Eleanor's eyes fluttered open and relief washed over me. Panic had taken a hold of me as I did not know what to do. She looked at me, dazed in confusion.“Cathy?” She whispered, her voice hoarse. “What happened?”“You collapsed,” I said gently, helping her up. “How do you feel?”“I feel…different,” she said, letting out a breath. “Before I passed out, there was a blur…flashes…memories, I think. It was all so confusing.” I gently placed a hand on hers, comforting her. “Maybe it's…because of your connection to Lena? Do you think that now that she's…” My voice trailed off, not wanting to mention the gruesome execution.Eleanor seemed to understand, nodding slowly. “Lena…” she whispered, her eyes widening. “The execution…” She continued, squeezing her eyes shut. “My head…it feels like someone is trying to crack it open.” I picked up a damp cloth, squeezing it into her hands. I was glad at the thought of her memories returning but there was no point dwelling on the fragmented memories ri
A flicker of annoyance crossed Lachlan's face, his smile faltering for a moment before quickly replaced by his usual charming facade. “Very well,” he said, turning to me. “Can you excuse us, Cathy? This won't take long.” His voice was laced with false sweetness. My heart kept hammering frantically. What could it be? Whatever information this sorcerer had was clearly important for Lachlan to send me away. I needed to know. But there was no use protesting, it would seem suspicious.“Of course, Lachlan. Take all the time you need.” I replied, feigning nonchalance as I dabbed my non-existent lipstick and stood up from the table. The sorcerer stood, silently watching me. Our gaze locked on each other briefly as I walked past him. His yellow eyes held an unreasonable expression and sent shivers down my spine. I nodded curtly, leaving the dining hall and closing the heavy doors behind me with a soft thud.Outside the hall, I paced the small corridor, my stomach churning with anxiety and a
We arrived at his study, a room I had never been allowed to enter. He gestured for me to go in, the door closing with a finality that echoed in my pounding heart. The room was brightly lit, a sharp contrast to the lighting in the corridor. Bookshelves lined the walls, overflowing with texts and scrolls that seemed ancient. Lachlan turned and faced me, his gaze burning into mine. It made me uneasy and I shifted on my feet. His eyes were darkened and his pupils dilated. For a fleeting moment, I saw a different person. A different man. A man consumed by hunger for lust and power.It vanished as quickly as it appeared and was replaced by his false charm. “Cathy,” he murmured, taking a step towards me. His voice was a husky whisper and he reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from my face. His touch sent a jolt through me.Before I could respond, he leaned in, his lips hovering close to mine. The mood was thick and suffocating. He leaned in further, his breath tickling my cheeks as
We spent the next day making frantic preparations. Eleanor was surprisingly resourceful as she gathered food, cloaks and water pouches for each of us. Lachlan had avoided me all day, probably still stinging from my rejection. There was a strange hollow ache in my chest left by his absence. I couldn't quite explain it. Perhaps, a part of me had wanted to see him one more time before we left. A foolish part of me. I pushed such foolish emotions down and focused on the task at hand.By nightfall, anxiety and exhaustion gnawed at my bones. The castle was eerily quiet as though in anticipation of our plan. A tense silence descended upon me and Eleanor as we sat still, waiting for our moment. Every creak of the floorboards and every sound of the ancient fortress sent a nervous jolt through me.Finally, it was time. Eleanor, her face pale but resolute, gestured for me to follow. She had gathered the supplies in a small bag which hung loosely over her shoulder while I carried the cloaks whic
Alden sat at the head of the table in the meeting room, his face strained with fatigue and worry. There was a single shaft of sunlight that shone through a narrow slit in the ancient stone wall. The light illuminated the Lumen stone which was nestled in his palm. It was a fist sized orb, radiating a faint yellow glow.He had finally found it. Placed on a mantle in the burial chamber where his mother lay, among several other family artifacts. The legendary lumen stone that was supposed to restore his powers. However, for the past week, the stone had been completely unresponsive. He had tried everything - even chanting some ancient gibberish he had found in some texts. One time, he held it under moonlight to see if that was what was needed to access its power. But the stone lay dormant and unresponsive. Nothing was said about how to utilize it and no one around him knew. A sigh escaped Alden's lips as he stared at the stone, despair gnawing at him. He had been so focused on retrieving
