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Chapter 51
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2024-10-29 19:42:56I waited by the hot spring for Silas to meet me. He seemed to take his time. Maybe Silas wouldn’t come. Perhaps he had a change of mind and didn’t want to be involved in this. I wouldn’t blame him. Xander could be scary when he puffed up like a big, bad wolf. And after everything that happened, I wouldn’t hold it against Silas to avoid Xander.
I shifted my weight from one leg to the other, mussing over the towel and second shirt I had brought. Since Silas was with me, I wouldn’t be going in the water naked. I would keep my shirt to cover most of my body if he needed to come in and grab me. I still had no idea what to expect from this, and all the things that could happen scared me.
I moved and sat on a rock that had moss all over it. The mist created by the spring was considerably less thick than the last time I had been here. The early spring air had been cold, but the summer nights were hot now, making the thick fog less dense.
Th
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The information that my mother gave me kept spinning in my head. Although it was not exactly what I had wanted to know, she touched on key points that I needed to hear. My heart squeezed, knowing I did not have the chance to say goodbye to her. It was like losing her all over again. It was less painful, but seeing my mother open a wound I had stopped picking at, hoping it would heal itself with time. I bit the inside of my cheeks, thinking about it. Xander snapped his fingers in front of my eyes and made me jump. I stumbled slightly, trying to match his walking speed, and lifted my gaze to see what was happening. Had he said something? “You’re not sleeping in the library again. You’re coming with me.” I sucked in a breath until my face became red. That was the part I had dreaded—us being alone. Silas had told Xander what I had planned, and every time Xander gave me a wounded look, it made my insides squirm. I had tried to excuse myself from both of them after
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 53
Although it was still very early in the morning, the rebellion leaders were already up and discussing things in the hall. I patted my clothes and made sure I was presentable before showing myself to them. When I did, their chatter ceased, and they stared at my approaching form. I was self-conscious of my actions in the past couple of days, and I didn’t want that to get the better of me.Silas was already there. He must have had the same amount of sleep as Xander and me, but he seemed chipper and showed no signs of fatigue. I wished the dark circles under my puffy eyes would vanish, and I was as refreshed and upbeat as him. He looked handsome in his loose cotton shirt, brown pants and work boots. I momentarily cringed at the thought that I had not seen myself in days and did not know what I looked like.“We spotted a group of people making their way to the castle. Xander has gone to greet them with a few other men.” I casually said as I pulled a chair
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 54
Xander POVPreparations were going according to plan, and rebels were slowly trickling in. The first to arrive were those closest to Perch. A few days later, the others that showed up came from Willow, Seagull’s Bay, and the surrounding areas. I expected more to appear from Mirra, White Birch and Spruce Cove in the coming days.I doubted that there were any from Osprey city. The rebellion wouldn’t have been bold enough to send some right under Osprey’s nose. The risk would have been too significant. Then again, Lord Junco had been bold. There could be some sent there that we didn’t know about. I gritted my teeth at that thought.What annoyed me the most was the rebellion leaders had not kept track of the cities where they had sent rebels and their approximate numbers. When we had dispatched the letters of summon, we sent riders all over the country to deliver them into the major cities. After that, we had to rely on mouth to ear and hope
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 55
My heart hammered in my chest. A hunter? Here? Why would a hunter risk getting caught so close to the rebels? My thoughts were flying everywhere inside my head, and I instinctively grabbed Xander’s arm and squeezed. In response, he snaked a hand to the side of my waist and pulled me closer to him, a deep furrow appearing on his gorgeous face. “Was he alone?” Gideon pressed Jordan. “He was. I sent patrols everywhere in the forest to see if anyone else was with him. We found nothing. He surrendered immediately and offered no resistance. His only demand was that he be taken to the princess. When we pressed for more answers, he said he would not speak to anyone else but her.” I felt Xander tense beside me, and his hand tightened around my waist. “We are a week away from our departure to White Birch. This could not have come at the worst time. Do you think he’s here to spy on us?” “I don’t know,” Jordan answered. “He was unarmed, and the sleeves of
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 56
I looked at the green-coloured liquid in the vial and inhaled sharply.“Are you ready?” Asked Count Robin.I bobbed my head and took the vial between my fingers, and chugged it down. The liquid tasted bitter, just as it had the first time Shrike made me drink it, but the tingling sensation on my tongue did not come as I had expected it to.“And?”I waited, licking my lips and forcing my throat to swallow all my bitter-tasting saliva down. I shook my head after a few minutes and narrowed my eyes at Kite. The hunter had been sitting patiently at the far end of his cell, quiet as a mouse.Gideon took another vial with the same concoction and drank it. He had wanted to see if the potion worked and if I had effectively been immune to it. I saw his face twist from the awful tasting stuff, and sure enough, moments after, he was lying on the stone ground, unable to move.Xander rubbed his hands together, and with Silas’
