Rosalind's POVWe sat next to each other but we had never felt further apart. After overhearing what they had said at that meeting, I withdrew. Maybe it was cowardly of me. Cowardly of me to just want to dissociate myself because of the amount of pain even the thought of Cillian with someone else was giving me. I didn't want to think about it. I really didn't yet all night I tossed and turned imagining how he would be with her. If he would kiss her the way he would me like I was oxygen he needed to survive. I wondered if he would touch her like he did me and I wondered which I would prefer. If he being distant with her would make me happy because it meant I mattered to him or sad because even if he cared about me, care wasn't enough. It was no surprise when he picked up on the negative vibe I was giving off against my wishes. "You have been avoiding me, Rosalind."I bowed slightly avoiding his gaze."I apologise if you feel that way, Prince Cillian."He took my hand and I looked
Rosalind's POVI was cleaning one of the suites when an attendant came to call me."Prince Killian has summoned you."It had been three days since we had that talk that still baffled me. I have avoided him since then by avoiding the hall altogether. The two brothers confounded me. I didn't know how to behave with Cillian who made my heart ache when he looked at me with so much hurt in his eyes. I didn't know how to behave with a version of Prince Killian who wasn't actively trying to make my life hell.I knew I would be unable to hide forever but I wondered why it had been Prince Killian and not Cillian. I wondered why it hurt so much. Then I wondered why he wanted to see me at all. Was he back to his plan of torturing me?I followed the attendant anxiously. He led me outside the palace to a limo. And standing in front of the limo, dressed in the colours of blue and white was…"Cillian?"He smiled at me and I found my lips lifting up in response before I stopped myself in time. He
Killian's POVIf I saw one more painted simpering lady try to make a pass at me, I would abdicate and leave the throne for Cillian. I never agreed for the girls to be brought here so why was I suffering for this?"I am done with this." I informed my brother. Cillian merely looked at least though I was exaggerating."I came out of my bathroom and that one with the curls, Ash or something, was in my bed. Naked.""And since when do things like that irritate you?"Okay, Cillain had a point. I liked my women with imagination, silence, willingness and spread legs. If she was already in my bed, all the better. Which was the reason I told the council I wanted to mate for love. I already had so much meaningless interaction with women. If and when I got mated, it had to mean more than that to me. "It irritates me when said naked woman is the daughter of a powerful family and wants to trap me with sex." I poured myself a glass of wine. "Besides I never asked you to meekly follow the wishes o
Rosalind's POVThe woman who stopped me was taller than me and effortlessly beautiful like she had just stepped out of a capital magazine. She also seemed familiar like I had seen her somewhere. She had brown hair done up in intricate braids that pulled her hair away from her face showing off her aristocratic features and glass-smooth skin. Unlike the other brides-to-be that were here, she covered up her body. She wore a luxurious gown that looked expensive enough to buy at least three orphans in the districts. Her grey eyes were as cool as steel. And her nails dug into my arm.And I don't understand what she is saying."Pardon me?"She hit me across the face and I clutched my cheek stunned silent by the suddenness of the slap. I hadn't done anything to warrant her to treat me like that. As I looked up at her and saw the disgusted sneer she regarded me with, I realised where I had seen her. Earlier yesterday, I had bumped into her when leaving the dining room after seeing Prince K
Killian's POVI don't think I have ever been this angry before. This thoroughly consumed by anger. So angry that my body trembled from the intensity of my rage.Another tear dropped from Rosalind's beautiful eyes and I wanted nothing more than to rip into my brother for causing her this much pain. "I knew he could never choose me as his mate. But I hoped. I hoped so much and seeing him like that with her hurt so much." Rosalind sobbed and buried her head in my chest again as nerve-wracking sobs hit her body. I held her close to myself, my shirt was getting rather wet but I didn't care. I wanted to comfort her even if I had zero ideas how exactly that worked. "You were stupid. That's not a sin."Rosalind cried harder. Goddess, my brother was stupid.What happened to all the plans we had made together? Was he no longer planning to leave the throne to me? He had seemed so certain when he spoke to me about how she meant the world to him only for me to hear this now. I felt myself gett
Rosalind's POVI sat in my bed feeling a chaotic whirl of emotions. My lips still tingled from Killian's kiss and my heart still ached from Cillian's betrayal. This was wrong. I shouldn't feel this way about both of them. It wasn't fair to either of them but I was unable to control how I felt.I loved Cillian. I had loved him from the first moment I met him and he took my hand. I had fallen even deeper in love with him every day he treated me like a queen. The way he tried to solve all of my problems, his shy smile and the way he stared at me as though I hung the moon and he couldn't be luckier to have me and the way his reverent kisses and his touch excited me beyond what I thought was possible. With every kiss we shared, I felt even more bound to him and my wolf confirmed what I had always felt deep down. He was my mate. The one person created by the moon goddess specifically for me. And then there was Killian. Killian who had almost had me executed the first time we met. Who m
