Prince Shiloh. Emma kept tasting the name on her lips for reasons best known to her as Gira led her into the academy where lessons were specifically taught. When she heard the clashing of swords, she knew that they were close. She willfully left the funny thoughts of her mind and focused on her surroundings, on the gargoyles that she so much hated at one time in her life. Now, she found them to be an interesting work of act. The walls and the hallways bore a similar resemblance to the other walls of the academy where she had already been through. But she noticed that the classes were empty, the classes that she had passed. They were empty except for books and bags on the tables and walls. She saw the lockers behind, and noted that they operated similar combination as the ones she was used to. The only difference was the location. She preferred this method; it would stop the crowding in the hallways. Maybe that was the reason why it had been made this way. "Where's everyone?" She a
Adah. Emma took note of the name, took note of the voice of the female that seemed to be the only one on her side, just as she took note of the names of the professors. Quinn and Brooks. All that left now was to know which name belonged to the male with gray eyes or the one with black eyes; both who were still glaring at her in all incredulity. She also noticed that Gira, who had chosen to leave earlier, had now taken a stance a few feet away from her, to watch the show, and maybe give a report to Prince Shiloh. Why wasn't he the king? She wondered. She had called him King af first, because his aura had shown him to be that; a ruler of all. So, why wasn’t he one? Or was there someone else higher than him? His father? Emma shook her head. It didn’t seem so. Or was ‘Prince’ just the tag they had chosen for a ruler of the community? Did the word ‘King’ translate to a dictator in their dictionary? Emma forwent these mundane thoughts though, when the male with grey eyes, the most da
Emma froze in shock, seeing a cougar dash and stand in front of her, blocking the exit; stopping her from making an exit.The professor was a cougar? She watched Professor Brooks’ form which had morphed into that of a sleek cougar, and noted that its amber eyes were fixed on her with an unnerving intensity. Was he a natural cougar? Or was he a human that had been gifted a shifter’s abilities?Her heart raced as a wave of disbelief washed over her. This shouldn’t be real. Professors were respected academics, not creatures reserved for the forest. Emma's mind struggled to grasp the surreal scene before her, and the speed of the shift. It could only mean that the Professor was highly trained; that this might be his strongest ability—shifting. She could read his aura, and it was terrifying, never mind that her wolf was stronger.‘At least you acknowledge that.’Emma held back a scoff. Were there others like him? She wondered, when the cougar began to circle her, preparing for an attack
Freya and Lucille lounged in Freya's room, the remnants of their training session evident in their relaxed yet slightly weary postures. They huddled together, glancing at Freya's phone with hesitant expressions, silently debating whether to disobey their mother's order to call their sister Emma first.Lucille had been the one to see the message at first. Due to Derek’s comatose state and her role in it, she had been unable to sleep—she had kept turning and tossing on her own bed. And unable to take it anymore, and not wanting to disturb her mate whose sleep was to too necessity to be ignored, she had crept into Freya’s room, to sleep with her sister.Freya had awoken once Lucille’s foot had gone past the doorpost of the unlocked door. And though Freya was shocked to see Lucille in her room by that hour, she had welcomed the latter with open arms. They had cuddled themselves, about to return to sleep, when the phone had dinged. Freya hadn’t cared for it, wanting to return to sleep, bu
"What are you two doing? Who are you talking with?" Freya and Lucille swiftly swerved, balking when they saw their mother step into the room. The phone on Freya's hand dropped to the floor with a large thump, grabbing Sheila's attention. A frown masked Sheila's face as she guessed who her girls had been speaking to; their sister. It would explain the guilty countenance on their faces. She wanted to laugh at their similar comical expressions, but they had disobeyed her. She wouldn't take that. "You both called Emma? I remembered tasking everyone not to. Or you both thought you were exempted because she is your sister?" Lucille instantly retreated behind Freya, as if seeking protection from her mother. Freya kissed her teeth at her sister's sharp act of falling back in the face of their mother's anger, but didn't move or call the latter out. "We are sorry, mom." She said rather, startled when she realized that in all her years with Leonarya, she had never addressed the latter with
Esther awoke to a cacophony of distant sounds, muffled and indistinct. Her mind, emerging from the dense fog of unconsciousness, struggled to piece together the fragments of memory and sensation. The room around her was sterile, unfamiliar—a stark contrast to the dimly lit room she vaguely remembered before slipping into darkness.As her eyes fluttered open, she realized she was lying in a bed, surrounded by the soft hum of magic and the occasional shuffle of footsteps outside her room. Above her, through the thin veil of drowsiness, she could make out the muted sounds of celebration—voices raised in joy, distant cheers. Yet, comprehension eluded her; the jubilation seemed out of place, disconnected from her current reality. What was happening? Who had cocooned her in magic?Esther's thoughts were sluggish, as if encased in molasses. She tried to recall how she had ended up here, why the people above her was shouting, why she was below them. Images flickered in her mind like a stutter
“Esther, are you sure you are fit for this meeting?” Anthony asked Esther who was trudging behind him, supported by Freya and Maya. “You just woke up. You shouldn’t be stressing yourself already. You should be in bed.”His gaze flitted to Margo who was talking with Sheila. Margo gave no indication that she had heard him. Sheila, however, gave him a subtle look to leave the girl alone.Anthony wished he could. He never understood why Esther had that much hold on him. She wasn’t his mate. Yet, he couldn’t stop himself from always wanting to be near her. His wolf was just as confused as he was. When she had been attacked by Eva, when everyone had thought that she was the culprit, he hadn’t been among the many. He hadn’t been surprised either when Yodah had told the story of Eva’s possession. As much as Esther had betrayed them the first time, he hadn’t canceled her totally. As much as he had been hurt by her first betrayal, he had understood the reason for it.“Anthony, I am fine. I hav
“Derek, what are you doing here?!” Melvina screamed for the rest of the people in the room, who had the same thought in mind. She took it a step further, by standing up from the sofa, and hurrying toward her son, whose eyes kept opening and closing, out of weariness. He shouldn’t be awake. He shouldn't be here. Whatever magic that Lucille had knocked him out with, unintentionally, had shut down his organs. It was likened to when an ancient wanted to go to sleep underground; except that theirs was intentional, not abrupt like Derek’s. He was in a coma, and hadn’t been expected to be awake and conscious, in charge of his mind, for at least a month. And yet, here he was, lying on the couch with a notable smirk, despite the weariness that clouded his face. Melvina couldn’t believe it. “How….” She shut her mouth, and turned to look at the ancients, and Margo. ‘How is he awake?’ was outlined clearly in her eyes. Sadly, the group had no answer for her. However, Margo stood up and saunt