Trapped in a life of servitude, Andronika yearns for a destiny beyond gutting fish. A chance encounter with the enigmatic Tristan ignites a spark within her, but as shadows deepen, a web of deceit unravels. Betrayal, manipulation, and a ruthless Alpha Orion threaten to consume her. Forced to become a warlock princess and a lycan.Andronika fights for survival and honor. Bound to an Alpha she despises, she navigates a treacherous court, her heart torn between duty and desire. As she delves into the mysteries of her birth, a shocking truth emerges: she is not merely a pawn in a deadly game, but a force to be reckoned with. With every step, Andronika confronts her destiny, a path forged in blood and sacrifice. Betrayal, love, and the weight of a prophecy push her to the brink as Love and loyalty clash in a desperate struggle for freedom. Can she break free from the chains of fate and forge her own destiny? or will she be consumed by the darkness that surrounds her?
View MoreThe mountain top is a sacred ground.” Tristan’s palm pressed into my ribs to hold me stable. “No weapons are allowed, as all deaths must be in sacrifice to the gods, which means some level of safety within Vanda’s borders.” I didn’t take much comfort in that. “How long will it take us to reach the mountain?” “Tomorrow we’ll reach the village at the base of the mountain, where we’ll leave the horses,” he continued. Then another half day’s climb.” A night out in the open. I swallowed hard.“I think we should ride faster.” By the time dusk arrived, the horses were laboring hard and my body hurt from bouncing up and down for hours on Tristan’s lap. Judging from his groans as he gently dismounted his horse, collapsing on his back in the dirt and shouting at the heavens that he’d lost the ability to sire offspring, he’d not fared much better. Yet it was the first time since we’d left Mystic Rune pack that anyone laughed, so I appreciated the release of tension even i
Vanda was the sacred temple on the very summit of the mountain known as Hammar. Every nine years there was a gathering that attracted people from near and far to pay tribute to the gods and offer their sacrifices. I’d never been before, my parents had always declared that it was not a place for children, and this would be the first time it took place since I’d come of age.The great hall was in a bustle of activity, two dozen horses and several pack animals were mounted and loaded when I emerged in dry clothes and a heavy cloak. Lyra was guiding the procedure, the Luna of Mystic Rune pack no longer attired in a costly dress, but in warrior’s gear, including a mail shirt, and a long axe hanging from her belt. I had no question that she knew how to utilize it. Particularly when her opponent’s back was turned.“You will remain with the warriors I’m leaving behind to protect Mystic Rune pack,” Orion remarked to Owen. “You will be alpha in my absence. Send word across my domains call
My interest rose with each passing second as we traveled, soaking, back to the vast hall. ?” Tristan shook his head. “I merely provided the flame. Was Andronika who set them ablaze.” At my name, Owen turned from his brother, gazing at me up and down. I gave him the same courtesy. He was only slightly taller than I was and fairly thin, his hair golden blond where his brother’s was dark, and his eyes blue rather than green. “You are the warrior princess, then?” he asked, and without waiting for a response added, “I suppose I must congratulate you on your marriage to my father.” Nothing in his tone suggested congratulations, which was perhaps reasonable, considering that Lyra was his mother, but I gave him a little nod. “Thank you.” He glared, then turned his back on me in favor of his brother. “We captured a spy.” Tristan moved on his feet, gaze narrowing. “Whose spy?” An elder warrior, a man with brown skin and silver-streaked dark hair coiled
Tristan rushed at me again, and as I braced, I said, “Freyja, give me strength.”Power poured through me, magic encompassing my shield. I watchedTristan’s eyes widen, but it was too late for him to stop his blow.His barrier impacted my magic, and the contact catapulted him backward with such power that he sailed through the air, landing in the sea with a splash.Vanquishing my magic, I moved to the edge of the pier and saw him come spluttering to the surface, his shield floating nearby. “It seems you are the one who is wet, Tristan.” He stared at me and then swam toward the dock with forceful strokes, shield abandoned in the water. “Magic will only take you so far,” he growled. Alpha Orion wants you to become a warrior, not a glowing beacon in the shield wall that everyone will try to kill.”“You think I want to be a figurehead?” I demanded. “You think I asked to be named in a seer’s prophecy? I was going about my life when you galloped into it and tore it to shreds.”“Because life
My feet created echoing thumps as I stomped to the far end, the sea a shimmering steel blue. Though the spring air was cold and the tops of the neighboring mountains were still covered with snow, the overhead sun was warm enough that I didn’t regret leaving my cloak at the great hall. I turned back in time to witness Tristan dumping his shirt into the dock, muscular muscles and tattooed flesh all in obvious view. Setting the shields at my feet, I crossed my arms. “Worried about falling in?” I refused to say the term wet.“No.” He hooked his thumbs over his belt. His trousers fell low enough to display the sharp V of muscle that disappeared inside them.The wound he’d sustained last night was gone, likely healed with Seraphina’s power. Realizing I was staring at the delicious length of naked skin, I dragged my eyes to his face while waving at his discarded shirt. He only shrugged. “I rarely wear a shirt when I fight.”This time my eye roll was unfeigned. “Is that part of your strat
My morning had been wasted sitting around waiting for Tristan since the sun was high in the sky and I was pissed off. “Tristan isn’t much for mornings,” Seraphina murmured, stepping up from behind me.“The only reason one typically sees him at dawn is because he’s yet to go to bed.” That didn’t surprise me at all.Seraphina, however, had been at the great hall at dawn, checking on the progress of the injured. “You know him well?” I posed Ivy the question, The healer shrugged. “As well as anyone, I suppose. I was raised on a farm north of Mystic Rune pack, but I didn’t come to serve Alpha Orion until after my gift emerged, which was after Tristan was taken to the Northern region.” I blinked. “Northern region?”One of Seraphina’s eyebrows raised, then she shook her head. “I forget how things are in a small pack, not knowing any of the events going on more than an hour’s ride in any direction.” She sighed. “There are days I’d give anything to go back to a life of blissful ignorance.”
