Present day.
Stefan's pov..Pain sliced through my insides as I sent her to the dungeon, but by the goddess, if the king's before me could do it, then I would do it as well.My hatred for her kind was unrivaled.It had been drummed and drilled into me since birth.All siren witches must die, especially their queens.Earlier on, I had experienced a strange stinging pain in my neck for almost an hour.The royal physician had checked me but said there was nothing wrong, but I was kept under observation.Blood and my urine was drawn as they fussed over me.They have never had any cause or need to touch me since I was born.And the only reason why they were called in was because Nathan and Brie refused to take chances when I groaned and fell to my knees in pain.The pain had left a strange swelling in my neck right where my mating mark is supposed to be.The swelling was big and painful, hence the worry.BStefan’s pov… The old wise fool was just bidding his time, waiting for the day of his death. " Choose your next words wisely, Ragnar. I am not in the mood for stupidity." "It's not stupid to accept the mate bond, we need drastic change in this kingdom. Please my king if your mate is the answer to our fertility problems then you have to make the right choice." "Do you think she is unaware of the history between our families, do you not know that for her to still be alive, means that her family have successfully kept her hidden for years. Now tell me something, do you think they wouldn't have told her about our history, fed her full with lies about us and trained her to seek revenge against the Lygion bloodline for the destruction of the Lockhart family? Do you think they are dumb? Yet you want me to accept her, you want me to accept someone who would try to kill me in my sleep, the very first chance she gets. Really?! Do you not thi
Stefan's pov....I woke up grumpy, hungry and angry.I stared at the ceiling, but wasn't really seeing it.All my life I'd always known that this day would come and I'd always known what to do, but some silly goddess somewhere threw some spanner in the works, by forcing a mate mark on me.aaaaarrrrgggggghhhh!!I screamed in my head but Lygion just chuckled.I'm sure he must think me a child, but this is the definition of going too far."I don't think you're a child Stefan.I do however think we need to get out of bed and go find something for breakfast, we are starving incase you haven't noticed.”I grumbled to myself as I dragged my b*tt to the bathroom to do the needful after getting dressed in black fitted slacks, boots and a white dress shirt. I headed out of my closet to the aroma of bacon and eggs in my suite.It caught me off guard and my stomach rumbled in hunger."Ooouu food." Lygion cooed.But t
Stefan's pov ...But I had also given stringent instructions not to let anyone up here.I was still standing still, when she emerged from the elevator and made a bee line for me.She smiled wildly and I knew she'd found a way to get up here, seducing some poor, employee.Her family might be wealthy and strong, but this time, there wasn't any hesitation, there was no thought to it.Usually one would need to give their beast control, to let him out.But as king there are different levels to my abilities.I didn't need to give Lygion control, my fury merged with his and we became the exact same thing, No need for contest, no need for permission, none of us could have stopped the other.But the blatant disobedience, flagrant disregard of my order had become too much for us to ignore.We stood there watching her approach, she was dressed in an ankle length black leather jacket.Obviously meant for seduction.She was
Stefan's pov ...Her scent accosted me right from the entrance to the dungeons.Why was it so strong?I wondered.Lygion stirred inside of me, the tiny hairs on my body stood on end.I hissed lowly, irritated at my body's reaction to her scent.It was mixed in with the disgusting smell of the dungeon, but then again it stood out, unique, fresh and strong."We need to get a grip." Lygion urged me.But for once in my life, I doubted our strength, because if her scent could affect us this way. Then what will her presence do.I stopped just before the passage way to her cell and communicated with the men I have put in charge of her.“Food?” I asked “No, nothing yet your majesty.”“Good.”“Shower?”I asked “We let he do that an hour ago, we knew you'll be coming to see her soon.”I turned and headed to her cell.She was huddled in a corner, wearing a black dungeon prison overall unifo
Sonaya's Pov ...Tears poured down my cheeks, I was completely heart broken, yet I was already in love with him.It's a cursed love.I know it's the mate bond.But there isn't anything I can do about that.Why am I mated to such a wicked brute?Yeah, he might be the king, but he is just too wicked.Why is it that the one who is supposed to love and cherish me treats me like trash?Was everything mother said a lie? Was it all made up? I'm almost certain everything she taught me was a lie. Oh my, I am so confused.I have seen mates together before and they actually adore each other, love each other and care for each other. Now I'm not so sure mother had lied.She did tell me to expect a rejection, but to refuse it and fight his dislike for me with love.The only problem is, this isn't dislike. It's complete hatred for my kind, for me. How do I fight this with love, if I am just a servant in the palace?
Sonaya's Pov"Naya..?" Omg he'd asked me something and I'd been too distracted by his looks to hear him." Uhm I'm sorry, I didn't hear what you said." I said with pleading eyes.He smiled, a little red tinging his cheeks, I asked if you'll like me to show you around before we leave, for work?"" Nope, nooo Asaf, I will do the honors for Naya. Then you can bore her all day if you like. Toodles." Ziva said dragging me away from the attractive man.He was most likely in his early twenty's, I'd say very early twenty's.He was tall and filled out his uniform nicely.He looked like if there was royalty amongst the servant he was one of them."Hey hey Nayaaaa." Ziva called, forcing my attention back to her.Ziva sighed out a little bit irritated by my . .“I'm sorry Ziva." I quickly apologized"No need, he has that effect on a lot of the girls here.I don't have the time to do the entire tour with you this morni
Sonaya's Pov..."Since you're such a dirty, dirty wh*re, It's imperative that you take a good long bath, more like a soak really.If you get my drift ... You know, to wash all your sins and dirty acts away."" I-I don't un-uh -uhm- unnderstand wh-what you- you meann." I stuttered "She speaks and even interrupts you Mel." The blondie on the left said, feigning surprise, while shifting from one foot to the other excitedly, like she couldn't wait to get started.The other Blondie tsked loudly while shaking her head furiously in disapproval."You need to learn your place, slut." She said coldly.This isn't good, nothing about this will be good for me.I shivered slightly.The crowd who'd been watching the exchange, some excitedly, while others judging me for my acts, looked on disapprovingly.They were not all servants, some were just people passers by, others were most likely attracted by the commotion.I sighe
Chapter 22: Sonaya's Pov...I screamed in excitement, and swam around the entire size of the pond.I examined all the plants, even put some in my hair. The water Lilies and the lotus were my favorites here, even though there were others that kept the peace beneath the ice-covered pond and made sure the bottom had a beautiful green and deep brown covering.But I couldn't stay, I had to get back to the real world.Even though this is my world.But reality meant facing what they had tried to do to me.Grandmother's wise words flashed through me, just as my anger swelled, taking over my joy and elation. "Do you know why Lockhart queens are almost always mated to the kings of Lygion?" Mama had asked me one day."Because the moon goddess made it so." I responded.“Technically you're right.But then it only makes sense for the most powerful women to be mated to the most powerful men.After the miserable
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