*This is the start of book 2*XeniaYesterday’s birthday celebration for the kid’s 18th birthday took a lot of energy. I sit facing Isadora.“I’ve got no answers, Your Majesty,” she bows her head slightly. She does it every time she calls me that as a show of apology because I ask her not to.“Something must be causing it,” I say, and she nods, smiling at me softly.“I’ve no idea. We’ve tried to utilise your magic and use it more, and it continues to grow. We tried to ignore it and stop using your magic and it grows.” She sits worried and I don’t blame her.Neither Darius nor Kellan will be happy with this answer. There’s actually no answer; it’s just unknown once again.“Binding your magic also didn’t work,” she smiles softly at me.About a year ago, my magic began to change and grow. The stronger it gets, the more worried I get. I touch something, and things happen.We hadn’t noticed it, not until I picked up a dead plant, and somehow, it blossomed and came to life in my hands. I was
Xenia POVI sit and face Bailey.“I know what happened was wrong, and I wouldn’t be here if I had another choice,” she says, and I nod.“What do you want, Bailey?” Darius asks, and she stares at him, clearly shocked by his unfriendliness. They had been close until she caused all the issues around the wedding.“I need to ask if you would allow Quinn to stay here,” she asks, and my eyes widen.“What? No!” Darius stands.“Please! He...” Bailey looks around worriedly. “He’s somehow got magic, and I can’t help him! I’ve got no one who can teach him how to control it. I’m scared he will hurt someone.” She pleads, and my body stays still.I’m not sure, this could be a trap from her.“I’m sure Grant can help. He has some great associates he could point in your direction,” Darius growls.“Grant is dead!” She cries, and her head falls.“No, he isn’t, or we would have heard,” Kellan laughs.“He is. You know he wasn’t allowed back at the pack. He moved us from pack to pack. The last one, he thoug
Xenia POVDarius sits and looks at me.“It’s been centuries since people with magic had the ability to use it as an element. Fire, Water, all that. It began a war, to the point where everyone with one of those forms of magic was killed.”I stare at Darius in shock. That sounds crazy.“I thought magic was just magic?” I ask.“How is it? Each of the kids can do basic magic but they excel at something specific. Aurelia can give people wolves, no one else can.” Kellan explains.“Kellan is right; each person’s magic is different. No one has had the ability to use fire, water, wind, or such since the big battle. It wiped them all out. People vowed that if anyone got the power like that again, they shouldn’t live to protect everyone from their wars.” Darius grasps my hands.“Since that war, the witches, warlocks and such have dwindled in numbers. They became less powerful; without the elements, the magic has died essentially,” Kellan explains.“So what does it mean? If he has the ability to
Xenia POVSitting with Quinn, I consider what sort of questions I need to ask, but I'm out of my element here. Still, I need to figure something out."So your mum mentioned you began feeling and being able to do fire magic. Have you tried other magic, basic things?" I ask, wondering if he's just focused on the fire.Sitting, I listen to him telling me about it, and while he does, I try to get a sense of the magic. It doesn't feel dark. It feels like any other magic.Yet from what was said, fire magic isn't something that was seen or heard of anymore. In the sixteen years I've lived here and had Isadora help, I've learned more about it. That though I didn't know."You need to learn to control your magic when you're emotional. That is the only thing that would lead to your death," Kellan states, and he nods quickly."We tried. I didn't even know what was going on. She said this morning she was going to come here and ask for information on a witch who could help teach her child how to sa
Xenia POVI stand staring at Darius. He's going to shift."He stays away from them," his words are growled."Darius, it's not as simple as that. Stop being a prick!" I shout, and his eyes widen. "They are mates, and it's not our choice," I say."Is that a joke?" He glares at me."No, it's the truth! Go ahead, Darius. Tell her she can't go near him, so keep them apart. Tell her she isn't allowed to be his mate and watch her walk out."I won't have her leave because he's stubborn."She wouldn't leave," he growls."Out of all four, Storm is the one who would leave for her mate! She's stubborn, just like you, but wild and easily bored like Kellan. So yes, she would!" I glare at him."He shouldn't be her mate," he argues."Because in your eyes, he's not good enough, right? He's not worthy because he's not an alpha or anything like that, really?" I shout."What?" He stares at me. "No, I don't care about that, but his dad is Grant!""Clearly not, Bailey lied. You lied, sixteen years, Darius,
Kellan POVI leave with Yori and some others. I still feel blindsighted by both Bailey and Darius. He made it sound like he had the results and knew."What is the plan for if she doesn't know?" Yori asks.I laugh slightly. "That would mean she was sleeping around Yori," my reply makes him snigger. Yeah, okay. Apparently, she was sleeping with Grant around the same time she was dating me and Darius.So, who knows? I want to fight her corner and say she wouldn't do that, but it's a fool's move."You know, you guys were always close. You grew up together, but that doesn't mean everything was the truth," Yori explains, and I nod.Turning, I look at William. "Has he calmed down yet?" I ask. He laughs slightly."I heard Xenia, and believe me, he realised he overstepped the mark and reacted badly. He will be apologising," William states, then looks at us."When we get there, we aren't just finding Bailey," William says."Why do I feel like Darius gave you orders?" Rather than speaking to me,
