" It's ok if you don't want to call me mother, you've been through a lot, I'm so happy to see you and hold you once more" Madeline said.
" It's not your fault , you were trying to protect me. I'm the one who is happy to be finally reunited with my family once again " I said cleaning away the tears from my eyes.
" Thank you my princess " Madeline said.
" Mother " I called her and I like the way it sound in my mouth.
" Yes dear " she answered.
" Can I meet brother and sisters , I want to see them" I said excited.
" Sure dear you don't need to ask for permission, afterall, they are your siblings" she said and I smiled.
" mother , does it mean I'm a princess here " I asked.
" Yes my dear, second princess of beautiful city, my princess " she said smiling.
" Second princess ? " I said , cause if I'm the second princess that means I have an elder sister.
" Yes dear , come meet your siblings they must be waiting for
Bright light emmited through the open curtain of the window, I opened my eyes there was a smile on my face. Everything is going smoothly in my life, I reunited with my family again and found someone who loves me and I love him too.I yawned and stretched my muscles, I turned around to face Derek who held my waist as I had my back facing him. I could feel his cold breath fanning my face, he look so peaceful in his sleep. I smiled as I raised my hand to touch his face, I realized I love touching his face when he was asleep.But before I could touch his face, he spoke even though his eyes was closed " you make me want to kiss you if you keep staring at me like that " he said and I withdrew my hand back." You're awake" I said as my cheek turned red out of embrassment." I've been awake for more than an hour my love" he answered and opened his eyes to look at me." how did you know I was staring at you cause your eyes were closed " I asked
AT THE BEAUTIFUL CITY "Mother" Charlotte called out to the queen Madeline. "yes dear" Madeline answered to her youngest daughter. "When will sister Aria return back here" . "my child " Madeline held her daughter's shoulder softly "she'll return when the time is right ". "When is the right time mother, I'll want to spend some time with sister Aria" Charlotte said. " She'll will return when she wants to learn how to control her powers my dear". At the same time the door opened and Celine entered the room . "Good morning mother you called for me" she said bowing her head slightly. " yes come sit here" Madeline said pointing at a white soft fur couch. "Charlotte dear you can go now let me have a word with your sister alright". " Yes mother" Charlotte bowed her head and left the room closing the door with her maid following behind her. Now It just Only Queen Madeline and princess Celine in the r
AT NAAL CITY"No you don't hold your bow like that" Derek chuckled at the way his mate held the bow and positioned the arrow." you're laughing at me" I said pouting my lips." I'm sorry my love it's just that the way you held the bow you could mistakenly shoot yourself" Derek said." But I'm holding it like you said I should " I said ." Alright let me hold your hand" Derek said and held my hand while he stood behind me with my back resting on his chest." See it's not hard, you'll hold the bow like this" he said and positioned the bow and arrow again " and you'll pull it like this " he said and dragged it still holding my hand and shot the arrow which got stucked at a red mark on a tree." now I want you to try it " he said and released my hands.I took a deep breath before releasing it, I held the bow and pointed the arrow towards the red mark on the tree. I held my breath as I shot the arrow but I missed it just
Caleb was sent to the dungeon till in the morning when the case will be reported to the king and queen. Fredrick took Celine to her room so she could continue her beauty sleep.After laying her on the bed, Fredrick sat beside Celine's bed staring at her peaceful face. He removed the baby hairs from her face." Celine dear stop forcing yourself on a man who is not worthy of you, as far as I'm breathing and alive you're mine and I'm yours" he leaned forward and kissed her forehead before leaving the room after turning off the light.***IN THE COURT ROOMKing Louis and Queen Madeline sat on the throne in the court room of the castle. By the right hand side of the king sat Prince Kyle and by the left hand side of the queen sat princess Charlotte and princess Ari, Aria's half side.Celine was still unconcious in her room. Guards stood at both sides of the court room, ministers and the king advisor were sitted on their respe
AT NAAL CITYToday was finally the day I will part with Derek so I can go back to my home, my family. But I didn't want to part with him as he was also part of me now, it been months now that I've been staying here in Naal city.Yet Clarissa the queen still didn't want to accept me and her husband. Liam and his mate Veronica have always been good and kind to me. Talk about Angus, there's something about him but I can't out my finger on it. Astrid I haven't seen her for some days I wonder where she is.Venetia, oh Venetia I just found out that why I haven't seen her was because the queen had killed her just because she's always meet me in secret so one Clarissa found out about it form her messanger in the castle.Clarissa had killed Venetia in cold blood just because she disobeyed, I had found Venetia's lifeless body lying outside the castle one morning, her neck was twisted backwards facing the ground.I was bitter for days cause she had always bee
