Sonaya's pov .... The council meeting dragged on, not because it was particularly boring but because there were issues that needed to be addressed. We took a break for lunch. Zeus's mate Ava headed straight for me. “Your majesty, how have you been?" "Let's talk in mindlink." I said. "Thank you for hosting us at your pack house, last time we were there." "Oh nonsense it's nothing. your majesty. I'm really excited about you finally being in the Council, it means that we won't be sidelined any more." She said Eldritch's mate, Brie's mother, Derrick's mate and two other mates seemed to have found a common agenda. They steered clear of me like teenagers spoiling for a fight. I didn't bother with them. There were more serious issues to be bothered about. Zaya wrapped her arm around mine and Ava's as she led us outside the room to our waiting mates. "I believe you both have some hungry mates waiting for you?" She quizzed. I could hear their voices as the men spoke in hushed ton
Stefan's pov ...I tried my very best to not drag her in a rush as we walked away from the table.But I needed to hold her, I need her to calm me the f*ck down. I am so angry and so frustrated with Ethos.The tips of my fingers tinged red as we tried to leave the room.This is the first time in some weeks my new abilities are acting up, something is definitely wrong somewhere.someone has done something wrong.Very wrong.For the past few days I have blocked my visions, after the situation with Brie I decided to take a break.That's why I didn't see the attack on the siren pack. I didn't know until Zeus mindlinked me."This is such a freaking mess!"Lygion raged.His emotions were all over the place right now. "Why can't things be simple and straightforward, why?"Lygion is so angry, he is making me go stir crazy. My eyes I'm sure are now completely silver and this is all based on the premonition that Ethos has done something he shouldn't do.The worse part is I can't pla
Stefan's pov...."It's Ethos.You were right to cut him off.Stefan, you need to hear this.Your worse fears have been brought to light.Come and hear what Asaf has to say. " She said. I walked briskly, trying to be as royal as I can.But I was impatient, I wanted to hear what this male friend of my mate has to say. she seems to trust him.But I don't know him and I can't vouch for him or whatever information he has to share.But I do plan to hear him out then figure things out later.“My k-king" He stuttered, when I reached them.I stopped right in front of him and pulled her into my body, while staring into his eyes.Something flickered in them, it was very light and fast, he hid it well but I caught it.This male wants what's mine.That is not okay, friend or not.I grit my teeth together to stop myself from growling at him."Asaf, repeat what you just told me." Naya said.“My king I overheard my cousin's mate, pledge his loyalty to the Grand commander Ethos.There
Sonaya's pov .... We arrived at the western region an hour before noon. The heavy presence of warriors at the entrance to the region and at Its borders suggested that Morgan was being more than careful or was gearing up for retaliation. I should have more sympathy for a man that's just lost his pup. But I have felt nothing but hatred for Alpha Morgan. I'll never forget what he did and tried to do to me. He doesn't deserve to live or have a mate and be happy as far as I'm concerned. But I sympathize with his mate. She hasn't done anything wrong, she doesn't deserve the pain she is currently going through. "Come on." Stefan whispered to me as the car crawled to a stop. We got out and I stared up at the pack house in both surprise and irritation. Morgan is obviously a very fickle man. The sheer opulence of the house from the outside tells me so. If the outside of the four story building had touches of gold and silver, then the inside would definitely have more. Morgan and hi
Sonaya's pov ....The trip to the siren pack on the other side of the Lygion border from the western region, wasn't particularly treacherous, the terrain wasn't half as bad as the terrain between the northern region and the other siren pack.But this one was narrow, it was so narrow that we could only walk in twos.The trees were too close to each other and the distance wasn't as lengthy as the others.But the narrow path slowed us down so much so, it was almost tiresome.I never knew that walking so slowly and carefully could make one tired or frustrated.We kept at it all afternoon into late in the day, when we finally managed to reach the pack borders before dawn."Please tell everyone to wait." I said to Stefan." Halt everyone!." Nathan ordered.I left my mates side, grabbed Zaya's hand and headed for the packs border itself.We stopped exactly on the line of the pack and bent down to touch the ground.There's been a humming sound since about twenty yards out.The atm
Sonaya's pov ....." We're only here to talk, we don't want to cause any more trouble than we already have.We're not here to cause you and your people any harm." Stefan said to him.The alpha smiled, he had hollow cheeks like his people and the action made his cheeks look almost like that of a zombie.But his words warmed my heart."Any friend or ally of our queen is a friend to us. My king.You are most welcome.Everyone, you are welcome." He finished his words with an about turn in his attitude.He suddenly looked like a reckless carefree leader, but all these personalities made him more than dangerous in my eyes.I wonder how he can just switch from being angry and unwelcoming to gratitude and appreciation, and now to carefree and go lucky fellow.But there is something else in this pack that has been calling out to me.Its essence is hidden behind something.But it's calling to me and I will answer that call.I just don't know how yet.We followed the group with the a
