Rosalind's POVThe marsh sucked at my feet with every step and it took all my strength to even pull out one foot and step forward with another. I made the mistake of looking back and I saw Adelyn enter the marsh with what seemed like the fury of the world on her face. She moved fast and before I could blink, she skidded and landed on her back splattering mud everywhere. I laughed and my belly tender from her kneeing protested and I almost lost my balance falling forward until I caught myself. The person farther ahead was the girl that had picked a fight with the other girl. She seemed to have gotten a hang of this moving-in-the-mud thing. I looked back at her opponent that lay unconscious and unmoving. A shiver ran up my spine. I hoped she was still alive. Seeing the nobles dolled up it was easy to forget how dangerous they were. They had enough gold and silver to have their children trained immediately after they were weaned. Even the ladies that would be little more than orname
Rosalind's POV. I left the infirmary shortly after a shell-shocked Adelyn left. I didn't feel safe sleeping when Adelyn, who had tried to kill me how many times in front of everyone, could be allowed to hover by my bedside like some evil spirit of death. The doctors had protested but in truth, they were glad to see me go. They didn't know how to address me. I might have become a crown princess but I was also an omega so I had no idea if they would actually accept me as a crown princess because I had never seen something like this done before. There was a knock on my door and I froze wrapping my robe around me. I had been in the bath for hours and no matter how long I washed I didn't think I would be able to remove some things.I opened the door only to see Cillian. The world stopped and I found tears running down my cheeks. He was alive. Of course, he was alive and he would remain so for a very long time. That mirror had wanted to break me and it nearly had. "Cillian!"He wrapped
Rosalind's POVI chose to live. By that, I mean that I chose to be Killian's fiancée. We walked together hand in hand as we entered the hall that was used for official undertakings and for celebrations. The entire council was there suited at their dais. The silverbags/nobles occupied the common rows and as I entered I had the remarkable thought that apart from the servants catering to the guests I was probably the lowest-ranking wolf in attendance. Cillian was already there with Adelyn standing next to him both decked in the most expensive-looking silks in Collian's colours of blue and white and the sight of them standing there looking like the perfect couple made me stop moving. Killian's arm went around my waist forcing me forward while making it seem like he was just being affectionate. My heart raced and my hands grew clammy as the attention of all those in attendance fixated on my skin. I couldn't breathe until I did. Killian's arm urged me forward until we stood next to Cill
Rosalind's POV.One minute I was moving with the party towards the safe room, the next Adelyn shoved me to the side. "What are you doing?" Our lives were at risk. Surely she didn't want to pick a fight now of all times? Worse, we were at the back of the council and the priestess having been the closest to the guards."It's your fault that Cillisn refuses to mate with me. Find some other safe room to stay in." Adelyn snarled in my face. Yes, apparently we were doing this. I shoved her aside and tried to stand up but she held on to my leg and twisted it dislocating my ankle and I screamed. A scream that was lost in the noise from all the chaos. I went down, my leg unable to carry my weight. When I looked up she was gone, they had just rounded a corner in the ball so I couldn't see where exactly they had gone. Pulling myself up and ignoring my burning ankle that would need to be reset before it could heal. By the time I had finished hopping to the corner, the priestesses, council m
Rosalind's POVAfter that cryptic woman left having dropped that ominous warning, I laid back in bed thinking and thinking about the ways I could escape with minimal risk. I couldn't risk my life on the off chance that Killian didn't feel like bailing me out. Cillian was mercurial and while some days he seemed like an absolute darling, it never lasted. Things might change now that I was his fiancée but I sincerely doubted it seeing as he wanted this engagement about as much as I wanted it. Which was not at all. So no, I wouldn't wait for him to save me. That being secured there was only one way out of this room. It was the door. I would be monitored by the guy in black, River, but at least I would be able to check my vicinity to make sure she hadn't been lying about us being in a different kingdom. I stood up pleasantly surprised when I didn't swoon or have sudden upsetting headaches. The drugs had worn out.Then I went to check the washroom and the dresser. There was water and
Rosalind's POVRivers turned back to face me. My breath slowed as I asked. "Can I check if I have it?"River's brows drew together in confusion. "Have what?"I swallowed thickly. "Magic."I know it seemed crazy. I was the crazy one for even thinking that I could have anything like that but being here had done one thing. It has taken my mind back to the Mirror of Reflection. The only time I had seen magic before being abducted. I had been unable to fully process it between being in the trials and seeing the princes I cared about due to its reflection. But now looking back at it, I recalled my scream and the corresponding crack in the mirror. It might have been a coincidence but I needed to make sure that it was. That I wasn't like these… rogues. River stared at me like I had taken leave of my senses. "Currently, only purebloods can wield magic and no offence but if you were one of us, you would have grown up here," Then he shrugged. "Or you would be dead."I rolled my eyes at him.
Killian's POV"Why aren't they here yet?"I was beyond anxious. It had been almost three days since Rosalind was taken. I didn't realize how much she had meant to me until her disappearance. When the ultimatum had arrived barely hours into the kidnap and subsequent search for Rosalind, I had wanted nothing more than to give them what they wanted and have her returned to me that very instant. But there were annoying things like procedures and council meetings that had to happen first because I wasn't crowned King yet alongside my brother. Once that happened, the first thing I would do would be to get rid of the council and do things at my own pace. The council has wanted to wait them out. Call the rogues' bluff so to speak in Arthur's exact words. "Who do they think they are? They only have one princess elect, we can get another, we will not negotiate with terrorists that put our palace in jeopardy with their witchcraft."I glared at him. If it had been his daughter that they had
Rosalind's POVI blinked in surprise at the possessive tone of Killian's voice. Initially, when he hugged me, I thought it was weird but I had just been kidnapped so I brushed it aside thinking that it was a heat-of-the-moment thing or even because of the people around. He wanted to seem like the perfect fiance u could understand that, this however, I couldn't understand. I moved forward, the door slamming behind me as I went to my wardrobe to bring out clothes to wear. "I went to see Cillian," I replied offhandedly as the tension in the room built.I was reaching for a dress when suddenly I felt Killian behind me. I turned to look at him but to my greatest surprise, he shut the wardrobe and then pushed me up against it, his hazel eyes flashing. "Why?"I looked up at him confused by his question and his proximity. "Because I love him. Why are you asking so many questions? This engagement isn't what you want either. I am just a whore, remember? A low-class whore you have no intere
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