Stefan's pov ... "Your majesty, her grace, your soon to be chosen mate has requested an audience. My assistant announced in a low voice. I had informed him that I do not wished to be disturbed until I was done with all my meetings for the day. It was late afternoon, almost evening and I was just wrapping up my last meeting when he made the announcement. He seemed slightly fidgety and I know Brie, she can be as saucy as ever and beat one down to nothing with empty threats when she doesn't get her way. Usually he can handle her, but I have been in a meeting all day since the crack of dawn and if she had waited to see me since dawn then it must have gotten really ugly. Nathan was supposed to be in these meetings with me, but he found his mate just as we were wrapping up our first meeting. So I let him go be with his new mate. "Okay send her in." I said in response as everyone left the spacious office. "My love, I have been trying to see you all day. It’s not fair to not let me s
Naya's pov ...When I came to I was in the palace clinic.My entire body still hurt, but the pain ripping through me wasn't as bad as before.I opened my eyes and saw a visibly worried Raya beside me."Heyyyy." She cooed and I smiled weakly at her."How are you feeling?" she asked.I tried to respond but my throat was croaked, she quickly got to her feet, grabbed a plastic bottle of water, unscrewed the cap, put in a straw and handed me the bottle. I sipped it gently until the bottle was empty."I'm feel better now." I said turning to look at her.My belly rumbled loudly and I was instantly mortified.I couldn't believe I was that hungry.I just regained consciousness, one would think that my stomach would wait a little longer before making its displeasure known.I blushed and Zaya laughed lightly.“Don't worry I'll get you some food asap.”She mindlinked someone and a few minutes later I was served some kind of delicious chicken sauce and rice."Thank you Zaya, the food
Naya's pov ...When I woke up, it was morning of the next day and I instantly tried to connect with my beast.The bond was there now, much stronger than it was yesterday, but I still couldn't feel her.I needed her so much right now.I searched and searched grasping at straws for most of the time.Finally, I gave up dejectedly.The only positive from my recent search was that I could still feel our connection.She was still there, but I needed to let her restore the connection when she was good and ready.I was planning to punch above my weight today, so I needed her to help me channel my powers properly.I wasn't strong enough on my own yet.‘These things take time and cannot be rushed.’ Mother used to say.Zaya brought me food almost two hours later, but I couldn't eat anything.I wasn't hungry.I was angry, I was fuming.I tried to hide it, and I thought I was doing pretty good job at that.Some minutes later, doctor came to check up on me. He said I was fine and goo
Naya's pov...I stared at him blankly, totally unimpressed with his show of power, bravado, and possessiveness.It's shocking to see this side of him actually. I held his gaze as he stared me down. He went too far this time around and I would not take this anymore.Rayna and I weren't helpless or hopeless, we can fight, we are just as powerful as he is, we refuse to bow or cower to him anymore.We are done giving him respect, he hasn't earned."Where do you think you're off to?Do you not know there is no place on this earth you can go to that I won't find you?Besides you should know better than to turn your back on me and run, you'll only make Lygion pursue you with vigor.You should practice using that brain of yours sometimes, it might turn out useful." He said moving ever so closely with every word he spoke.Suddenly he wasn't so far off anymore, and Rayna and I didn't like it one bit.I opened my mouth and growled at him.It was a warning for him to stay the fuck away f
Chapter 52:Naya's pov ...I screamed out my frustration in my head.He was so proud of his position, because of course I was tied to him.I couldn't go anywhere. I couldn't even reject him.His arrogance and ego was as big as the entire palace if not bigger.I tried again to get him to let me go.I pushed him hard, but he didn't let go.I hated the bond so much right now.It was too strong, it continued to curl tightly around us to whip its magic around us, sealing our fates so ruthlessly that there was no room to maneuver.I couldn't believe that this is what I had looked up to my whole life.I couldn't even call it a lie, because everyday I see how people Cherish their mates, I see love between mates.But everything involving me is a struggle.It's s absolutely unfair that I was chosen for this role without my consent."But the moon goddess doesn't need our consent to give us roles.Fate never conducts interviews for people's destiny.People are always chosen to do c
Stefan's pov ..."My king this woman is too dangerous for you, you shouldn't be left alone with her.Especially not in the state she's currently in, with ferocious anger, I shouldn't have to remind you how dangerous an angry siren witch is.Everything is multiplied by a hundred when it comes to the Lockhart's."Ethos adviced in mindlinkI gritted down on my teeth and nodded my head at him.I was furious with him, though and Lygion wants to rip his head off for hurting our mate.He would get no arguments from me over that but I also didn't want to handle him in front of his men.If I do that he'll lose all the respect he has.But I will definitely teach him a lesson.He had no right to go carte blanche on the woman who should be his queen.And just because I chose his daughter to be my mate doesn't give him the right to interfere or think and act in assumption on my behalf.I am just a mindlink away, there is no excuse, besides if his men attack my mate, she could seriously h
Brie's pov ...Being queen has been my dream since I was a child.My mom might have kick-started the entire thing, and my dad got on board later on. I hated it at first, not being allowed to play as much as I wanted to.Having restrictions on friends and being told I had to be perfect every time.Even in school, and I hated school, mostly because I hated reading.Crushing on Stefan began much later when I was fifteen,The man is so handsome even mated females are attracted to him.I know that part of the attraction stems from the power he wields.I can't believe how lucky I got, that he actually chose me. But I must confess it was all mostly my mom's doing.She is a freaking mastermind.She can tell what would happen months ahead and make adjustments, plans and preparations towards it."It's not rocket science." she always says.But as far as I'm concerned it is rocket science, plus the fact that she has so much time on her hands at home.Most women like my mother just stay
Brie's pov ....But even luck has its limits.So when the twins invited my brothers, their mates, and I on a sojourn to the borders a few days ago. I jumped at the opportunity to get closer to his family.They aren't that accepting of people and since I am not yet officially his mate.They aren't at the level I want them to be yet.Nathan his beta and cousin is a forgone issue, the man hates me.But the twins are warmer, more approachable and and a bit more welcoming.They were on a a mission for preliminary discussions and negotiations with the rogues on the other side of our borders.This is usually the sort of thing only Stefan would do, conjure up or agree to. He listens to Eli Ragnar way too much and I hate it.It's not like I have any sort of influence over him like my mother makes people think. But it's better to have a mirage than to let people know that I am treated just like an acquaintance.At least he needs me, for now.Although I do have some regrets now that I
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