"My parents were disappointed. They had high hopes and the signs I had showed, they had thought I had it in me. You know, a wolf." She paused slightly before she continued. "Every ounce of love they ever showed me disappeared. Despite the fact that I was their only child, they lead me to the boarder themselves and set me into the wild. I watch them turn their backs on me and not once did they look back."Zezi's hand stilled around Delice's, tightening as it moved further up to her shoulder. "I understand them, even right there I understood where they were coming from. My parents were mere omegas and anything more that would bring them below the Pack ranks would have been nothing more but painful shame to what they were already facing. I have forgiven them, I hold no grudges against them and I hope that they are doing fine in their graves." As lighthearted as those words had sounded, Zezi was more distracted by the whiff of madness that she had once sensed from Lady Delice's lingering
"Our friendship was almost ruined.." Delice gasped slightly, remembering how she had dashed out of the room immediately, her heart shattering. How Laura had followed her, wrapping a bedsheet around her body in a hurry, hickeys littered across her neck, her lips swollen from kisses, her eyes hazy with lust, blood dripping from a side of her lips."She told me she would banish him, that she had only conducted a test for him to see if he was worthy of me.""And you believed her?"Delice didn't answer immediately until she finally did."Laura loves me." She gulped, nodding. She looked up at Zezi, before looking down slowly, saying the next words underneath her breath like she was trying to convince herself of something she already had reasonable doubts about. "She loves me."There was something about this whole situation that reminded Zezi about that time in the Alpha's office, when George had thrown her right across the room because his wolf had taken over and he was about to fight with
Zezi gulped, folding her arms and leaning back into her seat. She should be in the library, she should be meeting Akeem, Akeem should be introducing her to his High Pillar, her mission should be in motion by now but she had foolishly allowed her emotions to sway her and now she had missed it. What if they left the library, taking her absense the wrong way and decided she would never join the White Circle?That didn't sound as threatening as it should when she thought about it. She knew she was important to them and it would take them much more to decide that they didn't need her. But she couldn't be sure. She didn't know the White Circle enough to know how their minds worked. If they even decide they didn't need her anymore, well, that would be alright.What raised her fear though was if the White Circle sent death after her. They could even send Akeem to silence her, the mission would be smooth and easy for him, considering the qualities he possessed. He had no aura, and he hide
"You shouldn't make Lady Zezi your Queen. With all due respect and all the formalities that I should have started with. Sorry about that."Unfortunately, the voice was one that Zezi knew all too well. The light-heartedness of the aura it flowed with, the humour that was buried within it, and the way the calmness slipped through the shelf that she was hiding behind and floated to her ears like a gentle petal swayed by the breeze. There was no doubt in her mind that that voice belonged to Sir Oliver. For once since he had stepped into the Castle and she had seen him, this was the first time she would be wholeheartedly agreeing with something he said. She didn't know the reason why he had said that but what does it matter?Despite her total agreement to the statement, she dared not speak. Not because she was afraid of saying it, she had after all made her intentions about this whole mate situation known to the King times without number, the only problem, was that, she was hiding. Rushi
"Oliver." He said with a gritted drag in his voice. "Your Majesty?""Do you have problem with the Fur Breed?" "Have a problem with the wolves? Personally? Pst, no! Buuuuttt... not everyone is as forward thinking as I am, your Majesty." A slow flip. Zezi closed her eyes counting in her head, to the end of the slow flip, in order to adjust the rhythm in her head.It reminded her of her daughter. Mira would do this too. Each thing she did had a particular number in her head and she would always laugh in victory anytime she got it correctly, stress over it whenever she didn't. George would step in there, he always knew how to get her back on track.Moving her hand up her chest, she hoped that they were fine. Hoped that George had found someone else, or at least was now better than Aunt Alice said he was last time. She hoped they were happy.A slow flip again, and she counted till it was over.'...12!' she smiled in triumph and closed her eyes firmly at his hum of thinking.Every litt
The book snapped shut."Bend over.""Wh--at?"Zezi's eyes widened.No, no, no, NO!"I must find out my feelings for you one way or another. Now. Bend. Over." No, he did not just say that."Your...Majesty, pl-please I---I--- can't." Oliver's voice sounded like it was muffled with tears and the image that flashed through Zezi's mind from that one thought, sent her blood boiling.Has her mat--the King lost his mind? "Iwasonlyjoking, your Majesty. I-was-only-joking!" The words sounded jumbled and came out with a squeak. "I really don't want a dick in my ass, please!""I was only joking too. You should be laughing."Zezi froze.What in the sick humour was that?!Silence fell for a slight second, the next thing Zezi heard was the scrapping of the chair against the floor and someome stumbling right out of the library with a speed too fast to be safe.Did Oliver just run out of the library liked a scared rat?Zezi almost laughed out loudly at that, but she stopped herself to instead sigh in
