Lou and Dayla are surprisingly friendly and despite their grim words, I do feel comfortable with them.They help me sneak into the kitchen which looks so professional and modern that Iâm left gaping like an idiot. But the smell of fresh food being cooked makes my stomach rumble.âLou,â Dayla glances at the woman next to me and Loud nods before heading towards a long counter which is covered in bread and what not. Iâm standing there like a fool when Dayla grabs my head and hisses, âDuck!âI fall to the ground and she pulls us both under the cloth of one the tables.âWho are we hiding from?ââNo-ââMe,â comes a booming voice as the cloth is pushed up.I find myself staring into a monstrous looking face. Whatever scream built up in my throat is swallowed in fear.âAh, shit,â Dayla is too relaxed. âI should have known you werenât on your break, Marty.âMarty?This is Marty?! The chef?!Marty grabs us both by the arms and yanks us out from under the table, âStop stealing food, yo
When I wake up, my head is clear after a long time.I stare at the ceiling, oddly alert. The room is cool and Iâm warm and comfortable and just content.I allow the feeling to sink into me and I close my eyes basking in it. However, my bladder is feeling uncomfortable and I sigh, pushing the blanket off of me.Thatâs when I realize that there is something heavier on my waist, holding me hostage.My head turns to the side and I see a familiar face next to mine.Damienâs features are relaxed in his sleep and he looks almost innocent. His arm is wrapped around my waist from under the blanket in what is a possessive hold. One leg is thrust between mine in a gesture which is far too intimate.My heart skips a beat at our position.I want to move but I simply canât move an inch. Whatâs worse is how comfortable this position is.My mouth is dry as I slowly begin to untangle myself, limb by limb, my bladder burning. When I finally manage to escape, I rush to the bathroom. Iâve al
For a moment, I just stare.âIs this a dream?âDamienâs chuckle jerks me back to reality, âNo. This is your brotherâs home, your home.âI stumble forward, âThe lights and the fireplace-ââI turned them on.âMy hands are shaking as I look at Benâs sweater laying sprawled on the couch in front of the television. I touch it, tears spilling down my cheeks. I remember him doing this. âHe was always too lazy to fold his sweater,â I laugh, tearily, and my words dissolve into a broken sob.Damien touches my shoulder, âIf this is too much for you, we can return.ââNo,â I quickly shake my head. âNo. I want to stay. I want to see.âMy heart is so full right now, and so very sad, as I touch pieces of furniture, small things, irrelevant things, that have been part of my life for so long.The house has been untouched which is surprising since itâs been months since everything went down. âWhereâs your room?â Damien suddenly asks.âWhy?â I give him a suspicious look.He gives me an inno
My hands are trembling as I stare at the words.ââŠthey called you the Righ.ââWhat is this?â I mutter, shaken.âSeline?âMy head whips up as I see Damien walk into the study.âThis is where you were. Whatâs that?âI wet my lips, âAh. Itâs a letter from my brother. It was addressed to me.âI look at him, âDamien, my brother knew what I was.âDamien doesnât react to the news, âItâs not surprising. When a Righ dies, the other is born with her last breath. Within the last few â Righs were lately kept protected by witches. Parents would give them up and witches would raise them and keep them side from enemies, unless of course they brough them to the demon world.âI donât know which part to address first.âWitches can identify a Righ?ââYes. Witches are part of nature as are Elves. They are natural caretakers of the Righs. Itâs always been that way since the War.ââBut if they brought them to the demon world, isnât that unsafe?âDamien looks amused, âLike I said, youâve only he
I stumble forward, gasping, the fear making my heart thud against my ribcage.And thatâs when I realize that seeing Balin made me feel gut wrenching fear. I feel myself sinking to the floor, numbly.âIsabel?âMy head is a whirlwind of emotions that Iâm trying to sort out. The most prominent thought is the sudden fear I experienced when I saw Balin and as I try to focus on that and understand what just happened, it feels like something has snapped inside of me and a rush of emotion throws me off.âHe shot me,â I mumble my eyes on my hands as I try to focus on this string of thought. âHe shot me with wolfsbane, knowing I would die. He brought arrows covered in wolfsbane to that mating ceremony. Why would he do that unless he planned to kill me?âI feel a presence next to me and I look up to see Damien sitting on his haunches beside me, âYou should lay down.ââNo, I shouldnât,â I mutter, looking at his amber gaze. âThat bastard tried to kill me over and over again. He burnt down my
âUnfortunately,â Fera mutters and I can tell she really means it.âSo he blamed you?â I ask, slowly.âFor years,â Fera said, the hurt in her voice a hard ball of pain. âHe stripped me of all my status in the castle, punishing me in small ways till all I had left was my lab. Mara got what she wanted, me out of her way.âI study her face, feeling a hint of anger, âHow could he believe Mara over you? Youâre his family!âFeraâs smile is filled with an old bitter anger, âShe was quite convincing. And at that point, she was young in demon years. And she flitted about Damien like a butterfly. I used to be the Chancellor at the time and Damien gave that position to her. Thatâs why I was determined to protect you this time.âI open my mouth and then snap it shut to gather my thoughts, before speaking, âBut you and Damien are fine now.âFera shrugs, âI had no choice but to bow down in front of him. He stripped me of everything and put me in my place. I never stepped out of that line again.
