I silently thanked Kali. I thought that was it, but its icy body started to move towards me; wasn't it supposed to be dead? Suddenly, an idea struck my head. Since it was ice now, it would be very easy to execute. I mustered up my strength and charged towards it, pushed it into the larva, and slowly but surely, the creature melted into nothingness.I fell to my knees, shaking with exhaustion. But the way was open now, and I forced myself to my feet, across the bridge to the heart of the furnace.The Ember of Resolve was a small, pulsating orb of pure energy glowing in its pedestal. As I reached for it, a voice whispered in my ear."Will you pay the price, Dorian? Will you give up everything for what you desire?"I hesitated under the weight of his question. Then I thought of Amelia-her smile, her laughter, the way she had made me feel whole."I am," I said, firmly.The moment my fingers came into contact with the Ember, the cavern erupted in light and I was returned to Kali's side."Y
I had to pay the doctor to make my stomach bloated, at least to keep my lies up. The doctor just told Dorian that I had complications with my birth.I detested the tonics, the bitter taste, and how they churned in my empty stomach. Mostly, I hated the lies. Every sip reminded me of an illusion I was desperately hanging on to, a life made of lies.Now, here I was, trapped into a web of my own weave.Amelia's disappearance had only served to worsen my plight. Dorian was overcome with guilt and a maddening obsession to find her, even while he openly despised me. Derek was emboldened by his new status, treating me as though I were a pest to be swatted away. And I was tired.So very tired.I looked in the mirror, and that sparkle in my eyes, which once shone bright, no longer seemed to. My hair was perfectly in place, my makeup was great-the cracks were really beginning to show.Suddenly, it hit me. I remembered when I married Dorian. His father said that we were meant to be a perfect matc
Amelia's POVI woke up to the sounds of fast paced footsteps. What was going on? Now that I worked under Cida, Gina couldn't touch me, so I didn't have to worry about Madam B. I was sad for my new friends though, their sympathy had made me feel a tad bit better but I really couldn't do anything about them.I quickly wrapped myself in a towel and hurried to shower. As I took a shower, I thought about the few weeks I'd spent here. It wasn't pleasant at first but it became more bearable and because of that I had veeered greatly from my original mission. I sighed and stepped out of the tiny bathroom.As I dressed up, my mind went back to Dorian. I hope he wasn't too worried about me. Though we were not perfectly on good terms, I knew he loved me. .I began to feel a bit bad for leaving but especially leaving him in the dark about it. As I stared at myself in the half broken mirror, I saw a glint of hatred in my eyes. Some part had to do with Dorian after what he did but most of it went to
Amelia's POVI woke up to the sounds of fast paced footsteps. What was going on? Now that I worked under Cida, Gina couldn't touch me, so I didn't have to worry about Madam B. I was sad for my new friends though, their sympathy had made me feel a tad bit better but I really couldn't do anything about them. I quickly wrapped myself in a towel and hurried to shower. As I took a shower, I thought about the few weeks I'd spent here. It wasn't pleasant at first but it became more bearable and because of that I had veeered greatly from my original mission. I sighed and stepped out of the tiny bathroom. As I dressed up, my mind went back to Dorian. I hope he wasn't too worried about me. Though we were not perfectly on good terms, I knew he loved me. .I began to feel a bit bad for leaving but especially leaving him in the dark about it. As I stared at myself in the half broken mirror, I saw a glint of hatred in my eyes. Some part had to do with Dorian after what he did but most of it went
After hearing the healer's words, I turned to Dorian. With his expression, I realized he had already known. I didn't want to jump into conclusions."Did you know?" I turned to him asking.He nodded his head letting me know that I didn't jump into conclusions but it was actually true."So- you-". I couldn't complete my sentence as my brain worked like a human computer. If he knew I was pregnant, that could be the only reason why he treated me so nicely. I had wondered why he decided to change suddenly. I was so foolish to think it was because he was remorseful. Tears rolled down my eyes, for the first time in a few days. I felt so stupid and foolish, I thought he had really felt sorry for me. Turns out I was just insignificant, the only reason he cared was because of his child in my belly."Amelia" Dorian said, breaking my line of thoughts. He touched me and I flinched. I walked away from him, creating some distance."Alpha"He looked at me confused. He had moved from Dorian to Alpha
I had been thinking of how to break the news to Amelia, when I heard a knock on the door."Come in" I said"Alpha" the healer greeted with a slight bow."Mm" I nodded. When he wasn't speaking, I asked "Is anything the matter?""Well, about Miss Amelia's pregnancy. With her present state, she won't be able to carry that child."I stopped what I was doing and asked "What do you mean?""Her womb is weak and her general health is not good for bearing a child" the healer said straightforwardly.I wanted my child but I wanted Amelia too. I rubbed my temple. "Are you sure?" I asked"Yes" he nodded.I sighed, absorbing the words from the healer. A fragile womb, Amelia's life was already in jeopardy. I couldn't afford to lose her or the child."What options do we have?" I asked, trying to fathom the revelation.The healer hesitated. "We could use a witch's incubator. With their special abilities, they could take care of the fetus and guarantee the safety of the child."I nodded, my determinati
