As they finished breakfast and sat quietly on the terrace, simply enjoying each other's company, a very harassed-looking Allen appeared through the doors.He looked around furtively as if expecting an ambush before his shoulders sagged in relief. He strode over to where Ann and Adam were regarding him with bemused expressions and sat heavily on a chair.Ann and Adam exchanged a look as they took in his unusually stressed appearance.'I bet it's Lexi…' Maeve sniggered and Ann had to stop herself from laughing at the thought."Is everything okay?" Adam asked curiously.Allen sighed heavily and turned to stare across the expansive grounds at the back of the balcony."Yeah. I'm fine, just… never mind." Allen answered with a hint of defeat in his eyes that actually made Ann feel a little sorry for him."Are you sure, Allen? You don't look like you're fine." Ann asked, trying desperately to block out Maeve's manic laughter."Yeah, it's… actually no. How is she EVERYWHERE that I go?" He hisse
They hadn't stayed too long out on the terrace. They had discussed briefly the plans for going forward with Lexi's planned lectures and touched upon the subjects that they thought would be of most use first of all. Allen had excused himself pretty quickly once the subject began to get a little too in-depth for his liking and Lexi seemed unable to resist teasing him at every opportunity. With a solid plan now in place, Lexi also excused herself, explaining that she needed to speak with her father and see if he had any ideas to contribute that would increase the value of the courses they planned to offer. Adam felt that it would be a good idea if they could gain clearance from the Royal Council, that perhaps some of the different species and races of Daemons could also attend. Lexi wasn't so sure about the viability of that idea as it would require some of the higher-ranking Daemons, the ones that were more or less able to control themselves and not follow their whims, and apparently,
Ann exhaled slowly as she began explaining. When she was done, she was met with stunned silence at the end of the phone."Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that, but of course I can squeeze you in. I don't have anything urgent that my girls and I can't push aside for a little while, and actually, part of the work may already be done for this." Mimi announced cryptically."Huh? What do you mean?" Ann asked, the confusion clear in her voice.Mimi chuckled lightly."You'll see my dear. Try not to worry yourself. I'll be free in about an hour's time, so, is there somewhere that we can meet? Would you prefer it to be at the palace or somewhere else?"Ann stole a glance at Adam quickly, whose eyes were still riveted on her every move"Actually, it might be better to come here. My mate still needs his suit sorting, so the more information he has about the color schemes the better.""Not a problem. Text me the address and I'll make my way over when I'm free." After they said their goodbyes,
With all of the last-minute arrangements that had to be made, as well as clearing Adam's schedule and booking in a last-minute stylist for her hair, the time seemed to pass far too quickly.She certainly didn't feel like she had gotten enough sleep the night before when she woke the next morning.After they had gotten ready for the impending ceremony, she made her way out to the car, clutching the jewelry that she had inherited from her mother tightly in her hands. It only seemed fitting that as she was wearing the dress that her mother designed for her, then she should also wear the heirlooms that had been left for her too.In a way, she hoped that even in the arms of the moon goddess, her mother would be able to look down on her today and smile warmly, seeing what she had become."Are you nervous at all?" Adam asked as she slid into the car and he got in, sitting next to her.Ann smiled and shook her head gently."No, I don't think so. I think it's more anticipation if anything. My f
"Very well. I will see that she is escorted to your room once she arrives. Now, is there anything else I can help you with?""No, I think that's everything. What time do I need to be ready?"The Elder waved her hand dismissively."There's no set time, your Highness. As long as it is completed today, that's all that matters. If you use this button here, " She continued, indicating a delicately engraved panel with a single button set inside it, "It will alert the Omega's that you require something. They have already been briefed on your arrival so will cater to your requests as needed. Once you're ready, let them know and we will come and escort you to the chamber.""Fantastic. Thank you very much." Ann said, a little awkwardly.She wasn't sure how to dismiss her politely so that she could be left alone to prepare, but it seemed as though the Elder had read her mind. She bobbed her head politely and said her goodbyes as she turned and left the room.With a heavy exhalation, Ann turned to
"Then in the name of the Moon Goddess, I crown you as Alpha Queen, Ann Nocturne, ruler of the Kingdom of Veritas." He announced loudly as he turned to the hall and stepped aside, allowing Ann to step forward and make her way up the few steps that lay between her and the throne.Ann's heart raced rapidly as she slowly, but deliberately placed one foot in front of the other and Maeve danced excitedly in her head.She had never expected to be taking this position so soon, and especially not while her father was alive.An turned to cast her eyes across the room full of nobles in front of her who had stood as she ascended the stairs. No sooner had her eyes landed on them did they drop to their knees in respect, and as she took her rightful place on the Throne of Selene, as one, they bared their necks in submission to her. Maeve howled her delight inside of her as she allowed a small portion of her full power as an Alpha female to ripple outwards from her very being, and prove once and for
The wind howled through the mountain passes as the ominous storm clouds scudded overhead, the threat of them dumping their heavy load over the convoy below was ever-present as the guards walked in silence at the side of their dangerous cargo.Each one of them knew the dire threat that they had been charged with keeping subdued, and they were acutely aware of the fate that awaited them if anything went wrong.The Iron cage rattled over stones and boulders as the heavy guard scanned the dangerous terrain all around them as if expecting a threat to appear at any second.The Elders of the Royal Enclave had wasted no time in preparing and shipping these convicts off to their final destination.As soon as the verdicts had been announced, the two female figures, one unrepentant and defiant, the other sobbing and defeated as she clutched her swollen belly protectively, had been unceremoniously hauled away and bundled together in a high-security convoy with other condemned inmates destined for
The ground beneath them seemed to erupt as vile, twisted creatures emerged as far as the eye could see, bringing with them a stench that was so overpowering a multitude of hands flew upwards to cover their faces with the masks of their attire as they gagged violently.The rotting flesh of the gargantuan beast that seemed to detach itself from the mountainside rippled disgustingly as it lumbered towards them, vile fluids oozing from the open sores and dripping down onto the mass of creatures swarming below it.The entire convoy seemed to freeze momentarily in pure, unadulterated terror as the scene that looked as though it had been ripped straight from a horror movie unfolded before them.In seconds, the Enclave's guards sprung into action. Those that couldn't shift readied their weapons and offensive magick as the sound of breaking bones whilst the shifters changed filled the air. An eerie symphony rippled through the landscape, filled with the cacophony of grunts and otherworldly shri