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Mia tripped off her feet as she ran through the path the others went through and she fell to the ground, groaning in pain. The energy she had before faded away, and she was no longer certain she would make it through. Her natural speed was gone, and she did not know if it came from being pregnant or from the much pain and torture she had gone through so far. There was no certainty she would regain her full strength and all that she had now was her determination to keep going.Ace ran back to her and help her onto her feet, “We have to keep going.”She nodded, and he took hold of her hand.“Do you have a plan for where we are heading to?” Casy asked, running ahead.“I would have if I hadn’t moved the time I planned out for their escape from tomorrow to today. I had a ship ready for take-off tomorrow,” he answered, still running.“Well, what are we going to do now?” Casy asked.“Keep running and getting as far away from the Palace as we can and lie low until tomorrow.”Ace barely finish
Edward’s eyes lightened as soon as he saw Mia step onto the front porch where the rest of them were and he rose to his feet. “Mia, I’m glad to have you with us,” he said before stepping towards her. He took her hand for a quick squeeze before letting it go. “Thank you. I have you and my Xavier to thank for the rescue,” she said and saw Ace raise a brow at her appreciation speech, which had completely ignored him and the role he played. “But I do not understand why you cast a restraint spell to keep them here.”“As Xavier told you, I don’t trust them,” Edward said, glancing at the unknown faces he had to get used to in the last hour. “When we had plans to come for you, the plans of rescuing more than one person didn’t cross my mind.”“Fate made it so. I met Joi on the slave ship. He was a slave like me, and so was Ivan.” Her eyes moved to the maiden, and she spoke. “I met her while trying to escape tonight. She needed help, and I felt the need to help her.” Then her eyes moved to Ace
Mia stood on the deck and watch the fleets of ships already blazing and their smoke rising way up in the sky even as they got further away from shore. Xavier came out to meet Mia, who had stood at the deck for half an hour already. He allowed her to stay there at first because he thought she wanted some sort of reassurance that this wasn’t a dream, but now, he was curious to know why she hadn’t moved. He stood beside her and took hold of her hand to squeeze down in reassurance, only to have her yank it away from his hold and flinch away. This made him turn to her, and he saw her behold him with the most terrified look, as though he were a monster about to harm her.“Stay away from me.”The change in Mia took Xavier by surprise. She didn’t want Xavier close to her. She had a look of terror when she stared at him as if he was going to bring her harm before hurrying away. Edward noticed the change in Mia and asked what it was. He told him everything, and Edward followed Mia. Xavier di
Casy helped Ace sit down, and he leaned his back against the wall. He dragged a deep breath and blinked a few times while glancing around at those around him, unmoved. “It’s nice to know you’re still with us,” Edward spoke with a beam on his face. Ace glanced up and found him, and his heartbeat sped up. “Don’t worry, I will not harm you, even though you deserve way more than what my brother has done. Mia wants no harm coming to you, so you’re safe.” Edward came over to him and squatted. “You’re going to tell me everything, about yourself and your boss. I want to know who they are.” Ace covered his bleeding nose with his hand. “My name is Wawi, but for the past sixteen summers, I’ve been called Ace. I was brought to the kingdom of Foth on a slave ship after being sold by my master in Wahala, along with Casy. Her birth name is Fraya. We were three that left the shores of Wahala sixteen summers ago, but Karnap, the third person, died on the ship and his body was tossed away. After
Ace stood at the ship deck, staring at the sky when he heard footsteps moving in closer behind him. He jerked and turned around, only to find Casy standing there. He exhaled in relief at the sight of her and he turned back to stare at the sky, knowing it was not someone he didn’t know.It’s been a few hours since the clash with the King of Wahala. There had been words in the last few summers that the Luna Queen, Mia, had somehow tamed the ruthless Alpha King and changed him. Many called this change a weakness, as it would no longer make his enemies afraid of him. The man he encountered in the outer cabin wasn’t a tamed man and the people had been so wrong in their rumours. He was still the same man. He was not weak or a coward, just a man changed by love and the thought of losing what he love the most had brought out the side many believed was dead. Ace could not remember the last time he was afraid, but he felt fear in his veins when Xavier had his hands around his neck. The king wasn
Mia readied herself in the bathroom the next morning before stepping out. She had shared the cabin with Edward and spent the night with him after her big snap because she felt safer here. He didn’t complain; the king was okay with it. As the morning came, his first thought was Mia’s meal, and he stepped out to get it. A while later, he came in with a bowl of raw beef in his hands. The ship butchers had done an excellent job and had a chunk of meat ready when he went looking. They told him he and the king hadn’t really eaten much since they set sail and so they hadn’t touched the livestock they brought onboard with them.Edward understood as well. Xavier hadn’t had an appetite. His mind had always been on his wife, wondering if she was okay, and whenever it came to food, he cared little for it in the six weeks they had sailed from Wahala to Foth. He had eaten only a few times.Starving himself wouldn’t bring any positive result, but Xavier couldn’t eat. He knew Mia wouldn’t have such l
