I’m losing my patience.“Just get to the point, Drake!”His eyes widen with amusement.“There was once a time you called me ‘Father’”I shake my head. I have never seen this man in my life! It’s 1870; there’s no way he could be my father! I’m over one hundred years out of my timeline!“It is true. I am your father, Anja.”Oh, crap, I’m going to be sick!“That’s bullshit! I have never met you before today. I want to leave!”I turn to leave; however, I’m paralysed.“I mean not to harm you, Anja.”That’s easy for him to say; he’s not the one entrapped in some kind of trance, unable to move.“I have much to tell you, my daughter.”I want to scream at him to let me go, I want to yell and tell him that Leopold is my father, but he isn’t either. I can’t get my mouth to move to tell this man anything. I feel strange.I call the wolf within, but Asha is dormant; I can’t reach her.Why can’t I reach her?‘Let me go.’ I tell Drake with my mind, hoping the bastard can hear me.Drake smirks, provi
“Yes,” Drake nods. “As descendants of the first vampire, we have the ability to master time travel through specific portals around the world. I did so by the age of fifteen.“I travelled all through time, meeting weird and wonderful people. Yet I had only ever gone back through time; the future had not interested me at that point.“It was my eighteenth birthday when I decided to travel forward. I ended up going much further than intended. I was aiming for 1850; however, I ended up in 1970.“Of course, you can imagine my surprise when I realised where I was. The modern world was very different from what I was used to. Motor vehicles of all kinds everywhere, aeroplanes, televisions. An invention most fascinating.”“How did you meet my mother?”In 1970 my mother would have been almost the same age as Drake; she would also have been betrothed to Leopold. They were to be married a week after her eighteenth birthday.“I bumped into her quite literally and by accident. The moment our eyes me
“A young maid named Molly, eighteen years of age, was offered a new life, in a new time where she would be Queen.” Drake continues.“Of course, she was confused by what we asked of her. At that time, Molly didn’t have a clue what we were; not many of the household staff did. Mother ended up showing Molly the hybrid side of us, which scared her, naturally.“However, when Amanda spoke with Molly alone, Molly didn’t hesitate to say yes to what we propositioned. She has no family here and nothing much to call her own. Never having to work again, living in comfort, having everything her heart desired, and a man who could fall in love with her and take care of her for the rest of her life had Molly almost giddy.“Amanda and I spent many weeks teaching Molly, Amanda’s ways, her posture, mannerisms, even the small ticks Amanda had, such as tucking her hair behind her ear when she was nervous.”I remember my mother doing that a lot.“Memories would be transferred from Amanda to Molly, but anyt
“The wolf elder, and my second cousin, Keley, also had the power of foresight. Keley is younger than me but became an elder due to her gifts - Not only foresight, but healing, and her communication with spirits, ghosts, if you will.”Keley?Is he talking about the same Keley who has been teaching me Zidiah’s history?That fucking bitch!Orrin trusted her, and she betrayed him!I’ll kill her, I swear to the Moon Goddess, I will kill her! No one betrays my mate and lives, no one!Keley is Drake’s cousin?I get the foresight and healing, but communicating with the dead?I didn’t even know that was a thing!I’ve never seen her speaking to herself, and that’s what it would have looked like to me if she were talking to ghosts.‘Why would Keley speak to ghosts in front of you? You would have thought she was crazy. You’d have told Orrin, and then he’d have called her into a meeting where she’d have to explain herself. I’m sure the woman knew not to speak to the dead in front of anyone.’‘Okay
Drake sighs but nods his head.“You were playing in the garden with James. You adored him, Anja, and he adored you twice as much. You and James had the closest bond of all three of your brothers. From the moment you were born, James was devoted to you. Amongst hybrids like us, it’s possible for siblings to imprint on each other.”I narrow my eyes because I didn’t know that. I know orphans can imprint on people when they feel safe, thus finding new parents. It can even happen with grandparents, but I’ve never heard of siblings imprinting.“The day you were born, James had been away on business. He arrived home and rushed straight to Amanda’s room. She was sitting up in bed, you in her arms, myself, Byron and Charles sitting with the two of you. James’ eyes landed on you, and he gasped.“I watched James’ eyes wolf over as he slowly made his way to the bed. Amanda was watching him curiously as he reached for you. She handed you over, and James stared at your little face and smiled. Then
I swallow the lump in my throat and then take a long breath.“So the mother I remember wasn’t my real mother?”“No,” Drake shakes his head. “She was not your mother. We understand that she died in childbirth.”“Yes, she did.” I look down at my hands. “It was the worst day of my life. I’ll never forget that day as long as I live.”He takes both my hands in his, and I wonder how he could possibly know that the Amanda I knew died in childbirth. Then I realise he must have been checking up on me throughout the years; that’s why he’d know.“I know how much it must have hurt, Anja. To lose someone we love is not something we ever get over. All we can do is move forward.”“That’s easier said than done. There are still days when I wonder why we had to lose her. Leopold was never the same, and Brody, his son, reverted into himself. Then there was this tiny baby who needed so much attention. But I honestly believe that Dania saved Leopold from following Amanda into the next life.”Drake nods hi
