[Erica]
The classes were getting hectic, she walked wearily towards the cafeteria. Another round of emotional talk. she thought warily. She had not spoken to Drake last night. Drake had not called her either after she had texted that she was fine. As soon as she entered, she spotted her brother but her eyebrows furrowed when she saw him talking animatedly to another guy but what stopped her in tracks was his eyes. His eyes held fondness and...something else. This kind of look...she had never seen it before.
Even though the person he was talking to had their back turned towards her, he appeared familiar. Without waiting any further and observing from the sideline, she decided to meet the person who managed to bring out that kind of look in his brother.
"Hey!" she greeted enthusiastically. Drake seemed startled but whatever Erica was about to say died on her lips when her eyes landed on the person, "Axel?" she looked surprised, to
XavierHis head was throbbing. He could not get a wink of sleep last night, his mind reeling with the facts he read about Mages last night. He was yet to read that book, already knowing most of the pages by heart yet he knew that if he read the book now he would definitely see it from a different perspective."...Our queen could control elements of nature...She could foresee the future. But 'they' killed her... 'they' made her sacrifice Her life...Goddess will never forgive them..."These lines kept on swirling in his mind. He massaged his temples, the headache was getting worse. Want to go on a run?He offered to his wolf who yipped his consent. He was thinking too much, he needed to unwind. Running through the woods would let him think and relax. His phone vibrated, Ava's name flashed on the screen. He had been avoiding her calls all morning, sending her a quick text instead. He turned off his device in
Erica"Can you...describe...the wolf once again?" Xavier said slowly. Erica glanced at him, he looked tensed all of a sudden.Don't tell me...this too was related..."Uh...I just told you. His fur was black and he was tall, like not similar to a normal wolf, it was taller than an average human actually and its eyes were black and..." she trailed off, uncertainty lacing her tone. Should she say what it told her? What if...Xavier reacts badly?She decided to just get it out of her system, "Uhm...it called me 'mate'. But well...then I ran from there", she mumbled in low voice. She side-eyed Xavier and as expected he was clenching his jaw."Look, its just dream. It's not like-" but Xavier cut in, "It is something Erica. You wouldn't have dreams about such a wolf...a werewolf who also calls you their 'mate' just like that", he gritted. His nostrils flared a little. Erica placed her other hand on
Erica"So you are already getting cosy with him, huh?" Drake asked with a knowing grin. Erica shot him a withering look, her cheeks heating up. "Nothing like that...we just talked", she muttered as they walked leisurely towards the town. The guards had let them out surprisingly and as she stepped out of the gate she felt as if she had come out from another world.She already had a glimpse of the place outside the campus when she had first arrived but at night it looked different. The streetlamps were designed to look like the ones in the Victorian era, the bulbs throwing a soft glow on the path. The trees loomed darkly, like silent protectors of the forest, not letting anyone get a glimpse of what was beyond."It is forbidden to go outside the campus after 10, right? Erica quizzed, she really did not wish to cause trouble for Xavier or anyone. She disliked favouritism and this was bordering onto that.Her brother chuckle
XavierHe was almost near the mansion when his phone ringed. Stopping the car, he answered the call. A breathless voice informed, "Alpha, I am Drake Morris. Could you please come immediately near the edge of the forest, outside the campus. We are not very far from town. It is urgent". Balancing the phone between his shoulder and ear, he manoeuvred a turn, "I'll be there", and hung up.As he was driving his mind chalked up the worse reasons for the call. Drake had not given any specifics and that could either be that Erica was alright or she was not. He was keyed up through the entire journey which felt far too long, his foot pressing hard on the accelerator to diminish the distance. He felt Leikos brooding.Finally, his eyes spotted the siblings. Drake seemed to be injured and Erica's face was ashen. His heart drummed as he killed the engine and got out. He jogged towards them. His eyes made a cursory check on Erica for bruises or scratch
EricaShe had no idea when sleep had claimed her senses, sending her off into a dreamless sleep until she felt someone shake her gently. She blinked her eyes open, looking blearily at the person, she rubbed her eyes and blinked a few more times. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she noticed, Xavier, leaning forward towards her seat probably being the one to wake her up, Jade sitting silently on the couch and Drake back from the infirmary all patched up.She sat up quickly as she was slouching in the seat and in the process her forehead came in contact with his nose and not too gently. "Ow", he grunted which made Jade break into fits of laughter and Drake who could not possibly dare to laugh outright, tried to suppress it.Erica apologized immediately, "Sorry", as she rubbed her forehead. Xavier bit back a grin as he straightened, "No issues". However, he did turn back and glared at his aunt."Hey Erica", Jade chirped gi
