Rosalind's POVWhen I woke up, I still didn't have any answer to my question of the night before.It wasn't until I had returned to my room to see the empty space where Killian had been that I realised that I had forgotten that he had left prior to me waking up. I didn't know how things would be now and I wasn't sure how I wanted them to be. I thought of Estella's words again implying that I knew nothing of the palace of this kingdom and resolved to change that. I would find out the truth behind her words. The only thing was where. I couldn't ask Killian and Cillian, could I? They would be sure to suspect me and that was the last thing that I wanted. The priesthood seemed like the next safe bet seeing as they had the closest thing to magic that I had seen in this kingdom but no one could enter their division except by volunteering or by invitation.I had no power of any sort despite my proclamation as princess so I couldn't even request an invitation. That left only one option fo
Rosalind's POVI must have lost it. Because if I hadn't there was no way I would think to talk to a council member like that. I wondered if this was how it began. The arrogance that Adelyn wore like a cloak. Was I slowly turning into one of them even though I felt that I had been right in defending myself? I didn't know and I suspected that I might never. At least not in time to do anything about it. And I had been unable to take the book out to crown it all. I wondered if he would go through the book that a worthless person like me has been going through or if my words would have driven him to anger as he walked out. I was so consumed with my thoughts that I lost touch with my surroundings and someone suddenly pulled me into their arms and I looked up to see Cillian. My eyes widened in surprise."Cillian?"His name had barely left my mouth when his lips came down on mine and he kissed me so soundly that I forgot we were in the hallway where anyone could see us. He pulled away l
Rosalind's POVWhen I went out at midnight, River was waiting and I thought I caught a glimpse of surprise in those dark depths."You came."I had been so sure that I wouldn't but the thought of staying without answers for even a second more didn't appeal to me in the least. Deep inside me, I knew that wasn't the only reason I was back. The other reason was one that scared me slightly. Magic. Knowing my ban on magic was lifted and that I would have at my fingertips, the power to make sure that people like Councilman Arthur never got the chance to hurt me as he had threatened was enough allure to find my way back. I met River's gaze."We need to talk."******High Priestess Malia's POVThe cushion was uncomfortable. But then such was the problem of choosing a life that was as simple as it was intricate. One had to accept the discomfort and become one with them to attain true ascension. I looked over at the last person I would have expected to come calling at this hour. "What b
Rosalind's POVRiver took me to our training spot but once we landed, he didn't let go of me immediately and it took everything in me not to cringe away from his touch when I recalled how he had placed that dagger to my throat so effortlessly. Would we ever get back to where we had been in our friendship prior to that?I had no idea but I desperately wanted to know. River's dark eyes noticed my stiffness, now that I thought of it that was the only reason he would hold me so close. He let go of me, his voice unbearably formal. "What do you want to know?"I swallowed around the lump in my throat. "Was our friendship real or did Estella just make you do it?"It seemed that I had surprised River for the second time that night. "I thought that you would be more focused on magical questions. I blushed slightly. For all my 'lack of interest' in magic, I was itching at the bit to try it out again but there were things more important than that. Like friendships. Or at least I hoped tha
Rosalind's POVThat was just one moment. I wasn't attracted to River. At least I didn't think that I was. But after we had that moment, I couldn't help but be aware of him. Sparring with him had been abysmal as I kept flinching away from any contact and thinking way too much before even throwing a punch. Returning to the palace was all I thought of until River held me transporting me back and I felt sparks all over. It was a residual from doing magic. That was why I was being so sensitive. That was definitely why my heart raced as he smiled at me bidding me farewell. "See you."I waved, unable to speak. Things didn't get better as I returned to the Palace because before I could sleep very long, I was woken up by one of my attendants. "Princess Rosalind?"I turned unwilling to wake up just yet. "Princess Rosalind?""What?" I grumbled into my pillow. The attendant was silent, making me take a peek at her. "What?!""Your ladies are waiting in the drawing room to attend to yo
Rosalind's POVI had been wrong about what I said about them becoming less vicious. It was almost as though she had gotten more angry at the fact that I thought to dismiss the noble ladies. I had only done so because I didn't want them watching her and Aunt Celia fighting themselves and throwing underhanded comments at each other.What again had she said? That women like me were unworthy to become Killian's mate, that the only thing we were suited for would be warming his bed. Anger filled me up from the inside. Maybe because even now, the only thing that Killian and I shared was a physical relationship. Something he had done out of his way to enforce this morning. I had been the one to put down the rule the first time we were together but now it rubbed me wrong.I would forever love Cillian but I wondered if his softening in my heart meant something else other than what I had seen it as before. I blinked away the tears that sprung into my eyes."Women like me." When she said
Killian's POVIt had been purely by chance that I had wandered by the library at the time that Arthur had been questioning the librarian. His voice had been pitched low but the library was dead silent and between the resounding words and my kern hearing, I had heard every word that he said. The librarian had stuck to her story of not knowing what he was talking about save from guiding Rosalind to the book stack she was interested in. It was obvious that he was fishing for information that could potentially put Rosalind in trouble so that he could oust her from her rightful position. And how had he been able to do that? Because she was the one who had enabled that. I might have been able to overlook that if Rosalind hadn't been acting strange recently. She seemed distant and lost in thought at least half of the time. I wasn't the one acting jealous, she was the one acting weird. Admittedly, I was jealous. Jealous of the ease with which she related to Cillian. The way her eyes
Cillian's POVWhen Killian told me that Aunt Celia wanted to see me, this was the last conversation I had envisioned us having. She looked at me, her dark eyes watchful and missing nothing. "Is there someone else?"Truth be told, I had assumed that Killian had been lying. He obviously wanted to speak with Rosalind in private. I trusted Rosalind but I didn't exactly like the fact that she had to sneak around with me, she could walk around freely with him. I blinked at Aunt Celia not knowing what to say to that. "What?"She narrowed her eyes almost suspiciously at me. "I'm talking about Adeline. Both of you were seeing each other when tlyoy were much younger, when I found out she won your flag, I thought you would be happy. That was true. She didn't know the true colors of Adeline as I did. She still thought of her as that naive girl that I had grown up with and it was only normal that my aunt would be baffled that I wanted to end things with her instead of building up our last
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