Lachlan's figure, tall and menacing, stood prominent amidst the throng. From a distance, his eyes locked with Alden's, burning with a cold fire. His lips instantly curled in a malicious smile. “If it isn't the fallen beast,” he sneered, his voice booming across the courtyard. “You see, Alden, we do not have to resort to violence. My demands are simple. Surrender your pathetic kingdom…perhaps I will show mercy to you and your kin.”Lachlan's arrogance fueled a fire in Alden's gut. He felt a surge of fury course through him. “You, Lachlan,” he growled,stepping forward. “Are nothing but a coward. A true leader fights his own battles. Let us settle this, beast against beast. Here and now. No armies, No magic.”Alden's voice, though strained from fatigue, cut through the courtyard like a blade. A tense silence descended upon the battlefield as the air crackled with anticipation.Lachlan threw his head back and roared with laughter. It was a cruel mocking sound devoid of humor. “Now why
Alden charged forward, not wasting time with a response. He was fueled by rage and the desperate need to protect his kingdom and those he loved.He was quick in his movements, moving with surprising agility. Their battle was fierce, resounding through the courtyard and spilling into the castle. Lachlan, who was empowered by dark magic, moved with unnatural strength and speed, deflecting each and every one of Alden's strikes.Meanwhile, Teon, Herb and Knox huddled with Charlotte in the garden, their faces etched with worry. The tension was palpable as they waited. The sounds of metal echoed through the castle, each one a grim reminder of the unfolding battle. “Do you think they'll be alright?” Charlotte whispered, her voice trembling. “We can only hope,” Knox replied, nodding his head reassuringly. “Master Alden is strong, he won't give up easily.” He said, convincing not just her, but himself also. Knox's words lacked conviction. Even though they had been preparing for Lachlan's a
The air was tense, filled with the fading echo of the battle. Alden's head throbbed, a pain so intense it threatened to blur the world around him. Still, he watched Lorin with wary suspicion as he knelt beside him. “What…what do you want?” Alden's voice was weak and raspy as the question tumbled out. Lorin didn't answer. Instead, he knelt beside Alden, his silence feeling like a suffocating presence. Lorin met his gaze, his eyes unreadable and unwavering. After a long moment, he finally spoke. “I hear you've been searching for the Lumen stone,” he said, his voice a low murmur. Alden's jaw clenched as tried his best to maintain composure not wanting to give anything away. Lorin's words had struck a chord and he wondered how much did he knew. It did not matter because he would never tell him anything. Alden remained silent, his lips pressing into a thin line.“Have you found it?” Lorin pressed on, his voice slowly taking on urgency. “Do you know where it is?”Lorin's words were met
Eleanor's POVEleanor stood at the edge of the path leading to her childhood home. The house looked exactly as she remembered it. It was as if time had stood still here, but Eleanor knew that everything had changed, especially her.She took a deep breath, her heart pounding heavily in her chest, each step forward feeling heavier than the last. As she approached the house, all the memories came flooding back. All those moments seemed distant now, like they belonged to another life.Eleanor hesitated at the foot of the steps leading up to the front door. Her hand trembled as she reached out. It felt surreal, standing here after everything she had been through. Would they recognize her? Would they believe the story she had to tell? She wondered if they had moved on, if they had accepted her disappearance, or if they had kept hoping for her return.She now regretted turning down Charlotte's offer to come with her, her presence would have helped her nerves. She shook her head, trying to d
Alden held me close as we made our way inside the castle. The walls of the castle seemed to close in around us as we rushed through the corridors, each step a struggle as I fought to keep myself together.“Just a little further,” Alden whispered, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes. “We’re almost there.”Teon and Herb flanked us, their faces etched with concern as they helped guide me down the hall. Eleanor and Charlotte followed closely behind, whispering words of encouragement.We reached the small room just off the main hall, where a large bed had been hastily prepared. I barely registered the soft sheets and the warmth of the fire as Alden helped me onto the bed, his hands never leaving mine. The room was filled with the scent of herbs and flowers.Khimaira bustled in closely behind, her demeanor calm and composed. She took one look at me and nodded, as if she’d seen this a thousand times before. “Let’s get you comfortable,” she said gently, her hands working quickly.Th
I stood at that altar, lost in Alden's eyes. The world faded away and the only thing I felt was the warmth of his hand on my cheek. But then, a mocking cough from somewhere around us pulled us back to reality. We turned our heads slightly to see Lorin standing a few feet away, a hint of amusement in his eyes. Alden, ignoring my protests, had decided that he would officiate the wedding. “Shall we begin?” Lorin asked, his voice steady, as he proceeded to stand between us. This was really happening. I took a deep breath, calming my nerves. Alden's hand dropped from my cheeks, but he didn't move away. Instead, he took my hand in his, his touch reassuring. It was as though he knew exactly how I felt and I was grateful for that. The garden was silent and it felt like the only sound I could hear was my heart pounding rapidly in my chest. As Lorin began to speak, his voice carried a solemnity that settled over us all. “This union is more than a marriage,” Lorin began, his words measured.
