"She's lying! I was taken by ambulance and admitted to the hospital immediately after the incident!" Ada yelled suddenly, banging her hands furiously on the railing that surrounded the platform where she sat. Ann said nothing and stared confidently ahead at her father's face, her expression neutral but her eyes burned with a determination that wasn't lost on him. "You will be silent until your testimony is called for Princess Ada. These are serious proceedings with dire consequences for the accused if found guilty. You will respect the order of things here, do you understand?" An irritated male voice came from above. One thing was for sure, the reputation of the Royal Court's Elder Council certainly seemed to be true. It made sense in a way, as the Royal Court undoubtedly had to have seen its fair share of power plays and false accusations over the centuries that they had presided over justice across the kingdom. The Elders that sat in the Courtroom were the oldest, and mos
"How Dare you!" Leopold roared, standing from his seat and turning to glare at the spot above him. The same dark chuckle answered him, only increasing his fury. "The assumptions about my wife and I are not even relevant to this trial and not up for discussion!" The King roared almost foaming at the mouth in his rage. "This is treason! How dare you speak up against your king!" A chorus of titters arose from the council from multiple sources as he looked around him frantically, his paranoia beginning to get the better of him. Ann watched with a mixture of horror and pity. She felt sorry for him because of the state that he had found himself in, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a small spark of satisfaction, as the Elders spoke the words that she had been dying to say for years. It was heartening to know that the Elder's opinions, in this case, aligned with her own. "We dare to speak against you when we disagree with your decisions because we are the only peo
Ada stood at the lectern with her eyes lowered and her arms wrapped protectively around her belly. She was nervous and it showed. "Lady Ava, you bring serious charges against your step-sister to this court." The female voice stated. Ada simply nodded without raising her eyes. "So, in your own words, tell us exactly what happened in the room with Ann." Ada took a shaky breath as Ann turned her gaze toward where she stood. Their eyes met for the briefest of moments and all Ann saw was the pure unadulterated hatred that burned there, before it was quickly replaced with the all too familiar, doe-eyed innocent look that usually graced her features. "Well, we went to see Ann with the intention of smoothing things over. I at least wanted to try one more time to make peace with her. I know I did wrong, and if I could turn back the clock then I would do things differently but… wishing things would be different… doesn't actually change anything." Ada said in a small voice as she sigh
Both Ada and Leopold exchanged a frantic look as they began to realize that this trial was not proceeding how they had intended at all. "Treason? Are you insane?! It is you who is treasonous!!! You should be asking your King's permission before you enact or move to do anything! No one is above the royal family!" Ada shrieked suddenly as she banged her fists on the balcony in front of her. "Do you not respect his authority?" Ada snapped as she continued, her innocent demeanor evaporating almost instantly, "You want his throne for yourselves don't you?" She snorted maliciously as she looked across at Leopold, with fire in her eyes. Ann was watching this all with a mixture of disbelief and horror. This was madness! The audacity that Ada had to insinuate such a thing, and so fearlessly in front of them, just proved that she thought she was untouchable in her father's presence. Her arrogance was sickening and to the Elders assembled, incredibly offensive. "Leopold, either rei
"Once the incident was resolved, I never had cause to use it again, but it kept running and saving backups to the dedicated server and storage that we had set up. I knew what had happened in the office, but it was my word against Ada's so, having found this only recently, I wanted to offer you the opportunity to see it for yourselves." "Preposterous! It will be nothing more than a fake designed to discredit Ada!" Leopold hissed from his seat. "Why would she go to all that trouble when Ada is doing such a good job of discrediting herself, Leopold?" A smooth female voice commented dryly. Ann took a deep breath and flicked her gaze to her father again. "I don't care that you've already disowned me, Leopold. You'll never hear me call you father again because you never afforded me the basic decency of impartiality. No matter what I said in the conflicts, Ada was always right, so this time, I have proof that she lies." "Princess Ann, do not concern yourself with addressing the
The atmosphere in the chamber weighed heavily on her as she waited with bated breath for the Elder's return. The chamber remained deathly silent, apart from her father's heavy breathing as he struggled with his anger whilst his eyes seemed to bore into her very soul. Ann didn't fear her father, but the intense hatred that was being directed at her was more than a little disconcerting. She was fairly sure that if she had been here alone without Adam at her side, then her discomfort would have been obvious. Ann glanced over at where Ada stood, still frozen in an elaborate pose and rooted to the spot between the two burly golems. 'I have to say that's quite an improvement on her normal behavior,' Maeve sniggered before adding thoughtfully, 'I wonder if the Elders would teach us how to do that too? It could be quite useful…' 'Doesn't it look familiar to you though Maeve? It's incredibly similar to what Ada must have used on us.' Ann mused, 'Do you think that she has an Elder he
