Elita“ Are you sure you want to go out wearing full sleeves, Lady Lana? ” Felicity asks for the nth time. “ it’s too hot outside. You might get sick or faint because of the heat. ”“ Don’t worry about it. ” I sigh, walking ahead of her. “ I am your personal maid. I am supposed to be worried about you. ” She mentions as she follows me into the stables. The keepers there do shoot me and my long-sleeved, blue gown sneaky glances, but they don’t say anything to me.While Felicity continues to pester me about the heat and my long sleeves, I choose a brown horse and mount it.“ Now, if your King asks, let him know that Lady Lana is visiting her Dad. ” I tell Felicity before I set out toward Alpha Redley’s Pack.It’s been three days since Dustin left me inside that dungeon, with my ear and my throat very much bleeding. All this time, I waited for him to reach out, but he didn’t.But that’s not the problem. The problem is that Alpha Redley is not reaching out to me either.I am sure he kno
Elita“ I am delighted. ” The breeze sways my hair, and with it comes back a voice from my memory. “ They chose me to make you regret your choice, and I will love every moment of it. ”What did I say to Akuji back then? Oh right.“ Where is Levian? ”“ Call Levian here. ”“ Levian will believe me. ”But Levian was gone. It was a testament that he didn’t believe me like I thought. He thought I killed them, making it impossible for Levian to achieve what he always wanted.As I near the gates of the Wolveshire Citadel, my throat clogs, and my gaze flickers towards my hand. I flex my fingers. Lana’s fingers, I tell myself. She was so lucky. She has no scar on her body, no injury that remains unhealed. Yet, she took her life like an ungrateful bitch. And I? Even after Akuji chopped my fingers and waited for the injuries to heal so he could move to another part of me, I yearned to live. I ran, even when blood dripped from my hands and I couldn’t grasp anything. I was so desperate to s
Dustin“ Your Highness, we are being— ”“ Followed. ” I tell Ronac, who is trying to tell me about the little problem on our tail. “ Don’t worry about it. Go inspect that part of the wall and come back to tell me if they are here yet. ”Lana is like a leech. She refuses to stop attaching herself to my side since she saw me at the selection ceremony.I should have known she would follow me all the way to the South to do…What exactly?I press my lips in a thin line. For the first time in my life, I have no idea what someone wants or is planning. I can’t read her face like I do with others. I can’t even wrap my head around any possible reasons to explain why she is acting like this.She has become more of a mystery than I like. Even Ciena can’t figure her out. But this is not what’s annoying me. The real problem is that the Moon Goddess has stopped visiting me like an uninvited guest in my life after Lana came my way.I know that Selene knows everything, and I need to ask her, but she
ELITAI groan, shifting to my back. I thought a royal horse would be brave, but this one is like a scaredy cat. Did he have to throw me down in front of everyone? I want to whine. My back hurts. I won’t be surprised if Lana’s fragile bones are all broken now.“ Lady Lana? ” I hear a familiar voice and sit up.My eyes land on Dustin, who is watching me, his face unreadable. Then, I look at the man who recognizes me.Akuji. Bile rises to my throat. He tilts his head to the side, a malicious glint flashing across his eyes as he meets my gaze.“ Take care of her. ” Akuji says to his vampires.I jump to my feet, ignoring the pain that shoots through my tailbone and reaches my toes. Acting on his command, two vampires break off the group and rush my way.I narrow my eyes, my heartbeat escalating. I can’t see them moving when I am inside this weak body, and Lana’s eyesight is as good as shit!What now? If I can’t see them, how am I supposed to do what I came here to do? I gasp as one of
ELITA“ How do you— ” He doesn’t get to finish.Dustin grabs his hair with the other hand and pulls. But Akuji is not as easy as others. He grips Dustin’s arm and twists. A sick crack sounds in the air, sending shivers down my spine.“ Dustin! ” I scream, beginning to run towards them.“ Stay there. ” Dustin hisses, shaking his arm, his eyes fixed on Akuji’s face.My feet halt, but fear grips my heart, squeezing it tightly. Akuji tilts his head and smirks as if he knows why Dustin is not killing him like the rest of the vampires.“ You know I am important. ” His smirk widens, his eyes glinting with smugness. “ Go back and tell Levian to stay down like he promised, or else your territory is not far from the North. Come after us, and we will come after you. ” Dustin drops him on the ground with a thud and steps back. “ Threatening won’t get you anywhere, Your Highness. ” Akuji snickers, slowly rising to his height. “ You are weak. So you stay down. ”My heartbeat thrums in my head. I