Cillian's POVThe conversation I had with Rosalind was still stuck in my head playing on repeat. I had been unable to sleep, to stop thinking about her and rethinking all the things I could have said or done to effect a different outcome. I was wrong, Prince Cillian. When I said seeing you mated would kill me. It won't…I don't like you the way you like me, Prince Cillian.I refused to believe her words. Not when she had looked at me with those blue eyes filled with pain. The root of our problems was this damn princess selection so I would get rid of it. I knew there would be repercussions but nothing mattered to me more than Rosalind at this point. I would deal with the rest later. "Cillian?" Adelyn looked at me questioningly and I returned to myself. "I can't do this." I faced someone who had once been my friend, confidante and more before the years and growth had torn us apart. "I am sending all the brides home. I thought I would tell you for old times' sake."Adelyn's eyes wer
Rosalind's POVWe entered the council meeting hall where I had once stood outside to eavesdrop on the conversation about the prospective brides. They were in session and I saw Cillian and Killian seated before the guards tossed me to the ground and I landed on my hands and knees. Instinctively I knew I should not raise my head. I should not draw notice here. It could be the end of my life. I heard the outraged cry of one of the council members, his name might have been Gaius from all my eavesdropping sessions. "What is the meaning of this interruption?"Adelyn was elegance incarnate as she simpered."I apologise dear esteemed council members. I have brought a case of theft for your judgement. Brought here as a part of the incoming brides, I was assured I would be treated like royalty."The room was silent and I wondered if just anyone could bring a case of theft to the Goddess damned council or if it was because she was Arthur's daughter. Her soothing voice continued to hammer nai
ROSALIND'S POV"I will not stand by this." This is just not…Councilman Arthur was saying."This is not just what, Arthur? Spit it out." Killian dared. His eyes flashing menacingly at the older man.Arthur shook his head and sat back down. He glared at the high priestess who had her normal expressionless look on. He faced the elders.They too were short of words. "I love Rosalind, she is my mate and I will marry her." Cillian said unexpectedly and for a second, I thought I would scream out. My legs shook at those words. His sheer determination alone was so sexy.Cillian held my hand in his as a way of showing that no decision made there would stop him from doing what he wanted. I almost melted from his warm touch. It took everything in me to still keep my composure and just smile when he looked at me lovingly.Killian stepped forward as well.Dear Councilman, Rosalind is betrothed to me so there's not really much you can do. I intend to marry her and I will. Not just because she won
CILLIAN'S POV She looked at me with hatred in her eyes when I walked in but said nothing.Her chains rattled. She was muttering something under her breath, a spell. But the chains neutralized everything. "What do you want?" She asked.I looked at her, at the chains and then at her palm. Suspicions were correct. I had seen the same mark on Rosa's palm earlier. A mark that appeared after she was taken by the rogues.I bent and grabbed Estella's hand."What are you…?"I brought out the silver dagger and slashed at the black mark in her palm.She winced in pain and cursed me but she was still in chains. Nothing happened. There were drops of blue blood before red blood oozed from the wound.I gave her a towel to stop the bleeding "Your days are numbered." I said.And without another word, I left the dungeon.ESTELLA'S POVThe pain from that silver cut still stung even after he left. He had broken the magical bond I formed with Rosalind to siphon her powers. I was so angry. How did he k
CILLIAN'S POVAfter some time, the sapphire stopped glowing but it was already confirmed. Rosalind was one of them. I didn't know exactly how I was feeling. The elders were all looking at me, waiting for my input on what to do next.The law was clear. Wolves with magic were abominations, they were unstable, unpredictable and very dangerous. They always went rogue. They were threats. But this was Rosalind, my Rosalind. She couldn't hurt a fly. How the hell did she have magic and I didn't know all this time? I didn't sense it or anything. Was I that blind or did she just hide it so well?So many questions were floating in my mind. It was a mix of pain, betrayal, helplessness and anger. I did not know what to do. Rosalind stood before us with the now normal looking sapphire on the table, waiting for me to say something. The elders were still murmuring and having side talks.Councilman Arthur cleared his throat and decorum returned. I knew that whatever he was going to say would not be i
