.

I released a shaky shudder in his face and he moved his lips to my left ear, so close that I could feel his hot breath tingling my skin.

"Guess what, I'll wait patiently for you to fly. When you do, I'll swoop down and break your wings first before breaking every other part of your body," he concluded.

I remained frozen in my seat as I allowed his words sink into my brain. Despite his threat, there was a tinsy little voice that kept telling me to survive and that was what I held on to— that was what kept me breathing.

He chuckled, his signature laugh, and lifted himself to his full height. "Miles," he called.

The door instantly came open as if he had been standing there the entire time waiting to be called.

Miles stepped in and when his eyes fell on me, he stopped abruptly. There was shock on his face. I was sure I was a terrifying sight to see.

My skin was probably as pale as a ghost and the tiny cuts on my face were the only color aside from my red lips and dress.

He relaxed visibly and went to stand beside Silver. "My Lord."

"Take her back to her room," was all he said before walking out of the hall, leaving Miles and me alone.

I instantly released a shaky breath I did not know I was holding and I relaxed. My lips started quivering at that moment and I broke into thick and heavy sobs.

Miles felt bad for me because I felt his warm hands gently tap my back. "You did good. You survived," he whispered.

I lifted my face to stare at him and he gave me a small smile. "For how long?" I asked in a shaky voice.

"Enough to create a place for you in his heart so that he gets over his lust for killing you," he revealed. "And perhaps, you could turn that bloodlust into a different type of lust that requires you to stay alive."

This man was not being direct with his words but somehow, I understood what he was saying. He was asking me to seduce the Dark Lycan King of the North.

I had no idea if that was possible but if it was what I had to do to survive, then I was going to do just that.

I rose to my feet abruptly and began to walk away. Miles trailed quietly beside me and when we reached my room's door, he cleared his throat.

"I heard you didn't eat all day. I'll send the maids to bring your food," he announced. "Have a good night's sleep."

He bowed and turned away from me. I watched him in silence as he left and somehow, he reminded me of my brother. There was this sense of safety his aura sent to me and I smiled after a long time.

I was just about to turn and enter my room when I heard it.

"Issa. . ." A strange voice whispered and I froze.

It was not just because this person had called me, but because she had used my real name.

Whoever it was knew who I was.

"Issa. . . Come to me. . ."

My blood went cold as I felt my body go rigid, unwilling to move. The sound of her voice made the hair at the back of my neck stand and my wolf came alive with panic.

Who was calling to me?