Elowen's Point of View We followed Neri to a brothel on Pier fourteen. The outside was old and unpainted and looked like it might have been abandoned, except it wasn't falling apart. The insides, however, were obviously high-priced, and I found them to be garish. Painting walls gold and purple, although royal colours, did not make something elegant. Just because something was expensive didn't make it classy. I was surprised to find this was one of Madame Undine's places. Everyone knew she had two places in the city, but it seemed this was a third place privy to a few more select clients. Madame Undine was exceptionally beautiful until you looked into her eyes. There was no warmth there. Rumour had it that she had killed her chosen mate many years ago because he had killed her fated mate. I guess that would make you cold. "Just remember, Master Neri, I require my girls to be able to walk and service other clients after you. If you intend on leaving marks or crippling them, your goin
The full translations and pronunciations in Chapter 39 are: Finio incantationem meam, (fee-nee-oh in-can-tah-tee-oh-nem may-ahm) Omne imperium ad me revoca. (om-neh im-peh-ree-oom ahd meh reh-woh-kah) It has been loosely translated it as: I finish my incantation, Restore all power to me. When I first learned Latin, I started with Church Latin when I was taken to church services. Once I started learning it in high school, it changed to Classical Latin. I much prefer Classical Latin. Differences between Classical Latin and Church Latin: (Part 1) Classical Latin and Church Latin, also known as Ecclesiastical Latin, have several differences, primarily in terms of pronunciation, vocabulary, and usage. Here are some key distinctions: Pronunciation: Classical Latin: Pronunciation is based on reconstructed phonology from ancient inscriptions, grammatical treatises, and later Latin literature. It typically follows the rules of the classical period. An example of pronunciation is the l
Aeon's Point of View After briefing my four guards, I sent them for some well-earned downtime and immediately requested an audience with my Queen. I was glad none of the others were with me as it would give me time to bask in the gloriousness and beauty that was Queen Aurora. Though I worked hard to hide it, I was totally in love with her. I had been feeling this way about her long before her fated mate was killed. The Royal Consort was one of the most proficient Fae warriors ever. He still continued to fight until his death in a border skirmish. This current problem was not the first time the shield on the border between the two Realms had been encroached by Dark Fae monsters. When he died, I never saw it as a chance for me. Her pain due to his death was so palpable that I wanted to take it away. I wished it could have been me; instead, I would have died, and then she wouldn't be parted from her mate. Throughout the years after his death, I just continued to love her while I prot
Avril's Point of View Tyler and I sat in our lounge, listening to what had happened over the last three days. I still found it hard to believe that three of the Elders were complicit in not only conspiring to overthrow my mother but also working with an unknown benefactor who has the power to fracture the veil surrounding the Light Fae Realm. "Aurora wants us to have dinner with her tonight," Adriana told us. "She has been informed that you and Tyler are out of your heat now and would love for you to join us all. She will invite all of the Elders, including the treasonous ones." "Why would she do that?" I asked. "Isn't that putting her in danger? I have heard of the human adage, 'keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer,' but this is ridiculous." Daemon, Adriana and Thorn filled Tyler and me in on the plan they concocted. The three Elders, who were absolutely loyal, and Farolin, who no one was sure about, requested an audience with Aurora. She knew they were trustwort
