It’s almost nightfall, and we have barely covered the tiniest fraction of the mountain. Alec stops in front of me, ‘You won’t be able to see the sceptre in the dark. You also need to eat and rest, and I need to feed as well. Let’s make a fire to keep you warm through the night first,’ he says.I collect the sticks, and Alec finds a couple of small logs. As soon as we stack them into a pile, I point my finger about to cast the fire spell, but a large gust of flame blows past me and ignites it. I turn and find Vermilion sitting like a dog, staring at the fire.‘Thanks,’ I laugh.I sit beside Alec, but he pulls me onto his lap. His fangs protrude, and he instantly bites into my neck, making me yelp. He drinks more than usual, then flings his head back in satisfaction before gazing into my eyes. He kisses my forehead, then my nose and then nuzzles back into my neck, where he slides his tongue across the puncture marks sending wild and pleasurable sensations throughout my body. He then kis
Vermilion dodges flame, ice, lighting and poison strikes from the dragons. He hovers on the spot as more fly from the opposite direction towards us.‘Vermillion, fly!’ I shout as they get closer. But he doesn’t move and continues to wait. ‘Vermillion, please!’ I cry out then as they release elements toward us. He flies upward, causing the strikes from each group to hit each other. I laugh at the realisation Vermillion had planned that move. No wonder he wasn’t listening to me.The dragons form a group together and fly behind us, ‘Vermillion, they’re going to catch up to us,’ I say to him.He flaps his wings quicker and zooms through the sky. Some of the smaller dragons cannot keep up. The larger ones, however, are close behind us. We lean forward as shards of ice shoot past us. There is a mountain split in two in the distance. Vermillion turns sideways. I scream and hug myself against him for dear life. ‘Gods, is this necessary, Vermillion?’ Alec shouts, clinging even tighter to the d
First thing in the morning, I bathe, dress and walk throughout the castle, repeating the spell while looking for an item to seal Thypon. Reaper is perched on my shoulder. We enter the kitchen only to find pots, pans, plates and candle sticks—nothing in here of use. The library had the odd vase of flowers, a plethora of books, and nothing else. I take a random book from the shelf, ‘The Alpha’s Mate Who Cried Wolf,’ I read, then laugh. ‘Sounds interesting. I suppose I can’t trap Thypon in a book, though?’ I say to Reaper.‘I don’t think a book would be strong enough. Pages can rip easily, and who knows what that would do? Let’s keep looking in the other rooms,’ he mind-links.We enter the grand hall. I admire the tapestry and portraits, but there is nothing of use here either. I sigh, fall back into the dark wooden chair, and stare dismally at the ground.Footsteps coming toward me echo throughout the hall. I look up to see it’s Alec.‘Are you ready to go, my love?’ he says, extending h
As we leave Moon Crest Castle, I see the Covenstead in the distance.‘Alec, I want to go to Yiselda’s place before we leave,’ I say.‘But we need to get to Oakpaw mountain,’ he says.‘I know, but this is important. I need to go there.’He stares at me for a moment before nodding.‘If it’s that important, then let’s go,’ he replies.Reaper flies ahead of us to meet us there.I use my Skedaddle Dash spell until we arrive at the Covenstead. I push the door open to be greeted by the magic broom sweeping the floors. Rabbits, squirrels and the odd cat sit, sleep or run around. I enter the kitchen on the right. It’s strange to see the kitchen quiet with no potion brewing in the cauldron. I begin to look through the shelves and in the cupboards.‘What are you looking for?’ Alec asks.I pull my head out of the cupboard I am currently rummaging through and turn to face him, ‘I thought there might be something here I can use to seal Thypon in,’ I explain.‘Oh, I see. I’ll check the living room t
I wait as everyone gets themselves prepared to leave. I approach the tree Reaper is in to see the she-bird has warmed up to him. She nuzzles her beak into the feathers on his chest, preening them.‘Congratulations, Reaper, I see Alec’s advice helped,’ I mind-link and smile.‘Thanks, but Alec’s advice wasn’t working. She has been quite stubborn,’ he mind-links.‘Then how?’‘Not even an hour ago, she was being attacked by a large eagle trying to kill her and take over her territory. He had her by the wing, about to rip it off. I used my shadow power against him, making him burst into ash. The ash rained down on us like snow as she stared into my eyes. After a few moments, she gently leaned against me and started preening my feathers and singing to me,’ he says and holds his head high proudly.‘Oh, Reaper, you romantic little hero. You saved your damsel in distress and won her heart,’ I wink at him.Reaper spreads his wings and warbles happily in song. I’m so happy for him. ‘I guess I’ll
I hold the sceptre in front of me with two hands and recite the chant.‘Sceptre of Divine powerI open my heart to accept my new fateGrant me your power to defend all those at stakeMay my heart stay trueAs I transcend from old to newThis fate I accept with all my heart from you.’At first, the sceptre lights up, but then nothing else happens.‘No!’ Thypon shouts again. He then looks down at Magnus and aims his staff at him. Power surges from his staff, and a blue electric bolt strikes him. He convulses as the strike runs through his body. His eyes slightly open, ‘Nina,’ he whispers.‘Magnus!’ I shout. But his eyes close, and his body goes limp.Alec and I stare at one another and breathe heavily at his demise.Thypon laughs and then aims his staff at Damon.‘No!’ Queen Maia screams. She forms a purple ball of light at Thypon and throws it toward his face. Kadva then stands by her side and forms a blue orb he throws at Thypon.Suddenly the gem on the sceptre lets out an explosion o
We watch as Thypon slowly begins to be sucked in toward the trinket box each time we repeat it. By the time he is waist-deep being squeezed in, he realises what is happening. He tries to grab onto the castle wall, then a tree as he continues to be sucked in. The lid snaps shut over him, and an explosion of bright light forms and seals around the edges of the box. The guardians and Reaper all drop to the ground as the box seals. I peer down at them breathing heavily. I’m scared I have drained them of their powers and life, but their eyes begin to flicker, and they slowly sit up. I sigh in relief and then look over at Alec and Magnus. Alec is holding Magnus and seems to have cut his wrist, letting his blood drip into Magnus’s mouth. Now with wings, I fly toward them and fall to my knees beside Magnus. I shove Alec, and he flies back, slamming into a tree.‘What are you doing to him!’ I cry and hold Magnus in my arms. My wings wrap around Magnus to pull him closer to me and shield him fr
EpilogueWith Moon Crest Castle destroyed, Queen Maia and King Damon decided to live in West Wallow Keep, the castle her parents once ruled and once resided in. Six months later, Queen Maia gave birth to a baby princess named Lilly. Ember, Vivian and her family decided to stay with Queen Maia along with Sir Hugo, who was excited to return to training the young orcs.Magnus, Alec and I returned to Emerald Island to live. I created a portal from West Wallow Keep to Emerald Island so Queen Maia and I could port through to see each other daily.I decided that each year at each midsummer solstice, I would enter through the veil to the celestial world, where I would spend that time with my fellow deities Selene, Ogrun, Cerridwen and Valkrim. To Selene’s sadness, Atlanta had the same fate as Thypon, sealed forever in the crystal ball.Lilac, Ela, Ria and Fern, along with their familiars, decided to return to Pandora’s box to live with Yiselda.Kadva’s partner asked him to move in with him in