Kellan POVI find myself sitting down with Michelle and Maxwell. It's clear Bailey lied to us again. Which I am struggling to get my head around as she wasn't this person all those years ago."What does Quinn know?" I ask."Nothing. I noticed whenever Quinn returned Bailey and Grant acted like friends. They didn't get close. He has no idea they were dating.""Because Grant dated other women as well," Maxwell argues. "My daughter may have done things wrong, but I don't hold her responsible, I hold him responsible. She was a child when he began to seduce her." Maxwell argues."Which we will find out and uncover everything. Then he will be punished," William argues. "Right now though, we need to find her ask why she lied about Grant been his dad. Why she also lied about Grant's death and everything else," William states."Check her room, Grant had his own room it was next to hers. They had a secret door between the two rooms." Michelle says and I nod.Maybe searching the rooms is the fir
KellanMaxwell and Michelle aren't happy that I'm refusing to let them see Quinn. Right now, it's for the best. I've promised to keep them up to date and that when we know it's safe, they can visit.I've checked everywhere, along with Yori and William, and there's nothing here that can help figure out where Bailey went or where Grant is working from.There's nothing of significance, and I am beginning to think the two files we had were just flukes. Grant forgot about them, and we got lucky as he had nothing else there.Sitting in the car, I consider it."Once you tell Darius and Xenia, you need to speak with Quinn," Yori explains.I know he's right. Quinn might know where he was. He made out like he had never left Bailey's side; that was clearly a lie. "He lied to us. He knew about them testing and trying to recreate magic. He lied about staying with Bailey," I state, and he nods."Look back, Kellan. The underground, those children dragged into it and brainwashed. Not to mention, who
Asher POVI look down at Katla. She's only a few days old. After speaking with Zyra, she decided that the space in the mountains would be a retreat—a place for us to escape to, somewhere Katla could get used to what it is like to live in the Dragon Kingdom.We have spent a few days there, but not many. Apparently, she wants to be in the palace close to the others. Part of me feels like that's because they were her support while I was hiding away.It's shown her what having a family around can do. We're close, minus Aurelia. She seems to be thriving with the Bears and keeping her distance. Other than returning that day when I was going crazy and needed help, she rarely came back. We've adjusted and got used to that, however.She wants her life away from here; she wants her own life, not one that is connected to us. She should have that if she wants it."Hey."Turning, I see Elijah walk to me.He laughs slightly and takes Katla from my arms. "You look exhausted; fun night?"It's only 4
Asher POVI walk out of the room and go to where I know they will be. As I step into the office, they turn to face me.Darius shakes his head. "You should be with Zyra.""I was, but considering this is brought on by the Dragons, I should be helping." I walk further in and look at the papers."Nothing to help with," my dad shrugs. "His son is clean, Seraphine can tell. Things were explained to him. He had no idea about the arranged marriage and, to be honest, was shocked, as he apparently had a mate."So the son won't be an issue. Is that what he's saying?"Look, both Eliphas and Durnalin are in the cells, away from each other. The son has gone. Apparently, he has a whole life with his mate. His dad told him the dragons had requested their presence at events." Darius explains.It makes no sense, though. "Why? Why would the dragons want the warlocks there?" How didn't his son question it?"Apparently, because Eliphas and his son are the strongest warlocks, they invited them to make a un
Asher POVI wait and watch."Prince Asher, soon to be King, tell me something." He walks to the bars and leans against them. "Where do Warlocks belong?"My head tilts; they belong wherever they want to. I don't understand his question."See, there is no answer as we don't belong anywhere. There is the werewolf kingdom, fae, dragons and everything else. Witches and warlocks are forced to live in one of those kingdoms, with no real power."So this was all about getting power? My body is pushed back, and my eyes widen as I see King Drakon reach through the bars—his hand clamps around Eliphas' neck.I guess he's fixed, and his curse is gone. My dad and Darius drag him away, and I watch Eliphas drop to the floor, clutching his neck. The blood runs down from where King Drakon's nails dug in."We need answers; killing him won't get them." My dad turns and faces Eliphas."Apparently, this was all for power." Which still makes no sense."It wasn't just for power. We wanted our own kingdom, our
