"What did you say, Emma?" Freya choked out, her voice ladened with the same expression that buttered the faces of everyone present in Peter's living room; incredulity. Melvina, for one, held up her hands, and then brought it down consequently, as if tired of the mysteries and surprises surrounding Emma. Not even a contemplative look from Nathan, could change her thoughts. It was not that she was tired of Emma, it just seem that no matter what they did, the redhead usually courted trouble. 'If she is as powerful as her actions these past few days have proven, I am surprised that she hasn't been captured yet. This might just be the tip of the iceberg.' Melvina soughed, hearing her mate's words. She knew he was right. She wished for things to be simple. She have always wanted simple. Yet, the goddess had declined that very wish. 'You shouldn't be worrying about your wishes and the past, Melvina. You taught me that. And there's the fact that we had been the ones who had pursued her ou
The breaths of everyone in the room was held on standby, until Emma's voice crackled through the phone. "He is not a vampire. He is a mage. Like you, to some extent. But he is evil. Evil. I couldn't even get closer to his thoughts. They were too sinister. I just couldn't stay in the environment. One thing I can say is that he is very old, despite being in a youthful body." 'Ask her, how old.' Aiden communicated to Freya. "How old do you think he is…" A beat of silence. "More than a century. Perhaps two?" Freya looked at everyone in the room again, aware of the sharp increase in the beating of their hearts. A mage of more than a hundred years old, in a youthful body. The ancients kept exchanging glances. 'What is it?' Freya couldn't help but ask Aiden. 'Mages like that are very rare, not like the witches of this region. They are darker. Possessed by spirits some times. Those are the ones that can perform that sort of thing you had seen the shifter do. However, I don't know if t
Freya tapped her index finger on her lap slowly, her eyes taking in hurriedly, the expressions of everyone present. Her father was in a contemplative mood.Her mate and his twin were curious.The werewolves were lost. Well, she was lost too.Her eyes settled finally on her mother, who had a calm expression on her face, a sharp contrast to what it was before Emma had mentioned the training field. What was that about? Yes, training surely went on there—considering the term—but was that all? How had her mother known about the place? At what time did she go there? Why did she tell Emma to wait for her there? How had she known that Emma would get the message? Motherly instincts? “Freya…is everything okay?” Freya jerked, her tapping motion stopping as soon as she heard Emma’s worried voice. “I hope you can understand the reasons for my actions…” Freya immediately cut in. “I do. Don’t mind me. I was just caught up in thoughts. So, we can’t see you for now. That’s alright. But you want
Kane was surprised at his answer. From the gasp that escaped Dobah’s lips. He knew that his twin was surprised too. Kane hadn’t even known when he had said it. It had just been said in the spur of the moment. He never wants to lose Lucille, and he wasn’t even tempted to try the theory out—if Lucille would choose Emma over him. He had spent so much in thick darkness to even contemplate that.“Okay, I will take good care of her. You can count on me, like your father does.”Lucille laughed again, and Emma heard. It was time to go. “Thanks old man. I will hold you to your promise.”Kane sighed in relief, and re-adjusted himself on his seat, not moved when Dobah amused himself in their mind path, or when he caught Blenda and Nathan staring at him like he had grown horns.They didn’t understand. He thought. They didn’t spend centuries yearning for death, yearning for anything, apart from turning to the undead.“So, Freya, I have to go. I will talk to you later?” Emma’s voice crackled th
After Sheila was done narrating the first time she had come in contact with rare humans, Ava raised her hand in query. She had read in one of her special books—an avid reader like her grandfather—about humans being entrusted with gifts by the gods sometimes—especially in cases where the supernaturals fail to see reason, or fail to accomplish their purposes on this earth. “Yes, Ava. What is your question?” Sheila asked; confidence pruned with calmness was her epitome at the moment, the exact attributes that they have always known her for. “Rare human. The type you had met. What are they?” Sheila cocked her head to the side, contemplating the best way to explain this. “They are humans quite alright, but they were chosen randomly by the gods. The ones I know of are the Ingodils. I’m sure Annabel is part of the family, since the latter had mentioned them being overseers of the training field. They have an ancestry dedicated to keeping supernaturals away from harm, either from the hum
Melvina’s mouth dropped open in shock when Derek stepped into the living room, with a different look and swagger. His long hair which he always prided in has been cut. Derek was sporting a buzz cut. Melvina didn’t know if that was a good sign or a bad one. No one in the room made a sound, because everyone was shocked. His aura also seemed different. He looked different. Matured would be the best word for it. Melvina wondered what her son had been doing in his room, apart from cutting his beautiful hair, that is. She took in the sheen of sweat around his muscles which were evident in the jersey he was wearing, and knew that he had been exercising, the best he could in a confined space. She wasn’t sure what this new Derek entailed, but her instincts proclaimed it good. Melvina looked at her mate. He had the same expression with her, although she could see the flint of pride in them. Peter was pleased with whatever he was seeing. Kane was nodding. The ancient had been the one to push