The full translations and pronunciations in Chapter 41 are: Nos Lucis veritatem quaerimus, (nohs loo-chees veh-ree-tah-tem kweh-ree-moos) Solum veritatem, (soh-loom veh-ree-tah-tem) Nihil praeter veritatem. (nee-hil pray-ter veh-ree-tah-tem) It has been loosely translated it as: We seek the truth of light, Only the truth, Nothing except the truth Differences between Classical Latin and Church Latin: (part 2) Classical Latin and Church Latin, also known as Ecclesiastical Latin, have several differences, primarily in terms of pronunciation, vocabulary, and usage. Here are some key distinctions: Syntax and Grammar: Both Classical and Church Latin share the same basic grammar and syntax, but Ecclesiastical Latin may exhibit some differences in usage due to its association with religious texts and practices. Ecclesiastical Latin often employs archaic grammatical constructions or word order to mimic the style of the Vulgate (Latin translation of the Bible) or other religious t
Avril's Point of View Pania had cast the truth-sayer spell, and Mother had used Alarik's rant to start questioning him. I knew her personal guards would be at the door the moment she did that, preventing any of the Elders from leaving. "From your little rant there, Alarik, it is as if you are questioning how things are run in our Realm? Are you questioning my rule, Alarik? Dare you plot treason against me?" she demanded, standing up to make herself look more powerful and more intimidating. I could see Alarik fighting something internally. It really looked like he was angry, so it was hard to decipher if he was fighting the compulsion to speak or was, indeed, just angry. "I am questioning your rule, Your Majesty!" he spat. "You allowed your son to sully himself by mating with a mutt. Your eldest daughter, supposedly the next Queen, is cosying up to a Vampire. Your youngest daughter is also mated to a mutt. Of course, I am questioning your rule. You have allowed the Fae Monarchy to
I do feel that I owe my readers an explanation as to why my chapters have been posted irregularly. For the last six months, I have been sick and injured. I caught a cold towards the end of term 3 last year. I got better just before the school holidays and spent the first week of them in bed with the flu. I just got back to school in term 4 only to catch a gastro bug that was going around. Primary schools are Petri dishes of viruses, especially when you are a junior school teacher with little ones who need constant reminding to take their fingers out of their mouths and wash their hands. My daughter brought Covid into the household, which surprised me because I thought if it were going to happen again, it would be me bringing it in, but no. On the second to last day of school, I fell off a stool which was made for climbing, landing on my back, and spent six weeks on bed rest. Luckily, I only had lots of soft tissue damage and bruising. I could only sit at my desk for 5 minutes at the
Aeon's Point of View "Guards! Take Alarik, Rowan and Erlys into the dungeon and place them in the secure antimagic dungeons. I also want Duan, Neri and Sebille to be apprehended and declared traitors as well. They will also be placed in secure antimagic cells," order the Queen. I was reeling at what I had overheard tonight. Three Elders had conspired with Lord Umbra to overthrow my Queen. Three more underlings were also involved. It was inconceivable that anyone would want to depose the Queen and supplant her with an incompetent pawn, such as Duan or Neri. But Lord Umbra? He has always wanted control, and the veil was created because of him and his followers. He even proposed marriage to the Queen many, many years ago, which she turned down. Shortly afterwards, she met her fated mate, and they had three children. When he died protecting the border, along with other warriors, no bodies were ever recovered. I have often wondered if Lord Umbra had a direct involvement with that incide
I hope you enjoyed that short story. It was rather important because it was the beginning of the Supernatural Council, which is mentioned in Book 4.Book 4: The Gamma and her two Alphas follow Princess Lucienne and is set just over 18 years into the future. Lucienne is not entirely happy being a princess and certainly is not all ladylike like her mother, Queen Adriana, wishes she was. In fact, she can be a bit of a rebel at times and pulls no punches if you piss her off. Book 4 has been started and will be posted starting January 2025.Check out my I*******m page (nikoradepressedpoet) for pictures of the latest covers. Each book will be available in paperback. I am rewriting parts of Book 1. The covers for books 4 and 5 are already designed.
