Zaya's pov ...Yesterday I had been feeling sick and out of sorts. Something in my wrists was killing me.At first I'd thought I had sprained it.But by the time I went to bed early from the pain, I noticed that the inside of my left wrist was swollen and discolored.It had an unusual purple hue to it.It made me feel weak and brought on a heavy pounding headache.Xena, my hybrid Lycan was almost cut off from me, our bond was so weak from whatever it was that was going on with my wrist.I went to bed hoping the next day would be better and my wrist would have healed.It did cross my mind that I might have been poisoned, but to be honest I didn't know what to think.I have no experience with poison, I have never even seen anyone that had been poisoned before. So I tried to ignore the pain and get some sleep.But a few hours later, I woke up in the middle of the night covered in sweat.The swelling was gone, but the pain was still there. I stared at the inside of my wrist, at
Zaya's pov ... I can't believe the morning I'm having. No one is blind, the royal beta is a freaking hot catch. He is the stuff of female fantasies. Even though he's had a reputation as being a hard ass and too serious for anyone's liking. Women love to flirt with the tall, dark, powerful and handsome brooding type. He is all that and more, yet I can believe he is all mine. Hot tingles shot through my arm as he pulled me with him into the palace. It made my scalp itch and my body was drawn taunt in excitement. My face must be blotchy red by now from all my blushing. People were openly gawking at me. He growled out a low warning and everyone scurried looking for things to do, trying to appear busy and not openly staring at the beta's newly found mate. We went up three flight of stairs, and took some turns. But I knew exactly where we were headed to. It was his quarters. It would at least give us the privacy we both crave. Xena was crazy about Lava already. He must be a sm
Nathan's pov ...I know I’d had to wait a bit longer to find my mate. But as I stared into her striking blue eyes, I swear the wait was worth it.I was the oldest of my cousins. Stefan is the youngest, although people will never guess with him being king and all that comes with that.I kept her talking as we did a crash course on getting to know each other.My eyes had difficulty straying from her heart shaped pink plum lips.I'd tasted it once already and I wanted to taste and taste them a million times more. She is the perfect beta female.She might have been a servant, but she was strong, I could sense a little of her power, although she won't get the aura until I mark her.As we talked, I asked her about Naya and she said they very close, best friends. I believe those were her words exactly.This isn't the first time I'd seen her, and I wondered why we never felt the mate bond. Truth be told, it kind of bothered me.She had been working in and around the palace for just
Ethos pov .. (Brie's father)The king just became my most favorite person of all time, for giving me the authority to interrogate his other mate.To be honest, I wondered what my family, bloodline or ancestors must have done right or done to make the moon goddess favor us so.First, it was my daughter snagging the attention of the king.Then now being given permission to deal with the main threat to her rise to power.To her quest of being queen.I rushed out of the king's office, barely successfully concealing my over the top excitement. I couldn't believe my freaking luck, I wouldn't miss this opportunity to put the fear of the goddess into her and make sure she gives the king and his queen to be a wide berth.The girl's sudden appearance has almost derailed my daughter's plans.And I have been looking for a reason to hash out my grievance and the king has given it to me on a silver platter.This girl, this so called fated mate of the king, she has no right to show up here, a
Naya's pov ...I stared in shock that quickly turned to amazement as Raya found her mate.It was the King's Beta.I was excited for her, yet fearful.I prayed quickly that he doesn't reject her or worse treat her the way my mate has been treating me.I feared for her because she knew almost nothing of the life I was living.It would be a rude introduction for her mate to be exactly like the king.After all they are most likely cut from the same cloth.They are cousins and betas, it doesn't get tighter than that.He looks like he is perfect for her.But the way his face lacked the expected excitement one should expect from a mate, scared the shit out of me.Goddess please, let him cherish her.I pondered on whether or not I should mindlink her to tell her to wait and not reveal herself to him yet.I mean he’s his cousin, and the king is fighting the mate bond between us, because I am a taboo. A Lockhart that shouldn't be alive.He has taken a chosen mate and completely ign
Naya's pov ...I haven't seen this side of the dungeons.It looked completely different, cleaner than usual.This part has a medical area, maybe it's a medical lab I don't know, I'm not so sure.But this area looked like it was reserved for vip offenders only.I walked with Roxanne till the warriors stopped.We caught up with then and they pointed in one direction, which was to my left.The rugged looking one pointed to Roxanne and indicted with his head that she should follow him.The other two indicated that I follow them and I did.They stopped again and indicated that I go in another direction with one of the warriors, who indicated that I follow him.He pointed to an open cell and said.“Take a look, assess and tell me the supplies you'll be needing."I nodded at him and went into the cell.I turned to look back at him.He seemed like he was relaxed, but he was not.His body language said he was on high alert.He was slightly slouched against the frame of the cell do
Naya's pov ....They came back in to the cell some minutes later and this time they injected me.I watched them weakly as they injected a light almost clear pinkish substance into me.I didn't even feel the prick of the needle.The sick psycho smiled coldly at me, patted my cheeks and then nodded his head satisfied with himself.what kind of perverts will do this to another person, without reason.why the heck would I be subjected to something like this.I don't even have an idea what I have done now, besides being a Lockhart.I wondered if this is the king's doing, but I quickly jettisoned the idea.We might have our differences but since I have made sure to mind my business and stay out of trouble, especially away from his precious chosen mate. He doesn't have any reason to do this.So it's not him, besides we did make some progress in the forest.With so much effort and time, I turned on my side. Sweat and tears mixed together on my face from the effort.I think the sub
Naya's pov ....I would have been bothered before, but when I got a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I gasped in horror and quickly put on my clothes. No one should see the sorry state I was in.My hair was a total write off.My body and face were riddled with scratch marks and injuries from all the scratching I did.My goddess, for how long did I hurt myself.My eyes were tired as well, but they still stung with unshed tears.I was worse than a sight for sore eyes. I was led back to the wide open hall just after where I was hosed down.The powerful person from some minutes ago was there. He seemed to have been waiting for us.His eyes fell on me and I visibly flinched.His eyes were filled with hatred, his hate was so strong I worried about breathing the wrong way in his presence.This man is a testament to the reality that I haven't seen true hatred before today.I mean it came off his skin in waves.It was so strong, too strong I didn't want to be here. I didn't want t
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