Chapter: Chapter 39.Faizah: When Braith caught sight of Zana, his roar made the mountain shake. But the guards jabbed him with a rod that sparked and filled the air with the smell of burning hair and flesh. Zana lunged against her captors, a deep growl emanating from her. I grabbed my head as the sheer force of her rage entered my mind. I realized she was trying to communicate with me. So I steadied myself and concentrated on her connection. Liars, betrayers! She snarled. I broke every bond with my pack, I betrayed them to save my mate, and these monsters betrayed me! They went back on their word! She sent me images of what she had done. I recognized the boy from the market in the body lying in the snow. That was hard enough. But I nearly crumbled to the floor when I felt her guilt, her anguish. I’m so sorry, she howled. And I knew it was true. I felt her sorrow. I felt how trapped she had been. How desperate she was to save her mate. My heart broke for her. “Help me now, Zana,” I pleaded “If we c
Last Updated: 2023-07-11
Chapter: Chapter 38.Faizah: The stern woman turned and started straightening a few things around the room. “For what it’s worth, you look lovely,” my maid said quietly. I glared at her. Tears smarted behind my eyes, and I clenched my fists to control them. I would rather eat horse manure than let them see me cry. I turned back to the mirror and took in my reflection. “What a lovely-looking slave,” Felicia laughed inside my head. “I am no one’s slave!” I spat at her. I turned away from the mirror. “It’s time to go, my dear,” the woman said. I reached for my cloak where it lay, draped over the back of the chair. “Oh no love, leave that here,” the stern woman said with disdain. “It will deflect from the lovely gown I made.” “But...” I started to protest, not wanting to be parted from the last vestige of my life with Gregor. But the seamstress held up a firm hand. “You’re going to be late for your wedding.” She urged me towards the door and into the dark and chilly hall. I followed the seamstress
Last Updated: 2023-07-01
Chapter: Chapter 37Faizah:I spent a sleepless night, trying to figure out what to do about Felicia. Her utter confidence gave away that she had a plan of some sort. But I couldn’t read her to find out what it was. “Don’t beat yourself up, my dear.” She said after I had been trying to probe her thoughts. “I’ve had years of practice while you just discovered your switch.” “How do you know that?” I asked. “I can read you like an open book, dear.” She said wryly. She did not need to remind me, I knew I was outgunned, “Well then, I guess I have some catching up to do.” I said, gritting my teeth and probing again. I tried many times, but all I managed to accomplish was to make my headache return. While the echos of her laughter in my mind reminded me that she took sadistic delight in my struggles. By dawn, I had given up and sat looking out the window with sleepy eyes. The sun had just cleared the crags when I saw a skyship headed for the fortress. I had never seen one in person before, but I had heard
Last Updated: 2023-06-29
Chapter: Chapter 36. Faizah:I don't understand, my lady. Dana had been silent for several seconds before she found her words again. “I’m a genetically modified clone, Dana," I sighed. “created to be put in the place of the real princess,” Why would they do that? “Because the real princess is apparently an evil sociopath.” So you’re not the Felicia we have been searching for? Dana’s confidence was breaking by the second. “Well, yes and no.” I sighed again, exasperated at this situation and by the facts of my very existence. “My mother called me Faizah, and I guess that's who I am.” She has a king switch too, doesn't she? Fear laced Dana's thoughts now. “Yes,” I said. This complicates things. This is very dangerous. Somehow I could feel that Dana had started pacing. There were never supposed to be multiple king switches. That defeats their whole purpose. “I don't know all the details, and my memory is still spotty. But I don't think Felicia is supposed to have survived this long.” Then why did sh
Last Updated: 2023-06-22
Chapter: Chapter 35.Felicia:The maid agreed to keep me informed of anything helpful she saw or heard. Periodically I heard the agonized roars of the creature that used to be Zana’s mate, Braith. But, when I tried to reach out to him with my mind, all I could get was chaos. His mind was broken. Just a jumble of overwhelming emotions was left. It broke my heart, and I had no idea how to help him, or even if he could be helped. I also had to work hard at keeping Felicia out of my mind. She wanted to taunt and manipulate me like she used to. But I was stronger now, I could keep her at bay. I didn't want her to know anything about what I was planning. I couldn't sleep that night and I spent most of it pacing the room. Then, around three in the morning, I felt an approaching presence in my mind, Dana. I went to the window. She was bearly in range of my implant, so her voice came in and out. My lady, are y- the-re? her voice was broken by static. “Yes, I'm here.” my throat became tight with excitement an
Last Updated: 2023-06-16
Chapter: Chapter 34Felicia:Lucas sat dumbfounded when I finished catching him up. “Uh...I’m not sure what to say,” he faltered huskily. He stood up and paced the room, shoving both hands through his hair. “We have to get us all out of here as soon as possible,” I said matter-of-factly. “You mean you want to bring her with us?” Lucas's eyes bugged out, and he looked at me like I was insane. “We can’t leave her here,” I argued back. “Why?!” “Because we need to know where she is and what she is doing,” I explained. “If we leave her behind, she becomes a risk. A factor we don’t have control over. And trust me, we need to be in control of her.” Lucas stood silently looking at me, a plethora of emotions crossing his face. I realized the poor guy was suddenly out of his depth. I took a step towards him and touched him on the arm gently. “Don't worry, I'll think of something,” I reassured him gently. He looked at my face and frowned slightly, then gave me a crooked smile. “Are you sure you're not the Pr
Last Updated: 2023-06-12