He gulped, finding it almost impossible to move. Her breath fanned his neck, her breathing getting warmer the closer she pressed herself to him, clung to him like he was some sought of life source that she couldn't seem to be able to get herself away from, even if she tried. Ironic. He didn't even possess something of such vibrance.A life. "Don't leave me, please." Her voice was breathy.She was asleep, probably having a dream. Wait.A dream.... about... him?"Zezi." His voice sounded unusually shaky, foreign to his own ears. His frown deepened, the black zig zag lines filling his face, as his eye lids fell shut and he sucked her scent into his lungs. Lily and honey.She always smelt so good, smelt even better now that the wolf's annoying mark had been gotten rid of. He detested it while it stood there, disfiguring her neck. He had never been able to breath her in while she had it on, the wolf's scent had always irritated him. But now?Ah, by the Blood, there was nothing better
Laura didn't say anything and Delice's clutch against her gown tightened. "I went there tonight." When she spoke this time, her smile had faded away, and the tears that had long gown empty in her eyes were starting to well up again, making them shimmer under the soft light of the hallway. "By the Blood, Delice. You shouldn't have done that."She nodded, the words building up in her threatening to choke her. "I know." It was a whisper. Her shoulders hung low in defeat, her gaze fixed to the floor. "I'm so sorry, for this and for everything."Laura's arms came around her, as she pulled her into the room, whispering back, "I forgive you."The taller vampire pulled away from Delice to shut the door behind them and the scent of the herbs that was a constant in Laura's room rushed into her lungs, but Delice was too devasted tonight to think too much of it. She watched her friend as she retreated from the door."Why did you do it?"Laura straightened up as if she had been called up again
Regret threatened to overcome her but this was not the time to think of her past actions and question herself as to why she had made those decisions without thinking properly. Every second was important and she would not waste of by dwelling on the past. If her assumption about the White Circle was right, Zezi knew she would need the help of everyone she could get, and to test Lord Rosil, she had asked her if she really didn't want her head for killing her son."I totally understand if you do. What kind of mother wouldn't want the head of her son's murderer?"Well, it seemed like she had hit a nerve because, after that, Lord Rosil had plenty to say. "The kind her son wanted to murder. That silly boy thought draining my blood would give him magic, then gave his sister a hard time because she had orchestrated my escape. Sometimes, it had felt like he was two vampires, stuck in one body. He has one that played the role of a Governor perfectly, and the other that displays just how much
"It is different." Zezi finally declared and Lord Rosil frowned, taking a step closer to her. "Are there any other bonds you know of that could be mistaken as a matebond?""No... This..."Zezi shook her head. This wasn't the time to get overwhelmed by sadness or Lord Rosil's stuttering answer. This was the time to get her head straight and think probably.Lord Rosil snapped her fingers like she had just gotten a groundbreaking idea."Well, of course, it is different! Both of you are different." Her green eyes glinted with excitement at her coming explanation and for that brief moment, Zezi remembered Gwen and missed her. "The King is a Soul Seizer and you, are his mate."Zezi nodded, waiting for more, there just had to be more. "And?""Your Majesty, the King had to make a really big sacrifice to kill his father." Everything somehow felt a little quieter to Zezi, and all her focus zeroed in on Lord Rosil as she approached her. "Only self-sacrifice could kill him and he made that. He s
Had Akeem also been taken by the Volakys?That was what Zezi started to worry about when she still hadn't gotten a message back or seen Akeem and it was already some minutes past midnight. She had also gone to the library to check on him, but as expected, his seat was empty. The library had looked untouched by the chaos going on the the castle, it felt peaceful and Zezi lingered around longer, hoping to walk into Valerick.He had said his mother loved the library, and she thought that he was probably here to find peace in that knowledge.But no, Valerick wasn't here either. With a long and heavy sigh, Zezi stood up. She should probably ask Delice if she had seen Akeem, it was good to confirm everything before jumping to conclusions. She wouldn't want to report anything and arouse suspicion regarding her relationship with the librarian, if things turn out differently. Zezi didn't want more walls thrown between her and Valerick, they already had so many problems to deal with at the m