If my life wasnât shitty enough, now I find out I may be a defective Righ?âOh, crap,â I lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. âThis is perfect. Just what I needed.âFera is long gone while I sit here, feeling guilty for something that isnât even my fault.I let out a long breath. There is anger within me as well and I let it fester for a few minutes. Again, Balin took something precious from me. The last remnants of my brother, of my childhood, of my parents.Those letters had held the key to my past, the truth about who I was and why my brother and James lied to me. He mentioned that he had seen someone in our town looking for me and he had been terrified for my safety.Who?It couldnât have been the rogues who killed my entire pack. They didnât know what I was.I turn on my side and look out the window.Damien isnât back yet from wherever he went to sulk. There are things I could have found out about myself. It feels like I have been stripped of my own identity
âWell,â Fera takes a step back from me. âThe effects of the moonshine are still there but good news is that theyâre weakening.âItâs two days after I stumbled on to that room with the portraits of the Righs. Damien has been in a quiet mood ever since, almost pensive. He didnât get angry with me for going into what was clearly a private room. âI thought that wasnât possible because âââYour false memories are folding under the pressure of current events.âHowever, Fera doesnât look too pleased.âWhat?â I ask her, warily.âThis pace is not normal,â she finally replies, her voice tense. âIf you keep trying to force yourself to remember and try to sort through whatâs true and whatâs not, itâs going to affect your brain. So many nose bleeds back to back arenât good for you.ââI-ââI know youâre frustrated, Isabel,â Fera sighed. âI would be going mad if I was in your shoes as well but you have to let nature takes its course. Your memories are going to return gradually and you have
DAMIENYears pass slowly when eternity is no longer in sight.Standing on the edge of the balcony of the bedroom Iâve shared with Isabel for five hundred years, I watch the lush lands in the distance. The demon realm has never prospered like this before. Iâve never been this content before.In the distance, I hear laughter and I look over to see two of my older sons carrying their sisters in their arms while my other daughter run after them, Cerebus trailing after them.Iâve had children before. Iâve watched them pass on. I still watch over their families. But this is different. This is more precious. Isabel has given me so many children and for once, I will not have to watch them die before me. Twenty strong children, half of whom are now leading their own lives, coming back to visit us. I have never once regretted sharing my life span. Now I get to enjoy my beautiful mate for centuries to come before we move on from this world. Speaking of my mate, I hear her voice.âJunip
I clutch on to Damienâs still body as I see Balinâs body dissolve into nothing within seconds. There is hush across the battlefield as everyone stares in shock at what has just taken place.âJustice.âThe words echoes in everyoneâs ears and then I see the realization hit the elves about what is coming to them. The begin to flee.But only if it was that easy.One by one, they fall, their deaths painful and horrific sights.The battle which had come to a halt because of Damienâs sacrifice has now been ended by the interference of the Gods. There is no guilt within me.There is just dark and vicious satisfaction.Let them burn. Let them feel what it is like.The whole thing is over within a couple of minutes and the silence stretches across the field.Finally, the Gods face me, âWhat do you wish from us?âMy eyes flicker towards Damien and when I look up, the field is gone. Both me and Damien are in this white space that has no end.âThe elves are gone,â I say with great di
My heart is filled with a broken pain that I canât breathe past.They showed up. But they showed up too late.Iâve lost everything.Damien isnât breathing. I pull out the spears one by one, ignoring the presence of the beings, tears falling down my face, my chest so tight with pain that I think it will burst. I canât feel our mating bond!Oh, God! I canât feel him anymore!The wail that rips from my throat at the realization that heâs left me all alone is a terrifying sound. The earth begins to shake as my grief grows out of control. These powers, these abilities, theyâre useless to me!My heart is tearing out of my chest in my madness, the ground shaking.Let it all burn!Let them all die!âChild.âThe voice echoes in my head again and this time I look at those beings, my face ravaged with the tears of a broken woman.âYou cannot destroy these realms.ââI cannot?â I snarl, âJust who do you think you are to tell me what I can or cannot do?!âThe more upset I am, th
Maraâs anticlimactic death has me reeling. But now is not the time to worry about that. I shift into my wolf form, attacking the enemy with a ruthlessness. Itâs true what the witch said. My mating bond has increased my strength. I feel lighter on my feet as I wade through the elves like theyâre ants. My speed is faster, although not to the level of that of Damienâs.I can feel some of my abilities leaking through but Iâve still not been able to access my abilities. Iâm a little disappointed. I thought weakening the seal would have more of an impact but aside from this soft leakage of warm sensation, there is nothing else.I feel frustrated but I canât do anything.Damien, though.Damien is stronger than I have ever seen. Heâs cutting down the elves with speed, his focus sharp. His laughter is vicious and despite that, my heart flutters in my chest at how glorious he looks. I look at him and that is my mistake.You never allow yourself to get distracted on the battlefield.A
