[Xavier]
Maybe Elias was the one who visited in my dreams as well, he mused. But he did not say that to Erica. The conversation was far from over. He knew, and so did Leikos, that Erica had more to say. Had Josh not burst into the room all of a sudden, they would have talked a lot more. For that, the gamma had to suffer from a severe glare from not only him but also Lana. But before he could show the wolf his place, Erica had intervened.
As he sat in his office, pondering and going over their earlier conversation, he heard a knock on the door. He looked up to see Jade sauntering in.
Xavier did not bother to ask the reason for her visit. Jade sat back before saying, "Heard that you guys caught the spy, or rather Drake caught him". She waited for his reply with a raised eyebrow, but at that moment, the spy situation was at the back of his mind. He simply nodded before turning back his gaze to the laptop screen. He had access t
[Xavier]He shook his head as if to dispel those ugly thoughts. He was here, in this room, for a reason. Standing up, he started walking around the once familiar space. The room was not too large, therefore; it did not take much time to raid through the cupboard which basically consisted of clothes and some trivial documents. Memories flashed through his mind as
[Erica]"Let's go and wander the woods," Josh said from where he was sprawled on his bed while Erica and Lana were sitting on the floor, polishing off the last bit of mac N cheese from their respective takeout boxes. They were spending their day off lazily. Now that Cole was dealt with, the tension had evaporated, giving way to a relaxed mood.
[Xavier]“What?” he gritted. The guard nodded vigorously. He heard Jade click her tongue in irritation. “How is that possible? Weren’t you guarding the door properly?” Arnold roared.
[Erica]She gulped, taking in the information. She felt like the Erica from a few weeks back who was being handed new information every other day. Prophesied queen? She prayed that her face remained blank but on the inside; she was panicking. Aldred was regarding her intently."How long have I been here?" she blurted out. She hoped that it would buy her some time to think and improvise.["Don't give in to his manipulation," Elias had said]Aldred hummed thoughtfully, "Maybe around 3 days?"Her eyes widened, "Three-three days? I have been unconscious for that long?" Then her thoughts veered towards her mate and her family. They must be worried sick, looking for her. He grinned, "Yes, my magic is quite powerful, you see. It's the old magic, not the new spells kids learn these days". He grimaced. "But let me tell you. I did not keep you famished. I fed you with my energy, tried at least, but your body kept rejecting. And interestingly, I couldn't access your memories either," he informe
[Xavier] Rejected. She... rejected him? Three days of relentless search. Sleepless nights. Dreading every moment for her wellbeing. And what was the end result? What did he receive? Rejection? But did she not...love him? Leikos howled in pain. What was happening? He did not realise he had been sitting on the forest ground before his misty gaze landed on a heap lying on the ground. He had transformed some time. He stumbled towards it. His breath hitched when he realised that it was his brother lying unconscious in front of him. He stumbled forward and reached out to touch the still unconscious wolf. His fingers were trembling, his mind was blank, his heart was numb. He exhaled in relief when he found that Tristan was breathing. Then, unbeknownst to him, his gaze searched the area. Where was his mate? His mate was nowhere? Wouldn't she at least tell him why? Why she did what she did? He swallowed thickly, his wolf still denying the truth, but he felt it. He felt the pain, the loss of
[Erica] Her heart was still pounding, dulling the throbbing ache in her chest momentarily. She had screwed her eyes shut, giving into the exhilarating sensation of teleporting from one place to another. It felt as if the wind was rushing past her ears, caressing her entire body, and then it just stopped. She cautiously opened her eyes, expecting the worst, but the place made her gasp instead. She was standing in the same forest where she had been countless times in her dreams. The only difference? Now it was real and a little misty. The astonishment made her forget for a moment why she was there. She looked around. A thick mist hung in the air, making it difficult for her to see what was beyond the line of trees that were within five feet. Everything was black, inky black. How on earth am I supposed to look for anyone here? Elias did not even tell me anything else, she thought morosely. Her thoughts involuntarily went back to her mate... ex-mate? Maybe, and with that, it brought
[Erica]She blinked several times to convince herself that these were indeed people and not just her hallucination. However, she felt extremely awkward with them kneeling like that. "Uh...can you not kneel like that? I mean, I am not a queen as you all are saying," she mumbled, shifting her weight from one foot to another. "You are a queen whether or not you have been officially crowned", Elias said cryptically, then he turned to the group and said authoritatively, "Rise". All of them rose at once. Erica swept a glance over them. There were people of her age as well as her grandfather's age, probably. Maybe older, who knows. One face, in particular, stood out. There was something familiar in his features or his eyes, but she couldn't recall why it felt so familiar. He appeared to be in his late 60s or early 70s. The man, too, was staring at her, but not curiously. His gaze contained surprise and maybe pride? However, Elias' voice distracted her from interpreting further."I have arr
[Erica] Her eyes fluttered open. However, she couldn't tell if it was day or simply she had woken up in the middle of the night. She definitely felt rested, even though her eyes felt dry and crusty. She rubbed her eyes and padded to the washroom. The mansion was surprisingly equipped with a good water supply. Maybe it's magic, she thought offhandedly as she washed her face. She looked at the medium-sized mirror above the washbasin. Tired, swollen and red-rimmed eyes stared back at her. Her skin looked pale. She hardly recognised herself anymore. She exited the washroom and decided to go outside and see if anyone had woken up. The corridor was silent. She padded her way to the hall or the living room where she had first met the others. She was about to enter when she heard hushed voices coming from the room. She stilled and strained her ears to listen. "I don't want to burden her any further, " a male voice said, and Erica could bet that it was the same man who had shown her to her
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