"So we're back to the way we were before we met our mates huh" Magnus said. " Just shut up and get ready" Derek replied. "Huh for what?" Magnus asked. However Derek ignored him and left and Magnus could only sigh and followed him behind. *** AT BEAUTIFUL CITY We landed right at the place where there was orange and purple coloured leaves on the ground falling from a tree. "Where are we?" I asked Ari as I could see her now, she was no longer in my head. Sometimes I wonder how I am talking to myself again. "Oh we've been here before" she said. "Who's this?" "Oh Elia, she's my friend, Elia this is my other half i told you about remember? ". " Oh yeah I remembered nice to meet you" Elia said smiling stretching her hand to Ari for a handshake. "Hmm" Ari took her hand "you know I'm still her and she is still me" Ari said. " She knows, can we keep moving now" I said. "
"Take me to her room" I said. "What are you going to do" Ari said. " Take me to her room and see" I said, I've got to try something now we still got the chance before dawn. "Alright follow me" Ari said. " what about us, what should we do" Cassie asked. "Uh nothing just you both get to know each other" Ari said and we left for Celine's room. "Really we can't just sit here and do nothing" Cassie shouted but we were long gone. We got inside the castle, we took the step leading us up to the balcony. I followed Ari behind as I don't know where Celine's room is located. After some minutes, we finally got to a white door as we were hiding from the guards who were patrolling the area. " someone's coming get in" Ari said after she had opened the door as quiet as she can, I got in quickly and she did too and close the door. "That was close" I said and released the breath I was holding. "
"STOP!!" she screamed on top of her lungs to gain everyone's attention in the court room, her eyes were red in anger. The axe was just an inch away from Caleb's neck when Celine angry voice echoed in the room. She ran towards where Caleb knelt down on the white marble floor with his hands tied to his back tightly. Caleb who had closed his eyes waiting to be executed couldn't tell how relieved he was to hear Celine's voice again. She had saved him from dying and the truth will be out, his eyes moved to meet Frederick's black eyes who was staring at Celine with shock. "Father what is the meaning of this?" Celine finally spoke with tears streaming down her cheeks. She couldn't believe that her father had ordered to execute her fiance . King Louis who was still under Fredrick's spell said " step away from the traitor Celine". " Father his not a traitor can't you see it's Caleb my fiance" Celine said. " Father you said it your
The shadows exploded outward, swallowing the room in a suffocating wave of cold. The torches flickered wildly before snuffing out, plunging them into near darkness.Elia clutched Elizabeth tightly to her chest, backing away as Magnus’s body convulsed, his form twisting unnaturally. His once-familiar features contorted with something inhuman, veins pulsing like blackened roots under his skin.Derek gritted his teeth and moved between Magnus and the others, summoning his power in an instant. His hands glowed with crackling energy, ready to strike if needed. “Magnus, listen to me! You can fight this—”But the voice that came from Magnus was not his own.“Fight?” the distorted voice mocked, echoing through the chamber. “There is no fight. There is only surrender.”Then, the shadows moved.They lashed out like living tendrils, striking at Derek first. He barely had time to react before he was thrown backward, crashing into the stone wall with a brutal force.“Derek!” Aria’s voice rang out
The weight of Magnus’s confession settled over them like a thick fog. Alan’s power wasn’t gone—it had shifted, latched onto Magnus like a parasite waiting to consume him. They couldn’t afford to keep this to themselves.Derek was the first to move. He helped Magnus to his feet, his grip firm. “We need to tell the others. Now.”Magnus flinched at the thought. His body still trembled, his skin clammy with sweat. “Elia…” His voice cracked. “How am I supposed to tell her?”Aria’s chest tightened. Elia had already suffered enough—first with Alan’s magic corrupting Magnus, and then watching her husband struggle to control himself. Now this?“She deserves to know,” Aria said gently. “All of them do.”Magnus ran a hand through his hair, exhaling shakily. “What if I lose control in front of them?”Derek shook his head. “Then we make sure you don’t.” His tone was absolute. “Let’s go.”Aria hesitated, her hand drifting instinctively to her stomach. Something about all of this felt… wrong. The da
The weight of their decision settled over them like a storm cloud, thick with unspoken fears. Aria’s fingers remained pressed against her stomach, as if seeking reassurance from the life growing inside her. She could feel her magic humming beneath her skin, stronger than ever—but also unpredictable.Derek crossed his arms, his gaze sharp. “If we’re going to do this, we need to be careful. Alan’s magic didn’t just disappear. It’s somewhere, lingering. And if we go looking for it, we need to be prepared for whatever we find.”Magnus leaned against the stone wall, his expression unreadable. “You don’t think I know that?” His voice was rough with frustration. “It’s inside me. I feel it every second. And every second, it’s getting harder to fight.”Aria studied him closely. The way his hands trembled, the slight flicker of shadow clinging to his form—he was holding himself together by sheer force of will.“We can’t wait any longer,” she said. “We need to find a way to trace the remnants of
