As Belladonna had suggested, Eli had tried to to talk to a handful of people but he could not really say if the conversation had the desired results. Most of the village Heads he had spoken to were too afraid to give a clear reply once he lingered past the normal pleasantries of asking how their villages were. It was obvious that they were petrified of him. As he had said earlier, nothing would really change until the Red Moon.Tired of working on something that was bound to fail because of its weak foundation, Eli sought Belladonna in the crowd. It was easy to find her, whenever he turned, his gaze always somehow landed on her, as if some part of him always knew where she was. She had been talking to her family. He wondered why she would still even calmly exchange pleasantries with people like that. If he had a choice, he would have let his dragon set them ablaze a long time ago. He was only a couple of steps from then when he heard the stupid words that slip out of golden boy's
Lady Kestra's grin dwindled, slightly, not observable to one that wasn't intently watching. When Belladonna took a couple of steps towards the dinning hall and noticed that Lady Kestra was still not coming along with her, she asked, "Are you not coming for dinner, Kestra?""I just have to excuse myself briefly. I will be there with you shortly.""Alright, I will be expecting you at the table. Do not let me miss you too much, please."Kestra let out a short laugh. The spell must be messing with her brain. Using forgetting spells always had an effect on her, it was strange. It always left her slightly different than she was. She would have to be careful though, the King would not be pleased at all if he were to find out, she had done something to her yet again. "I will try."They giggled. Belladonna had expected the King to have gone into the dinning hall, so it was a bit of a surprise to find him by the door, waiting for her. But best not to assume."What are you doing there?""I
The dinning hall had thrown into choas, not a physical one though, as everyone was too petrified to move but their minds had bursted into real chaos, even Aniya, whose husband had just fallen down in a fit of agony was so shaken by the sight that she couldn't move.People rushed in immediately, taking Lytio away to be taken care of.Gazes flying around, silent words being exchanged without their lips making the slightest movement, before their attention all landed on one person. "I did---" Kuftan's words were cut off by Mayti's sharp voice, and the scratching of the chair against the floor as she fell down on her knees, tears in her eyes and her hands pressed flatly on her laps. "It is true. My husband wanted me to poison the Dragon King's bride.""Mayti, what is the me---" he attempted to speak for himself but he was cut short off too soon. "Yes, you did! Because you--you wanted to use it against the Village Head of Inaymi becau---" her hands clenched on the gown, her body shaky,
"I'm sorry." She finally said but she didn't sound one bit remorseful. Instead, there was a certain eagerness in those seemly ocean eyes as her gaze zeroed on his lips before moving back to his gaze.When he freed a hand from the support system he was relaying on, permitting him for his next act of slipping his finger underneath her chin instead, her eyes rolled shut for a brief moment and he frowned. "I miss you could get rid of that glove." She muttered, before she opening her eyes, a sly and suggestive smile making it up to her face. He wasn't in the mood for her little tease game tonight, one that she seemed to very much be in the mood for. He knew how it would end, in yet again another painful rejection, leaving him hot and bothered, while she allowed the promise she had made to herself to remain and an unbreakable wall between them.Besides, he still had that maid to question.When his frown didn't vanish, she grumbled. "I already said I'm sorry. Fine. If it happens next tim
"Let me take care of this, Your Majesty." Kestra's voice snapped him right out of his train of thoughts."I will try and find out the aura she had last been in contact with and we can trace it. Hopefully, it will give us answers."Eli sighed."If you had reported this to me immediately, this would not have happened."He just couldn't figure out why she hadn't come to him with the report. This had nothing to do with just a simple dress, this was his his castle, his Kingdom even, if something was going wrong, he had the right to know and fix it immediately. "I am sorry, your Majesty.""Your apology would do nothing to make proper amends to what your lack of proper calculatuon and dispense of duty has cost us." He finally turned to her now and the rage in his eyes made her fix her gaze to the dungeon floor. The putrid smell around them made it to her nostrils, the smell of the blood in the nearest cell finding it's way into her lungs. This wasn't the kind of death she liked. "Look a
When Kestra got into the room that had been set aside for her work, along with the dungeon workers that had helped bring the body into her room, her smile dwindled, completely vanishing after she had snapped her fingers for them to leave and shut the door firmly right after.The gems that hung around different spots in the room provided her dim lights of different shades, the only thing she believed they were used for. The sharp smell of different herbs as they clashed against each other filled the air and the bubbling sound of something boiling without fire some distance across the room in a big, black clay pot added a nice ring to it. Kestra took in a deep breath. By Ignas, this place was the only one that now gave her ease and peace......and responsiblities.Reminded of the task at hand, she look at the lifeless body that was at one side of the room, on the floor. The blood on her dress and face now turning into a shade of red that seemed stale. The King had asked her to give he
It was still a surprise to Mayti, everything that had happened tonight. How she had gone from being in the dinning hall with Kuftan by her side, to the dungeon and now free in the carriage to go back home. By Ignas, it was a wonder, but still she couldn't stop the slight shakiness of her body, as it remained tensed to any possible danger that might be lurking around. She wasn't out of the woods yet.She knew. Someone knocked on her carriage window and she jumped in her skin, startled beyond doubt, before she reached for it, hesitating even as she did that, till she couldn't stop herself anymore and just finally lifted the carriage's window. It was the face she had been expecting. Basti. The Village Head of Inaymi's most trusted warrior. He was at his master beck and call, serving him like a loyal dog. That had been what Mayti used to be to Kuftan until tonight. The built, bald man, smiled at her, revealing his gap teeth under the dim moonlight. He looked young enough to be t
Lies rushed right out of his mouth. "No, it isn't true. I was threatened. My master threatened me to this!""Take him away." The King ordered and he was dragged away, his strength nothing against the number and better strenght that defeated him. "I am very grateful your Majesty." Mayti said, as she stepped out if the carriage. "Thank you for helping me."The tears that streamed down her face, made it into a mess of scars and messed up make up, black watery stains running down her cheeks from her eyelids, revealing the blue bruise she had earlier done so much to hide. She bowed over and over again in gratitude. When one's trouble reached a certain height, even the greatest fear became nothing. Desperation was a mighty blindfold.Torn with what she had to do and the role she had to pay in the conspiracy, Mayti had wandered across the hall before dinner, scared that the plans they had would make her end up in the Dragon King's dungeon. She hadn't even been scared of exchanging her lif
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