I don’t know where I am, nor if I’m asleep or awake. I’ve been awake so long looking for Anja that I no longer know what the hell is going on.It’s been two days since Anja disappeared, and it sent me into a spin. I couldn’t eat nor sleep; all I had done in that time was; search for my mate. I have the whole of Zidiah looking for their Queen, but there has still been no sign.Anja wouldn’t just up and leave; there’s no way in hell she would do that. Anja and I are one, and I know she’d never willingly leave me.But that still begs the question, where is she?How could she have disappeared into thin air?No one saw Anja leave the mansion, and I have interrogated hundreds over the past few days. Nobody knows anything; there has been no sign of Anja anywhere. She’s not in Zidiah, nor any of the shifter clans surrounding us.I have searched everywhere, even contacted packs across the world. But there is no sign of my mate, and I’m at a loss of where to look next.Tracey doesn’t believe An
My heart sinks.If this is a future vision, then I’m to lose Anja to death very soon. That cannot happen!“We have spent our whole lives learning everything we can to find a way to stop Mother’s death. You told us we’d know when the time would come for us to find your past self. That time is now,”“Dad,”There’s an ache in my chest as I look at Luther. These are my cubs, part of my Anja. They may be grown and have come to me in a vision, but my love for them is insurmountable.“By now, you know the powers Mum possesses. You’ll also know that she can’t control them most of the time. Mum’s powers, aside from the ones she possesses thanks to her vampiric and Omerian blood, are due to the blood of the firsts.”“Wait, vampiric blood? The blood of the firsts?”Luther nods. “There is much to explain,”And he does just that. Luther tells me about where Anja came from and why. I learn about her parents and why Amanda was given one drop of blood from the first Vampire, Phoenix, Siren, Wolf, Dra
Twenty-Five years later “Dad? You okay?” I turn away from my bedroom window and face my daughter with a smile. “Something I can help you with?” Lilly says nothing, just walks into my open arms. My daughter will one day take over the throne. My sons are strong Romarians, but Lillian is an Omerian, much more powerful than anyone predicted. It’s been many years since there was a crowned Queen of Zidiah. My daughter will be the first in two hundred years. My children have struggled with having Lorcan’s spirit share Luther’s body all their lives. The witch who stole him from us did the unthinkable. Killing the child as we thought was bad enough, but what she’d, in fact, done was force Luther and Lorcan to share one body. It took twenty-five years and Luther’s little mate to separate Luther and Lorcan. But Jenna did it, and Lorcan is now here in the physical. I love Lorcan, none could ever say that I don’t, but the boy is insane. All those years living inside his brother have left Lo
I gasp and stumble as blood falls from my mouth. The power of the Firsts rips from my body, flowing back into them.What the fuck just happened?I fall to my knees, gasping for air and clutching my chest. I feel as though I’m in another dimension, but, strangely, I feel like my old self once again.Thank the Goddess!However, I remember every vile thing I’ve done over the past weeks, and my heart is breaking.Tears fall from my eyes, and I sob. I’m a monster! There is no other word for it: I’m a monster and will never be anything more.“Anja?” I look at the man crouching in front of me. “My child,” Mythius cups my cheek. “You are free.”“I don’t know what happened,” I admit.“The blood of the Firsts corrupted your heart and mind. It almost stole your life force, but your mate saved you. How did he do this? No one knows.”“Orrin,” My eyes widen. “Where is he?”Mythius smiles sadly. “I’m sorry, young one.”“No,” I shake my head while clambering to my feet. “He’s not gone; I would feel i
“Are you sure this is the way?”“Yes, Freddy,” I mumble.Today is the day. I have but moments to save Anja, and I cannot fail. It’s taken days to find her hiding place, yet it shouldn’t have – not when we’ve followed the bodies along the way.So many shifters have been killed, too many to count. It seemed that no one was safe from my mate. Anja cared not for who she killed nor the land she destroyed.What has become of my mate?If I do manage to save her, will she ever be the same?Will she be my Anja or someone I don’t recognise?I feel sick with nerves as I approach the cave in which Anja is hiding. Liam, Adrian, and Freddy all insisted on coming with me. It didn’t matter how many times I protested; they wouldn’t listen. I also know the Firsts are following, hiding out of sight, but they’re there.They’ve come to the end of their tether, and no amount of me protesting would stop them from ending Anja. Onyx, the first dragon, almost angrily set fire to my pack!I’ll never know how th
