Feeling prim and proper, I'm ready to go down to the great hall. Saskia opens the chamber door for me, and we find Alec and Magnus standing together with their mouths gaped open.Saskia clears her throat, 'Alpha Magnus, King Alec, it may help if you both stop drooling and have some decorum around your Luna and Queen,' she smirks.They both shake the thoughts from their heads and compose themselves.'My Queen,' Alec says as he gets down on one knee, takes my hand, and places a kiss upon it.Magnus glares at him and kneels, taking my other hand, 'My Luna,' he says, kissing my other hand.Neither of them moves but continue to gaze into my eyes. I can't help but notice they are discreetly elbowing each other as if to push each other away.I laugh, ‘Which one of you handsome men will escort me to the hall?’ I ask.‘I will!’ they both say and look at each other. I stand between Alec and Magnus and allow them to take an arm on either side of me and smile.‘Both of you, it will be then,’ I gr
‘Mum, Dad, the orc trials begin today. Queen Maia has invited everyone to come along to watch.’‘Oh, orc trials?’ My mother says, raising an eyebrow.‘Yeah, they wrestle to see who is the strongest amongst them,’ I explain.‘I see. I guess we can come along,’ my mother shrugs.‘I know wrestling isn’t your cup of tea, but you might enjoy it a little?’ I smile.She nods.‘I’ll see if the rest of the pack wants to come along,’ I say, standing up and leaving the house.Everyone who wants to attend meets near the portal.‘I just have to find Magnus and Alec,’ I say to Flint and Josie.‘They were heading towards the river over there not long ago,’ Josie says.‘Thanks,’ I say and ‘Skedaddle Dash’ towards them.I see them both sitting by the river, talking like best buddies as I approach.‘Unbelievable,’ I mutter under my breath.They both stop talking and see me approach with a not-too-impressed look on my face. I halt in front of Alec and Magnus and cross my arms.‘Hi, babe,’ Magnus says ne
We walk through the courtyard, and I see Yiselda sitting by herself. She appears troubled.‘How about you two go on ahead? I’m going to see if Yiselda is okay,’ I say.Magnus and Alec peer over to Yiselda and see her moping on a bench seat. They nod and walk away together. Sometimes I don’t get Alec and Magnus. They argue and fight, yet they are by each other's side more than mine at times. They truly are like brothers. I roll my eyes at the back of them again.‘Yiselda,’ I say in a chirpy tone and sit beside her. ‘You didn’t come to the orc trials?’‘No,’ she says quietly.‘Oh, I was hoping to see you there, but that’s okay,’ I smile.She waves her wand at the ground in a circular motion making the leaves float from the ground and swirl into a tiny whirlwind.‘So, you seem pretty quiet… and glum?’ I say. ‘You don’t like it here?’ I add.‘It’s not that I don’t like it here. It’s absolutely beautiful here. I miss Pandora’s box, though. It’s always been my home, and to see it burn down
The Celestial DimensionThe Celestial world consists of many realms and kingdoms, home to each deity. Each domain is made from enormous clusters of many different coloured crystals. Some are firmly set on the land, while others are on floating islands that connect with stone bridges. Each celestial home is just as beautiful as the next. Different colour orbs swim throughout ponds and rivers. The air glistens as if it’s always raining sparkles. There is no sun, which reveals millions of stars in the sky. Some planets are so close that it looks like the worlds will collide, but they never do. Even though there is no sun, the sky has an ongoing aurora that forever emits a glowing light. We know when the new day begins as the aurora changes colour at day's end. The Celestial world is so vast it can take months to travel to the other side. This is great for deities that don’t get along. They can instead stay many moons away from each other.Gods and Goddesses thrive from being worshipped a
Fuming with hatred, I pace back and forth while thinking of ways to destroy Mysteria. Finally, I come to a halt and smile as the answer comes to mind. Thypon, the God of ferocious monsters. He has the head of a dragon, a bat's wings and a serpent's body. Once a God amongst the other deities in the Celestial Realm, Thypon wreaked death and destruction across many worlds. To end Typhon’s terrible ways, the deities and I trapped him beneath a volcano for all eternity, compelling the volcano never to erupt since that was the only way Thypon could be released.I immediately travel to the world of ash and lava where Thypon has been sealed. Approaching the volcano, I raise my hands high and begin the chant. The seal dissipates, and the volcano erupts. An explosion of ash rises into to air, whilst lava flows out from the crater. A boisterous roar emits through the cloud of ash. Enormous wings flap and push the ash away. Thypon, now silent, gazes at me. I smirk and cross my arms.‘Finally, aft
