The ship took a detour for the second closest shore to land instead of heading for the shores of the capital. Joi spent the early hours of the morning on the shores. He had gone ahead along with Casy to study the closest shores where they would land and the number of guards on the ground. Casy had gone with him because her expertise was in line with that of Joi. She was more of a fighter and if things were to go sour, they would join forces for a quick escape.After a whole day of scanning the areas, they returned to the ship with the information they had gathered.Edward spread the map of the kingdom on the counter and the two came closer and placed the small logs on the setting they had surveyed.Joi pointed out the shores while the others stood around and watched. “The black shores have about twenty guards stationed while the capital had thirty-five.”“Which do you think would be best to land?” Xavier asked, staring at the map. “The black shores, just like the red, have a little ab
Elliott stepped into his inner court and found Zara standing there, waiting for him in a long scarlet robe. A smile came on his face as he closed the door and stepped closer.“King Elliott! It’s an honour to finally stand in your presence,” she called, bowing her head to reverence him. He smirked and approached her, cupping her face in his large hands. “I came as soon as I arrived on the shores. The tides were not in my favour, but I never lost hope in coming to land and coming to you.”“Zara.” He breathes, placing his head against hers.She grinned up at him. “How does it feel to be the alpha king and ruler of the entire kingdom?”He didn’t answer; instead, he kissed her, then traced his thumb over her bottom lips before inserting his tongue into her mouth and getting the taste of it. “It is so much better than I imagined, yet I still have so much to do. I, however, look forward to having you beside me always.”“And Lily?” she asked with a raised brow. Lily of the house Crow was his m
Flashback to the pastThe last person to come for dinner was Robb, and just as they did every day, they waited for him. It was their table rule to wait for anyone who was yet to be seated before eating, unless that person had given instructions to not wait for him or her. Seated at the table now were the four of them: Queen Layla, princes Xavier and Edward, and their cousin Elliott. He had been living with them at the palace since the death of his mother, and he had been around Robb more than the princes had. Robb loved his company, unlike the company of his two sons, and most times brought him along to learn. Queen Layla had asked why he wouldn’t carry Xavier as well, and he said Xavier was always causing trouble. Xavier, however, complained about how Robb always talked down on him. This had also put a strain on his relationship with Elliott as the two young men were at each other’s throats, arguing, fighting, and trying desperately to put each other down every chance they got. Ellio
This is the completion of the chapter (with the same title) in Book #1 that detailed the death of the queen. Flashback Xavier pushed open the door to the elder’s court, where Robb sat deliberating with the council of alphas. He didn’t know what they talked about, and he didn’t care. His eyes were still blurry from having cried so much. He had wiped his face because he knew the tears wouldn’t bring his mother, the now-late queen, back. If they could, she wouldn’t have died. The anger that coursed through his veins wouldn’t bring her back either, but at least it was for good measure. He felt disappointed and angry more than anything else. It was crazy. The only thing that stayed on his mind was making the alpha king, Robb Ainsworth, pay for what he had done. He had to pay for being a terrible husband and father, and those titles should never be used when referring to him. He was still yet to disclose the sad news to Edwards, whom he had specifically told to stay away from her room aft
“What are you thinking?” Xavier asked, picking up on Mia’s silence.“Xoe,” she answered.“Xoe?” he repeated, confused. She lifted her head off his shoulder to stare at him. “What am I missing, my love?” “I think we should send the princess back to her kingdom,” she answered. “Why would you suggest that?” he asked, a little puzzled. “I think it’s more dangerous out there than it is in here.”“The priest said Princess Kailani, Alpha Koz, and Sir Valerio had left to rally allies for you and the crown. Despite that, a majority of the armed forces follow Elliott as the king, and they will carry out his wishes. The king’s men, the warriors from the institute, and our allies are just a small fraction compared to the Royal Army. The Royal Army comprises over ten thousand powerful men of war sworn and loyal to King Elliot. If we, however, can get Xoe to the kingdom of Klean, she could convince her father to aid us with his army. It would be a sign of good fortune since we rescued his daughter
Flashback...“What did you do?” Edward yelled as he stormed into Xavier’s chambers, his eyes blazing bright gold. Xavier’s eyes snapped open at the intrusion to find Edward standing fully dressed in his royal blue robe. He was angry at him, but Xavier couldn’t tell why; he just knew that his brother was. He sat up in bed, and the maidens lying on both sides of him did the same. “What did I do? And for goodness’ sake, learn to fucking knock. I could have been balls deep on these damsels, and you would have walked in on that.” Edward’s eyes departed from Xavier’s and darted between the girls, now clinging to the bedsheets because they were naked underneath. “Get out,” he ordered, and the girls ran off the bed, naked, and they reached for their various clothes and got dressed. Xavier’s gaze followed the maidens, lusting after their fair bodies as they got dressed up. “I thought you had Zara? Isn’t that why our father cursed you?” Edward asked as the door closed behind the maidens. He
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s a message here for you, my king,” Edward said, stepping into the conquered estate hall with a scroll in his hand. “Richard of the King’s men found it on the stairs of the estate, and there was no footprint to trace it. He believes it came through a carrier pigeon.” Xavier stopped speaking and turned to face Edward, who had interrupted his discussion with Alpha Koz and Sir Valerio. A week ago, Alpha Koz and his mate Luna Elena returned from Soule, the southern side of the kingdom with the King’s Reserve there. Xavier welcomed them back and commended them for keeping up the good fight and doing the work, even in his absence. Alpha Koz humbly told him he had no regrets about serving and fighting for his cause. The King’s Reserve that came from Soule was a total of three hundred and seventy-nine able-bodied men. Together, the soldiers on Xavier’s side numbered nine hundred men. Their number was slipped between the High Tower and the royal estate. Xavi
He yanked her robe off her body, leaving her completely naked underneath him, and he inserted his knee between her legs, up to her thighs. She took the cue and ground against it while he pleasured her with his mouth.Her hands around him tightened when he gently grazed her nipple, making her eyes roll and her release build.She rubbed herself against his knee, her dampness growing with every pleasure he gave her.“Xavier!” she cried out as her release rocked her sooner than she expected. She writhes in sensitivity under him despite not even being touched over her pleasure spot.He released her nipples and kissed the tip of her breast, then did the same for the other before moving down her stomach to kiss the swell. He kissed and mumbled sweet nothing to her stomach before trailing his lips down and touching her spot, still sensitive from the release. He placed a kiss on her, making her breath hitch and her legs shake.“Relax, okay?” he told her, but it was easier said than done.She s
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