It was a custom practiced in different Houses to appoint one of the finest maidens to please a visitor that was of high regard.Since leader Tyrek wasn't in the Cave, and Ny'ka was being watched; it was certain that the Priest had made this arrangement. Since they knew that his relationship with Belladonna was different from what they had misunderstood it to be, they had taken this step; a different thing from when they had first gotten to the Cave. “Did the Priest send you?” Alaris walked away from the bed, taking off his weapons and hanging them on the wall. “Yes, My Lord.”“You may go back to him. This is unnecessary.”“I stay of my own freewill. I want to please you, I will grant you the greatest pleasures, I promise.”He smiled, turning to her. “The only pleasure I want is a war won, my throne, and your freedom.” His gaze swept over her body; her thin brown dress that left little to imagination. “You may be in the wrong attire for that.”A coy smile played on her lips, and she
[LYCAN'S REALM]Aniya woke up furious. How dare she had slept in this kind of situation?! She marched to the door, but just as she was about to bang her fists against the wooden obstruction, it pushed open, and Oana stepped in with a frown. “I cannot believe he locked you up!” She declared. Aniya dropped her hands to her sides. “I can't believe you left me here all alone for that long.” “I thought my brother was with you.” Aniya folded her arms across her, and walked out into the hallway. “Don't even mention him, I hate your brother. If I hated him before, well now I hate him even more.” Oana was not pleased with that. While she had been with Goldie, she had hoped that Aniya’s relationship with her brother would blossom into a force to be reckoned with. She had heard from Eldrick that the North border wasn't disturbed yet, which was surprising because it didn't usually take this long for another attack to happen at the North Border. She had hoped to meet something different, b
Only the royal members of the Houses could shift into dragons. It was what made them special, what drew the line between commoners and royalty. There would be many members of the Royal Houses who would be leading the war for the White King. For his house, there was only one dragon, which was him. One dragon against many more; one inexperienced dragon against many that were experienced. Alaris knew the problem he would have to face soon, but he told no one of his worries; after all, if the head was afraid, then what would he rest do? Also, what was fear?That was beneath him. The warriors of the cave needed more training than ever though. They were lacking in number, but quality had always prevailed over quantity, so it wouldn't have been a completely dreadful situation if they weren't also lacking in skills. They didn't watch to see when fire would be unleashed upon them, they weren't observant enough, nor did they know what to do when faced with flames. One of them almost got
Alaris alerted the Priest immediately and, next the Cave. They all began their search for Ny'ka and Belladonna. Alaris headed to the passageway, believing that Ny'ka had someone made it there, taking Belladonna as hostage to ensure her safe journey to her liver, Ka'el. Although, Ny'ka had claimed that she only ensured Ka'el for her people’s sake and she didn't love him. She had also said that she didn't tell him about the Heir’s presence in the cave, nor did he know where they were hiding - as she had lied to him about their location, everything she had said could easily be lies.She had probably taken Belladonna, who was with the Life Gem with her, to earn the favor of a place and security with the White King, seeing that now her life was threatened in the Cave. He had been stupid to let her roam freely, stupid to think that the guards were competent enough to follow his orders to ensure that she kept only to caves while practicing. He was a fool!His mind had been so occupied w
He retracted his claw and took a step back. This was a waste of time! He had a war to prepare for. “How did you find me?” She asked, probably wondering if that gem gave him those powers, accessing the obstacle she was against.A path swap was a random ability for her; her Gamama didn't have it, which was surprising. Not many did, though, but for good her Gamama was at channeling; it was indeed surprising. “You are a weak Channeler. I’ve lived with a far better one, you do not hold a candle to her powers.” “Your mother?” He said nothing but headed to the mouth of the cave. “My Gamama’s twin! The one your female killed! She is your family, how can you not grieve her?”Alaris turned to her with a shrug. “I never knew her. She was not my mother, she was no one to me. Even if they looked alike, they weren't the same. I didn't know her. All I know of her is her manipulative ways. She almost killed my friend just because she wanted to live. Her death was well deserved.”He heard her hear
[LYCAN'S REALM]The first thing Aniya noticed when she got to the Wuri Festival was that a lot of females had on veils just like her, with painted scars on their faces. Those with the costume scared others with it, allowing screams to make their way into the banging of the drums, ululating, and singing that filled the air. Oana was displeased with it and she quickly found the tent where the costumes and the face painting were being made. She wanted Eldrick and some guards around to bring the tent down; she wanted the tent owner to be dragged to the dungeon, but Aniya disagreed. She wasn't offended by the act. Instead, she found it hilarious that they would willingly try to be like her to scare others; it was a display of a power she held over them - to command their fear, and by imitating her, they had confirmed that, indeed, she was that powerful. “Let them have their fun,” Aniya had said. Oana had reluctantly given in to her but she led them to another tent to find their costumes
