Elelira POVThe three of us wandered down to the beach, since it seemed like the natural place to speak together. Everyone else stayed with Nilo to start discussing the upcoming attack from the North, and the new threat that my uncle now posed to the pack now that everyone knew of his involvement. Jack had information going back years on my uncle’s dealings, and how he would take over other packs. I felt guilty for taking Lachlan away from a meeting with new vital information, but he insisted that he wanted to be with me. I tried not to let it show how much I really wanted him here with me and my father. I tried not to let it show how much it meant to me that he chose to support me and left the meeting to Nilo. That is something he never would have done before. Is it knowing that I am his mate that is causing him to act this way, or does he genuinely love me, even without the bond?That is my biggest hang up. That is what is causing me to not be able to move past this. I understand
“Because I’m going to kill him,” I muttered venomously. Even Lachlan squeezing my hand doesn’t rid me of the rage I feel whenever I think of what my Uncle has put so many people through. I was not the only woman that suffered such a fate. I will be the one to avenge all the others as I avenge myself. I will be the one to instill the same fear in him that he drove endlessly into countless victims. “Death will not come quickly for him,” Val purrs wickedly. “Slow and horrifying,” I agree. “For him and for every last one of his men.” We have imagined my uncle’s death countless times, and quickly could never describe one of those fantasies. “Your story doesn’t explain how the necklace came to be mine and why I do not remember my mother having it,” I said, redirecting my thoughts before they got out of hand and Val gets worked up. He sighs. “This was not my second, but my third attempt to save you from death, Elelira. The first time, I used your mate’s sacrifice of your uncle to try
Lachlan POVI’m staring at King Brennus as he hugs his daughter. My mind is racing as I try to piece everything together. One thing is getting to me, and I just can’t seem to figure it out.Who did he use as the sacrifice? Why was he vague on that part?The longer I stare at him and the expression he is making as he hugs Lira tight, I can see the grief mixed with his happiness and I think I know. You need a sacrifice with the same blood as the one you are trying to save. That is what he told me when he had me kill Wayne. If he used Wayne to bring back his wife, was he somehow able to use Wayne again in the next attempt?No. I don’t think he did. King Brennus looked up at me, feeling my stare on him. Is he going to tell her? If he did what I think he did, would he ever let Lira know? “He didn’t want to hurt her. That’s why he was reluctant to meet her himself. She won’t miss a man she never knew.”Killian’s words ring in my head. I need to talk to him about this. Not now, though.
“He's not in our room,” Val groaned as I shut the door quietly. “It’s not really our room anymore,” I argued with her, “We left, remember.”“He left it the same,” she says in a giddy voice, “He wants it to still be our room.”“Yeah, well, don’t get your hopes up just yet. A lot has changed since then.”“Yeah, you are a lot grumpier,” Val grumbles.“You sure aren’t a bucket of sunshine anymore either, Val. You're crankier than me.” She also has a habit of acting on that anger now, but it would do no good to point that out. This isn’t really the time to remind her that she likes to tear the heads off my uncle’s warriors every time she gets mad. Hurrying down the corridors, I decide to try Lachlan’s office next. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth thinking of going there, since that was the last place I saw him before I swam away. I saw him with that awful woman. That is not a memory I want to relive. Turning the corner, I almost ran right into Jack. “Whoa,” he held me steady, even tho
Elelira POV Cherum walks me down to a part of the castle I had never been before. I didn’t even know this part of the castle existed. The hallways look so new, the stone still bright and polished like it has been freshly cut. The sconces on the walls are different from the rest of the castle. They are all shaped like siren tails, the details of the fin scales so intricate. The floors are polished sandstone, looking a bit like real sand. Everything about this wing of the castle reminds me of the ocean. I love it. “Where are we?” I asked Cherum, still looking around in awe. Cherum chuckles deeply. “You look impressed.” “I am,” I admitted. “I never knew a place like this existed in the castle.” “It didn’t before. This is a new addition. We’ve been hard at work getting this ready.” “Ready for what?” I asked. He just laughs, shaking his head. “I’m going to let your mate explain that, Ela. This was all planned by him.” Val was pressed forward, eager to hear more. Cherum won’t sh
“If I promise to listen without getting mad or defensive, can you promise to tell me the entire truth? Don’t glance over anything if you think I can’t handle it. I am stronger than you think.”Lachlan smiles softly down on me. “I promise to never keep anything from you again, Lira.” His voice is so sincere, so tender that I can’t help but to trust him. Please, just don’t let my trust be broken again. Lachlan leads me into the parlor connected to the bedroom. It’s sparsely decorated, but it has a settee and a pair of chairs. They look custom made, matching the beach theme with the rest of the room. “Where do you want me to start?” Lachlan asked nervously, wiping his hands down the front of his pants. I can tell he is holding back from touching me, which I am grateful for. I don’t need the sparks and the bond to confuse me right now. I want to put the bond aside as it should just be me and Lachlan through this if at all possible. Touching would hinder that. “From the beginning. Our w
~6 months later~“We need to get home,” Killian begged me for the millionth time. “We’re almost there,” I reminded him, seeing the town in the distance.“Go faster,” he demanded.He has been like this the entire month we have been away. Actually, he has been acting weird for some time, since before we left. It all stems from one person. Elelira.Lira.I have started to shorten her name when talking about her with my beast, which is becoming a common occurrence now. He caught sight of her about a month before we left for war again, and he had been curious about her more and more ever since. I barely had to try to avoid her any longer. She stopped trying to find me, and has stayed well hidden. That day, she was walking with her maid to the maid’s bathhouse late at night after most everyone went to bed. Her long golden hair was down, almost touching her waist. The soft smile on her face as she carried the old maid’s belongings as well as her own drew Killian to the front of my mind
~Later that evening~Everyone was gathered in the great hall, preparing for a run that we often do on full moons. Ever since the last battle with the north, this has been our pack's way of celebrating the victory. Tonight, we will be celebrating our freedom from the Western Realm’s Alpha as well. He will no longer have any foothold in our pack. We know how strong we are. Though Alpha Wayne did help us in our time of need, I do believe we could have been fine on our own. We can survive without his help now. I looked at the clock impatiently, wondering if Lira had left yet. “You should have been kinder to her,” Killian nags me again, “She is leaving this place. You could have parted with kinder words.”“There was never anything kind about this arrangement,” I reminded him. “It was forced on us.”“Still,” Killian grumbles. “She was crying. You didn’t even ask her what was wrong.”“You’re right,” I muttered, “She doesn’t want my concern. She doesn’t want anything from me.” It makes me