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28. Sympathy and Sorrow
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
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THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 29. From Grief To Utter Disgust
CassianThe raindrops fall heavily from the sky, as if they were reflecting the same pain that was weighing heavily on my heart. The gentle patter of rain lent a mournful rhythm to the haunting melodies being played by the minstrels, which only served to intensify the sorrow felt by all present.My sister, Cleo, who was once full of life and joy, now lay as lifeless ashes on the funeral pyre, a symbol of my failure as a brother to protect her and keep her safe.Cassandra, my remaining sister, clung to my arm, her sobs a constant reminder of the love we had lost. Her tears soaked my robe, but all I could think of was escaping this place of death, away from the ceremony that seemed to mock our grief. I looked to my right and see Reyna standing with Rune and Malachi, her eyes a bottomless well of understanding, knowing my need to be with her. But Cassandra’s insistent crying was like a chain binding me to the spot.[“I’m here, my love,”] her words call to me over the mind link, my only
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 30. Time To Go
ReynaThere was an odd vibe coming from Cassian when he came to bed last night, and this morning when he left to deal with a few things, he barely spoke. Rune attributes it to still being in mourning and I would have believed it too, if I didn’t know Cassian’s heart by now.Something has him rattled, and it is not Cleo’s death.I breathe out a sigh and dry off after getting out of the shower, then as I walk into the bedroom, I see Malachi laying on the bed with Rune’s head on his lap. My heart swells just watching the way Malachi strokes Rune’s hair and the look of adoration in his eyes as Rune talks.“This looks cosy,” I say with a big smile on my face and both of them turn to me, looking sheepish. “No, please don’t stop being cute on account of me.”Rune chuckles and gets off from the bed to saunter over to me in the walk-in closet. He wraps his arms around me from behind and pulls the towel from around my body, his hand slipping towards my mound.“I have to go back to my kingdom fo
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 31. Truth And Death
Reyna“Cassandra?” I ask, taking a step backward “What are you—”“Leaving already? That’s a pity,” she says with a grin on her face. “I was hoping we could talk.”Nothing about this feels right to me, especially not the way Cassandra is smiling at me. What does she have planned exactly? “We can still talk now before I leave. Weren’t you supposed to leave with Deana yesterday?”She chuckles. “I had a few… last minute things to take care of before I go, namely you,” crossing her arms, she cocks her head to the side. “I need you to reject Cassian before something … awful happens to you.”I can’t help but laugh at this, but she doesn’t seem to like it because her smile drops. “Reject Cassian? Are you out of your mind?” I scoff, then I turn my head to the side to show her Cassian’s mark. “That won’t happen anytime soon, I’m afraid.”When I look back at her, I can see the fury in her eyes. “Did you mark him as well?”“Of course I did, I marked all three of my Alphas,” I say, crossing my ar
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 32. The Key And The Lock
ReynaMalachi's screams have faded away and are only audible as a distant echo now. The pain that I am currently feeling has surpassed the physical realm and is now affecting me on a spiritual level, causing my entire being to feel enveloped. I know I’ve been hit, but the forest around me refuses to let me fall.The evidence is overwhelming and points to the fact that I am no longer alive. There is no way anyone could survive being hit in the heart with a silver tipped arrow soaked in wolfsbane. So why am I here? I get to my feet and breathe out a sigh before looking around me with wide eyes.I see that I am back in my forest dreamworld, but something’s changed. The smell of burnt wood is overpowering, like the aftermath of a ferocious fire. The tree that stood tall and proud before, now lays in ruins, its size and magnificence a distant memory. I hear whispers, soft as the rustle of leaves, but filled with malice and contempt.“Reyna…” someone calls out to me and I struggle as I pee
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 33. Loss
MalachiThe window in front of me reflects nothing but emptiness, a void that mirrors the hollow feeling inside my chest. Behind me, Cassian and Rune are arguing again. Their voices, once filled with love and strength, now clash with bitterness and desperation. I wish I could say something, add my voice to theirs, but nothing wants to come out.I’m stuck in this silent torment, trapped by the guilt that claws at my insides. Reyna’s face haunts my every waking moment, her eyes filled with pain, her body broken. It’s my fault. I should have protected her. I should have been there.The world outside the window is a blur, the colours muted, the sounds distant. I feel disconnected from everything, adrift in a sea of regret and self-loathing. The memories of Reyna’s touch, her laugh, her warmth, all seem like echoes from a past life, a world that no longer exists.[“Malachi, say something!”] Rune calls over the mind link, his voice breaking through my fog.I turn to look at him, my eyes va
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 34. Phase 1: Unravelling The Prophecy
ReynaThe world came back to me in fragments, disjointed and hazy. Pain radiated from my chest, a sharp agony that pulsed with every heartbeat. The smell of herbs and the soft rustle of fabric reached my senses, and voices – familiar yet distant – called out to me.Then I remembered the being behind me, and screamed, only to wake up in a warm bed, surrounded by my mates. I don’t know how I got back here, or what happened. But now I’m sitting up in bed, alive, and holding the people who mean the world to me after thinking I had killed them. This shouldn’t be happening, I know people die after being shot in the heart especially with an arrow dipped in wolfsbane and silver. But that can wait for later, right now I am just appreciating getting to hold them, inhaling their scents and feeling their soft skin in my hands.Well, all but Malachi; he’s standing at the window and staring at me with wide eyesCassian’s face is pale, guilt written across his features. He looks away, unable to mee
