Chapter 38 - Death Garren *Five hundred years ago* The war between the witches and Dragons was going strong. It seemed like it was never going to end. It was even worse than we could have ever imagined. Our relationship with the witches had always been strenuous, but now our hatred toward them was set in stone.They were always after our ancient magic, trying to find ways to steal it to feed their thirst for power. However, not all the witches were as evil as the ones who first attacked us. Some I had grown to know over the years still helped us despite many refusing them, making wards to conceal our location and other types of spells to help heal the sick and wounded. Most of them were tasked with keeping the royal family and our kingdom under the radar. Their loyalties to our family and our kind never faulting in the harshest moments.But even that wasn't enough to stop the inevitable from happening. Not when our own goddess abandoned us and gave the witches all the information
Chapter 39 - New OrderGarren *Five hundred years ago*I don't know how long I sat there with my dead brother in my arms; it felt like hours when in reality, it was most likely minutes. All I knew was that my brother was dead, and I was the reason for it. The reality of what would happen once this war was over, weighed heavily on my chest, making it impossible to breathe. I never wanted the crown, the throne, or the kingdom. I was happy with what I had, thankful for being the second born. I didn't want to enact the age-old tradition my kind had used for centuries—a challenge to the death to claim a title. Suddenly I was consumed by rage, an unfathomable amount of hatred for the witches, Ryuu, and the king of the Underworld. But most of all, I hated myself boiled within me.As our warriors came running to our aid, their faces filled with horror as they looked at my brother and me. One with half a face missing, eyes void of all life, and the other on the verge of mass bloodshed. "G
Chapter 40 - Loyalty PenelopeMy heart felt like it had been shattered into a million pieces after hearing Garren's story. So many things made so much more sense now that I know the truth of his past, of his people's history. I stayed with Garren for as long as I could, both of us just sitting in silence, the presence of one another enough of a comfort. Though my mind continued to race with so many questions, ones I would ask him eventually, just not any time soon. After the battle, if I survived. When I won, I corrected.The promise I made, Garren, weighed heavily on my heart. It was a foolish promise, one that I knew held a lot more power than any kiss or bond ever could. But despite not being fae, I would try my damnedest to ensure I held true to that promise. I stayed with Garren until the fire died out, and a knock sounded at his door, signalling that our time was up before Garren walked me the mere twenty feet to my bedroom door, Draven's bedroom door, before he left with Gre
Chapter 41 - Denial Hunter "She's getting better." Lira panted, taking a long drink of water. I kept my eyes on the field, watching the last of the trainees and seasoned warriors clean up our area in preparation for another snowstorm, one of many we would get in the next couple of months before spring arrived. I let out a small grunt of acknowledgment. We didn't have to exchange names to know who we were talking about. Frankly, I didn't even understand why Lira insisted on giving me updates on things I could clearly see for myself. Lira had always been a hard worker, the underdog of trainees. Most of the seasoned warriors had placed bets, betting how long it would take before she up and quit when she first arrived. But I knew from the moment I met her and saw that fire in her eyes, the same fire I saw in eyes of Mildred and countless others who had been looked down on, that she was going to make it. And make it she did. Lira was one of our top warriors running in the second line of
Chapter 42 - ShiftPenelopeIt was happening; Garren was going to meet Kyra, and I was trying my best to keep it together. "Nervous pup?" Lira teased as we put the rest of the training gear away. Today Hunter had us working on offence techniques, incorporating poles and wipes into the circuits to keep us on our toes. To my surprise, I managed to dodge most of the blows lasting the whole round before switching out, and I even got the upper hand on Lira once or twice. It showed I was improving, and I couldn't help but feel a little more confident about the upcoming battle because of it. I had managed to keep my mind busy all day, not thinking about the conversation Mildred and I had had this morning on our way to the training grounds. I was doing good, too; I almost forgot about it until Lira reminded me about it. It wasn't that I didn't want Garren to see me shift because I did. It just made me nervous. This was a time when self-control was everything; if you didn't have a good bond
Chapter 43 -SwiftGarren If I had to pick a time to live in for the rest of my life, it would be this day. I couldn't remember a time when I had felt so alive, so charged with energy that I felt like I could go on forever. From the moment I decided that I was going to take Penelope to Arlo, I was filled with a wave of emotions. I was anxious to see how Ophir would respond to finally meeting Kyra for the first time. I was also anxious to see how she responded to us in turn. But also excited that we would finally have this moment together.The last few months had been indescribable. It was like someone had taken me and thrown me into an alternate universe, one where my past was still shit but my future. My future was better and brighter all because Penelope didn't take my offer and proved to be the perfect match for me in all ways that counted. She surprised me at every turn, and I couldn't be prouder of her for it, even though it scared me. I knew that even if we weren't mates, I wo
Chapter 44 - DirtyPenelope I was on cloud nine after my night with Garren. My skin still felt like it was buzzing, and the weight on my shoulders felt lighter despite. I had a pep to my step that I hadn't had in months; I felt like I was untouchable like nothing could throw me off my game, not even the unknown outcome of what today would bring me.Instead, it made today feel a whole hell of a lot easier, especially now that Kyra had a chance to run out all of her pent-up energy last night in preparation for today. My stomach was filled with butterflies, both a mix of excitement and anxiety, but I was prepared for this. Ready to get this training started, so I could be prepared to take on whatever surprises Delmira was going to be throwing my way. "So, who am I going against first?" I whispered to Mildred as I stared at the small group of warriors before me. The five warriors had all been chatting away before we arrived, but with one look from Mildred, they quickly formed a line, t
Chapter 45 - MarkedMildred "Not so close, Rio," I warned after she spit fire toward Kyra. Rio prepared to shoot more flames at Penelope but held back, heeding my warning. We had been preparing for this day from the first moment I met the little pup. Rio was always present, watching, calculating, and sharing her opinions of others with me; it was how we remained at the top of our game. The only time she ever left my side was when I needed an escape only another person could help create, or when I was asleep. We were an unbreakable pair, only having each other when the rest of my family turned their backs on me for my choices. They were dead to me in all senses of the word, even if they still walked the same castle halls as I did. My father was part of the council until my uncle took over his position two centuries ago. My parents were too ashamed to show their faces around the kingdom all because their daughter chose a life of service to the crown instead of remaining a lady in wai