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We all sat close to the fires when Gemma and Pete recounted the horrible tale of their escape from Mirra. Lynn was the saddest of them all, having had her heartbroken by the man she thought loved her more than anything in this world.It pained me to see her like this, especially considering all the hardships she faced when she met me. I was happy that she was safe with her family.While Aunty Gem continued her story, I bumped Lynn’s shoulder against mine and quietly pointed in the forest's direction. She smiled weakly and got up, trudging slowly behind me. Once we were further from the blaze of the fires, I linked our arms together and strolled between the trees.“Are you mad at me?” I asked, letting the question settle between us.I didn’t know if Lynn would resent me for everything that happened. She was happy to see me, but I thought I also noticed a slight irritation. I didn’t want to rub her the wrong way. I had few clos
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 58
As soon as Roselin and Count Robin had produced and distributed the immunizing liquid against the incapacitating effects of the other, we quickly set for White Birch plain. All the shifters followed the moving party from the forest, while all the human rebels took the road with hundreds of wagons in tow. We needed to move the weapons, the armours, the food and water supplies.Only a handful of elderly rebels stayed in Perch. They would reroute any other rebels that arrived from farther districts. My heart broke when no wielders showed up, making me think that Otis and I were the only ones brave enough to show ourselves. I refused to believe we were the last two left.We had been on the road for over a week. It would take another day to reach the designated portion of the plain, where the rebellion intended to set up and prepare for the war. By my calculations, Junco had most likely arrived in Osprey City two or three days ago, which made me worry.I was atop my
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 59
I saw red and jumped off my horse.“Ida! Don’t do it. I know what you’re thinking!” Silas pleaded. His voice was frantic, and he followed suit, dismounting his horse to grab my arms and stop me.I shook my arm out of his insistent hold and jumped backward.“We waited too long. The plan won’t work. If Xander or any other Lycans have not returned, they were taken by Osprey’s men… or Osprey himself. Arm everyone, now! I’ll take Otis with me, and we’ll go straight to White Birch Castle. Keep moving in that direction and keep your eyes peeled. I have a feeling this fight will happen much sooner than expected.”‘Then I’m coming with you!”“Don’t be absurd.” I scoffed at Silas. “The rebellion needs you here. Who will lead them all once the battle starts? I can do it with Otis.”I tried to show him I was confident, but I only wanted to
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Rise of the cardinal Epilogue
Ida POV - Three years later I placed my quill down and looked at the manuscript I had finished. I had worked on it for three years. It had been an arduous task, especially since it recounted the story of my life—a life I had no memory of. I looked it over once more, and once I was satisfied, I closed the book and backed away into my chair. Xander had presented me with this blank book years ago. He had encouraged me to talk to everyone and gather all the stories they had to share of past moments we had lived together. Otis had been a tremendous help. He told me of my upbringing and of my parents. He had known me the longest and had emphasized that my parent’s legacy lived on through me. I was more than happy to write everything down on the blank pages of that book if it helped me understand where I belonged in this world. The first year had been challenging. Many individuals came to speak with me, and I didn't know who they were. They wanted me to become queen. They said it was my b
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 65 - End
Xander POV Trepidation and falling into the unknown had been things entirely foreign to me. In the past, I had always been the sort of person who calculated every possibility. It was partly because of my Lycan side, being logical, cautious and using those primal instincts. I never took chances without thinking of the outcomes. If I took a risk, at least I knew what could happen, and I would know how to react when faced with them. Ever since I joined my life with my fated mate eight months ago, I had become reckless and impulsive—my Lycan side as well. Everything I did, I did for her, so we would never be parted again, and I often found myself in situations where I didn’t know the ending. As I watched Ida floating above me, unmoving with her heart-wrenching, teary-eyed face, I knew in that instant that she was making a tough choice, and I had not been privy to her plan. I shouted her name and extended my hands, hoping that by some miracle, I would catch her an
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 64
Otis and Xander charged the guards that were looking out at the battle unfolding. They had not thought of being attacked from the back. They would have never suspected someone would have come through a different entrance than the ones at the base of the mountain. Xander was limited in what he could do, as he couldn’t fully transform into Lycan form, but he did his best with the situation and helped until I had regained a little of my strength. I had lost a lot of blood, and although I had healed myself, I still had slightly blurred vision and slurred movements. I thought I looked inebriated. The piercing sounds of clashing swords and dreadful screams resounded inside my ears. I placed a hand on a tree and worked hard to stay upright. I needed to get my head straight if I wanted to face Osprey, and trepidation spread over me like a cold shower. I squinted my eyes when I saw flashes of colour out on the battlefield. I momentarily wondered if I had imagined it,