What was she doing in my room?"I see you got yourself a nice position and room" she said, her eyes glinting with so much hatred.I was about to respond when she scoffed "A newbie tries to prove that she's better than everyone else, we'd see about that"When I heard her words, I decided to ignore her altogether. Over the years, I've learnt that it's better to ignore it all than to poke your hand in fire and expect not to get burnt.I folded my things and was about stepping out when she pushed me "I'm talking to you!"It was when we were facing each other at eye level, I suddenly remembered who she was and where I had seen her before. She had been the Queen Mother's maid but she wasn't mean, she had actually been nice to me.By Queen Mother I meant Cida's ailing mother. When she was slowly embracing death, there were maids kept in charge of her, to monitor her health. Lucinda was one of them.I remember her running around with tonics and healing incenses, trying to make Queen Mother he
She stuttered for a while before saying "It doesn't matter. Who knows what vicious plans you have in that head of yours?"Since she wasn't backing down, I started walking towards her like a tiger stalking it's prey "So you're really saying I purposely caused trouble for you mm? You're saying you did absolutely nothing to deserve my hate but I just decided out of the blues to make the Luna punish you? In summary, you're actually implying that a newbie like me knew that the Luna was allergic to chestnuts and even framed you in particular?? Hmm?"She had been walking back as I was talking. After I finished, she didn't respond but just glared and walked out of my room. I chuckled but made a mental note to myself, I needed to find out what happened in this pack for someone as nice as her to change.As I was straightening my clothes, something came to mind. If the Luna had released this early, that only meant one thing, the Luna also had a hand in her accident. The more she thought about it
A knot of dread began to twist in my chest. I could no longer turn a blind eye to this; there was something darker at work here. I thought of Cida, who was probably poring over documents long buried, trying to find out where he went wrong. And I thought of Elder Kato, if he was so wise, why wasn't he able to identify that she was not right for the pack?The pieces were not falling into place.Lucinda's voice cut through my reflections. "Be careful, Amelia. Digging too deep has consequences.""I know," I whispered. "But we need the truth."And truth, I knew, would change everything. Was this what the seer was talking about?Lucinda's voice brought me back to earth "Earth to Aurora!""Yeahh??""Don't you want to know what happened to Chris?"I opened my eyes wildly "you know what happened to him?"She shook her head "ofcourse not! I just thought you could find a way to find out. After all, he doesn't deserve to suffer, he's just a pawn."I sighed agreeing with her, but even though he's
I frowned. "And what do you think I should do?"Investigate in silence. Gina is to be kept bound, but alive. Her use is not at an end just yet. And Lucinda." He paused in search of exactly the right words. "She is to be watched carefully. It is often behind the mask of loyalty that the sharpest daggers are hidden."His words sent a run of ice through my veins, but I nodded. A man didn't reject the experience of the Elder Kato.Lucinda's POVI watched him go, Elder Kato taking his leave from Cida's chambers, a flutter of unease dancing across my chest. The old man was perceptively astute, far too much so for my taste, and the minute he started digging deeper, he might find threads leading back to me.I couldn't allow that to happen but if things comes to the worst, I'd tell them the truth. I had made up my mind.Chris' POVThe dusty floor of the cabin was my seat, in an excruciating pain in my wrists-the ropes were too tightly laced-but at least my kidnapper had given me a little water
I started pacing, taking slow, measured steps, rubbing my temples. How did this blow up so badly? The cut from Gina runs deep -at least, I gave her a chance and I allowed my title to ride on her, only to see her standing here entangled in deceptions and schemes that sink every piece of what I'm trying to build.Lucinda's POVIt was almost too sweet to mask this satisfaction as she was being dragged away. She had played and lost. I didn't know how exactly this all worked out. I wasn't the one who arranged for her study to be open. I knew she was a terrible person but I never had evidence.But something inside me knew this was a short-lived victory only. Gina was a rabid dog, dangerous even when cornered, and unless I finished what I had started, she might still claw her way out of it and expose me.I said nothing, but my mind raced with every step of my plan: Chris, already out of the picture-the loyal guard she had tried to use as a scapegoat-his absence had served its purpose well, a
As Gina mouthed those words to me, I didn't react but I think Cida noticed cause he squinted his eyes before starting to walk away.As the surprised guards dragged Gina, she suddenly screamed and said out loud "I'm innocent. Ask Chris. It's definitely him. He's the person put in charge of that study."Everyone stared at her but the Gamma spoke first "Chris? The guard?"Her eyes widened "Yes, it's him. I hardly use the study. He's the only one who opens it and locks it when the maids need to clean it."I couldn't believe this witch, she was playing the blame game!Boris looked at Cida who looked at her skeptically before ordering someone to find Chris.As a guard went to find Chris, Gina shook the hands of the guards off her body but they didn't let go until Cida gave them permission to.The atmosphere was somewhat tense. I looked at Lucinda from the corner of my eye, she seemed to be seething with anger. This wasn't good.We all waited for Chris to come, I bet he'd have peed his pants
Who could be knocking at this hour? I held a little knife in my hand and walked slowly towards the door. I mean, many people don't like me, what if someone decided to attack me? "Who's there?" I asked."It's Lucinda, open up please." Her voice sounded croaked. I quickly dropped the knife and opened the door."What happened to you? You don't look well" I said looking at her face.It was not until she raised her head that I saw the hand prints and marks on her neck. It was a very terrible looking bruise. "Who did this to you?!"Shee looked at me with anger in her eyes "Who else?"That witch! "What in the actual hell?! What exactly happened?"***After the banquet, in Gina's room."Get me Lucinda! Now!"The maid scurried away to call Lucinda who was packing away some plates."The Luna requests your presence."Lucinda smirked and walked to Gina's chambers "Luna, you wanted to see me"Gina was so furious she rose her hand to slap Lucinda but to her surprise Lucinda slipped down with ease.