Asher’s Point of ViewAndreas fell to the ground, crumpling against the cold tiles, his body barely clinging to consciousness. The fury in his eyes was still present, but it was mingled with something else—fear. “You may have won this battle, but there are others who believe in the purity of Dragonkind,” he rasped, his voice barely a whisper.His words hung in the air, a twisted echo of the truth he could no longer deny. The irony was palpable; he had sought power through a dark alliance, yet he spoke of purity as if it still held weight. He had traded the purity he claimed to uphold for power, and now, even that was slipping through his fingers.Father stepped forward with the Council behind him, his expression one of grave disappointment. “Andreas, you and your father have sown discord among our people and disgraced your family name. T
Asher’s Point of ViewMy Dragon and I were enraged by Andreas’s words describing our fated mate as a dog. Rin placed her hand against my arm, its muscles tense and coiled tightly, fists clenched in anger. Her gentle touch acted like a soothing balm, softening my clenched fist.Slowly, I felt the anger beginning to dissipate, the pressure easing as I relaxed under her calming influence. The contrast between my earlier state and this new sense of peace was palpable, reminding me of the power of our bond. There was nothing Andreas could say that would make me turn against Rin. I would rather lose my crown than be without her.The tension in the council chamber was electric as Andreas continued to spew venom, his arrogance infuriating. I could feel the Dragon within me thrumming, eager for a confrontation. “Enough!” I
Christine’s Point of ViewThe air felt thick in the chamber, as if the magic that summoned Andreas and Viggo hung around, binding us in an unseen net of tension. Viggo’s face was drawn tight, his eyes flickering with a dangerous mix of fear and rage. At the same time, Andreas’ expression remained cold and calculating. His eyes darted around the room, assessing, scheming.Andreas recovered first, straightening as if pulling on an invisible cloak of authority. “What you claim is… nonsense,” he panted, glaring at Eiríkr. Fighting the compulsion to tell the truth was taking its toll and making him sweat. “I’ve been… nothing but… loyal… to our kind. This… is a… farce!” He was panting now from the sheer exertion.Asher stood tall next to me, his ha
Christine’s Point of ViewWe slowly made our way back, twisting and turning through the enchanted passages to the awaiting Council Members. Asher had already mind-linked his father, who assured him they would be waiting. We weren’t the only ones who had news since the archiver from the Council of Witches and Warlocks had found some interesting information.The Council Chambers buzzed with a quiet intensity. Though our alliance remained steadfast, the growing unrest among the Dragon-Shifter populace threatened everything we had built. Outside these walls, whispers of dissent were rising, fueled by fear of change and manipulation by those who sought to close our society once again.Asher stood beside me, his expression grim as he explained what we found in the books. “While we have nothing concrete at this stage, if we do
Asher's Point of View"So you think he's using his own son as a pawn?" Adriana asked.Her question was answered, "I think Viggo would use anyone—blood or not—to get what he wants." I agreed with Father. This was part of the reason why I didn't want much to do with my uncle, aunt, and cousins.My grandfather had forced Father and Viggo to take chosen mates, ones he thought were acceptable for the Royal Family. Both were well-educated, refined women from noble families.My parents had at least fallen in love eventually, even if they weren't fated mates. Father had never met his fated mate, or at least, that was what he had told me. When my mother, Áslaug (AWS-lough), died, he was heartbroken but still able to function.Viggo
Asher's Point of ViewThe council chamber felt colder than it ever had before. No matter how many fires roared in the hearths or candles flickered against the heavy stone walls, a chill seemed to seep into my bones. I couldn't put it entirely down to tiredness, even though I was exhausted fighting two battles in such a short time.No. It was a combination of many things. Andreas' smirk, the flames from the explosion, and the insignia of the Purists haunted me as I sat at the table, my hands clenched so tight that my knuckles were white.Rin sat beside me, her expression hard but eyes betraying the same exhaustion and worry I felt. It had been hours since we returned from the first fight, but with the second battle, we hadn't had a moment to breathe. There was no time for rest when the Purists were gaining ground. My cousin, Andreas, was
Asher's Point of ViewAs soon as Rin and I returned from the marketplace attack, we called for an emergency council meeting. The tension in what we now referred to as the council chamber hung in the air, thick enough to cut through.The servants had been busy changing the room. It was now a place of stark contrasts. Ancient banners from each species hung from the high vaulted ceilings, their vibrant colours dulled by the weight of war. The air smelled faintly of smoke and iron, a reminder of battles past and future.Every seat around the grand, circular table was filled. Dragons, Wolves, Vampires, and the Lycan King and Queen united under one roof. Yet, for some reason, it felt as if we were all divided by the constant threat looming over us.The Purists were growing bolder, and tonight
Christine's Point of ViewThe days that followed were a whirlwind of activity. We launched joint patrols, organised public gatherings, and ensured that every species—Dragons, Wolves, Vampires, Fae—was represented. It wasn't easy. There were still plenty of sceptical people, glares, and whispered doubts. But slowly, I began to see a shift.In the streets, I saw Wolves patrolling alongside Dragons. Vampires and Fae worked alongside Dragons in the markets to keep the peace. It wasn't perfect, and tensions were still simmering beneath the surface, but it was progress. And I started feeling hopeful for the first time in what felt like forever.Asher and I stood on a balcony overlooking the domed city one evening, watching as the lights of the stronghold twinkled in the darkness of the weir. The air was cool, carrying the scent of snow from ou