Ace walked into the palace, surprised to see it crowded with people—nobles of all races and classes. He didn’t think he would meet this many people today, and he wondered if he should return to Wahala and come back tomorrow. Then he remembered that King Xavier’s instructions were to stay in Klean until his mission was accomplished.He took hold of a guard’s arm, making him stop as he asked, “What is going on today?”The guard’s eyes narrowed at him, as if asking what he was doing here if he didn’t know what was going on. Ace didn’t have the answer, nor was he willing to let him go until he said, “It is the late king’s remembrance week; we wrap up the week with a feast on the last day.”Then he remembered that it had been two years since the former king, Ferdinand Ono, died. They had received news about King Ferdinand’s sudden death, and Simone ruled it a natural cause in his letter to King Xavier.Ace released his hand, chuckling a little. “Oh, thank you. For a moment, I forgot.”The
“You are thinking.” It was not a question; it was an observation that was correct.Xavier turned to Mia with a smile on his pale face and said, “Yeah, counting down the days to the war. It is hard to count when I know I won’t be here.” He replied bitterly.She reached out and stroked his face slowly. “Do not think about that, Xavier. Think about us and now, and think about everything you set up to ensure victory for your people.”His hand came up to her hand on his face, and he took hold of it. Slowly, he squeezed down on it and said, “I do not want to leave you, Mia. I never planned to leave you this quick.”His words broke her heart, but she had to remain strong for him, herself, and the boys.She smiled and said, “I know, and I do not want you to leave either.”“Can we stay in bed for a while longer?” He asked with his brow arched in the form of a plea.She turned from him and stared at the ceiling. “Yes, we can.”He brought her hand to his lips and placed a kiss on it. “Thank you.
Mia shut herself up in the study after falling out with Xavier. It was the only place that gave her a little privacy in the palace. It was also the place that had the Xavier scent in abundance.Yes, they had a massive fight this morning, even though they shouldn’t have. Xavier had woken up first, and he seemed to have stayed awake thinking about ways to piss her off. When she woke up, he asked her to leave their chamber. He wanted to throw her out the same way he did months ago. He didn’t want her with him anymore, and when she asked why he wanted that, he asked if she wasn’t tired of him yet.That annoyed her, and she asked what that was supposed to mean. She was his mate, wife, and queen; this was her duty. Leaving him now when he needed help didn’t seem like something a true mate would do. Then he told her he wanted her to leave him.He told her if she loved him like she claimed, she would leave him alone in the chamber. He also told her he was doing her a favour since she had refu
Mia didn’t think she heard clearly when Edward said he was here to summon the moon goddess herself and make a deal with her.The moon goddess wasn’t one to make deals. That was not her nature.It was also almost impossible to summon her.She was fair to all her children and did not consider one better. Coming to Edward’s call and even granting a deal would mean she wasn’t a fair goddess. At least, that was what Mia grew up believing.Still, she didn’t want to stop Edward from trying. He was already drawing the floor with the white rock he found earlier, and after he finished, he proceeded to draw a few other elements that would complete the seal.When he finished, he looked up at her as if asking if she had any second thoughts. This was for Xavier, and for him, she would try everything.She shook her head, and he nodded and sat on the floor where he had drawn the seal. He closed his eyes, placed his hands on his knees, and began chanting. She stood there, watching him and wondering if
The goddess stood staring at Edward with her teeth clenched, then her eyes moved to Mia, who had become speechless since this battle of words began. Her eyes grew warm. “Mia.”“Is it true?” She asked in a small voice as she stared at her. “Are you my mother?”“I am the mother of all creation.”Mia’s teeth clenched, and she glared at her. “Are you my mother?” she shouted at her.The goddess pressed her lips together and said, “Yes, you are my child.”Growing up, Mia always felt different and didn’t know why. She didn’t understand why she looked so different from her father, mother, and sister. Her father always told her she was his, and though rumours flew as she was a child, he permanently silenced her doubt by reminding her she was his. He never let her believe otherwise; learning the truth had made her make sense of many things.“After the child was born by Layla Ainsworth called Xavier Ainsworth, I knew he had much magic in his blood, and he would never have a seed with anyone. I n
“Do I get to ask what you did?” Xavier asked, finally breaking the silence since they both woke up. “I am stronger than ever, and it couldn’t have been just luck.”Mia’s head remained on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat and being happy. She didn’t want to ruin the moment, so she remained silent.“Mia.”“I made a bargain.”Those four words made his heart skip immediately, and his body moved into shock. “What?” he sat up, forcing her to do the same.“Xavier,” she called, already knowing where this was headed.“Mia, why would you do that? Did Edward return from Jade to help you with it? Did you not see what it did to him?” he asked his numerous lines of questions. All of which she wasn’t ready to answer.“Yes, Edward aided me, but he came from Jade for another reason and he went to Foth to meet Kailani.” she answered, his teeth clenched and his fury showing. “I didn’t make a bargain with Doom,” she told him. “I wanted to, but Edward wouldn’t let me. Also, the dark dimensions