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 35. Fire and Flames
ReynaI’ve been staring out of the window for the last few hours, mulling everything over in my mind. My life started to change drastically after I met the Alphas, and they sighted me as their mate. I started having those dreams right after as well, and I was attacked a few hours after meeting them.Who could have known about this before it even happened? Who knew about a prophecy placed on me and what I supposedly caused and will still cause? The only one I can think this leads to is my mother; could she be the one after me? No, that makes no sense. If she knew what I supposedly was, she would have killed me at birth and not…wait, was I left on the castle steps or did my father take me from her? I can’t remember. Everything feels hazy for some reason.“Your thoughts are loud, beautiful,” Malachi says as he sits down next to me. He takes my hand in his and kisses it. “Worrying over this won’t help much for now, so try not to think about it, okay?”I lean my head against his shoulder
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 36. Leana
ReynaWe touched down on Queen Court’s island a few hours ago and now I am sitting in a guest bedroom waiting for Leana. She’s in the shower currently, still in a daze after we saved her, and Rune is going to give her a check up after she’s settled in.Cassian and Malachi are sure that they didn't hear any heartbeats or feel any signs of life out there. So how is Leana still alive? Or rather, WHY is Leana still alive?The bathroom door opens and Leana walks out, her eyes downcast. Her damp red curls cascade over her shoulders, and when she looks up, it’s almost like I can feel my father’s gaze on me. Both her and Abby’s eye colour were always eerily similar to our father.“Feeling better?” I ask her with what I hope is a comforting smile on my face. She wraps her arms around herself and nods. “I am, thank you,” she says with a hoarse voice, returning my smile with an awkward one of her own as she walks toward the bed. I notice now that she’s washed the ash and soot away that there’s
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THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 25 - Epilogue
As the vibrant festival rages around them, filled with music and laughter, Rhiannon stands slightly apart, her gaze fixed on the group that forms the cornerstone of her new life. There, amidst a crowd of revellers, her three mates and three fathers converse, a symbol of newfound peace and acceptance. The speeches have been made, and the collective acceptance of Rhiannon’s unique bond with her dragon mates has marked a significant milestone in their lives. While her brothers, Micah, Rhys, and Caelum, maintained a facade of politeness, their underlying discomfort was palpable. Rhiannon understood their protectiveness; they were her older brothers, after all. It was their instinct to shield her, yet here she was, needing no protection from the men they were wary of. From the corner of the gathering, she noticed Soren engaging Caelum in what appeared to be a serious yet respectful discussion. The way Caelum’s posture shifted, easing from stiff disapproval to reluctant acknowledgment, s
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 24 - A First of Many
RhiannonStanding on the soft sands of our island, the sound of the waves gently crashing against the shore sets a calming backdrop. I watch the sky anxiously; waiting for the small aircraft that’s bringing my parents to our home. Soren had extended the invitation to our island as a gesture of goodwill and trust. Despite the turmoil of our last encounter, I feel a budding hope that today will mark a new beginning.Sensing my unease, Soren squeezes my hand reassuringly. “They’ll see. Everything’s going to be alright,” he murmurs, but I can tell he’s just as anxious.The plane touches down with a soft whirr, and my heart skips as I see my parents disembark. My mother spots me and immediately rushes over, her arms wide open. As she wraps me in a tight embrace, tears well up in my eyes, and soon we’re both crying, holding each other after the painful uncertainty of the past weeks.“Oh, Rhiannon,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “I’ve been so worried, so scared!”My fathers s
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 23 - Meeting Between Kings
IvarSpeaking to Rhiannon about reconciling with her parents did not go as planned, so we’re taking things into our own hands.As we fly toward the secluded meeting spot, the weight of the upcoming discussion presses heavily on my mind. Gavriel, Soren, and I shift back into our human forms just as we land, slipping into sweatpants for a semblance of normalcy as we prepare to face Rhiannon’s fathers: Rune, Malachi, and Cassian.The tension is palpable as we approach them. Rune, always the silent type, gives us a nod, while Malachi’s expression is guarded, his temperament more volatile. Cassian, known for his strategic mind, watches us with calculated interest.“We appreciate you meeting us here, without Rhiannon,” I start, my voice steady despite the churn of emotions inside me. “There’s something important we need to discuss.”Malachi crosses his arms, his brow furrowing. “And what’s so important that Rhiannon couldn’t be here?”“It’s about her,” Soren interjects, stepping slightly fo
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 22 - A Night To Just… Be