What was going on? I moved aside to pour water from a jug to offer the Elder. At least, till the effects of the sourdrop wore off.As I walked up to him, Gina leaped up off the floor as her voice cut through the room in whiplash sharpness. "Aurora! What have you done? Stay away from him!" she shrieked, loud and clear, while her long, thin, accusing finger pointed my way. In a second, all was silent in the big hall, all eyes turned to me in shock, confusion and suspicion.I froze, my mind racing. This was it, her trap, so intricately laid out. The room seemed to shrink as my brain fumbled for the right words. Before I could utter a word, Lucinda stepped forward, her face masked in concern." Luna," Lucinda began, her voice shaking just enough to make it appear sincere, "we mustn't jump to conclusions. Perhaps the Elder merely had a reaction to the drink. Let us first ensure his safety before assigning blame."Gina's eyes flashed in anger but then immediately smoothed out. "Of course, y
I sighed and made up my mind not to take her words seriously but then the words of the woman in the garden rang a bell in my head.'That's for you to find out. Just know that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.'Maybe she was the book? Why did her words have to be unclear?! Urghhh! I threw a little tantrum in the room before straightening my gown and walking out.Immediately I stepped out, I went to my room to search my things. I searched and searched but found nothing. Was she deceiving me? After a fruitless search, I was walking out of my room when as something under my bed caught my attention.It was an old dusty box, I blew the dust off it and opened it. It contained a roughly squeezed piece of clothing. What was this doing here? I brought out the cloth and a vial fell out. She wasn't lying!I smiled to myself, giving the vial to Mateo to dispose of. As I was walking back, Gina was screaming her lungs out asking them to find me. Seems the Elder had come. I was even curious to
With my sudden outburst, Lucinda bowed her head and apologized."I'm sorry Amelia, it's just that, I know I'm not capable enough to defeat her on my own. So I really need someone as strong and defiant as you."I snickered, how the tables have turned."Would you speak already? What lousy plan could your Luna have thought of?" I asked getting impatient.Her tone turned cold as she leaned into me. "You don't know the lengths that Luna's gone to. Tonight's dinner isn't about you or me; this is her stage, and we're the pawns she's playing against one another."I narrowed my eyes. "Out with it, what is the plan?""She's cooked up some 'sabotage incident', some manufactured moment of treachery, one carefully contrived just to incriminate you, Aurora. Only it was so ingeniously contrived that unless it comes off precisely, I am the scapegoat," Lucinda muttered to herself, in a tone stiff with suppressed outrage.I was beginning to think that this was a fake act, I mean what's with all the wor
Lucinda sneered inwardly, what a way to paint black in white.She bowed with the resentment and anger she had tried to hide, now evident in her eyes "yes Luna"This didn't fully go unnoticed by the Luna. She almost choked on the the cup of tea she had lifted to her lips, did Lucinda know what she was planning?She laughed and scolded herself for being too cautious. Lucinda was a human pawn in her game. Even if she found out, she'd be willing to give up her life for her. Some people are destined to be slaves for the rest of their lives. While she was destined to have moved from rags to riches and she was going to keep it that way.As she wrapped up the thoughts in her mind, she heard that the Elder had passed the pack's border and would be arriving soon.Lucinda had made up her mind as she walked out of the Luna's chambers, she was going to wreck the Luna's plan. What had she been thinking? That the Luna liked her? Or that she was going to be under her protection for a lifetime? She ha