Sonaya's pov ... "I don't think they're stupid enough to try to attack the king, but I do think they'll be stupid enough to try to use your mate to get to you. But most people don't know that it's the queen that's the hardest to bring down. But if you are to be with pup. Well your priorities will change and you'll want to protect your pup before you protect yourself. If you ever find yourself in that situation don't do that. Fight first and fight hard. Your pup would be fine, or you'll have another. If we lose you, we would almost never recover." Viktor further adviced and that was how this trip became sh*t for me. We were all quiet for a while as it dawned on us what Ethos and his wife had planned. They would never win a fight with the king, he was almost unchallengeable. So, they figured if they could get his mate they would be able to weaken him. Unfortunately, they couldn't do it themselves, so they made a pathetic attempt, by blackmailing a Siren and threatening him wi
Stefan's pov ....Morgan and I used to be friends, not too close but acquaintances.That feels like decades ago, be ause right now standing here in front of him all I want to do is tear into him.When I first met him, we seemed to have some ideas on how to move the kingdom foward. The ideas were identical and It led me to think that maybe we were like minds.But in the end its obvious he was just trying to gain positions and favour.He did get what he wanted, but in the end, he showed his true character.I stared at the fool, and couldn't understand why I was fooled by him in the first place.I was more than mad, I was freaking livid.I have been looking for an excuse to end his miserable life, not that I didn't have plenty already.Because you hing Sonaya is more than reason enough.Flaunting my orders is actually, realistically interpreted as having a death wish.Morgan should have been the first person to reach out to me, to let me in on what was going on but he didn't."I see tha
EpilogueStefan's pov...Its been a few months after that dreaded war with the dark witch.We'd realised when we came to, that they had tried to attack us in the hall where we slept.They had created distractions, started a war at the palace and sent more men to attack us at the western region.But we prevailed and the second Sonaya killed the witch.Her control over the minds of the warriors abd other citizens of the kingdom, instantly dissipated.I hold my mate and watch her as she sleeps.It feels like decades ago when I was determined to harm her, fir something she had no control over.The women have finally began to conceive.The grounds are gradually becoming fertile again. These occurrences are making me wonder if Eli and his mother had, bern involved in this as well.I have had yo double check and reconsider everything Eli Ragnar ever told me.Sometimes, i just cant wrap my head around the millions of opportunities theybmust have had to kill me.But they didn't because they
Sonaya's pov ...My eyes suddenly felt hot, a scream left my lips as I found that we were suddenly elevated from the ground.I could feel the elements like I could feel my hands.I could wield them as I wished.But the craziest thing was the bracelet.It sprung out of my hand in blaze of rainbow like light.It was almost blinding, it came out a shield first, then a sword.Watching through Rayna's eyes I was completely awed by the show.Rayna was totally unmoved she handled everything like a pro.My siren beast is a crazy bitch warrior.Our clothes changed to some ancient like female warrior attire.The best way to describe it is skin tight leggings made if animal skin, but it was a full body armor, with something like bikini panties and a halfway top. Almost like a crop top.It had sharp looking edged sleeves.There was something on my forearms, it thick and padded. But not heavy.I didn't know the bracelet was almost like a fighting suit.All this happened in the blink of an eye and
Naya's pov ....Confusion was clear on his face, hurt and betrayal, flitted through his eyes for a brief moment, before Lygion took complete control.I heard the sound of a sword whooshing through the air, I knew it was coming for me.The whooshing was too close for it not to have been aimed for me.But Lygion pushed me down so suddenly to protect me. But the painful howl of a Lycan immediately caught my attention.I wanted to turn and see who had gotten hurt, but the howl was followed by a scream I would recognise anywhere.It was from Zaya, it was a scream of pain.Nathan has been hurt."I need you to trust me, please I beg you my love."I said as tears poured down my cheeks.It was more for Stefan than Lygion.Stefan's beast would protect me no matter what. He would protect me first and ask questions later.I felt the pain he was feeling.It was double tragedy for us both, but the pain was too much and so intense that Rayna roared angrily as she slammed right back into me. It felt