The sun rays filtered in through the large window, casting a soft glow over the room. Charlotte and Eleanor flanked my sides, adjusting and readjusting different parts of my dress. We were gathered in front of a large mirror in the largest room in Alden's castle. I could hardly believe this day had come- my wedding day. It had been three months since the chaos with Lachlan and Lena. Three months since we returned home and had settled into a peaceful routine. But even with the calm, I still found it hard not to look over my shoulders. The weight of the past months still clung heavily to me. “I can't believe it's really happening,” I say gently, almost to myself. “I'm getting married in a few hours.”Charlotte, who had been focused on arranging my hair in the right bun, paused and smiled at me gently. “Neither can I,” she admitted, her voice soft but steady. “It all still feels like a really long dream.”We both turned our attention to Eleanor, who was fussing with the lace of my gown
Cathy's POV Lachlan's fortress was a hive of activity as we prepared to leave. The halls which were once cold and silent, buzzed with the clatter and murmur of voices. It felt strange indeed. Alden had wanted some time for me to recover fully before we left. His arm was wrapped firmly around me, supporting me as we walked through the halls. This place had been home to me for weeks now, but I had never freely walked these halls. We were waiting for the final preparations before leaving, and in the meantime, Alden had called for a meeting with Lorin. We were the last to arrive, as Karken, Eleanor and Charlotte sat around a large polished table in the hall. Lorin, dressed in black robes, stood afar off. The air was thick with tension and I could sense that the moment was heavy with unspoken weight. “Lorin,” Alden began, his face set determinedly. “I believe you have honored our agreement.”Lorin inclined his head in agreement, stepping out of the shadows. “Indeed,” He took another wa
Lorin's departure left a heavy silence in the air. There was a wave of unanswered questions running through my mind and I could not shake my feeling of unease. I was happy to be conscious and reunited with the ones I loved dearly. However, given the events of the last couple weeks, I couldn't be comfortable in my happiness. Paranoia. That was the word. I was expecting something ominous to happen, some bad news or enemy to pop up out of nowhere. Alden returned to my side, his face etched with a mixture of relief and something else i couldn't quite decipher. He took my hand in his once again and I felt a tremor run through me. His presence beside me was a reassuring comfort. Perhaps I was overthinking. Perhaps all I needed was just answers. Maybe, just maybe, our happily ever after had come. “What happened?” I rasped, looking intently at him. “How are you here? Where's Lachlan?” I did not mean for the questions to tumble out in a rush, but I was overwhelmed. Alden squeezed my hand, h
Cathy's POVI hear chaos in my surroundings from my unconscious state. The clatter pulling me back to reality from a dream I was having about me and Alden and our baby. It was a girl. A beautiful chubby little girl running around the garden to our delight. It was a dream I did not want to wake up from. There was a sudden burst of white light and I could feel warmth radiating through my body. The garden and Alden and the child had all vanished and I was left standing alone surrounded by nothing. I stood confused in this state for a moment before hearing a faint voice calling my name. The voice was unmistakably Charlotte's. My eyelids flutter open, the harsh light of the room making me squint. My head throbbed with a dull ache. I try to adjust my vision to my surroundings, the events of my last moments before passing out come flooding back. Panic claw at me as I remember our failed escape attempt. Eleanor. What had happened to her?As my vision unblurs itself fully, I am in utter shoc
The journey north was long and filled with tension. Every rustle of the leaves sent a jolt of panic through Alden, reminding him that they could all be walking into a trap. But he pushed on, fueled by the need to reach Cathy. Finally, they reached the northern fortress. The sun was setting, its rays casting long skeletal shadows on the fortress gates. There was an unsettling quiet in the air as they trooped in through the gates. There were no guards patrolling the gates. It was as though they had heard of Lachlan's defeat and had deserted the fortress. Lorin, seemingly unfazed by the atmosphere, led them through the fortress gates and into the castle. No one spoke, the only sound was the echo of their footsteps on the cold stone floor. It was clear that they were all feeling the weight of the tension that hung heavy in the air. They finally reached a large chamber at the end of a long passageway. Lorin pushed the heavy door of the chamber, letting them all in. The air inside was
Alden stared at Lorin, his mind reeling. The sorcerer's words had caused a heavy silence to hang in the air. His actions were no doubt justifiable but they had only his word to support his claims. “Enough about ancient grudges, Beast King,” Lorin rasped, regaining his composure. “I believe you have more pressing concerns.” He added, staring intently at Alden, his yellow eyes gleaming in the torchlit meeting hall. “The whereabouts of your queen, no doubt?”Alden's ears perked up as he shifted in his seat. His gaze flickered to Charlotte, whose knuckles had turned white as she firmly gripped her seat.“She lives,” Lorin said, his voice taking on a strange sympathy. “For now.”Charlotte gasped, her grip tightening on the chair. The words “for now” dripped with an ominous weight. “What do you mean ‘for now?” She demanded, her eyes widening. Lorin finally shifted his gaze from Alden to her, a flicker of something akin to pity crossing his face. “Her life is…in grave danger.” He said slow