In the last week, Alpha Koz and Kailani sent words throughout the four corners of the kingdom with the news and also a declaration of a twenty-one-day mourning period in the entire kingdom. This was for all those who remained faithful to the crown and they sent it discreetly so it wouldn’t arouse King Elliott. He also told Kailani about the great evil that had happened at the Palace. The council of alphas gathered in the elder’s court, awaiting Robb Ainsworth’s arrival. They found out Elliott had lured them in, using the letter as an ambush for their massacre.After the declaration of Robb Ainsworth’s over a week ago, the priest and the healers came to see his body, but they could not enter. Elliott had mounted guards to send away and even kill any that tried to step inside in his absence. Many priests insisted, and they met with the cruel fate of death. The massacre continued, and most priests caught swore allegiance to the new king or faced their death. Many flee and went into hidin
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know anyone was out here.” Princess Xoe said as soon as she saw Joi on the deck, sitting on the railing with his head bowed. She spun around and walked away, hoping to return to the ship.“No, you do not have to leave, princess,” Joi said, jumping down the railing where he sat, staring at the small drawing of his wife on the necklace pendant in his hand.She paused but didn’t turn to him as she spoke. “You were having alone time, and I didn’t want to disturb you.”“It’s all fine, princess, you can stay. It’s been a week on the sea and I just wanted to have this time to myself. It’s already over two hours of doing that.” the wind was mild and soothing too, which was a bonus for him. They brought back memories, good ones. She turned around to stare at him. “Thank you. I’d rather you call me Xoe, though.”His brow narrowed. “But you are a princess.”She nodded, not disputing that face. “I am a princess only to those in the kingdom of Klean. You’re a Jadi and I am sur
Three months later“My king, this is the monthly report of the work tasks already put in place at the warriors’ institute.” Sir Kole stepped forward to present the scroll to King Xavier, who sat on the throne, and beside him was Luna Queen Mia, who was heavily pregnant.He had asked her this morning before they both stepped out of their chamber if she would feel comfortable being in the throne room. He saw that her due date drew closer with each passing day. She had smiled and told him she was okay and able to carry on her duties as queen and counsel for the king. This was the ninth month. They were preparing themselves with every passing day for the due date, but they knew they would never fully prepare for the birth of their child. Still, it was better this way. The king wanted her in good working condition and treated her almost like a child who couldn’t help herself. It annoyed her most of the time, but he didn’t look ready to change his ways, at least not until their child was saf
He drew a sharp breath and turned to find her eyes filled with panic and unexplainable fear.“What was that?” she asked with a still terrified voice.“It’s my being responding to the call.”“The call, the call of what?”“The slave ship. It has come to the border of the Wahala kingdom. Though freed from being a slave by my lord, I still feel the brokenness in me responding to the dark magic of the ship.”The only thing Kailani heard from everything he just said was, “The slave ship is at our border.”“Yes!” He nodded, already heading out of the house, and Kailani followed behind.As soon as he stepped out, he waved his hand around, reciting the portal chant at the same time, and a big, black circle appeared before him.“What are you doing?” Kailani asked, her voice holding much scepticism. Her question reminded him that she was still with him.“I promised to inform the King if the ship was ever to land on the shores of the kingdom, and that’s what I’m going to do.”“And what’s this hol
He stood on the balcony and watched the princess through the open window of the upper floor, changing into her night robe. She no longer lived in the Royal Palace with her father but now lived at the Othman’s estate with her husband, Niall Othman, as a dutiful wife.He was miserable without her, but he couldn’t imagine how miserable she must feel being married to a man she didn’t love or want to be with. Being united for the rest of her life to a man who placed little regard on her. He married her for her name and probably bore her the same contempt she bore him.Or maybe he loves her.That could also be true, but he didn’t want to accept that it was true.She looked beautiful even now, and he hoped Niall told her that every chance he got. Ace hopes Niall told her she was beautiful, precious, and the most priceless possession he ever had the privilege of attaining.She deserved to know that.Ace snapped out of his thoughts when he heard voices and footsteps coming from not so far away