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 63
Jordan used his nose to locate Xander, and once we heard a war horn echo faintly through the underground tunnels, the three of us froze.“It’s starting,” Otis whispered.The colours on my face drained, and I hurriedly grabbed Jordan’s arm.“Are you sure Xander is close?”“Positive. He’s down there somewhere.”“Good. We can take it from here. Find the Lycans and help the rebellion!”Jordan hesitated but accepted my orders. He walked away, then circled around and stared at me with nervous eyes.“What of Lynn? Where is she?”“She’s safe with the healers away from the battlefield.”Jordan nodded and doubled back, running into the darkness. Otis and I continued our way down the path until it forked, and not long after, there was a wooden door to our left. There weren’t any guards, but I could hear some discussing further away
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 62
Silas POVThe tension in the air was palpable. Everyone was on edge, and the slightest noise made all the rebels jump. We had a restless night of marching before taking a break, and I feared it would not sufficiently prepare us for the battle to come.When we stopped, the rebellion leaders and I discussed the plan, and I thought it good. We had everything ready, and everyone present knew the risks they were taking. None of them left in the night, and everyone was accounted for in the early morning before the sun rose.A rebel woman brought everyone something to drink to help perk us up, but I just stared at the beverage and couldn’t find the will to swallow the hot drink. I didn’t have the stomach for it. What made me even more anxious was that I hadn't heard from Ida yet. She had left us in the evening the day before, and I wondered if she fared well with her wielder friend. I knew she could take care of herself, but if what the shifter that a
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 61
The black mass of the western mountain appeared before Otis and me. It separated a narrow passage between Mirra and White Birch districts, leading to either the Spruce Cove or Willow regions. It wasn’t as tall as the other mountain ranges, but it was sizable nonetheless.I dropped lower above the tree line and climbed the mountainside by flight.“What are we looking for exactly?”Near the top of steep cliffs, there was a tunnel that led inside the secret passages of the mountain. From what I had gleaned from the forest earth, there were a few, but that one had seemed unoccupied and our best chance at getting in undetected.“A passage. We’re almost there, I think. It’s harder to spot in the dark.”“Please tell me you have a plan,” Otis grumbled as I took more speed.“I do, and I don’t. My plan was to get us here.”I thought I heard Otis mumble, but I ignored him. M
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 60
Xander POV The silver shackles that bound my wrists and ankles burned my skin. I winced and shifted my weight, wanting to prevent the bindings from touching too much skin. I slowly opened my eyes. There was no difference between having them close or open. Complete darkness surrounded me. Only the scar of Ida’s blue mark left a dim glow on my skin. But it wasn’t enough to see anything clearly. The clinking of another set of shackles resonated in the space, and I heard a grunting sound coming from another person. The other prisoner coughed and hissed as the silver stung them. “Who’s still alive?” I asked in a hushed tone. “It’s me… Jordan.” Good. Jordan was still here. He was the strongest out of the ten Lycans that accompanied me on this mission. “Can you recall what happened to us?” “Some, not much. We went inside the village. It was silent. Shifters attacked us, but they weren't shifters. I tore a leg from one of them, but it
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 59
I saw red and jumped off my horse.“Ida! Don’t do it. I know what you’re thinking!” Silas pleaded. His voice was frantic, and he followed suit, dismounting his horse to grab my arms and stop me.I shook my arm out of his insistent hold and jumped backward.“We waited too long. The plan won’t work. If Xander or any other Lycans have not returned, they were taken by Osprey’s men… or Osprey himself. Arm everyone, now! I’ll take Otis with me, and we’ll go straight to White Birch Castle. Keep moving in that direction and keep your eyes peeled. I have a feeling this fight will happen much sooner than expected.”‘Then I’m coming with you!”“Don’t be absurd.” I scoffed at Silas. “The rebellion needs you here. Who will lead them all once the battle starts? I can do it with Otis.”I tried to show him I was confident, but I only wanted to
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 58
As soon as Roselin and Count Robin had produced and distributed the immunizing liquid against the incapacitating effects of the other, we quickly set for White Birch plain. All the shifters followed the moving party from the forest, while all the human rebels took the road with hundreds of wagons in tow. We needed to move the weapons, the armours, the food and water supplies.Only a handful of elderly rebels stayed in Perch. They would reroute any other rebels that arrived from farther districts. My heart broke when no wielders showed up, making me think that Otis and I were the only ones brave enough to show ourselves. I refused to believe we were the last two left.We had been on the road for over a week. It would take another day to reach the designated portion of the plain, where the rebellion intended to set up and prepare for the war. By my calculations, Junco had most likely arrived in Osprey City two or three days ago, which made me worry.I was atop my