They spent about an hour mingling with the crowd, dancing, and singing. Without them knowing who she actually was, it was easy for Aniya to have company. Soon enough they had to retire from the fun and find food. Eldrick volunteered to go and find them food, and with an excuse from Oana that she would have to go with Aniya to sort out some lady business, they parted ways. The real reason for the excuse was so that Oana could take Aniya to the witch she thought could help her. They didn't want Eldrick to know about it because although Eldrick and Ikrus didn't see eye to eye, if Ikrus was still the Gamma and if he demanded a report of how the festival had gone, Eldrick would have to tell him everything. It would be an undeniable order. Oana had brought her to a small tent; a witch was in front of it, behind a small table, with a globe in her hand as she spoke of telling people their future. She was young and her light purple dress complemented her skin. She stared at them, a smile
When Oana turned to her, she smiled. “She is only joking again. Let’s go.” With that, Aniya pulled her away, praying vehemently in her mind that the witch wouldn't call them back. To move Oana’s mind away from asking her any questions about what the witch had said, Aniya quickly asked her if she was enjoying her time with Eldrick. With a splitting smile, Oana talked about how this was the best Wuri Festival she had ever attended because Eldrick was there.“He is your childhood friend—”“We have known each other since we were young teenagers.” “Do you not think that he is probably just acting the way he is acting to you because you are friends.” “Friends do not press kisses to the back of each other’s hands as he does mine. Our bond is more than friendship, I’m sure of it.” Before Aniya could talk more about that, they bumped right into Eldrick who had been looking for them for a while. His brows were creased with worry and his features only softened when he saw Oana. “I was so
Her stomach rumbled, but it was quiet, and for the sake of her dignity, she hoped that he hadn't heard it. “You don't need the sun, you need food; I know a place.”“Get out of my sun.”“I’ll take you there.” Quickly she was on her feet, his arm along her waist to keep her stable. “Are you even listening or are you just deliberately ignoring me?”“Deliberately ignoring you.” “What? I expect the elderly to behave with more sense,” she jabbed, annoyed with his interference. “There are no elderly here.”In a flash, he is with Arlo. Then before she could tell, they were before a table that must have been prepared for them only moments ago. She was dizzy from the speed but the lovely aroma in the air could not be mistaken; there was food here. She felt Ikrus push her into a chair and she took her seat, blinking to regain her stability and clear vision. When she finally did, she looked around. They were in a kind of glass room with flowers on the ceiling. The table before her was smal
She cleared her throat, changing the topic. “Is my age a problem for you, Ikrus?”He sucked in a deep breath, looking away, still thinking about why he had brought her and Arlo here - still trying to figure out his thoughts. “No. I was merely surprised, that is all.” “I’m not bothered either.” She leaned closer to him, a hair’s breadth between them, catching him off guard with her action. “Don’t worry,” she skimmed her fingers over his hair and he stilled, forcing himself not to move as more of her fragrance consumed his air. “I have always fancied old men.”What?!Old men?!Old men where?!“I’m not old,” he said, clearly offended. “You are thirty-two,” she said as she lay down and closed her eyes. “Exactly. I am not old.”She felt his shadow over her and she sighed, wanting the warmth of the sun on her skin once again. “You are thirty-two… and blocking the sun.”“That is not old at all.” He sounded like he was losing his mind, but his voice was leveled. She shrugged nonchalantly
She turned to him sharply, wheels turning dangerously in her head already to come up with a lie, her lungs clogging with fear, only for her to discover that he wasn't looking at her but at someone else. “Look! Arlo is walking!” He declared in hushed excitement. Aniya rolled her eyes, taking a deep breath of relief, tucking away the poison bottle. He didn't catch her, she could still kill him. “Arlo can walk.”“For long distances like that?” He turned to her, surprised. “Yes.”“Oh.”“In fact, we must redesign the room to accommodate him. He keeps on trying to pull things down.”Ikrus frowned. In a flash, he was holding Arlo who was strongly protesting against being held. He certainly wanted to play on the ground. “How old is the little one?”“Arlo,” she said, emphasizing his name, subtly ensuring that he wouldn't call him “little one” again, “will be two soon.”Ikrus nodded, taking the information in as he easily moved Arlo from one hand to another in his struggle to get down. “H