EricaIt was 7 in the morning, she had hardly gotten any sleep after that dream, well it cannot be called a dream. However, she was kind of getting used to it. She yawned and massaged her temples. There was a dull ache in her head. She chewed her bottom lip continuously as she waited for her parents to arrive. she mindlessly browsed through her phone having nothing much to do.Drake had to go for training. She tapped her foot anxiously. Since it was a weekend, the campus was fairly empty. She could see a few students taking a walk or jogging. She wanted answers and she waited for her parents' arrival with trepidation. She had countless questions, questions which hopefully her parents would be able to answer.Her train of thoughts came to a halt when she heard a familiar honk. She glanced up and there they were, getting out of the Beetle that used to be hers. Before she knew it, she had stood up and had started jogging towards t
Erica"What?" her mother asked, disbelief clear in her face and voice. Her father, too, looked baffled. She nodded, "I am saying the truth. I can't ever forget that voice since I saw him or rather he dropped for a visit yesterday in my dreams that is".Her father stood up and shook his head, "But who is this person?""You mean you don't know either?" Erica asked, surprised. Here she thought she would get some information but apparently, it seems she has to stay in the dark until the person himself reveals his identity."I told you I found you unconscious, there wasn't anyone in sight", he reminded. His father pondered. She sighed. This wouldn't help them in any way."I think we should go back. Queen Jade will be coming today as well", she said as she stood up. Her parents nodded in agreement. As she got inside the car, she sent another text to Drake and asked him to inform Xavier. Her heart thumped with trepidatio
EricaQueen Jade and Drake were already present when they reached Xavier's office. She also noticed Arnold and Vladimir outside his office. They bowed to her parents and nodded to her. Erica's stomach churned, her mom went and hugged Drake while her dad gave him a shoulder pat. She glanced at Xavier who smiled at her, calming her nerves. She shyly waved at him and smiled in return. She didn't know whether it was because she knew he was her mate but having him around made her feel safe."Hello Eve", Queen Jade hugged the Luna. Evelyn hugged her back. Pleasantries were exchanged for a while before they got down to business. Erica wrung her fingers as Jade asked, "So I guess you guys know why we are here?" Adrian nodded in affirmative."Uhm...I would like to say something", Erica spoke up. Five pairs of eyes turned towards her. She gulped. Why did I open my mouth? she groaned mentally. Jade who was leaning against the des
Follow Xavier and Erica’s youngest daughter Valerie Ravenwood’s story in The Last Dragon’s MageSynopsis:[Book 3 in Mage's Mate series, can be read as a stand-alone or as a part of the series] Valerie Ravenwood, the youngest daughter of Erica and Xavier Ravenwood has led an inferior life for the past 18 years what with being a wolfless and a namesake mage. Desperate to prove her worth, she runs away from home after being denied to join the Medeis Challenge, an annual competition held exclusively for mages, and judged by dragons. She follows her elder sister, who has been chosen to take part in the aforementioned competition but manages to lose her way and stumbles, literally, into the territory of the last Dragon King, Clyde Basilisk.
[Erica]A few months later..."They have done an amazing job," Erica sighs as she admires the portrait of Queen Rosamond and King Merek, adorning the wall outside Rosamond Hall. She leans back into Xavier's chest. Her mate hums in approval, encircling his arms loosely around her waist. "You know, I always wondered why this spot was left empty. Now I know," he murmured against her neck. Erica felt a pang in her chest as she looked at the couple who didn't get their happy ending. She gazed at the smiling face in the portrait and hoped that wherever she was now, that she would continue to look after all of them. 'I hope you are finally happy now,' she thought ruefully. Erica turned around and facing him. Xavier looked at her lovingly, his grasp tightening slightly. Her lips quirked up. she wound her arms around his neck and went on her tip-ties to press her lips on his. The kiss started slow but wasn't devoid of the heat and passion that they shared. Xavier pulled her closer, nipping li
[Erica]She twiddled her thumbs nervously as she sat on the high-back chair, facing 20 other people excluding her mate and family. It had been two days since the incident. Xavier had taken her into his arms as soon as he had returned, kissing her and murmuring words of reassurance. Both of them had been left alone for some time before the whole family had had a discussion and Erica had disclosed almost everything to them. Them being Alpha Samuel. Alpha Tristan, Ava, and Mathilda. Arnold and Vladimir had also been there. To her relief and great surprise, none of them blamed her as she had expected. As Aldred had said. Instead, she saw a grim satisfaction in Tristan's eyes, she had received a tight hug from Ava, and Mathilda and Arnold had only been supportive and so had Vladimir. Alpha Samuel had grumbled, more shocked at knowing his mate's real identity than Erica's. He had been silent throughout which had heightened the tension. She broke down at the way her family had accepted her s
