My voice gets stuck in my throat as I see the large serpent raise its head prepared to strike. Its fangs are the size of my arm, and a choked scream leaves my mouth as I stand there, frozen in fear. And then it strikes.I jump out of the water, my body moving on instinct, my wolf at the forefront of my mind. However, moving in water is different than moving on land. And I’m also extremely malnourished. Thus, my movements are slow, and I feel part of the fang graze my arm. I cry out in pain as the poison enters my blood scream.It’s like my insides are burning and twisting and I fall onto the ground.The serpent rears back, its body moving and twisting on the ground as it readies itself again. Terror at its massive size has me sick to the stomach. But a part of my brain size that its large size might slow down its movements.I might get a chance to escape.But first, I have to get out of the water. Despite the burning pain I am in, I manage to avoid a second strike, runni
I stare at him for a few seconds and then let out a breath I didn’t know I had been holding. “You should have just let me die.”Balin frowns, “Why?”“I’ve–” My breath catches. “I’ve got nothing left in this world, Balin. I’ve got no one left. Everyone I loved is dead. My brother, my mate, my child. What’s the point of living?”He studies me and then responds, “I am aware that wolf shifters live in packs, that your kind heavily depends on your bonds with each other. But we all come into this world with some purpose. You mentioned that your mate and your brother died protecting you. That was their purpose in this world. To die so you could live. You think it did not occur to them that you would grieve for them or that your continuing life wouldn’t be easy?”I go still at his words.“It was a selfish decision.”“No,” Balin’s voice is hard. “Your decision to stop living, your refusal to honor their sacrifice is a selfish decision.”His words make my blood boil and I burst out, “Th
My brows knit together as I say slowly, “Not much. Like I told you, my brother never really taught me any kind of history. We were too busy trying to survive as rogues.”Balin exchanges a look with his companions before murmuring, “It might be easier to show you.”“Show me?” I blink and then he’s reaching out and his finger enters the flames, and they rise higher than before, making me scramble back in shock and fear.“Watch,” he advises in a grim voice. And I do.I see figures in the fire. “A time ago, a long time ago, there were three worlds. One for humans, one for the Others, and one for the demons. Demonkind was never satisfied with what they had. The Others were prideful individuals. And humans? Humans were still discovering themselves. They were little more than animals at that point.”I see three floors in the fire with beats with horns on the top level and strange shaped creatures in the middle and then ape like things on the bottom.And then suddenly, out of nowhere
The next few days are more hectic than our previous routine.The elves are more alert and more protective, surrounding me when we travel.They don’t let me leave to take a bath by myself. It is always Balin who accompanies me when I wash myself in the nearby stream or river. The more time I spend with the three of them is beginning to give me an insight into their personalities. Idril is more abrupt and short tempered. Aldon is calmer but more wary. Balin is the more levelheaded of the three and has a calm temperament which makes him the most dangerous of the three. He’s also the oldest of them all, by his own admission. Despite me knowing that once they discover that I am not the Righ, they will most probably kill me, I can’t help but get along with Balin.I find myself drawn to him.It’s been days of travelling with them, but Balin always manages to catch my eye. There is a sense of security about him, a security that I lack in my life right now. That’s the excuse I use to
I wake up with a scream on my lips only to find myself restrained by Aldon and Idril, their eyes wide with anger and shock.“Balin?” They look towards their leader who is staring at me, an unidentifiable emotion in his eyes. “Step back,” he says calmly.And it’s when they release me that I feel the searing burn in my arm, the same place where the serpent had broken my skin.Balin’s hand goes to my arm and my back arches in pain at the white-hot heat I feel flow through my arm into my whole body. He restrains me and Aldon holds out a piece of cloth to my mouth, advising, “Bite on this.”I do and I’m glad I do so because the scream that leaves my mouth is piercing.Balin is pale as he sends more and more healing energy into it, and I can’t even think past the pain. At some point, I pass out, unable to handle anymore.*When I come to, I am laying on the ground, my body heavy and aching. My eyes barely open and I groan.“She’s awake,” Idril’s voice comes and then he is h
Balin looks shocked at my actions, but my chest is hurting at his cruel words.“That was low,” I stare at him, my voice harsh. “That was below the belt for someone who I was beginning to admire as a person.”I see sharp regret in his eyes, and he steps forward, “Isa-”“I’m glad,” I murmur, my eyes hollow. “I’m glad you showed me this part of you, now. You are the most despicable person I’ve ever met. Knowing - Having gone through losing your own loved ones, you would throw my loss in my face? You think it’s easy for me to find myself attracted to someone? Even if it’s just my body’s reaction? Wolves are physical by nature. I have been holding myself back, repressing myself. If anybody is to judge me for my thoughts, it is only ever going to be me. Not you. Never you.”Balin’s face is pale, and I turn around, “I’m going to go for a walk. I’ll be fine since there are so many people here. You should rest.”It’s difficult to control myself as I walk away, to keep my tears at bay, to p
“Who was that?!” Balin demands as Aldon and Idril take off after Damion.“I – No one!” I feel alarmed. “He was just talking to me.”Balin grabs my upper arm in an excruciatingly tight hold, giving me a violent shake, “Tell me the truth!”“I am!” I wrench my arm back, feeling both angry and just a little terrified of him. “Why would I lie about something like that?!”The look in his eyes makes my blood go cold and my voice is steadier now, “I just met him. I gave him my food because he looked hungry. That is it.”Perhaps it’s my cool tone which makes him relax.He lets go of me and I let out a breath of relief. I don’t know what’s his problem, but I take a step back from him.His eyes narrow, “What was his name?”I open my mouth to tell him, but something stops me. Maybe it’s irritation at how he’s treated me this whole day. “I don’t know,” I lie. He looks suspicious but finally says, “You’re not to leave the room without one of us.”The way he phrases that, as if it’s a co