Aniya told her about the strange lily she found in her coin bag while telling her how she had come by it, although leaving out part of the poison, while watching to see if the witch had told Oana about what she was searching for. It didn't seem like the witch told her anything. “I have seen something like that in my room before,” Aniya said. “I’m scared of what it means and I am afraid—” she looked over to Arlo for the umpteenth time, “of harm coming to Arlo or me.” Oana was very concerned and she said she would tell the Alpha and Luna about it so that they could give orders for the Pack House to be thoroughly searched. Then Aniya asked, “What about last night? Why did the sun suddenly come up and merge with the moon?” She rushed to the window. “Everything seems normal now.”“Elder Superior said it was a result of something that happened in another realm. It is none of our concern; our Realm stays unaffected, and all the portals remain sealed.” Aniya panicked.Another realm? Wha
That night, after they had both eaten, Alaris took Belladonna to a nearby river, where a burning incense was placed on a leaf pad to float away. “It is to let go of the past and begin anew,” he has explained. It was something that helped Belladonna even though she hadn't known she needed it. Her heart felt lighter and with a more positive perspective, she left the river bank.The Belarion Rebellion and the rest of the Cave had fully returned now. Shortly after, Belladonna and Alaris started trying to create the army. They were once again under an open sky. Nyka watched from a distance, just like every one of the dragon people had been advised to do. Her father was right next to her, he wasn't supposed to be here. He was still injured from the torture he had received from the White King’s warriors that had captured him but he was terrified that if he as much took a step from her, the Heir would seize her and kill her. “What do I do?” Belladonna asked, trying to shake off the press
[LYCANS’ REALM]The coins vibrated on the floor, clanking as they added to the slight trembling she could feel around her. Aniya’s heart jumped. Quickly, she dashed to her bed and grabbed Arlo, taking him swiftly into her arms. She could hear a bell ringing from a distance. Voices of terrified people seeping into the air, even with her ordinary human hearing, the building chaos felt loud to her.What was going on? Before she could make it out of the room, though, she felt someone sweep her away, and in a flash, she was in an enclosed space, an arm around her, so that she held Arlo between them. She knew it was Ikrus; with such speed and the feeling of momentarily ease that went through her, it could be no one else. She hated the Matebond for many things but for this little ease that she could feel right now, she appreciated it a little. Even if this relief was a lie that everything was alright, it was better than the sheer terror she had been experiencing.The rumbling continued,
Finally, they were under an open sky.The Moon was full in its glory above them. “It is a perfect night,” Ny'ka said before intertwining her with Belladonna's.“Close your eyes.”She obeyed. “Think of the Bearer, of her grave, of her presence, and connect with her.”The Bearer. Belladonna allowed her mind to roam, remembering the silver-haired woman she would always dream about. She had never seen her face so there was no way she could see that. The image was blurry and soon it was nothing but darkness. “Open the windows, open the door,” she could hear Alaris' voice. Then she remembered her way of sealing the windows and the doors of her mind. So many things were happening in her mind. She could see the path to the castle, down to that room, to that sarcophagus, Then she was back in that room again - with the windows sealed and the doors locked.There was a white beam outside the window and a woman with long silver hair that shadowed her face.“Open the doors and the windows!”
“Don't kill me please, I believe now. You are the Heir, you are the savior. I see it.” Ny'ka begged. They were in one of the underground rooms, away from the people of the Belarion Rebellion and those of the Cave. This was something Alaris didn't want many to know about.“Please, take my life instead and spare my daughter,” Leader Tyrek begged. He knew what crimes Nyka had committed, the Priest told him everything.“You tried to kill me,” Alaris said to Ny'ka who was still on her knees, begging, tears running down her cheeks.“It was a mistake. It won't happen again.”Alaris smiled. “It won't.”He held her wrist and pulled her up, but while he did that, he crushed her bones, and pressing his flames into her skin, he healed her, just like he had seen it happen with Nightshade and that stranger in the Castle during their escape.It was an excruciating moment for Ny'ka and it didn't help that he did it again and again and again…By the time he was done, she was back on her knees, breat
The moment the ambush came upon them, some guards had taken Ny'ka and discreetly escaped from the scene. They were headed to the White King’s Castle to be highly rewarded for bringing to him the daughter of the leader of the revolution against him. They were supposed to take Leader Tyrek along too, but it seemed the guards who had him in captivity had been attacked. There would be much to tell the King upon getting to the castle. While they silently snuck away, Ny'ka found a way to free herself from the bondage and attacked them. She would rather die than have them take her alive; it was looking like that was the only option for her until she felt she had until Alaris' showed up. He descended from the sky with his massive leathery wings and he saved her; he killed the guards and swept her up into the air in his arms. In that moment, she saw what the others saw in him. A saviour.In that moment, something changed. “You saved me,” she said, the wind almost stealing her words away