Asher POVI'm anxious. It's been two days since the curse was lifted, and I'm glad to be back to normal. All that is at risk, though. Tonight, I have to be close to whoever is pretending to be King Drakon. That then risks it happening again, and if it does, will it start slow again or begin where it was removed?I've noticed Elijah, Storm, and Aurelia are quiet. Whatever was done has worn them out, which I didn't want."Are you ready?" Zyra hugs me, and I nod. I'm not. We need answers and to figure out who it is."Be careful, okay?" I don't like that I'm not going to be there."It's you who needs to be careful. You will be in a confined space with him. If anything goes wrong." She looks at me worriedly.Wrapping my arms around her, I smile. "I'll be fine; once he's in the cell, he can't do anything." I kissed her and gave her a final hug before walking away.Getting to the cells, I sit in one and wait. I'm hoping the plan works. If we can get him in the cell, then his magic and power
Asher POVI can see Zyra is struggling, and I don’t blame her either. She just found out her brother is missing.“Look, when Seraphine checked trying to find out the issue with him, she saw King Drakon, but it wasn’t him. Whoever it was is who we believe Cursed Asher.” My mum grasps her hands and smiles. “We’ve got people tracking down where your brother really is. There’s a reason for this, and it’s you, Zyra. Seraphine could sense the curses were put on Asher and Elijah to try and push you to return home.”Zyra looks around the room and seems increasingly worried. “What about Ryker? Is he okay? Does he know?” She waits, and I don’t know the answer to that.“I’m sorry, we don’t know. You need to stay here, Zyra. We have a plan, and we’re hoping Seraphine can uncover more when the person comes here.”She nods and sits, looking lost.“We are expecting Seraphine to return late tonight or early tomorrow. If they can’t fix the issue, then we will keep working to.” My mum smiles and hugs h
Asher POVAfter about an hour of sitting in the cell with Zyra, I ordered her to leave. I wanted to spend time with her, but she shouldn't have been sitting in the cells with me.So, I've been alone for hours, waiting to find out their plan. They hadn't thought this through. I need to leave the cell to go to the room. As soon as I step out of this cell, it will come back. Then what?I'm willing to agree to anything right now if it gets me out of this cell and back with Zyra. The footsteps have me standing, and I watch my dad and Darius walk towards me."What's your plan? How am I to do this?" They haven't thought it through."You need to shift." Darius looks at me.I laugh at him. Is that some kind of joke? "You want me to shift, so that what? I can kill people easier?"My dad sighs and steps forward. "Please do as you're told. You won't understand why we're saying you can shift, but shift. Into your wolf, not dragon."Of course, I won't understand; they haven't explained it to me. If
Elijah POVI sit in the office; Seraphine has left. She's meeting her family halfway in the hopes they have something that can help. Merfolk are powerful creatures with extraordinary abilities.Curses and such are something they specialise in."We're going to request that King Drakon attend a celebration for Zyra's pregnancy. It means we can get what we need and figure out who it is and what their aim is." My dad looks at me, and he makes it sound so simple. This isn't simple."He's going to ask why Asher isn't present, then what?" We can't lie and hide him. "It will look suspicious.""Not if Zyra invites him, she won't know, remember. She can invite him, and whoever is portraying King Drakon won't suspect anything. We're going to be honest and explain something is wrong with Asher, and he's not well."So we're not hiding the issue."He could be in the cell for weeks, so we've had things moved down there for him. The plan is later to test how he is with someone in the cell with him. T
Asher POVI watch as Elijah glares at everyone and backs up more."Elijah, we need to know." My mum steps towards him."I saw him once, just once! You all need to focus on Asher, not me! He's the one that is cursed, not me!" He shouts and steps back. He backs into my dad, and he grabs Elijah as Seraphine steps forward and grips his head.His screams echo around the cells, and it's all over just as quickly as it starts. His body falls to the floor, and he cradles his head."Well?" Darius looks at Seraphine."You're going to need a warlock, or I'll need to contact my family and see if they have something to clear the curses." Her words make me look towards Elijah. So, he is also cursed."Asher's curse is to make him push everyone out and make him think he has a mad wolf so that Zyra leaves. Elijah's was to hate Asher, likely to intensify it." Seraphine smiles slightly. "There's no mate, Elijah. The curse is what's stopping us from having a baby. There's no third mate." Her words have hi
Asher POVNo one speaks, likely because they know what I said is the truth. I need to die; there is nothing they can do to change that."Explain the process, what happened, how it started, when it happens." Darius pulls a chair over and sits outside the cell.I laugh. "Why do I need to talk? Why do I need to explain? You're proving you believe me by keeping me locked in here and being too afraid to come near your own son."Nothing I say can change that."Asher, I'm not opening the cell because I don't trust you to try and run. So explain it to me, tell me how it's progressed, and let's be sure that is what is happening." He waits, and I watch my mum, Elijah, and dad sit with him."It began with whispers. The words were barely audible, but I heard whispers in my ear. They got louder and began to sound like words. Whispers were one thing, but then I began to see people dead and my wolf above them." It was a warning to me to hide, to push them away, and not let them close to me."When do