DustinThe stony doors open with a creaky noise. My jaw locks, and my eyes meet the smug face of my sister’s mate.He smirks, his gaze lowering to the bleeding girl I am carrying in my arms. I feel like throwing her down and leaving her here. She is so annoying.But I can’t really do anything to her because for some unknown reason—still, her life is connected to Elita’s life and I care about keeping my mate alive for now. Elita must serve her purpose. She can only die after that.Aleister’s grey eyes glint with mischief. “ What an unpleasant surprise. When the warriors informed me about someone’s arrival to this door, and for this person to have a similar name to the King of the North, I couldn’t believe it. Why would you come all the way here? ” “ I need a— ” The corners of my eyes twitch as I struggle to get the word out.The Kingdom of North and South have always been enemies. Now, my sister is the mate of the King of the South but it’s still not easy to acknowledge him as
ElitaSomeone clicks their tongue, mocking the condition I am in. I sigh and open my eyes, only to see the vast darkness surrounding me.It’s so cold here. If I was alive, I would have died just trying to endure the drop in temperature.“ What do you want now, Lana? ” I ask, shifting to my side, to rest the side of my face on my arm.Lana’s familiar face is peeking back at me. She is still wearing a white dress, and it makes her blonde hair appear so shiny and golden.She snorts, folding her arms across her chest sassily. “ You are one big failure. Instead of protecting Dustin or letting him do what he thought was best, you lost your control and decided to get revenge. ”“ Revenge? ” I roll my eyes and drop on my back again. “ Akuji would have been a problem in the future. I just got rid of him. It was not for revenge. ”The satisfaction I felt after getting rid of that smug-faced jerk is starting to disappear.What do I feel now? I wonder.I lift my hands and stare at my pale fingers
ElitaNothing comes out of the dramatics. I always knew that.But never understood it until this moment.“ I told you…you are not dying. ” Dustin says, his eyes drilling holes in the side of my head.I eye the bowl of soup in the tray placed on my lap and pretend that it’s the most important thing in the world. What else can be important right now, anyway?Without saying anything, I grab the spoon in my trembling hand, scoop the soup, and shove it in my mouth.“ So, Elita Folke, its’ time. Why don’t you start talking? ” He leans back in the chair he is sitting on, right beside my bed, to make me feel how close he is.I choke on the soup, coughing wildly. The spoon slips from my fingers and drops into the bowl.My heart is about to explode. It’s better this way. It should explode, and I should die. “ Are you dying again? ” Dustin blinks, his face still blank.I stop coughing. Apparently, this choking act doesn’t work on him. “ What are you— ” I swallow, daring to steal a glance his w
The air is still cold when Dustin and I walk back toward the Kings. I don’t miss the silence that hangs heavy between us, thick enough to choke me. Something is wrong with him. I have known it since I saw him by the lake. There is a shift in him, something subtle but unsettling, like a ripple just beneath the surface.But, I don’t ask what it is that is bothering him. Not because I don’t care, but because I know better. Dustin’s mind is a fortress, impenetrable when he is preparing for what is to come. He needs his focus, his composure—and I need to trust him to handle whatever’s weighing on him. Still, it’s hard to shake the unease gnawing at me.What happened after I fell asleep? I don't know but I have a hunch that it has to do something with King Aleister. As we step back into the clearing, I notice that the Kings are already awake. Aleister rises first, his sharp gaze finding us immediately, while Tyson and Striker stretch and yawn like they have slept on clouds instead of t
ElitaRestlessness makes it hard for me to sleep for long. The journey is coming to an end soon. I have led them here, but I don’t know if I will be able to return with them to the North again. I open my eyes and stare at the sky. The space between the tall trees is turning light. The sun will rise soon, and we will cross the lake to go to the other side.Unconsciously, I look to my left. The three Kings are asleep. King Aleister is resting agaisnt a tree, refusing to lie down and be vulnerable while King Striker and King Tyson are laying close, fast asleep.My lips curl into a smile. If I was told I would see the proud Kings spending days in forests, traveling alone, and tending to their needs without any help, I would have laughed hard. But they don’t mind. It’s surprising—but they really don’t care what they have to do to ensure that their people remain alive and well.I sigh and shift to my right side. My brows lift as I find the spot empty. Instantly, I sit up and look around.