When Kane still roamed in darkness, when he had not found Lucille, when he had no idea how he could keep fighting the beast craving for attention within him, he didn’t know anything about feelings, about the feeling of elation, happiness, jealousy or even pride. But just a few days with his mate, with Lucille, he seemed to have experienced a multitude of emotions, and because he hadn’t seen them before, they seemed to have been magnified. Like now the pride that threatened to overwhelm him could fill up this room, could be enough in doses for everyone here. It was that great. He felt on top of the world. What brought him down was Lucille’s amusement. ‘I hope your pride won't be a problem for me, old man.’ Kane huffed mentally. ‘You will call me that too?’ ‘What do you want me to call you? My Kane.’ The pride reared its ugly head again, causing Lucille to shake her head, and alert the others that she had been silent communication with her lifemate. “Kane, what is this, that the b
“So, he drank your blood?” Peter asked, incredulity ringing in his voice, already on his feet, his fiery gaze burning on a confused Kane. “Did you drink his too? Did you bite my son, ancient? Did you compel him?” He then looked at Derek, as if his son was not there, as if someone else had taken control of his son, as if he was a puppet to some vampire master. Lucille’s fear had come to pass. “Is he among you people now? Would he now feed on blood, instead of normal food like normal people…” “…careful, Alpha. This is a sensitive matter, and I suggest you tread carefully. Kane didn’t force your son to drink his blood. It had been his choice alone.” Nathan interrupted Peter’s charade gently, yet firmly. His eyes were strongly fixed on Peter who chose to ignore him, rather than answer him. “Yes, Dad…I made the choice myself. I wasn’t compelled or whatever…” “And how would you know if you were compelled or not…” ‘You better shut your mouth if you don’t want to break the alliance w
Emma’s eyes were as active as anything active as she watched the elders slowly walk into the hall reserved for judging cases, like Annabel’s. As she watched them, her feet kept dancing on the floor in a funny unsteady motion; she was unsteady. One, one. Then two, two. Then one two. Once, Amelia had looked at her, with a piqued eyebrow. ‘What is that?’ Her eyes seemed to ask, but Emma had given no answer. What is it? It should be what are they?! When they were hurrying over to the hall, after convincing the guards that they would be around for the trial too, her sister had whispered that the cabin, her parent’s cabin, had been burnt by the master, Slediv. It had brought Emma up short, making her stagger on her feet for two reasons. That Slediv had really traced them, even without her then, and that the cabin was burnt; the loss it meant for her parents. Would they regret helping her then? Prescott didn’t think so. But Emma was still worried about it, just like her mind had tried
One week later:Emma had run to the clinic, immediately Adah had burst into her apartment with the news that Annabel and Amelia were awake. Over the couple of days in class, they had bonded over gossip, and training, seeing as the latter was the only one that had been sincerely interested in her. Emma had run with Prescott in her hands, and Adah right behind her. And when she arrived at the room she had frequented daily with prayers, and saw her sister and her friend chatting tiredly, she let out a scream of happiness and hurried over to them. “Amelia! Annabel!” She called gaily, garnering the attention of the two females sitting cross-legged on the same bed. Before they could let out a shout or smile of their own, Emma’s hands were already around them. “Oh my goodness, I am so happy for both of you…” she paused. “but give me a heartache again, and I will skin you both alive..” Annabel and Amelia divulged bouts of laughter, with the nurses. Prescott and Adah weren’t left behind,
Caden sighed in relief at his mate’s words, wanting to believe at all costs that the years he had spent with her, that the love they had shared, hadn’t been in vain. He didn’t know what he would have done otherwise. Cry, brood? Neither was acceptable in these times. And so, he wasn’t moved when his son piqued an eyebrow at his mate’s words, or when his daughter’s lips turned up—in disgust or curiosity, he wasn’t sure. But he didn’t care. He just hung on to the thread that his mate was spinning with. “I didn’t cheat on my mate, I’m sure he would have found out if I had done so, considering the mate bond and all that…” There was a pause, where relief sunk its foothold the more in Caden and his children. “So, if that’s what you are thinking, Caden… if that’s what you all are thinking, cut it out. I was surprised too when Claire had met me with the news at first, and I didn’t tell you, Caden, because I wasn’t sure how to explain the phenomena to you. I knew you held the lineage of you