[Erica]There was fire everywhere. Someone was screaming. And then she saw him. His face had melted with heat, skin hanging from places as he stared pleadingly at her. His mouth was slack, he wanted to say something. Erica, on the other hand, was rooted to her spot. She wanted to back away but couldn't. Suddenly he stretched out his hand as if trying to grab her and pull her into the fire with him. She screamed, cried for help but no one was around. Not even Queen Rosamond. Distantly she could hear someone calling her name, she whirled around but the forest was too dark despite the flames. Was it Blackmist forest...no, she somehow knew it wasn't. But who was calling her? The voice grew louder and she noticed her vision turning blurrier. What was happening?...~~~~Her eyes flew open and she gasped awake. She sat up and realised that she was on a bed, in her and Xavier's room. "Erica?" she heard her mother's voice and snapped her gaze towards her. It was now that she saw luna Freida,
[Erica]She stood rooted to her spot as she saw the terror-filled scene unfold. Mouth agape, she could only watch as Aldred writhed and screamed in pain as he fruitlessly tried to save himself. Her eyes were wide as saucers as she took in the sight, unaware of the vigorously burning flames around her. She was oblivious of the fact that another spectre was beside her, watching a mage burning alive, the flames engulfing his body little by little. Erica was not aware that somehow the flames or the disobedient wind did not dare to touch her, that she was standing in a safe array created by someone. Tears streamed down her cheeks, unbidden as she stared with fearful eyes. Her lips trembled, a choked noise escaping her mouth. 'Did I do this?' the thought made her stumble back. She took a step forward, her limbs felt wobbly. 'But I didn't...' her voice echoed pitifully. As she tried again to walk unsteadily towards him, something stopped her. "Don't." The voice was familiar and authoritati
[Erica]"Aldred!" she thundered as stalked into the mansion, dragging two barely unconscious werewolves in her wake. She had been unknown of her capability, of her strength and of her fury. Her hand never faltered as she had continuously thrown Xander from one part of the study to another until the man had relented and grunted out Aldred's whereabouts. Her grandfather's demise had spurred something in her, snapped a thread that had been holding her to be civil to those who had done wrong, but then she had seen her grandfather falling limply on the ground, life sapped out within a few moments and that made her vow to herself that no more lives will be lost because of her, because of someone's misdeeds She felt a phantom ache in her chest, how will her mother react? She dismissed it as soon as it surfaced in her mind, filing away the thought for later. 'I will deal with it when the time comes,' she thought. She deposited the men haplessly on the ground and went to search the dilapida
[Xavier]It was good to let Leikos out for the first time in a long time. 'Only if Erica could see,' he thought wistfully. Forcing to keep his mate at the back of his mind, he weaved through the trees, his aunt and mother following closely behind. Tristan was by his side, in his human form but running equally fast. He skidded to a halt in front of the tree. Had he been in his human form, he would have widened his eyes in shock but Leikos stood very still as he saw Elias standing in front of the tree waiting for them. His eyes clouded with confusion. "Ah, sorry for having to keep you waiting," his aunt chirped and walked past him. "We contacted him when you and Erica were outside talking to them," his mother explained, her voice tight with concern and worry. He trotted behind the bushes that would give him some privacy. His joints cracked and relocated and when he finally stood up, he felt a dull pain and ache that he hadn't for quite a while. When he walked back, Tristan, aunt Jade
[Xavier]Ice coursed through his veins. Leikos growled threateningly in his mind. "No!" Before he knew it, the word was out of his mouth. Leikos continued roaring in his mind, restless and bloodthirsty. He wanted to rip off their heads for blatantly disrespecting him and his mate. Sir Leon shifted his gaze towards him. Raising an eyebrow, he reiterated, "No?" Beside him, Erica had stiffened, her palm had become sweaty. He could feel how she was holding on to her indifferent facade with every ounce of her will that was teetering. "What he means is that what if this concoction, whatever this is, turns out to be poisonous?" Queen Jade comes to his aid. Luna Freida hums in agreement, "It appears as if you wish to force your assumptions upon her." Xavier turned to look at his mother who had defiant look on her face. "I agree," Ava said. Xavier felt an amalgamation of emotions. He had earlier thought of his friend as envious and prejudiced but despite not knowing Erica properly she was su
[Erica]Her insides churned when she heard this. She stood rooted to her spot while Xavier asked in a menacing tone, "What?" Her ears were ringing as she knew that the visit wasn't a casual or a coincidental one. They had come for her. Her palm tingled all of sudden and her vision turned sharper. She had to go to that nook. Something told her that the nook had every answer she was looking for. A sharp intake of breath drew her out of her racing thoughts. She noticed Alpha Samuel stepping back, his eyes widened with ill-concealed horror. "What? Who are you?" Alpha Samuel asks, his voice barely audible. She furrows her eyebrows before she hears another gasp. "Erica, your eyes..." Queen Jade whispers and that's enough for her to understand the older man's sudden change in reaction. She whirls around and looks up at Xavier who does not react in any way. He rests his hand on the small of her back, a calming touch, a silent reassurance. Erica closed her eyes and willed herself to calm down