NinaAs Kadva and I reach the bottom of the stairs, arm in arm, I immediately notice Magnus isn’t in a pleasant mood. However, he was happy when I spoke to him earlier in the hall. So, something must have happened since then. He stands leaning against a beam with arms crossed and a scowl across his face. Alec gives Magnus an odd look, wondering why he is in such a temperamental mood.I mind-link Magnus, ‘Is everything okay? You seem a little angry about something?’‘Why would I be angry, Nina?’ he replies sarcastically, ‘Is there something I should know about?’ he scoffs.I give him a confused look and realise everyone is watching Magnus, and I pull faces at each other through mind-link. I clear my throat and focus on the pack. I can worry about Magnus later.‘Are we ready to celebrate the midsummer solstice?’ I shout.Everyone cheers and follows Alec and Magnus’s lead. We all step into the portal one at a time behind the blacksmith's workshop and appear at Moon Crest Castle, where Si
Although I'm extremely mad at Magnus and Alec, I can't help but notice the big grin on the guard's face at Kadva's announcement. The witches all have their mouths gaped open. I turn and see everyone is still and quiet. Poor Kadva scratches the back of his head nervously.'Well, where's the music, and what are you all looking at? You all act as if you've never seen a gay mage before,' I say.Taking Kadva's hand, I pull him back to where we were dancing and glare at the musicians who start up the instruments. Others begin to sing and dance again as Kadva and I continue our dance. Everything has returned to how it was before, except for Magnus and Alec sitting there elbowing each other and arguing, blaming each other for what had just occurred.The dance ends.'I think a certain man is trying to get your attention?' I say.Kadva glances at the guard, who still has his eyes and smile on Kadva and nods.'I'm too nervous. I wouldn't even know what to say.''Pour a couple of goblets with win
We all halt and stare in confusion as haze forms in the distance and all around us. A thunderous roar echoes throughout the land. As Alec and Magnus stand on either side of me, I take their hands and hold them tight. I look between them with a worried expression.‘This doesn’t sound good,’ Alec says.I run toward Maia and place a hand on her shoulder.‘What was that?’ I ask.‘I-I don’t know. I’ve never heard anything like it before.’Damon holds Maia by his side and mind-links his warriors to be on the lookout. We can no longer see anything but fog. In the far distance, I can only make out the silhouette of something humungous coming towards us.‘What is that?’ I say, pointing toward it.Everyone looks in the direction and begins to step back.‘Nina,’ Alec says, ‘Stand back,’ he says with worry as he tries to pull me behind him.Magnus stands on the other side of me and smells the air.‘It’s not a scent of human, fae, vampire or any other species that I’ve smelt before. Whatever it i
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
‘We should bathe before we have the meeting,’ I say to Reaper.Queen Maia laughs and points to a little hut, ‘That hut is the bathhouse. Go freshen up.’ She looks me up and down and frowns at my grubby, torn dress, ‘And I’ll have the villagers organise you something to wear,’ she smiles.‘Thanks, Maia,’ I smile back and retreat to the bathhouse.The door creaks as I push it open. The wooden tub takes up half the room in the hut. I repetitively push down on the lever to pump the tub full of water. Reaper perches on the edge of the bath as I strip my dress off and step in. I scrub the slobber from my arms and face and then scoop my hands with water to let it trickle over Reaper. His wings expand and shakes. Water flies from his feathers onto the ground. He uses his beak to reach and clean the rest of himself.As I step out, I hear a faint knock and open the door a tad. There’s a plump middle-aged woman holding a dress with a towel folded on top.‘Thank you,’ I smile as she pushes it thr