RhiannonAs I feel the fabric of the blindfold tighten gently around my eyes, Ivar’s warm breath tickles my ear. “Trust me, Rhi. You’re going to love this,” he whispers, his voice a soothing blend of mystery and reassurance.“Where are you taking me?” I ask, half-excited, half-anxious as he guides me by the hand. Each step crunches softly underfoot, the unmistakable scent of the forest growing stronger with every breath. My heart races, not just from the blindfold and the unknown, but from the anticipation of whatever Ivar has planned.“Just a little further,” he teases, his usual light-hearted chuckle making it harder to fret about where we’re going. “You don’t always need to see the path to enjoy where it leads.”Despite my nervousness, I smile, squeezing his hand. “If this is another one of your cooking experiments, I swear…”He laughs, stopping us both. “No cooking this time. I promise.” He leans in, kissing the side of my head gently. “Okay, ready?”The anticipation is a knot in
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 21 - Time Will Do You Good
SorenCircling the island, I stretch out my wings, feeling the wind rush through my scales as I survey the boundaries of our territory. It’s a routine patrol, but today, my mind is restless, preoccupied with thoughts of Rhiannon. Since the disastrous meeting with her parents, there’s a heaviness in her that I feel deep in my bones—a shared ache, thanks to the mate bond, that tells me her heart isn’t just bruised, it’s shattered. She puts on a brave face, dismisses it with a wave and a joke, but I know better.Shifting back to my human form with a practised ease, I pull on a pair of shorts just as I see her approaching. The sight of her—in a simple white cotton dress, barefoot, her hair catching the light of the setting sun—tightens something in my chest.Before she can say anything, I close the distance between us, pulling her into my arms, and kiss the side of her head—a gesture of comfort I hope she can still find solace in. “How are you doing?” I ask, though the answer is written
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 20 - They’re My Mates!
RhiannonThe cold shock of being torn from Soren’s embrace cuts through me, my screams shattering the stillness as I reach out for him, for any of them, only to find my hands grasping at empty air. The ground rushes up to meet me, and as I scramble to my feet, my eyes lock onto my parents, standing a few feet away, their expressions a mix of concern and something darker.“What have you done?!” I shout at my parents, staring into their faces, searching for some hint of remorse, of understanding. “Why would you do this?”My father, Cassian, stands firm, his expression a mask of regret and resolve. “We did what we had to, Rhiannon. They took you from us and we had no idea if this was a trap or not. We’re just taking you back.”“Taking me back?” I echo, incredulity sharpening my voice to a cutting edge. “You call this a rescue? I chose to be with them!”My mother reaches out, her touch meant to soothe, but it only fans the flames of my anger. “Darling, please, try to understand. We’re ju
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 19 - The Night Before
GavrielIn our war room, the atmosphere is charged, a blend of anticipation and underlying tension. The response from Rhiannon’s parents has arrived, a beacon of hope amid the uncertainty that’s shrouded us for so long. They’re willing to meet, a first step on the treacherous path towards peace. Rhiannon is asleep, unaware of the developments, and here we are, planning every detail of our departure tomorrow, prepared for every eventuality, even an attack.“I can’t believe they actually agreed,” Ivar comments, leaning back in his chair, the nonchalance in his voice not quite reaching his eyes. He’s been off lately, the usual lightness of his wit shadowed by the weight of our situation. “This is good, right?”Soren, leaning heavily against the table, runs a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “Yeah, willing to meet or set a damn trap. We can’t rule anything out.”He’s right. Our isolation, by choice and circumstance, has always been our strength and our vulnerability. Now,
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 18 - Making Plans / Setting Things In Motion
Rhiannon Sitting across from Ivar, Gavriel, and Soren, I’m completely nervous and out of my depth. We’re about to discuss something that could change the course of our lives forever. “We need to talk to my parents,” I start, diving straight into the heart of the matter. “And I mean really talk. Not through messages or mediators, but face-to-face, on neutral ground.” Ivar leans forward, his usual carefree demeanour taking a backseat to the seriousness of our discussion. “And what’s to stop them from launching an attack when we meet? Neutral ground or not.” Gavriel, silent up to this point, adds, “They’re not known for playing fair. We can’t afford to underestimate them. Security is a concern. We don’t know if your parents will come alone or bring an entourage. We have to be prepared for anything.” Soren, who’s been quietly listening, finally speaks up. “And there’s the matter of trust. We’re asking them to meet under a flag of truce. After everything, that’s asking a lot.” I can’
THEIRS: BOUND TO THE ALPHA KINGS 17 - The Morning After
IvarStanding by the window, the early morning light painting the horizon in shades of gold and crimson, I find myself lost in thought. Last night we discovered something that turned our world upside down—Rhiannon is mated to all three of us. It’s a revelation that seems to defy logic, yet here we are, bound by fate, or perhaps the gods themselves, to be the bridge to peace between our worlds.For the first time in what feels like forever, there’s another person in my life I find myself genuinely caring about, willing to lay down my life for. Glancing back at the bed, seeing her there, tangled in the sheets, nestled securely between Soren and Gavriel, a smile unwittingly finds its way onto my face. It’s a sight I never imagined I’d see, yet it feels right, as if all the pieces have finally fallen into place.Soren stirs, the shift in the room drawing him to wakefulness. He joins me by the window, his presence solid and reassuring. We both stand there for a moment, taking in the sere