“You need to sort this, Orrin!” I roll my eyes at Mythius. Fucking vampire prick is driving me nuts! I know that I need to sort things, but I’m at a loss for what to do here. “Your mate is out of control, and the Firsts have been talking. They want Anja neutralised before the week is out.” I know what that means; they want Anja put down. It won’t happen, but I don’t know how much longer I can hold them off. After what happened in the woods the other day, things have been slowly getting worse. Anja has killed more people than even I can count. Goddess knows I understand where Mythius and others are coming from. But I cannot stand back and allow anyone to hurt my mate. Our cubs need her; I need her! Four days ago, I was called to the forest, where I found my mate torturing rogues. Adrain, Liam, and I ran as fast as we could when Mythius called. Bodies were littering the ground, decapitated, deformed, and bent in unnatural ways. Dozens upon dozens of rogues were dead as the Firsts,
It’s dark, always so dark.My life was once filled with love and light, but that’s all gone now. All that is left behind is rage and darkness.I don’t want to be this way; it’s lonely where I am right now – locked inside my head. But I can’t deal with the pain of losing my son.Lorcan was cruelly snatched from me by a madwoman for no other reason than she could. I am one of if not the strongest person in our world. One witch should not have been able to curse me; I should have been able to take her voice and stop her.Why then couldn’t I?Why was I frozen and unable to speak?But I couldn’t speak, and I couldn’t stop that woman from taking my son from me. I still don’t understand her words, and I don’t even care to try. That bitch took something from me that I will never be able to get back.No one will ever understand what that witch did to me that day. I knew that I was out of control, hurting my own people because I couldn’t stop myself.But did I really deserve to lose my son beca
Some Months Later. . .Time is getting closer. I have around a week to save Anja, and I still haven’t worked out how to do that. She’s so out of control that the whole city is coming down around me.The Elders are on my case to contain Anja, while my people are terrified of what their Queen will do next. My pack will end in rack and ruin at this rate, and it won’t be long before my enemies swarm in.I have dozens wanting to take Anja from me. Many of whom would use her powers for their own ends, just as my cubs informed me.I am doing everything in my power to keep Anja safe, but it’s not easy. Anja fights me on everything, and just one person disagrees with her, and she ends their lives as if they were nothing.I feel as though I’m being pulled in ten different directions. The Elders, though they stay in hiding away from Anja, have been on my case to put her down. Like she’s a fucking dog!I know Anja is bringing around the destruction of our pack. But I can’t bring myself to hurt he
On the other hand, Amanda and Leopold felt the mate bond the moment they laid eyes on each other. They sparked in a way no other Kulumi bear ever has, and their love story is one that will last the ages. A woman out of her timeline with the face of another ended up being the King’s, destined mate. Nothing could have been more perfect.“Amanda,” Leopold wraps Amanda in his big arms, lifting her slightly because she’s a foot and half shorter than he is. “My love.”Though I knew Leopold loved Amanda, I never realised how much until this moment. The pale blue and lilac auras swimming around their heads as they kiss tenderly only provides more evidence that they belong together. They’re deeply in love, and nothing could take that away from them, not even death.I understand now why Leopold would never take another wife. He wasn’t and never would be over his true mate.Is it wrong to keep from the King his wife’s true identity?I don’t believe so.Why cause more pain when it won’t change an
I hadn’t heard Brody come into the room, but he’s certainly made his presence known since. “What have you done to my father?”“Brody, stand down,” Leopold waves his hand at his son.“Stand down? She was banished from Kulumi and ended up the damn Queen of Zidiah.”Leopold narrows his eyes, confused by what Brody just said about me being banished from Kulumi. But of course, he would be.“Does the King know she’s here? Or should we be expecting Orrin Dalgaard to bring war down on us?”I get to my feet.Brody is no threat to me, but I won’t have him stand over me, trying to intimidate me.“Orrin knows that I’m here, Brody. No, he wasn’t happy about it, but when I explained why I needed to come, he took a step back.”“Why are you here?” The man who used to be my best friend grinds between his teeth.I take a deep breath before using my vampiric ability to wipe Brody’s memories of who I was to him, just as I did with Leopold.I then explain everything to Brody. Every little thing I told Leo
“It is true, Leopold. But there’s more.” “What more could there be, Anja?” I know this is a lot for Leopold to take in, but he needs to know everything. So, I explain his sister-in-law’s plans to kill his child due to Amanda’s death. Leopold’s eyes widen in shock, and I see the bear within trying to break out. Not once did Leopold blame Dania for what happened. “I’ll kill her!” Leopold roars. ‘Why did you tell him that?!’ Asha screams inside my head. ‘You didn’t need to say anything. You planned to glamour the clan into forgetting who you were here and believing Amanda hadn’t even died. ‘Everything would have been as it always was, but you had to go and spill this shit to the King. Once you’d glamoured everyone, nobody would have wanted to kill Dania. What the hell is wrong with you?’ Crap! Asha is correct, but I wasn’t thinking. I am so overly tired, and I’ve used so much power today that I’m starting to slow down. ‘Wipe the memory, Anja! Amanda’s sister was acting due to gri