Dustin“ What are you trying to say? Be more clear. ” Aleister mumbles, his sharp gaze fixed at her. “ So…the…end thought is…they have powers—different, unknown powers. We need to be careful when engaging with them. And don’t mention anything insulting about Levian Seisti when we come across them. They won’t like it. That’s it. We have to convince them by telling what is in it for them, and also by telling them how their contribution will save uncountable lives. ” She sighs, and rises from her spot between Striker and Tyson.“ Have they got any tricks up their sleeves like Elves? Do you know about it? ” Striker questions as she walks towards me.She stops when she is a step away from me, and turns to face them. “ Your Highness, I have told you all I know. This time, it’s really everything I know. The rest now…depends on you and your ability to influence people. You four have to secure an alliance. And you have to do it on your own. ”They stare at her, but don’t question her. If the
DustinRight now, I dislike the fact that Goddess didn’t give me the power to teleport more than anything.But no!What is really so special about disappearing from one place and appearing in another? He can not even do that without having seen the place he is going to appear to. It’s not that great!Then why does she keep making heart eyes at that brainless, tactless, everything-less man? It’s catastrophic that my sister has him as his mate and is forced to love him when there is nothing to love. Or even if there is, I don’t see it. And if I don’t see it, then there must not be anything worth seeing.Yes! It is truly catastrophic, but Elita Folke doesn’t understand even the ‘C’ of that. What is wrong with her?Is she going blind with her nearing demise? Or does she simply have a bad taste in men? Bad taste sounds like the better option. She was staring at that ugly Elf too when I couldn’t find anything worthwhile to see in him either.With his silver hair and silver eyes, he coul
ElitaThe dining hall is buzzing when we step back inside. Elf girls, radiant and graceful, fill the space like a picture of shimmering light. As soon as Dustin and I cross the threshold, their attention shifts to him. They rush forward, voices chiming like wind chimes, their slender hands tugging at his arms, leading him toward one side of the long table. I barely have a chance to react when a hand settles on the small of my back.I stiffen, glancing over my shoulder. It’s the same elf man from earlier, his touch light but assertive. “ This way… ” He murmurs. He guides me to the opposite side of the table, his hand remaining far longer than necessary. My eyes dart to Dustin, who is already surrounded, his jaw tight, but he is not resisting. Not yet.“ I would like to know you. ” The elf whispers, pulling out a chair for me as though he is some kind of gentleman. I force myself to sit, my movements stiff, my gaze flickering towards Dustin. His eyes are on me, and there is somethi
ElitaThe footsteps draw closer, deliberate and unhurried, and the sound echoes through the cave. My pulse quickens as I glance toward the entrance. Before I can move, Dustin’s grip on my arm tightens, his calloused fingers pressing firmly into my skin.“Stay put.” He orders in a voice so low it’s almost a growl. His eyes glint like sharpened steel as they cut into mine. “Don’t poke your nose into this.”I stiffen, my jaw clenching at his tone, but I stay silent. Dustin doesn’t look away. It’s as if he is silently daring me to disobey him.The Elf appears at the mouth of the cave, stepping into the dim light. He is tall, unnaturally graceful, his silver hair falling like liquid silk over his shoulders. It takes me a moment, but I realize he is the same Elf I stumbled upon in the woods. The color of his hair and eyes has changed. The faint glow of his eyes—pale and predatory—sends a chill down my spine. He stands there, studying us with a cruel smile tugging at his lips.“ Well.
ElitaAll eyes turn to him after my speech is over. Dustin’s brows lift as he looks at his friends and then back at me.“ Come on. You must have something on your mind. ” I narrow my eyes on him.“ The plan is to cooperate with the Elves for now, so they take us out of this cave where we can’t use our powers or strength. ” He shrugs nonchalantly. “ and…for everything else, I am relying on you just as you asked. ”My jaw hangs low. I am sure the jaws of others can’t resist either. Dustin just closes his eyes and rests his head against the wall. “ Go on, Elita. Get us out of the trouble you caused. ”His detached demeanor makes everyone fall silent. It’s like he is deliberately refusing to do anything.I slip closer and press my lips to his ear to whisper. “ are you mad at me? Is that why you refuse to help? ”I clench the sleeve of his shirt, cautiously pulling at it to grab his attention. Dustin’s eyes snap open, and his head turns in my direction before our gazes meet.“ I understan
Elita“ She told you not to look the Elves in the eyes. Why did you have to do that, Striker? ” I hear a familiar, dark voice hiss. It has to be Alpha King Aleister, and he sounds angry. “ No supernatural powers work directly on the Lycans. ” Striker snaps back. “ I just looked up before setting everything on fire, and then…just…stopped. The surroundings changed, and I couldn’t see him anymore. It’s not my fault. I didn’t know the magic won’t work on me but will work on the surroundings instead. ”I shudder, pressing myself agaisnt the hard surface under me. It’s warm and so…electrically soothing.My muscles stiffen when I register my thoughts. Instinctively, I touch the surface with my cold fingers and sigh under my breath.Dustin.My eyes crack open, and I crane my neck back to look at his face. He lowers his gaze to mine and blinks calmly.Aleister and Striker are still bickering in the background. But their voices sound muffled in my ears now.I am lying on Dustin’s chest, the si
ElitaThe man’s footsteps are silent as he leads me deeper into the woods. He moves with a kind of grace that makes my skin crawl, each step so fluid it’s as though he is floating. I follow, even though every instinct in me screams to turn back. There is no sound except the faint whisper of leaves under our feet and my own uneven breaths.I keep glancing over my shoulder. The shadows stretch long and twisted behind me, but nothing is there. At least, nothing I can see. They are making sure to hide well. Just like I instructed. “ We are almost there. ” The man says, his voice soft and melodic, like a lullaby drifting through a darkened room. I hesitate, shooting another look over my shoulder. Now, I really do need a sign that they are around. Hiding so well doesn’t seem that great of an idea to me. The man’s words send a cold prickle down my spine. “ Will more of your friends be coming? ”My heart leaps painfully into my throat. I force myself to swallow, to steady my voice. “ Ma