With Xavier’s regained strength, he embarked on his visitation to the four regions in the kingdom of Wahala, assuring them of the coming victory. This was what he wanted to do but couldn’t because of the shadow sickness.First, he came before the warrior’s institute, which had over twenty thousand soldiers trained and ready for the coming war. His presence, looking healthy, put much joy in their eyes, and Xavier was happy to see it. Then he visited the scholar’s institute and then the farmer’s institute. It was good to see that, despite his lack of presence or visitation, the three institutions kept to their duties and continued in faith. Seeing him now gave them a cheerful outlook for the coming war.Just as he promised the warrior institute, he promised the farmer and scholar’s institute of their victory, which was already around the corner.With the visit to the capital 3 completed, Xavier planned to visit the four regions in the kingdom. It was not only to check the fortifications
Damien Ferro, the king of Foth, and the ten ships on the sea would touch shores in a week, according to the estimations of Ace and Edward.Ace returned from Klean faster than Xavier expected a week when he left days ago. King Simone had responded quicker than he had imagined, and though he didn’t come along with his armies sent, Xavier had nothing but respect for him for keeping to his words of standing beside them in the war. The armies of Klean and Jade had reached Wahala. Their numbers, added to what they already had, would not only give them an advantage, but it was also a chance that they could win the coming war.The armies from Klean joined the armies in the capital 3’s warrior institute to train and harness their fighting abilities. They now faced an enemy they had never seen before and needed to be ready for anything. Being human puts the armies of Klean at greater risk. But having seen them in action three years ago, Xavier had hope in their abilities.“You must have put up
The alpha king's last wish when he thought his time had come was to grant his queen all her desires. It took many months for him to do that, but he finally did. With the full moon shift out of the way, they had at least three weeks with no need to lead a shift.He placed Alpha Koz and Luna Ursla in charge in their absence. And the boys, he handed to Edward and Kailani to take care of. Kim was now two, and Lyon was four, and they could look after them in their absence. They also assigned care to the boys so they wouldn't wear the prince and princess out.They headed for the Savanna River. It was the largest river south of the kingdom, and it connected Wahala to Jade and was the most luxurious spot to visit. Three months ago, Xavier took charge of creating a resort around the river, as he hoped to bring Mia with him. It took two months and one week, but it happened.The plan was to spend at most three weeks on the Savanna River alone with each other. Yes, they had decided Kim would be t
Xavier stood at the door, leaning against the frame and watching Mia remove her jewellery without saying a word. They had returned inside after she was done speaking, and though they held onto each other's hands, they uttered no word. There was so much he wanted to say but didn't know how to begin, so he remained silent.She finished with her necklace and then turned to him. "What?"She knew what, but he was ready to play along. "You were amazing with your speech; I hope you know that."After her speech, the entire mob that had gathered outside the palace gates for the last three days disappeared to their various houses, probably to do what the queen had told them to do. The joy and pride he felt watching her take matters into her own hands. This gave him a glimpse of who she was whenever he wasn't home. It was a turn-on."Thank you, then?"He pulled himself off the door frame and stepped towards her. "No, thank you. I just wanted to say you were amazing." Her speech today told him ju
With the awakening of the alpha king came many reforms around the kingdom. The kingdom needed to build back and regain what they had lost. He assured them they would recover it all.Many rumours flew around about his mysterious healing, and though many speculated he had made a deal, that was far from the truth.Xavier visited Shelled, and just like he promised, he made Lord Crow not only the alpha of the region but also an elder of the king's council. The lord was more than pleased to receive this title and vowed to do his best to ensure that the region remained loyal to the king's cause. Mia stuck beside him through it all. Her place was right beside him.With the war over, Xavier spoke to Edward about the next steps for the kingdom of Foth. Since the takeover, Kailani has ruled and done a perfect job at it. He also knew his brother's stance on being king and ruling. That wasn't his place. The throne came with many responsibilities that Edward knew he could never fulfil.As he specul