Zezi's heart was pounding with regret as she ran up the stairs of the castle at an unfathomable speed.Why had she left to watch the execution in the first? She should have never left. She should have never convinced herself that she needed to be at the Execution for all the reasons she had thought it was important before. Right now, they all felt very useless.George and Aunt Alice had stayed behind to be with Mira. Not like they would have been allowed to watch the execution, not like they wanted to either. Gwen had stayed too.Oh, by the Moon, Zezi hoped they were all okay. She screeched to a stop right in front of her daughter's door, flinging it open as fast as she could. Her eyes combed the room and horror seeped through her veins at what she found... or rather what she didn't. Mira's bed was empty. George and Aunt Alice were nowhere to be found, along with Gwen who was...Wait!George and Aunt Alice were on the floor, unconscious. Zezi ran to them, accessing the situation
Valerick looked unmoved and it was hard for Zezi to figure out what he was feeling through the bond. His side of it was still blocked.This was frustrating!She was sitting right by his side but it seemed like a whole wall had been thrown between them. Her attention moved to the Princess, who sat upright, her gaze unmoving from Riza as she clocked her claws together. Zezi wondered if she had poison beneath them, and mentally noted to herself not to get too close to Laura no matter what. She couldn't be trusted right now. But then, when was she ever worthy of trust? They were all unworthy.From the other corner of Zezi's eyes, she watched Lady Delice's reaction. The Royal Advisor kept a calm demeanour but something about hers and Laura's aura were off.From what Zezi could deduce, they were scared that Riza was going to talk about the White Circle.That made Zezi curious. What about the oath she had made before joining the White Circle to keep their business secret? Everyone had
After that, Zezi had gone to see Delice. She didn't even have to share her suspicion, the Royal Advisor had beat her to it."Just be vigilant," Lady Delice had said, as they hurried away from the den, and up the stairs. "I think there is more to this than we know, I will ask Laura soon." Leaving Lady Delice, she had ran into Akeem, whose path she had blocked. His eyes which were originally filled with worry turned into those of attack but she refused to move. Instead, she pulled him aside into the Hall of Statues. So much was going on in the Castle lately, their presence here would most likely go unnoticed. "She turned you, didn't she?" Zezi said the moment the door was shut behind her. "But something had been different in the process. That is why you are different."Hope lit in Zezi's heart. Maybe she would be able to get what her daughter was before the tests would be conducted.Maybe her daughter was just like Akeem. Akeem's face shadowed with secrecy. "I don't know what you a
"I don't have it. I gave it away.""To whom?"Her eyes found his, it had only been for a moment before she looked back at the King, pleading."Please, he didn't do it. He didn't mean it--""Who did you give it to?""Oliver. I gave it to Oli, my mate.""It was a gift of trust." Oliver stood up from the chair, his eyes twinkling with the glint of the ever-present humor. "I didn't even use it. I didn't do this, I didn't do anything. Tell them, Laura!" He ended with a smile. Rage blazed in her eyes, seamlessly mixing with helplessness. It was such a sight. Beautiful."You did it."His smile dwindled."I know you did it and that is why things haven't been the same between us.""Things haven't been the same between us because I spent a night with Riza."Gasps filled the court at the implied reference to cheating. It was a scandalous thing and very distasteful thing to happen between mates, fated or chosen. It was an act deserving of punishment.How hypocritical these vampires were, Zez
"What gives you the audacity to put a royal Pureblood in these filthy chains?!" The Princess's voice rang through the hall, bouncing off the walls, her glare directed to the guard that had just dragged her in and pushed her into the Accused box.Raising her head, she accessed her surroundings, a formation that seemed so high, that it made her feel like she was in a pit, with iron railings camping her. On the high chairs on her left side, different Lords were seated, while on her right, the Governors along with her sweet Delice, Oli. Behind her were the people.Wait!Next to her brother was that fur bastard whose existence was an absolute irritation. This was the Royal Court of Lavida, what an absolute disgrace it was to be in this box. Laura felt repulsed by everything. "You stand in the presence of the King and Queen of Lavida, Royal Adviser, Governors, Lords, and the people, to speak in your defence against the accusations that you are the one behind the Volakys attack!" That br
Valerick was nowhere to be found and even though she didn't want to, Zezi started to panic.Until, she had met Nicholas who told her that the King had to attend to other pressing issues that had more priority than "chit-chatting" with her. When she asked about Mira's health, he tried his best to seem reassuring but Zezi could see straight through his lie.Dr. Nicholas didn't know if her daughter would ever wake up. It was strange. If she really was a vampire, then why was she at the risk of dying without the Volakys venom ever being in her veins in the first place?This just didn't make any sense. "She has been starved for too long. Years! I don't even know how she had survived this long. My guess is that she is some kind of hybrid and that other part has been the one keeping her alive, and the overworking has been killing that part of her. That is why she is always sick. It will be a medical breakthrough to get to the root of this."He had declared in absolute excitement."My daug