Magnus took a step back, shaking his head. “No.” His voice was low, strained. “You’re wrong.”Aria felt a cold weight settle in her stomach. “I want to be wrong, Magnus. But I’m not.”He clenched his fists, his breathing heavy. The air around them shifted—charged with an unseen force.Derek reached for his sword instinctively. “Magnus, stay with us.”“I am with you!” Magnus snapped, but the darkness in his veins pulsed. His pupils dilated, and Aria saw it again—that flicker of something inhuman in his eyes.Derek moved between them. “Aria, if he loses control again—”“I won’t,” Magnus ground out, but even he didn’t sound convinced.Aria reached for him. “Magnus, listen to me—”He flinched at her touch, and suddenly, a force erupted from him, slamming into the walls with enough power to shake the room.Books flew from their shelves. Candles flickered and died. The air turned suffocating.Magnus gasped, doubling over as if in pain. His fingers dug into the stone floor, his breathing rag
Morning came too quickly. The tension that had settled over them the night before hadn’t lifted, and as they prepared to leave for the archives, Aria couldn’t shake the feeling that they were walking into something they weren’t ready for.The journey was quiet, save for the sound of their footsteps against the cold stone halls. Aria kept a hand on her stomach, a subconscious habit she had developed since realizing she was pregnant. She hadn’t told the others—not yet. Not until she understood what was happening to her.Magnus walked beside her, his movements more controlled than before, but there was still a weight to them, as if he were forcing himself to keep the corruption at bay. Derek led the way, his grip tight on the hilt of his sword. He was always prepared for a fight, but this time, Aria knew his concern was for her.They arrived at the archives, an ancient chamber buried deep beneath the castle. Dust clung to the air, illuminated by the soft glow of enchanted lanterns. Rows
Aria sat beside Magnus, exhausted but determined. The session had drained her, and yet, she knew this was only the beginning.Magnus exhaled heavily, his fingers twitching as he clenched and unclenched his fists. “I almost lost control again.”“But you didn’t,” Aria reminded him, her voice gentle but firm. “That’s what matters.”His jaw tightened. “What if next time I do?”Aria hesitated. There was a next time. There always would be.But she wouldn’t let him fall into doubt.“You won’t,” she said, gripping his wrist. “Because I’ll be here. We all will.”Magnus looked at her, eyes clouded with uncertainty—but there was something else there, too. A flicker of belief.Before he could respond, the chamber doors swung open.Derek stepped in, his expression grim. “We need to talk.”Aria turned to him, immediately sensing his unease. “What is it?”Derek’s gaze flickered to Magnus, then back to her. “It’s about you.”Aria frowned. “Me?”Derek nodded, stepping closer. “I’ve been watching, Aria
The next morning, as the first light of dawn painted the sky in hues of gold and crimson, Magnus and Aria stood in the clearing beyond the castle walls. The air was still charged with tension from the previous night, but this was the first step toward reclaiming control.Magnus flexed his hands, feeling the restless power still writhing within him. He was afraid. Afraid of losing himself again. Afraid of hurting someone. Afraid that no matter how hard he tried, he would never be the same again.But then he looked at Aria.She stood before him, steady, unshaken. There was a quiet strength in her now, something deeper than before. Her presence alone was grounding.“Alright,” Aria said, drawing a slow breath. “First, I need you to close your eyes.”Magnus frowned but obeyed.“Feel the magic inside you,” she continued. “Don’t fight it. Just listen.”He tried. At first, all he could sense was chaos—wild energy rushing through his veins, sharp, erratic, unpredictable. It was like a storm he
Magnus collapsed to his knees, gasping as the remnants of darkness flickered around him like dying embers. The magic inside him had not vanished—it still pulsed within his veins—but it was no longer in control. The corruption had been tempered, its hunger subdued by Aria’s power. He trembled as he lifted his head, his once-shadowed eyes now holding a glimmer of clarity. Aria stepped back, her breathing unsteady. Her body swayed slightly, exhaustion weighing her down. Derek was by her side in an instant, his strong arms steadying her before she could collapse. He gazed at her in awe, then concern. “Aria, that was incredible,” he murmured. “But you shouldn’t have pushed yourself so hard.” She shook her head, pressing a hand to her belly. “I had to. It was the only way to reach him.” Frederick took a cautious step toward Magnus, his fists clenched at his sides. “Is it over?” Magnus let out a shuddering breath. “No,” he admitted, his voice hoarse. “I can still feel it inside me…
Amid the chaos and the crumbling stone, a deep, resolute calm began to emanate from Aria. Her eyes, wide with determination, fixed on the writhing, tormented form of Magnus. The dark energy that had taken root in him pulsed like a malignant heartbeat, threatening to consume everything in its path. But in that moment, something within Aria stirred—a power she had never fully acknowledged before. Her hand pressed against her belly, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. A soft, luminous glow began to spread from her, as if her unborn child were a beacon of hope amid the encroaching darkness. The golden light was warm and steady, contrasting sharply with the inky shadows and her she thought of Magnus and decided it time to step in, at the same time she’s scared of the dark power surrounding magnus and not wanting anything to harm her unborn child. She left her room for the dungeon upon seeing magnus in this state her heart sank and she couldn’t take it. She saw how exhau