“Edward!” the voice of Kailani called out through the foggy woods, and despite it lightening up his being, he couldn’t see her and didn’t know if she was real or not. “Kailani?” he asked. She giggled. “Who else do you know sounds like this?” “Is that you, my love? Cause I can’t see you.” His eyes darted around. “It is me, Edward. Look behind you.” She said, and he spun around to find her standing there in a long white dress. She had a wide smile on her face, and her eyes glowed in adoration. He reached for her and pulled her against himself, taking her lips between his and kissing her deeply. He knew his words would fail him, but his kisses, touches, and affections never will, so he reached for her. They pulled away, panting, and Edward placed his head against hers, his eyes fluttering. “I thought I’d never see you again.” He didn’t feel ashamed to admit it. He was scared he wouldn’t see her again. He didn’t feel the pain he would feel for losing someone, but he also didn’t fee
Warning: Triggering chapter. This chapter contains graphic images of a corpse’s body.Flashback...“Did you learn anything today?” Robb asked Elliott as they stepped out of the citadel together. They had gone in to speak to the high priest, the head seer, the shaman, and their subordinate about the burial rites of the queen. She had been dead for a week and has since been going through the cleansing rites, which would clear her path for the life beyond. The preparation for the last farewell needed to be completed faster, as the longer they kept the dead, the harder it would be for them to find the path to life beyond. Queen Layla wasn’t just anyone, though; she was Luna Queen and the second person in the kingdom, so her burial rites had to differ from every other. “Yes, my king. Burial rites are important as they help guide the dead on the right path to life beyond. Without the proper rites, the soul will be trapped and unable to pass on. It is also important to send loved ones to
Xavier woke without Mia in his arms, and he turned around, confused about where she might be. It wasn’t unlike her to be awake before him. Most times she was, but she always stayed in his arms until he woke, and then they began the day together. Last night was the celebration of Princess Kailani and the army from Lurds, who had returned the day before. After they were done celebrating with them, they came inside and had a party for themselves. It was great. Mia took the lead. She wanted to treat him and did. Since his return from their mission a week ago, she has never failed to show him why living was the best option he had. She made him moan, cuss, and growl like a beast. It was his treat; she always told him he deserved it. He enjoyed every bit of it, and having their desire for each other was a bonus to it all. Being with Mia always felt like the first time. He still got nervous, like it was his first time, and she made him thank the moon goddess for pairing them. The night w
He didn’t know why Chike was here and now, but he knew one thing for certain: he wasn’t here for good. Nothing about the snake was good. He was a betrayer, a monster who tried to take his wife away from him. For that, he could never forgive him. Whatever news he brought from his master, it better be one that wouldn’t annoy him, or he would return the message in a body bag. “You heard too?” he asked when Edward fell in line with him. “I saw Sir Valerio enter the castle, and I wanted to know what news he had that brought him so early,” he answered.He slowed down but didn’t stop walking. “I see, but you had no dealings or business with Alpha Chike while he served under me, so why do you bother?”“I want to once again see the man who made you doubt my loyalty to you. But then again, you have doubted my loyalty from the very day I was born. And from then on, you figured out a way to catch me in the act of betraying you,” he said, and this time, it made Xavier halt.He kept quiet; Edward
“We have to stop Elliott,” Edward said.“I don’t think anything that’s not a head-on battle would stop him. The revolution force, despite the attack they took, is still in the thousands. That means each man on our side would take on no less than three if we proceeded to battle. We do not have enough men to go up against him in battle. Our only option is to wait for the allies we sent for from the kingdom of Klean. If we attack recklessly, we might end up losing more than we bargained for. We have to think out the plan, and not just any plan, but one that would work.” Xavier explained. “We have to stop him.” was all Edward answered and walked away from the inn of the High Tower, where the rest of the men stayed.... Edward stood by the window of his chamber at the royal estate, staring at the half-moon set in the sky.“You’re thinking again?” Kailani asked, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around him.He sighed and leaned into her to feel her warmth. “I can’t help it,” he a
Warning: Triggering chapter: Dead body. “My king,” Chike bowed as he stepped into the throne room where Elliott currently sat on the throne; the chair beside him belonging to Lily, his Luna Queen, is empty.The throne room had witnessed a massive change since Elliott became king. He wanted to do things differently than past kings. He changed his throne setting and also had the stairs that led up to the throne seat elevated. Then he closed up the multiple windows the throne room had, leaving it with just one. Lastly, he removed the office of the Luna Queen, though her seat remained in the throne room. Luna Lily was as quiet as she had always been with this decision as she carried on with her role as wife and mate. The only counsel he took now was Zor’d, and he saw nothing wrong with it, so Elliott carried on.The throne room didn’t have as much light as it used to; instead, it had only one light coming from behind the throne seat and always blinding those standing before it. “You sen
Kailani’s lashes fluttered weakly to see the dawning day, surprised that it had come so quickly. She sighed and turned around in bed, but Edward was not there with her. She sat up and tried to pick up his scent, but his presence was nowhere in the room. Still, she helped herself out of the bed and into the bathroom to search for him, knowing she’d found him there a few times in the last few days. She pushed the door further open and glanced around, but he wasn’t there.She wondered what he could have gone to do early in the morning, and then her mind travelled back to yesterday and how he had spoken about doing something. He told her he wanted to go out against the revolution force alone, and that meant signing his life away, which he appeared willing to do. She thought he had given it up; she told him to, she begged him to, and they kissed and made up after that.They made love, and she thought everything was fine. Oh, how naïve she was. Edward was as stubborn as he was rebellious. S
Edward could hear the footsteps of the king’s army marching on from a few miles away. Despite having already evacuated those who worked and came to the Farmer’s Institute every day since earlier this morning, many stayed back to see the turn of events. They stayed back to see the last state of the building. And others lingered around because the Farmer’s Institute had given rise to a few jobs and businesses in the vicinity which was north of the capital. The crowd had gossiped about how this was an obvious ploy by the king to lure out the alpha king, Xavier, and many prayed he stayed hidden away from Elliott, the cruel usurper King. It didn’t take a genius to know the people’s loyalty rested with the former king. He had been a wonderful king and provided food and security. Peace has also been abundant in his reign as compared to that of the self-proclaimed King Elliott, who only invoked fear and hatred wherever he went. Still, he didn’t let anyone around him know who he was; he had
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