They gave it their best shot, was all he could tell himself.His eyes grew glassy. "We have to go, Lyon," he said, touching Lyon, but the little boy was now as cold as his father.Fear gripped Edward's heart, and his mind raced with thoughts of what could have happened. Was Lyon trapped in the realm of the close-to-dead, or did he enter Hades with his father?Nothing could trap Lyon, not with the level of power he possessed, but then he was just a little over three, and that left him in a vulnerable state.The shadow sickness would not think twice before harming him if she dimmed him as a threat. Perhaps she had.Edward didn't know what to think.Did his quest to save his brother leave him blinded to the vulnerability of his nephew?Mia would never forgive him, and he would never forgive himself for losing Lyon."Lyon!" He gripped the little boy's face and shook him out of fear. He found himself in Hades, the realm of the dead, immediately.Confusion and surprise took over Edward as h
Edward opened the door and stepped into the royal chambers, even without knocking. Judging by Mia's observation of the king's condition, he could tell they were barely on time now. They needed to get to doing what needed to be done.Mia turned to him as soon as they stepped in, and she sat up in bed, her eyes filled with panic."Mother!" Lyon squealed, and the little boy stretched his hand out to her.She ran off the bed and over to her son, taking him into her arms when she got to Edward and hugging him tightly.She stared at him and shook her head, telling him Xavier was dead and there was nothing they could do. She was breaking down yet, doing her best to stay strong through it, probably because her son was watching this all unfold.Edward didn't let her emotions and the truth, which she wanted to confirm, deter him from his mission."How long?" he asked, stepping towards the bed."A few seconds ago." She replied.Good. He thought. That gave them much room for hope.He nodded and m
Mia opened the door to their chamber and stepped inside, and she found Xavier on the bed the same way she left him. It wasn't like he could move anywhere without her help, though.For the first time since finding out about his shadow sickness, she had hoped, and it was the most powerful thing she ever experienced. She would hold on to it, telling herself it wasn't time to give up."Where did you go?" Xavier asked as she stepped onto the bed.She turned to him and found that his lashes were still shut; he must have picked up her scent. Despite the shadow sickness, his abilities were not completely gone."I was with Edward." She answered. There was no reason to lie to him."What did you discuss? Funeral arrangement?""You said you would not give in until the end.""And you said you would stay by my side until the end." He replied, and his weak emerald eyes settled on hers as his lashes fluttered.Her teeth gritted. "I am beside you, and this isn't the end." She reached out and took his
“How was it?” Xavier asked, as Mia stepped into their chambers and silently made her way to the wardrobe to change out of her robe.She had worn a two-piece black, easy-to-remove robe for the funeral rite at the black cove. She had now taken off the first piece.She turned to him and said, “It went well, but the kingdom took a massive loss. So many sons and daughters would never get a shot at life because they laid it down for the kingdom’s cause.”“It was a great price, and they knew this before joining the warrior’s institute.” He answered.“I do not know how I would feel if those were my boys.” She mumbled under her breath, and he heard.“War is the last thing anyone ever wants. But if the inevitable occurs, we must do whatever it takes to preserve the land. You know this.”She nodded. “Yes. I do, and I understand. I wish there were another way.” She turned to him.He mumbled his agreement under his breath.“How do you feel?” she asked, stepping towards the bed.“I feel like I have
Three hours after they returned from the black cove, Mia sat beside Xavier in bed with his hand in hers. She sat, thinking about all the years they had spent together as mates. It was the best she ever had; he was the best mate the moon goddess could have given.Watching him now broke her heart, and there was no way of consoling it. This was where they would give up.There was no game plan, and there was no escape.This was the end.She wiped the tear that rolled down her face and sniffed the rest.“Thank you for the happiest years of my life.” She began to speak. I can still remember how it used to be, and I remember how it is now. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, but I am happy I spent the time I did with you.”She felt warmth in her hand, and she glanced at it before looking up at Xavier and seeing his lashes lifting. His amazing emerald eyes settled on hers, and for a moment, she forgot to breathe. He was the definition of perfection on foot. He has always been her
Xavier could hear his heart pacing as he ran towards where Damien, the king of Foth, stood with about three dozen of his guards as protection.Such a coward.He wanted to wreak havoc on Damien and see the fear in his eyes before he snuffed the light away.Yes, they were just seven warriors, but these seven warriors were stronger than average. Aeon had the strength of six mighty soldiers combined, and Xavier could still take on the same number at once, despite his weakness. The queen also wielded strength beyond most imaginations, as did Alpha Zayn, who had just lost his best friend, Alpha Chado, in the war. They were all men scorned by the king of Jade, wanting a fair share of the price."Since you have almost lost this battle, you are here to see if you can take me down instead." King Damien said from where he stood on higher ground, shielded by his soldiers."That is exactly what I am doing, so why don't you come out and face me one-on-one?""That will not be a fair fight then, beca