Sonaya's pov ...." My king, the healer said not to tell her, she was quite specific about it."An alarmed Zaya said chastising Stefan." Yes she did but I'm not the king because I follow instructions, I rely mostly on my gut feeling, my instinct and my beast." He said to Zaya.I was struggling to come to terms with their words. I couldn't wrap my head around the possibility of my reality."Rayna, what's the color of the sky right now?"I asked out of the blue, hoping she'll hear me.She always does despite the fact that I can't feel her.She scoffed at me and said "It's bright ofcourse, the morning sun is mild." And I knew for sure that this, whatever or wherever this is, isn't real.Thunder clapped loudly in the sky, lightening searing through the sky creating bolts of bright light. It was like the sky was being slashed by several swords."They know she knows." Lars said " Good." Stefan said just before a deafening roar rang through the forest." You can come out now with your f
Sonaya's pov ...I woke up again and this time there was no Zaya, just Stefan in the room with me." Morning my love." He said, I smiled and pulled me in for kiss before laying back on the bed.He stared at me like he couldn't get enough of me.But something felt off, my heart wasn't pounding at the sight off him.The kiss we shared didn't make my toes curl and this all felt slightly superficial.He smiled like my mate would, his scent is exactly the same, he chuckles like Stefan would, he even growls like the king.His touch makes tingles erupt all over my skin, but there are no goose bumps.That's always a given especially when he's really needy or when he's aroused and in desperate for me.That should have happened just now with his morning glory all high and mighty, and the kiss we just shared.But that didn't happen, I wondered if this was part of the issues I had with my beast Rayna.I can hear her, we communicate nicely as we should, but I can't feel her. Right now I can't fee
Stefan's pov ....This feeling of helplessness is very foreign to me.I just want to know who to kill, who to to destroy limb from limbBut this isn't a problem that can be solved with rage and brutal power.I made me feel useless, all my powers currently useless to her.What have I ever done for her? I wondered.Why do I keep failing her?I watched every move Adele made.She put some water in a deep wide bowl from the bathroom and put some oil in it.From the smell I knew what they were, she looked at me for permission.And I granted it with a nod of my head.She used Patchouli oil, Neroli oil and frankincense oil, with a measurement of ground mandrake root.The water swelled almost to the top before it settled again. It looked dirty at some point, but changed color to a very light translucent pink.Then the woman began to undress my mate.When she was completely naked, she began to sprinkle the water on her with her hands.She turned her back and sprinkled the water eve
Stefan's pov ...I stared out the window of the old healer's house.It wasn't some tiny bungalow, It was a big house, a one-story house.What was it about the west and the snow, I wondered as the snow continued to rain down on the earth.My mind wasn't at rest at all.My entire soul is in turmoil.My mate is sick and we have arrived here to seek the healer.We never ever fall ill, but that's not the only thing that's strange about her illness.She seems to have an ever present fever, it turns to chills sometimes, and then she has this horrible nightmares.Since the morning after we arrived at the southern region, we haven't been able to wake her.Her scent is gradually, but steadily changing, And we have begun to lose touch with her beast.Rayna feels so far away, almost like we can't reach her. Who will do this to my mate?why would someone do this? I wondered in deep thought.I had teleported everyone here by early evening the next day when she didn't wake up.Archer had said there w
Sonaya's pov ...We were shown to our quarters after a brief meeting, alpha Derrick explained their plans for the election, the next day.His mate tried to strike up a conversation with me, but I couldn't stand them at all. They are hypocrites, pretenders.I stared intently at Derrick as he spoke with false confidence and pride .The real people of the south are suffering and struggling to get by everyday in the rejects, yet he sits in his pack house mansion and visits judgement upon them daily." Where's Alphonso?" I asked out of the blue, anger and spite leaving a hot trail in my blood stream." Who's that?" Stefan asked turning to look at me, a smile plastered to his face.Derrick instantly looked nervous, it was a tiny chink in his armour but I was just glad I'd made him shake and almost shit his pants."That's his delta." I said replying my mate."He is in charge of the rejects, I used to live there." I explained further to Stefan in mind link. He sighed and asked "You wanna visi
Sonaya's pov ...The meetings went on for days, on and off so people could get back to their families.But it's been almost two months now and they have been gruesome for me.Stefan, Nathan, Zeus and some Lygion warriors, train me daily for hours.It is the most difficult time of my days.But it's better now, I used to nurse recurring injuries.Broken bones, ribs discoloration all over my body, plus the unending pain.Rayna heals me as fast as she can but when I'm up against almost two dozen well groomed Lycan warriors who train you daily, Pain is bound to be the result.I drag myself off the training area, nowadays I barely get a scratch.I smirk at them as I walk past."Thanks again everyone." I say as I rush into the palace for breakfast. I could eat a horse right now.Just as I'm about to get into the breakfast room.Archer called me." My queen." " Whatt?" I asked completely irritated to be called away from my breakfast.My stomach growled in protest.He chuckled loudly." Vikt