Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

The night with Nikolas was explosive and intense. I wondered how he knew of the blacksmith.

Thinking of how he handled it made me laugh. Who would have guessed he would be that protective and jealous? It wasn’t like I had anything with the blacksmith; the guy only promised to give me honour when Nikolas dumped me. I knew it would never happen because Nikolas did not seem like he would let go, but it was sweet.

Thinking of Nikolas’s reaction made me laugh and gave me butterflies. I sat by the window gazing at the empty garden and hoped that Nikolas would soon be king and could do all he had promised me.

I could not wait to stop pretending.

I looked at the trees ahead of the garden and remembered the night of the full moon.

Our wolves had connected as if it were normal. There were no feelings of superiority coming from Bane. Our wolves and the goddess weren’t the problems. The problem was the greedy people of our world.

The slave trade had made many Lycan’s rich, and abolishing the Unity law would end their empire. I prayed that Nikolas succeeds and that we remain together. Even though I was prepared to walk away, I prayed it would never come to that.

Ania and Lisa joined me in the room. They were all smiles, and I wondered what the occasion was—most especially pessimistic Lisa, who always had something glum to say to take away the sunshine.

I left the window bench and went to join them in the sitting section of the room.

“What is the occasion?” I asked Ania, and she squealed.

“You haven’t heard?” She said, and I shook my head.

“Everyone knows the Queen is not allowed to mess with you. They say Alpha chose you over the Queen. Some suspect what is between you and Alpha is serious. They even claim you two might be fated. They say it is just like Olive and Mathias,” She said, and I frowned.

If Nikolas and I were fated, I would know. I have seen how fated people act towards each other, and we didn’t have that.

“I doubt we are fated, Ania. I would know,” I said, and Lisa laughed.

“Silly, Aliana. He will know, but you won’t. The pull will be stronger for him, but it will just be a tug or a strong attraction for you. I think you should ask him if you can,” She said, and I shook my head.

“I would not dare it,” I said, giggling.

“I doubt you wouldn’t dare anything with Alpha. Aliana, you have gotten away with everything you do to that man. It is as if he is a complete fool for you. Even Lisa has seen it now,” Ania said, laughing, and I looked at Lisa, whose cheeks coloured.

She nodded her head, and I smiled at her. “Anyway, enough about me and Alpha. What is our plan for the day?” I asked them, and they shrugged.

“Alpha has not instructed me to get us jobs at the werewolf clinic yet, so we just have to hang around. Luckily tomorrow is Saturday. We can hang with your father tomorrow,” Ania said, and I did not like that we would be in the palace. I dreaded seeing Nikolas’s mother.

“I hope we don’t bump into the queen,” I said, and their smiles dropped.

“She is a handful. We committed a huge crime by helping her out. We are lucky Alpha pulled us from her services. She is giving Gezel and Erica hell. She slapped Gezel this morning because of the temperature of the tea she served. The woman believes she is a queen. I doubt she got the memo. Alpha needs to control her because I doubt this place will be peaceful with her around. This is her second day, and we already don’t like her,” Lisa said, sounding angry.

“Well, look at the bright side. Thanks to Aliana, we have been exempted from her cruelty,” Ania said, and Lisa nodded.

“There was an assembly this morning, by the way. That was why we did not come early. Beta Qusack called an assembly,” Ania said with excitement, and I wondered what Beta Qusack must have said that would make her happy.

I wished I was good at chess. He would have been a great catch. But that would be aiming too high, and

been nice to

did not understand why her scent mattered.

did not want to discuss it, so I did not spoil our moods. The brand still profoundly hurt her, so I

I asked quickly,

on Alpha, Aliana. I think Alpha is crazy about you. All the Riverhead werewolves believe so, too,” Lisa

to be slaves for the meantime every time we have an outsider in our midst. They said it would only be until Alpha becomes king,” Ania said, and I frowned at her. Pretending not to understand

is that a good thing?” I

king and abolish the Unity law in Forest. Once He does that, it would no longer be a universal law, and we

might be because he wants to be with you officially. You cannot be his mate or Queen with the Unity law in place. And knowing your father’s history with his father and what your father’s actions have cost his family, he has no reason

he cautioned the Queen yesterday made me realise Alpha is doing it for you. He is changing the laws

Alpha’s love for you might liberate all of us,” she said and hugged me

of us deserves to be treated this way,” She said, and I wrapped my

not tasted it as severely as they had. Nikolas had shielded me somehow, but I knew it wasn’t easy. The Lycans were very mean and believed they were better than us. Liberation would be most welcomed by all on the receiving end

Nikolas and I had for

father and tell him about her. I did not want Nikolas to hear what my father would say just in case it might be something he wouldn’t like,

fun until Ania suddenly dropped the cards in her hand with a worried

is the matter?” I

us,” She said,

said, unwilling

reach him. It meant he wasn’t in the building or close by. I wondered

met the same silence. Then I became

It seems Alpha and

why she sent for us,” Lisa said,

allowed to go to her by order of the Alpha, and we will

it turns to trouble. I will take the blame for it,” I told her, and she

when she had snapped out

yet,” She replied, and I figured the woman must have gotten

a knock on our door. Then I heard

was a hand full. I could not believe she had the effrontery to come to Nikolas’s room. She knew Nikolas was not

Lisa became

will face

whatever she

that would be rude. So, I went to open the door against my better

door and bowed

floral kaftan

into the room with her nose in the

door, and the woman was afraid. It was clear that she was no longer on the Queen’s side. That was quick. I thought she would be her minion. I guess there was a level of wickedness that Gezel found unattractive, and Isabelle had

open so everyone could