Chyra didn’t know what Clem was talking about—the end of the world, and all that—but she knew that she was to blame for Claire rejecting her mate considering what she had soaked into her daughter’s mind about the alpha’s family, about how the Luna seat was her birthright. She also knew that she shouldn’t be working with Arnold. But she was too proud to concede to that, to concede to anyone, and so she shrugged her shoulders to Clem’s question. In the next second, she saw why that had been a wrong play on her part. When she saw Clem fume in anger, when she saw Claire glare at her stinkingly, when she saw her mate watch her like she was foolish, she knew that she had made a mistake. It would have been best if she had kept quiet, than giving off that nonchalant attitude. But her pride held her back from apologizing. Why should she apologize for being a mother caring to give her daughter the best? “Mother, are you so daft that…” Clem was saying when his father shouted him down. Caden
At this point, Clem didn’t know what to think about his sister, Claire. He had thought that their parents had been her motivator to reject Curtis, to follow Curtis up and down, to join the meetings that prince Nathan held with the others, but from the thick astounded silence that dwelled in the room, it could be safe to say that his sister had been acting on her own, without any external influence. He didn’t know what to think of that. He looked at his mother; she looked more shocked out of her shoes and mind than his father, quite expected since the mother and daughter duo were quite close, since his sister had no mind of hers, except put into place by his mother. As much as he was not happy with his twin, he was happy that for once his mother had no part to play in her recent escapades. “What do you mean…Claire?” Caden asked, pushing himself ahead, his elbow resting on his knees. “What do you mean when you say that Curtis is your mate? When did that happen? When did you find out?
What Claire saw first when she stepped into her father’s room was her parents sitting in the living room, with Clem, their backs hunched, the air filled with pregnant silence, waiting. They were waiting for her. She knew it from the moment she had dropped a note in Clem’s mind that she was on her way home. That he hadn’t bothered with a response, should have been enough to let her know that her twin was still angry with her. But she had held out hope, until she had reached the borders of the pack and he hadn’t been waiting for her. This was very different from the times they had quarrels. She knew, however, that this quarrel was different. She had denied her mate, because of the throne; had gone ahead to push Emma away from the pack; and when Derek still hadn’t chosen her, she had returned to Curtis because he was an Alpha. Would she have returned to him if he wasn’t that? She didn’t know. That was the truth. She didn’t know. She might have gone back to Curtis, even if he wasn’t a
At Wind Winders Pack.“Dad, what is this? What was Zoe doing in my room so early in the morning?” Curtis questioned, a second after he rushed into the dining room where his parents were having breakfast. He had slept in obviously, but he didn’t care. Yesterday’s training had been rigorous after all. He darted his eyes between his mother and father; his mother’s widened eyes told him that she had no idea what he was talking about; quite expected since this turn of event hadn’t been part of their plans. Hence, he trained his eyes on his father; the old man just continued eating his breakfast like he hadn’t spoken. Curtis thought of repeating himself, but thought better of it. He walked up to his father, and took away his plate of food; an act that he wouldn’t have been able to try before; an act that might have spelt his death; but considering his father’s few options of allies, he knew that he had a chance to live. And so, when his father glared at him heatedly, he didn’t quake in hi
“Hey…how are you feeling?” Emma whispered, touching Prescott’s head softly, as she watched him open his eyes for the second time. The first time, she had screamed and had called for the nurse in charge of his treatment, not minding that Adah was with her. Nothing could have dampened her joy. She had just checked on Annabel and Amelia, who although their vitals were stable, was still asleep, yet out of coma. According to the chief nurse, a week was enough for them to wake up now. Then she had checked on Prescott, and only touching him with fondness had elicited the response of his eyes opening. Emma had been overjoyed. “Prescott, can you hear me?” She asked softly, dragging a seat to herself, whilst Adah watched on, not understanding the communication method of the squirrel and Emma. Like the people in the community, she had never seen a talking animal, or rather an animal that communicates as Emma had painted Prescott to be. Her friend who was in the upper echelons of the community
No professor spoke to her, and Emma couldn’t help but wonder why. Had Prince Shiloh ask them to avoid her? Or had professor Brooks’ defeat scared them away from her? Well, if that was the matter, then she believed it was for the greater good. She had no interest in making affiliations after all, so long as they taught her what she wanted to know, and treated her fairly. “So, do you think you can cope?” She heard Adah ask, and turned aside to see her new seat mate. The mischievous glint in the latter’s eyes made her smile, howbeit small. “I believe I can.” She answered, before getting on her feet. She took her bag which Gira had provided that morning and slung the straps across her shoulder. It was time to go home, or rather check on her friends. Classes were done for the day. “Where are you going?” Adah asked her, getting to her feet. As they walked toward the door, a couple of the students swiftly moved, and stood before the door, causing Emma to furrow her eyebrows. But she chose