Alpha Orion was thrilled that it had been me who’d set fire to the ships, considering it as proof of the accuracy of the seer’s foretelling. I was half tempted to tell him that I’d become floating on the sea if not for his son.Victorious or not, buildings in Mystic Rune pack still burned, scores of corpses cooled on the ground, and many more moaned and cried from injuries. Logically, I understood the death toll would’ve been far worse if I hadn’t given the early warning, yet it still felt like a failure.Standing close to Lyra and Orion , we witnessed an ancient woman conduct the rituals for the burial of the dead.I looked away and my attention latched on a hooded person going slowly down the waterline, veiled by haze. At first, I assumed it was merely the smoke from the pyres. But as I observed, I saw the smoke was coming from the individual. Not just smoke, but particles of ember and ash, as though the individual were aflame.“Lyra.” I got hold of her arm. “Look at that person
Terror turned my skin to cold, my heart battling its way up my throat as I wrestled with the rope, trying to jerk my foot free. But the loop just tightened.“Come on,” I cried, clawing at it with my damaged right hand, then switching to my left. “Come on!”My nails clawed my skin as I slid my fingers under the rope and pulled, enough to loosen the loop enough to get my foot free. Crawling to the edge,l was struck in the back with what felt like a battering hammer.I toppled and landed headfirst in the water, the weight of the warrior who’d attacked me driving me down and down until I reached the stony sea floor.I drove my knees into his stomach and was rewarded with a rush of bubbles, but his hold didn’t weaken, his feet whirling to hold us both down. Again, I tried to kick him, but I couldn’t get leverage.Pressure rose inside my chest. I couldn’t get free. And I needed to breathe.Freyja, I begged, help me!Magic surged inside me, waiting for me to wield it, but my wrists were p
Silence.I wasn’t sure if that meant he agreed with his father or not, so I added, I won’t stand by while innocents die in a fight over me. If you try to stop me, I’ll stab you in the stomach.”Tristian snorted. “How do you propose to save them? To sprint past them, shield flaming bright, and hope the whole lot of Cassius’s army pursues after you?”“Hardly.” I lifted my sword. “I’m going to light his ships on fire and lure him down to the beach.”It was the best idea I could think of. A fleet of ships would cost a fortune in time and treasure to replace.When they noticed the fire, Cassius’s troops would quit the combat to preserve the vessels so they wouldn’t lose their opportunity to retreat. At least, that’s what I hoped. “The ships will be guarded. Hagrold’s no fool—he’ll protect his line of retreat.”My hands balled into fists. “Then help me.”Tension grew between us, and I could hardly breathe. Not because I feared Tristan would try to stop me but because I wanted him to help
To make sure I would be a wonderful wife to my mate, my mother imparted numerous skills to me. How to cook and keep the home. She would have been better off guiding me in the restraint required not to stab the said mate when he proved himself a short-witted drunkard with an acid tongue.My temper was under extreme testing today. "What are you doing? Carspey asked, bending over my shoulder and his breath stinging mead. “Cleaning the catch.” Huffing out an angry breath, Carspey yanked the knife from my fingers, nearly slicing open my palm. I don’t like the way you do it.” His lip twisted. “The way you are doing it is wrong. Pack members complain.” That was true, but it wasn’t complaints about fish. My lovely mate was a child of the gods, having the moon goddess gifted him a drop of Njord blood at his conception, which gave him immense power over the creatures of the sea. Instead of utilizing it to care for our pack, he used it to deny other pack fishermen of any catch even as ...
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