“What?” I stare at her before looking at my own palm and then glaring at her. “It doesn’t say anything like that here!”The witch studies me, “There is love written in your fate. Love and destruction. The choice you make will carve the path of the worlds.”I shiver, “You know you don’t have to sound so ominous. And there is no love written in my life. My mate is dead. You’re just full of shit.”I try to get up, but she yanks me back down by my hand, looking down at it and frowning, “I see no past mate in your life. I see love lines. You loved two individuals. A different for each. And they left you in blood.”My jaw tightens, “Let’s just stop.”But she doesn’t listen to me, her grip ironclad as she keeps staring at my palm, “You will have your heart broken still but there is only one who is truly yours. Your souls are aligned.”Her voice turns quiet, thoughtful, “They have been aligned for so long. Your soul-” She looks up at me baffled, “Your soul is so old.”I snatch my hand b
DAMIENYears pass slowly when eternity is no longer in sight.Standing on the edge of the balcony of the bedroom I’ve shared with Isabel for five hundred years, I watch the lush lands in the distance. The demon realm has never prospered like this before. I’ve 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.I’ve had children before. I’ve 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.“Junip
I clutch on to Damien’s still body as I see Balin’s body dissolve into nothing within seconds. There is hush across the battlefield as everyone stares in shock at what has just taken place.‘Justice.’The words echoes in everyone’s 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 Damien’s 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, ‘What do you wish from us?’My 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.“The elves are gone,” I say with great di
My heart is filled with a broken pain that I can’t breathe past.They showed up. But they showed up too late.I’ve lost everything.Damien isn’t 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 can’t feel our mating bond!Oh, God! I can’t feel him anymore!The wail that rips from my throat at the realization that he’s left me all alone is a terrifying sound. The earth begins to shake as my grief grows out of control. These powers, these abilities, they’re 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!‘Child.’The voice echoes in my head again and this time I look at those beings, my face ravaged with the tears of a broken woman.‘You cannot destroy these realms.’“I cannot?” I snarl, “Just who do you think you are to tell me what I can or cannot do?!”The more upset I am, th
Mara’s 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. It’s 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 they’re ants. My speed is faster, although not to the level of that of Damien’s.I can feel some of my abilities leaking through but I’ve still not been able to access my abilities. I’m 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 can’t do anything.Damien, though.Damien is stronger than I have ever seen. He’s 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. He’s wearing a suit of dark armor and I feel tense, “The Rubab Stone-”“I’ll have to be more careful,” his voice is calm. “Last time I wasn’t as aware. This time I know I am not invincible.”“Damien,” my heart is twisting in my chest. “I-”He cups my cheek, his voice gentle, “I’ll be fine, little wolf. Just don’t leave your guards.”I know he would have preferred to stash me somewhere but it’s clear that he wants me close by. After so many traitors popping up after the first battle, it only makes sense.“Don’t let anybody catch you off guard,” he thrusts a sword into my hand. “Trust your instinct when you fight. They’re going to try and separate us. Let’s make sure that, that doesn’t happen.”I give him a small smile, feeling a sliver of hope on seeing his confidence.“Okay.”I get on my toes and press a sweet kiss to his mouth.We don’t get more time togethe
“What is it?” “Something has happened in the demon realm,” he says, grimly, before looking down at my hand.I shake my head, “The pain is gone.”“Good, let’s go.”“Thank you,” 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 it’s always a good idea to be graceful.She waves us off and I’m in Damien’s arms as he runs out of the cave, past the trees, towards the temple.“The portal-”“Caleb will open it when I give the signal,” he’s 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, “Wait! What is that?!”The sky is orange.“How long were we inside?” I mutter. “Is the sun rising?”“No,” Damien says after a long moment. “It’s fire. The town has been set on fire.”“We have to help-”But Damien holds me back, “Look.”For a moment, I don’t understand what he is saying. And then I see the arrows shooting within the
“There has to be something someone can do,” I ask, forcing my voice to stay calm, despite the roiling fear inside of me.The witch’s voice is kind now, “I’m afraid not. You’re not the first who has tried to seek a way to undo the curse.”It’s 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, “There 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.”I 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. “The downfall of the elves. From the hands of the weakest of the Righs. And right now,” the witch looks at me, “no offence, but you are the weakest Righ there is.”I’m being hit by so many curveballs that getting my feelings hurt is at the bottom of the list right now.“It’s funny that you think I’m going to bring about the downfall of the elves when I can’t even protect myself or use my abilities.”My voice is tight with barely restrained anger.“The stars have aligned and the stars have never lied before,” the witch says, easily. “The time is drawing nearer for the final battle.”I don
I feel my knees turn weak, “What?”“But you created the seal!” Damien snaps. “You should be able to break it!”“Logically, yes,” the witch says, calmly. “But this seal is special. It draws its power through sacrifice of fate. Those spells are impossible to break.”A shutter falls over Damien’s face, “What have you done?”I look between the two feeling like I’m in the dark, “What does she mean? What do you mean by a sacrifice of fate?”The witch studies me and for the first time, I see a glimmer of sympathy in her eyes for me, “I don’t think you want to know the answer to that.”I push past Damien, “I do. What do you mean a sacrifice of fate?! Whose fate?!”She looks at Damien before meeting my gaze, “The 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