QuinnWhen I wake, I leave the room. Yori as always is waiting to escort me around. Do they still think I will hurt someone? I push the thought out and walk to where Asher and Elijah are sitting.They turn and look at me as I approach."Morning," Asher smiles at me. "You want something, right?" He laughs and I nod. It won't cost anything, and it's nothing physical."What does Storm like?" I ask, before sitting. She's trying to help me so much and I want to thank her. I'm not sure how though. I've heard of giving a woman flowers and chocolate, but is that even right?"Storm loves reading, she spends a lot of her time in the library," Elijah says."She also spends a lot of her spare time in the orphanage with the children there," Asher explains. "It might help if we knew why you were asking. She likes a lot of things," he says and I nod."I want to give her something to say thank you for helping me." That's all I want to do, is show her I appreciate everything."Things aren't what Storm
StormAll I planned to do was kiss him, just once and lightly, but Raven seems to be taking control of me right now. I've lost control, and forget everything as I stay above him, and begin to strip us.He groans loudly as I feel his cock harden beneath me, his hand tangles into my hair more as I force my tongue into his mouth and kiss him."Princess Storm!" The shout has me jumping. Oh, crap. I peer up and see Yori staring at me. "I don't think your parents would approve of you stripping yourself in front of guards," he mutters."Then leave us," I complain and he laughs."We've to stay within sight of him at all times if less he's in his room." Yori's words have me nodding, I fasten my top again and he steps away. It was foolish of me to do it here, kissing him was one thing, but I got lost in Raven's impulses and let it happen.It's being too long since I felt her so strongly, I didn't want to ignore that and lose her again. Packing up the things we begin walking back in but Quinn do
StormI stand staring at my dad, waiting for him to apologise and see he's utterly ridiculous right now. He and Darius seem to have switched roles. I feel that's only because Darius knows that I can just turn his argument around on him and how things went with my mum."You two, come with me," I turn hearing my mum. She looks towards me and my dad. "Now, come on," I take a step towards her but my dad stops me."All I want to know is if he even plans or has thoughts of actually claiming you. Every day so far he's tried to run and leave," my dad argues and looks from me to Quinn."I don't know what you mean by that," Quinn mutters."Dad! He didn't even know about mates and bonds, so stop!" I turn and storm past my mum hearing her follow. Getting into her quarters I go to her office and sit.She walks in and looks at me."If he continues to act like I'm going!" I shout, and she sighs."I swear it wasn't until you could talk and walk I realised how bad Darius had it with your dad all those
QuinnShe sits quietly, and I wait for her to explain. I've noticed it, she seems distant from everyone, and it's strange. Everyone else appears to be close to each other."I don't hate my family, Quinn," she whispers, and I wonder if I just see it wrong. Then again, I feel it—not hate, but something I can't understand."You're distant from them all," I explain, and she nods."I fell out with them over Julian, and now I realise it's my fault. I didn't believe them, I trusted him when I shouldn't have," she says and I nod."But now you know the truth, so why are you still pushing them out?" I ask, unable to understand."It's complicated, Quinn," she says, and I look at her. It's not. They are her family; they should come first, no matter what. As I think those words, I realise how wrong they are. If that's the truth, I wouldn't have told the king and queen why I was sent here.I would be working to help my mum. So maybe family don't come first all the time?"Look, I'm a fool, and I kno
StormQuinn's lips stay on mine as we kiss. He's panicking. That wasn't me saying we would; I was just explaining the options. Raven instantly wakes up, and I pull my top off. Lifting his hands, I place them on me. He freezes for a moment.I expect him to free out that I've got no top on, only his wolf growls, and he grabs me tighter, pulling me closer. My hands move and pull his top on. His body stills for a moment when my hands run down his chest before his hands begin fighting with the rest of my clothes.Our clothes end up thrown around the room, his hands stroking along my body. Grasping his hand, I place it between my legs. My fingers guide his inside of me. A whimper escapes my lips as his fingers move. My mouth captures mine, and I know his wolf has most of his control. My hips push up as his fingers move faster. His eyes settle, and he stares at me.I feel panic flood through him, and I focus on trying to make him calm."Quinn, it's fine," I whisper before placing my hand on t
StormMy dads sit there and complain about my foolishness. I know Quinn might leave, and now that he's claimed me, it will be like death when we have to reject each other.They walk out, and I stop my mum."Can we talk?" I ask, and she nods. I watch her sit down, and I try and figure out how to word it."You know Quinn cannot control his emotions yet. So sex right now wasn't a good idea, Storm. I get it, you're mates, and it's easy to forget and lose control." She smiles at me, and I nod."I..." Did I just come out and say it, I'm not even sure."Storm, what's wrong?" She smiles and grasps my hands."He shifted, mum," I look at him, and she laughs."Well, that's what happens when you rush and don't learn." Her voice is full of amusement. I stare at her in shock."Mum, I mean during sex!" How is that funny?"Faes are very much like humans, Storm, just bigger with wings. Faes typically shift to mate. Quite often, if they don't, the pleasure is too much, and they shift regardless. It's no
StormI stay awake and watch as Quinn sleeps. I hear someone step towards the room, and turning, I look at Asher."I'm sorry," he grins at me."Asher don't, I'm not in the mood!" It's not funny. I don't find it even slightly funny."Look, he came out and was freaking out over what happened. I thought I would help," he shrugs slightly."Help? In one hour, you got him so drunk he passed out?" How the hell does that help?"He was freaking out. I offered him a shot and said it would calm him," he says while shrugging slightly. "He drank it, and seemed to calm down, he liked it asked for another so I gave him one, then another and well another."I glare across at him."Okay, fine, I fucked up. I am sorry. He stopped freaking out thinking he had done something wrong," he says before smiling."No, he passed out!" He didn't calm down and stop freaking out. He passed out."Either way, I apologise. Next time I will find a non alcohol friendly way to help," he smirks at me."Next time?" Is he cr
Quinn POVI sleep well, far better than I think I ever have before. I have no nightmares. I don't get woken up by any noises. It's just peaceful.I wake feeling uneasy. My head hurts. Actually, my whole body hurts. My throat is dry and sore, and I swear it feels like when I would wake up from them testing things on me.My heart begins to pound in my chest. Everything feels the same. I begin to panic and quickly move, my body hitting against the wall.The room begins to spin, and I fight to see everything right. They tricked me. My mum warned me they would trick me. I grasp my head, feeling pain pulsing through it."Quinn!"My head shakes."Stay away! You all lied!" I scream, feeling the heat build-up in my palms. I should have known. How didn't I realise they were doing the same thing?"Quinn, please," I hear the words, but everything is still blurry; my head hurts. Screaming, I grasp it more. I can't feel my wolf anymore. Why can't I feel it anymore?There are more voices now, and I
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