ESTELLA'S POVI was bound in silver chains, I couldn't save myself, couldn't defend myself against these pigs, I could do absolutely nothing as I stood before people eager for me to die. I had never been more powerless in my entire life.But I knew what to do. The key was the princess that they loved. The prophesied link. Irony and poetry mixed in one. It was so ironic that I didn't even know when I burst out laughing until I noticed that the noise had died down completely.My laughter usually had that effect on others. But to think of it, I was going to die but my niece whose magic I siphoned to do the things I did, gets to just watch and do nothing?That was insane. They needed to know how powerful she was. It was time for these pigs to know the real truth. It was time for them to hear it.I stole a glance at the prince. All the blood had disappeared from his face, his eyes were wide open, staring at me in disbelief. He would never believe me. I had to keep speaking. I was going to
KILLIAN'S POVI didn't remember much from what happened before I got to the hospital.I had felt someone by my side throughout the period when I was unconscious, taking care of me, humming to themselves. Always quiet and caring. It was all a bit weird, I knew I was unconscious, and I knew I had to wake up, I just didn't seem to have enough strength to do so. I could feel people around me and I could vaguely hear what was going on around, like conversations and monitor beeps and footsteps. My wolf could detect people's presence but it just couldn't jolt me up.I tried everyday for what seemed like eternity but I couldn't, so I did the only thing I could;Wait.The time spent waiting gave me an avenue to think, to go through everything that had happened over and over again, to spend time with myself and try to see something I hadn't been able to before.I had tried to replay the events of the fight in my head but most of the time, it was all blurry and unclear. My own thoughts and memo
CILLIAN'S POVI watched Killian fall face down. There was blood, and he wasn't moving.My chest caught fire and I went full primal again. The rage I felt was like none other. I combed through the enemies, crushing them in numbers. Estella was my target but she was surrounded by too many people.She opened a portal and disappeared into it. Oh no you don't. I leapt over the crowd and chased after her but the portal was already closing slowly. The witches swamped around me, attacking from all angles. Casting spells and poking me with weapons. My necklace glowed brighter and brighter.I couldn't take it anymore. I roared with everything in me and I felt a great surge of energy encapsulate me and then…Boom.There was a big blast. When I looked around, all the rogues were on the ground. Dead.I ran to that portal, it was almost closed but I could still get in.I turned and saw Killian, still in the same position and not moving. I looked at the portal again, and I jumped in. I grabbed the
KILLIAN’S POV“This is wrong, your highnesses, you cannot lead a war from the frontlines. It is never done. As the only offsprings of your father, you are the heirs to the throne. It is just too risky!”Councilman Gordon kept on whining like a baby.“And if we refuse to heed your advice, are any of you going to stop us from fighting for our pack?”The silent murmurs came to a stop. The councilmen in the Great Hall, devoured by their selfish interests, were looking for a way to stop Cillian and I from leading the battle. Typical fools.“My prince, you just need to understand,” Arthur began in his sweet tongue.“I know that both of you are seasoned warriors and your prowess remains a thing of awe in Southern Paw, your father made sure of that. But if anything should happen to the heirs of the throne while fighting, even for the right cause, it will pose an enormous problem for the pack. That is what my councilmen are looking to avoid. Unless maybe one of you has a child that we are not
CILLIAN’S POVI sat at the council meeting as we deliberated on the next step with the councilmen of the pack. It had been almost two days since Bast was taken and up till that point, there still had not been any development whatsoever on what to do. I wondered how Rosalind would be feeling. I started to fantasize but shook it off immediately. There were serious matters arising, I needed to focusAcross the long table from me was Killian. He just sat there with a straight face. Probably with his mind already made up for what he was going to do when the time was right. “...But they could harm the little boy, it's risky.” I heard Councilman Gabe say. Probably a reply to someone's comment. I was not paying full attention, my mind also was troubled with thoughts of what the high priestess had said before. Many things didn't make sense at this point.“That's true. Although it could just be a bluff, these creatures still have to be taken care of nonetheless.” Said Councilman Arthur.I coul
ESTELLA’S POVI was back in my chambers after going for a walk when a visitor was announced to. I told the guard to let them come in and shortly, to my surprise, Malia walked into the living room.The guard refused to let her come in with her staff at first, but she was adamant, classic Malia.I waved to him that it was okay and he reluctantly let her in and left us alone.“I've come to talk, Estella.” She said, without much expression on her face.“How long has it been since you last visited, old friend? Twenty five, twenty seven years.” “I believe it's been about thirty years. You have set up the place quite nicely.” She commented, looking around.“I see you still wear your bracelet all the same and…”“I have come to talk, Estella.” She said cutting me short.“Not small talk, but real talk.”“Oh Malia. Always so uptight. When was the last time.you did anything fun, like a party or even sex?”She stared at me with a strange expression and continued;“What happened in Southern Paw wa