The troops are already waiting in their battle positions when we arrive.Damien brings me with him to the battlefield. Heâs wearing a suit of dark armor and I feel tense, âThe Rubab Stone-ââIâll have to be more careful,â his voice is calm. âLast time I wasnât as aware. This time I know I am not invincible.ââDamien,â my heart is twisting in my chest. âI-âHe cups my cheek, his voice gentle, âIâll be fine, little wolf. Just donât leave your guards.âI know he would have preferred to stash me somewhere but itâs clear that he wants me close by. After so many traitors popping up after the first battle, it only makes sense.âDonât let anybody catch you off guard,â he thrusts a sword into my hand. âTrust your instinct when you fight. Theyâre going to try and separate us. Letâs make sure that, that doesnât happen.âI give him a small smile, feeling a sliver of hope on seeing his confidence.âOkay.âI get on my toes and press a sweet kiss to his mouth.We donât get more time togethe
âWhat is it?â âSomething has happened in the demon realm,â he says, grimly, before looking down at my hand.I shake my head, âThe pain is gone.ââGood, letâs go.ââThank you,â I give the witch a weak smile, not knowing whether to actually be grateful or blame her for the wrong that has happened in my life. But itâs always a good idea to be graceful.She waves us off and Iâm in Damienâs arms as he runs out of the cave, past the trees, towards the temple.âThe portal-ââCaleb will open it when I give the signal,â heâs not even out of breath as he rushes down the temple where the shrine gates are.As we move towards the town, I grab his shoulder, âWait! What is that?!âThe sky is orange.âHow long were we inside?â I mutter. âIs the sun rising?ââNo,â Damien says after a long moment. âItâs fire. The town has been set on fire.ââWe have to help-âBut Damien holds me back, âLook.âFor a moment, I donât understand what he is saying. And then I see the arrows shooting within the
âThere has to be something someone can do,â I ask, forcing my voice to stay calm, despite the roiling fear inside of me.The witchâs voice is kind now, âIâm afraid not. Youâre not the first who has tried to seek a way to undo the curse.âItâs hard to keep my tears at bay. The tears are not of sadness but rather of the crippling fear of the unknown future that awaits me. At this point, I am already aware of the nature of the painful deaths a majority of the Righs faced. It was just physical pain they had to go through, that would have been fine. Horrifying as it may be, one can tolerate that to an extent. But seeing your loved ones be tortured? The mental anguish is not something I will be able to take any longer. My suffering may be different from that of the previous Righs. It may not even compare. But for me, it is enough. I am reaching my breaking point. There are so many people in my life that I now care about, so many people who can be used against me. It frightens me to th
The witch studies me, âThere have been numerous prophecies recorded about the Righs over time but there was one that was recorded by a Righ who was born to a Seer and a witch. You can call it a curse or a prophecy.âI instantly remember what I saw. The memory of the battlefield. The woman who was held down, screaming.My blood turns to ice as I recall that memory. It still gives me nightmares. âThe downfall of the elves. From the hands of the weakest of the Righs. And right now,â the witch looks at me, âno offence, but you are the weakest Righ there is.âIâm being hit by so many curveballs that getting my feelings hurt is at the bottom of the list right now.âItâs funny that you think Iâm going to bring about the downfall of the elves when I canât even protect myself or use my abilities.âMy voice is tight with barely restrained anger.âThe stars have aligned and the stars have never lied before,â the witch says, easily. âThe time is drawing nearer for the final battle.âI don
I feel my knees turn weak, âWhat?ââBut you created the seal!â Damien snaps. âYou should be able to break it!ââLogically, yes,â the witch says, calmly. âBut this seal is special. It draws its power through sacrifice of fate. Those spells are impossible to break.âA shutter falls over Damienâs face, âWhat have you done?âI look between the two feeling like Iâm in the dark, âWhat does she mean? What do you mean by a sacrifice of fate?âThe witch studies me and for the first time, I see a glimmer of sympathy in her eyes for me, âI donât think you want to know the answer to that.âI push past Damien, âI do. What do you mean a sacrifice of fate?! Whose fate?!âShe looks at Damien before meeting my gaze, âThe Righ is a powerful entity. You think it was easy for even somebody like me to be able to contain your powers? No. If I had used a normal spell, as strong as I might have tried to make it, it would have broken against your powers. I needed something stronger. Something that woul