The Elders had been true to their word and Ada had been partially released from the hold that they had placed on her and her panic stricken eyes showed just how aware she truly was. Maeve howled with satisfaction as they watched Narcissa and Ada confronted with evidence of their own schemes. Although Narcissa was not directly implicated in this particular recording, Ann didn't care. It was enough for her to clear her name and retain her title, as much as she no longer wished to be associated with this poor excuse of a family. Adam was her priority for now, and the Dark Moon Pack was her home for as long as she remained with Adam. As the recording ended and the holographic display disappeared, Leopold was stood frozen with an expression of shock as he mouthed soundlessly words that he clearly wanted to say, but couldn't force out. Narcissa didn't bother to raise her head to glare at the elders, instead, in the final few minutes of the recording, she had come to the realizati
Both Adam and Ann were forced to cover their eyes as soon as they stepped out into the glaring sunlight that greeted them when they exited the long winding tunnels of dull light that the Elders called their home. Once their eyes had adjusted to the sudden intrusion of light, Adam turned to grin widely at her as he pulled her into his chest."I'd say that went quite well, wouldn't you?" He smirked as he planted a kiss on her forehead.Ann chuckled and grinned up at him, masking the emptiness that she felt inside at the whole ordeal."It could have been a lot worse, yes.""I say we go and celebrate. I'm thinking fancy restaurant, champagne, the whole works." Adam murmured as he nuzzled his face against the spot that he had placed his mark on. Ann grunted in response, willing herself to ignore the shiver that made her weak at the knees as he pressed against the fake mark."I need to message Eva first, and then, we'll see," she replied finally, wrapping her arms around his broad w
As their convoy of cars and moving vans rolled up the driveway, Ann's stomach twisted uncomfortably as her anxiety set in. Regardless of what her babies were doing to her insides, the effects that her heightened emotions were having on her far eclipsed any discomfort that her pups were causing. She took a deep breath as she tried to calm the anxiety that knotted her insides and made her heart ache painfully. As far as she knew, her father was still living within the palace and she still wasn't sure that she could forgive him for everything that she had been put through because of his choices. In the worst-case scenario, she could always extend the palace to encompass two main living areas so that she wouldn't have to deal with tolerating his presence. She didn't even want to think about how she would explain to her children that they couldn't ever meet the incredible woman that her mother was because her father had an affair, broke the mating bond, and allowed his mistress and
"Right, I think that's the last of them," Adam grinned as he jogged through the huge doors of the Enclave's entrance hall to where Ann was pacing restlessly and Bartholomew was watching with mild amusement. "Finally," Ann sighed as she rubbed her belly with a grimace, "At this point, all I want to do is get my home back to what it used to be." Adam leaned forward and planted a kiss on Ann's forehead. "Are they making things difficult for you?" He asked gently, rubbing her back. Ann reached for his hand with a scowl and placed it palm down on top of her belly and grimaced as another flurry of movement rippled under her skin and Adam blinked in surprise. "Are they fighting in there?!" He asked in shock. "With two stubborn Alpha's for parents, I wouldn't put it past them." Bartholomew chuckled as he made his way over to them, smiling kindly. Ann lifted her gaze and her face softened as she looked at the kindly face of the old man that had been there for them through so muc
When Coral had returned with the Omega that worked as a nanny to the nobles, the baby boy was handed over to her and she waddled off happily, cooing at the baby in her arms as it gurgled happily back up at her. Coral began to work through updating the schedule for Ann as she dictated, adding additional notes that she shared with Allen's device. He would see to their schedule tomorrow as he had several days worth of reports to hear from Adam as to what had happened within the businesses and the Dark Moon Pack while he was away. Lexi made her way back to her room with both Allen and Greyson following behind her. She paused outside her door and turned to them both with a smile. "Sorry to disappoint boys, but I don't feel like getting frisky right now. Quite honestly, I just want to soak all of this crap off me." They nodded at her as she looked at them thoughtfully. "We really should sit down and have a discussion about how this is going to work between us all, you know." she
"Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that." Ann said a little breathlessly as she looked between Lexi, Allen and Greyson. Adam shared the same concerned expression as she did at the revelations that Eromaug would clearly stop at nothing to get his hands on Lexi. "You're absolutely sure that your father is willing to ally himself with us?" Ann asked as the baby in her arms began to stir and protest at the noise and unfamiliar surroundings it had found itself in. Lexi snorted loudly. "Of course he is. How could he not when his daughter is your right hand woman?" She winked. "We should put it to the council first." Adam said somberly as Lexi groaned loudly. "I'm sure they'll be thrilled at the opportunity," She muttered sarcastically as Ann laughed. "I think we should get hold of Bartholomew so that he can help us find a way to ‘tell' the council of our alliance, rather than ask for their permission." Ann mused thoughtfully, "He's pretty knowledgeable about who supports us,
Ann and Adam stood on the front steps of the Enclave, eagerly waiting for the return of both of their Beta's. Adam chuckled as Ann fidgeted with her hands and struggled to stand still, her gaze fixed on the curve of the driveway. "They'll be here soon, don't worry." He soothed, wrapping his arm around her as she nibbled on her bottom lip. "What if something happened though?" She worried as she rubbed her little bump in an act of self soothing. Adam's eyes glazed over slightly as he linked with Allen and then grinned down at his anxious wife. "Allen said stop worrying, it's not good for the baby. They'll be here in seconds." "But…" As promised, the front end of the transport pulled around the corner of the driveway and Ann let out a sigh of relief. "See, my Queen? Nothing to worry about." Adam chuckled as he watched them pull to a stop in front of them. As soon as the door opened and Lexi's head emerged, Ann broke away from Adam and bolted down the steps towards her.
Lexi knew that she was still conscious, but the pressure that engulfed her head, and the rigidity of her body teamed with the almost distant voices of protest from Allen and Greyson let her know that she had no control over what was happening right now. The initial black curtain that had descended was suddenly filled with hundreds upon hundreds of memories from her childhood, all played out in glorious technicolor and accompanied by sounds and smells that made her heart ache with familiarity and her breath catch in her chest. There was no way that she could catch each and every memory at once, but she could see it clearly. The bond that both she and Eromaug had shared at an early stage was filled with love and an intensity that she had known only with Allen and Greyson. By the time the images had begun to fade in her mind's eye and her vision returned, she was overwhelmed with emotions. As she sat there trembling, clasping her hands together tightly so that she wouldn't cry wit
Lord Brarthroroz guided Lexi over to one of the chairs around the table and gestured towards the flap of the tent. "Make sure no one enters for the time being, Steve." He said with an air of resignation to his voice as he took a seat next to his daughter. Steve nodded expressionlessly as he moved to the open flap, released the material to close it and ducked through to stand outside. "You two should sit as well," Lord Brathroroz advised as he gestured to the seats across from Lexi, "This isn't easy for me to talk about." He continued with a grunt. Greyson and Allen moved to comply and took their seats next to each other, both of them focused on Lexi. Lord Brarthroroz sighed as he turned back to his daughter and cupped her face fondly. "Before I start, I want you to understand that before your mother and I had you, neither of us realized just how deeply we could love and the desire to protect you from harm eclipsed everything else in our lives completely." He said gently a
It hadn't taken their force long to clear the halls and clean up the bodies that were left behind. The losses had been minimal on their part and considering the forces that they had thought they would be up against, their plans had meant that they had been far better equipped than the coven itself. The Coven had left very few prisoners alive, and the ones that were still breathing were in pretty bad shape. Lexi and the other healers and medics had done what they could but there was no growing back limbs…no matter how proficient of a shifter you were. Lord Brarthroroz had stationed huge numbers of his daemons within the winding passageways and caverns that the coven had previously inhabited and returned to the surface with his portalmancer Steve at his side. He strode angrily across the makeshift camp to the command tent and paused at the entrance, glancing across at the medical tent where Lexi had been working. Currently, she was cleaning her hands off as her mates watched
She stood and with one last look at the lifeless body below her, turned her attention to the chaos at the other side of the room. Narcissa had no problems keeping the attacks of the wolves at bay and Lexi could feel the emotions of the past few minutes bubbling wildly inside of her as she stormed towards her, her eyes blazing furiously. Her father was still making little headway against Eromaug, but she wasn't concerned about his survival, he was more than capable of taking care of himself against his bastard of a brother. Narcissa on the other hand…she had a lot to fucking answer for. Lexi strode through the fighters battling the twisted Daemons that had emerged from the shadows, throwing her magick lazily towards the monstrosities as she passed, a sneer curling at her lips as the shifters watched her in terrified awe. It wasn't long until Narcissa noticed her approach and her face split into a sneer that matched Lexi's as she swept her arm in front of her, knocking the ma