Ella - POV "Don't get out of bed, Ella," my father urged, rushing over to ensure I didn't strain my leg too much. "Dad, I spoke with the doctors and explained my situation. They advised me to exercise and move around," I reassured him. After hesitation, my father released my hand, and I made my way to the table where he had prepared breakfast. Even though my father was unwell, I couldn't help but feel guilty that he had to go through the hassle of rushing to a hospital in Minnesota and endure so much stress because of me. "Tell me what's on your mind," my father asked, his gaze fixed on me as I avoided making eye contact and focused on the breakfast plate before me, unable to bring myself to eat. "Dad, I'm worried about your health. Here I am, bruised and injured, yet you're caring for me when I should be caring for you. I spoke with your doctors, who informed me that your health has deteriorated over the past few days. Please don't worry. I'll recover and take care of myself," I
James - POV "What's going on with you, James?" Dave approached me, noticing the exhaustion on my face. "Nothing..." I growled, taking a sip from my fourth glass of liquor. "Come on, you look like crap, and you're telling me nothing happened?" Dave sighed, ordering a drink for himself at the bar. "Why are you here? I told you to take care of the realm." My voice carried a snarl of frustration. "I received some information from Jake," Dave said. "He mentioned something about Blair, the previous queen's son or Darcus' stepbrother. Apparently, he possesses unusual strength, like that of a hybrid." Dave paused, observing my reaction. "What a shady situation," I muttered, sensing the gravity of the situation. "Did Jake sense Blair's aura?" I asked, trying to piece together the puzzle. This was a crucial matter. Is Darcus aware of his stepbrother's powers, or is he keeping this information hidden to protect him from me? "Jake felt his strength during a fight on the training grounds. T
James - POV "So you're from my clan, Mr. Hart. Why did you keep this from me?" I asked, my voice filled with a mix of curiosity and disappointment. Mr. Hart's face fell with guilt as I looked at him, feeling the pain of betrayal again. Why did Mr. Hart do that? He must have known that I am the prince of the Black Magic Clan. "I apologize, your Majesty, for concealing my actual identity from you for so long," Mr. Hart spoke, his voice filled with remorse. I glanced at him, unsure of how to respond. Mr. Hart had always felt like a member of my family, but now that I knew he had been hiding his true identity, I was at a loss for words. "I can see the astonishment in your eyes, but I realize I can no longer hide the truth. Why don't we find a safer place to discuss matters further? I've noticed that we are being watched," Mr. Hart suggested, not waiting for our response. He opened a portal and transported us to another dimension, the realm of my clan. However, upon arrival, I could only
Darcus - POV "Furthermore, Alpha's son was also protecting and aiding my daughter," Mr. Hart added, attempting to maintain his emotional composure as he continued narrating his past. "I had no idea who was behind the attack on our tribe. But now, after hearing your words, I can't help but wonder if Ladon was involved or if there is something else I need to know, Mr. Hart," I said, my voice filled with curiosity and concern. If my father is found to be responsible for the murders in his own clan, it would undoubtedly lead to bloodshed. I knew James would seek vengeance for his clan's loss, potentially sparking a conflict between us. "Ladon merely instigated the witches who held a grudge against us for a long time. Witches from the Fire, Water, Earth, and Air clans were our adversaries. We were attacked from within by a traitor in our own clan," Mr. Hart revealed, shedding light on the internal conflicts that plagued our clan. "So why do I remember you caring for me after Jasmine's d
Ella - POV When I woke up, it had been a while since I last went to work. I saw my dad sitting at the table, reading a newspaper and sipping his black coffee. He had a big smile on his face as he looked at me. "Ready to go back to work?" he asked cheerfully. I grabbed a sandwich from his plate and poured myself a coffee. "Yeah, I'm tired of sleeping in my bed all day. It's time to get back to work," I replied with a laugh, taking a sip of coffee and enjoying my sandwich. "Dad, I thought we should organize a baby shower celebration for Hana this weekend. What do you think?" "That's a wonderful idea, and I'm sure Hana will love it. We'll have to work together to plan the party. You should come early on Friday evening so we can set everything up and have everything ready by Saturday evening," my dad suggested. I nodded and smiled, feeling happy about the upcoming celebration. "Take care, Dad, and remember to take your medicine. I'll be back soon," I said, checking my watch and prepar
Ella - POV The entire week had been a whirlwind of exhaustion. Yet the day we had been waiting for had finally arrived - we would host a party for Hana. We had decided on a theme, and I had already sent out invitations to coworkers. Darcus was also included in Hana's request, and his pleased response to the invitation took me by surprise. James, my next invitee, confirmed his attendance promptly. With the venue, a charming garden, already rented, I rushed back to start the decorations. Given the enormity of the task, I called James for help. I was keen on sparing Dad from unnecessary stress, especially given how demanding party planning could be. Despite Hana's willingness to lend a hand with the decorations, her job constraints didn't allow her the liberty of taking a half-day off as I had. "Dad, let me handle the lights on the trees. They'll add a beautiful touch at night," I suggested, but Dad was adamant, worrying about me climbing the ladder. I assured him, "Dad, I am no lon
Ella - POV Caught up in a whirlwind of tasks, I sprinted from one meeting room to another. Between entertaining clients and keeping track of notes, my day was packed. To add to the stress, Sofia was absent; she had mentioned she would be late. Also missing was Darcus, who should've been in his cabin by now. Our next meeting was approaching, and his presence was crucial. "Damn it, why isn't Darcus answering his phone?" I grumbled, shooting him an urgent text. No response. "Could it be... are Darcus and Sofia dating and leaving me to shoulder all the work?" I pondered aloud, pacing anxiously in my cabin. I fretted over handling the meeting independently with a critical client on the line. "Ella, you've got this," I muttered, using self-talk to quell my anxiety. With a deep breath, I stepped into the conference room, meeting the curious gazes of the clients expecting Darcus. Despite my initial discomfort, I launched into the project briefing that Darcus was supposed to present. To my
Ella - POV "Darcus, can you please try to be less tense? It's making me more anxious than I already am," I urged. He nodded and drew a few deep breaths, settling back on the couch beside me. His proximity was distracting but offered an odd sense of comfort. "Allow me to explain the dragon concept of mating. We are given a mate by the goddess Delphyne and can accept them as partners if we wish. However, if one partner does not wish to continue the bond, we can sever it with the help of witches. However, breaking the bond causes both partners to gradually lose their dragon abilities, and ultimately, the dragon dies. In some cases, both the dragon and the master may die prematurely," Darcus explained, reaching for a nearby blanket as he noticed me shivering, despite the warmth of the nearby fireplace. "Fascinating, but I'm a human, aren't I? So how can I be your mate?" I asked. Darcus looked at me, then at the crackling fire in the hearth. "Ella, your mother Mia was a dragon shifter w