A month laterA lot has changed for Ace in the kingdom. Since finding out about his family and lineage, King Xavier has welcomed him into the family with open arms. He also inducted him into the council of elders, a decision that brought confusion to the council at first because the council of elders was made up of men of noble backgrounds with power and title and wasn’t occupied by commoners. Xavier later told them who he was and how he was the heir to the land and fortune of House Don, as Lady Iris never married. He told them he was the son of Iris Don, changed his name to Lord Ace of the House Don, and awarded him his birthright. With his mother being Iris Don, questions rose about whose son he was, and Xavier asked if he wanted the truth about his father known. Ace wasn’t ready to do that. Learning about his father’s existence was one of the worst moments of his life. And if he could live his life without acknowledging his existence, he would gladly accept it. Xavier told him he u
A short story about AceAfter the battle...Ace’s eyes opened in the room, and he did not know where he was. He looked up and saw Xavier towering above him with a cut on his face that should have healed a long time ago. However, for some strange reason, it hadn’t.He was in Wahala. The last memory he had was in Klean with Princess Xoe. She had asked him to mark her because her father wanted to marry her off to Niall Othman, the noble son. He saw the look on her face, which told him this wasn’t what she wanted. This was not what he wanted either, but what could he do? They were on a mission, and that had to come before anything else. Not being able to do anything else offended him, but that was the point. He had to accept his fate. There was no greater pain than being unable to be with the one you love, whom you were created for, but perhaps this was his wage for all the evil he had wrought in the world. Yes, he wanted to be a better man and worked towards that, but it still didn’t undo
The news of Lady Lily’s death broke his heart. He knew her as a child because her father, Lord Crow of Shelled, was an ally to the crown. She was gentle and kind, and when he learnt Elliott had married her a few summers ago, it grieved him because she deserved better. She didn’t deserve this cruel fate; she didn’t deserve to end like this.“Then we shall put them to rest together.”They couldn’t send Lady Lily’s body back to Shelled; she was an Ainsworth, and so it was their duty to guide her to the life beyond. Abiding by the custom of the land, Xavier sent words to Lord Crow about the passing of his daughter.Then he sent for the priest and the ceremony leader to help put everything in place. With their help, they wrapped up what they could of Robb and organise his funeral on the pathway as well as Lady Lily. Just as Edward had made Mia stay back while he showed Xavier the room, Xavier made her stay back while they carried Robb’s body away for the last rites.After taking the rites
Sorcerer Zor’d levitated to where Edward stood in the cloud, leaving Elliott and Sir Marx behind. “I see you have joined the side of Doom. You are like me now.” He said it with a smile that wrinkled up the side of his face.“I am nothing like you,” Edward answered through gritted teeth.“We serve the same master now, and that means we have the same goals and objectives. We are the same,” he insists.“I will say it again. I am nothing like you.”“Deny all you want, but I know the truth. Those who had joined the side of Doom had always thought themselves better, seeking the greater good, but in the end, they all end up in the same place.” Zor’d told him, moving towards him in the sky.“I’ve been there. The quest that led me to Doom was that of power, and it has been the same for everyone. Doom takes power from the dead and gives it to their own, and in turn, their subjects reap souls for the rest of their lives.”“Stop talking,” Edward ordered, his hands balling into a fist.He scoffed,
“Men, together with me!” Xavier yelled. Seeing that over half of them had fallen on the battlefield already.Elliott had the advantage and had reduced them greatly with the help of his sorcerer. He had seen in the vision the great war, and this couldn’t have been it. He didn’t believe this was the battle in which he would fall. He didn’t want to accept it, yet there was no other option playing out before him. The enemies were on the verge of winning and trampling them under their feet.“They are circling us!” Sir Valerio shouted. “Back-to-back, everyone!” At his command, the men turned around so that their backs faced each other so that they could keep track of the enemy’s movement. It’s not like it would do much at this point.“Hold your ground!” Xavier said. With great command, the men did as he told them.The armies of Elliott launched at Xavier, growling and with yellow eyes. He caught one of the attackers and ripped his mouth open before tossing him away.“Hold your ground!” He ye
Kailani raced as fast as she could to the Palace Du Royale, where Alpha Chado had told her Edward was headed when they last saw him. The ongoing battle had made it easier for her to ride here with ease because the soldiers, guard, and army were nowhere on the road. Most of them had assembled at the Black Cove for the battle, and the rest were at the palace, guarding and keeping it safe. It was good enough for her and aided her movements, as she no longer had to hide to avoid confrontation or arrest.She slowed down when she drew closer to the gates of the palace, where her trouble would start. She knew there would be soldiers on guard at the palace to protect and defend it against intruders like her. She already fixed her mind on fighting them with everything she had way before she reached the palace, and there was no turning back.She pushed at the gate, and it opened with little to no restraint, and she stepped into the palace estate compound. Her heart was beating loudly at this poi