.........................................................Aphrodite - Paris’s mother .........................................................Paris left after delivering the gut-wrenching news that he wouldn’t take the throne. He is our only heir, and he cannot turn his back on his people. We have never had a human queen before, but I won’t lose my son. I’d rather damn everything than lose him.Plus, what if he’s right? What if this isn’t a test but the will of the gods, and we go against it? If it's indeed a test, what if it’s not he who’s being tested but us, and we fail? Mates are sacred, and they are given to us as a gift. By forcing rejections and choosing others, we are rejecting that gift. Veseleios and I were not destined mates. After Dimitris helped him defeat his enemies, he had to take his place on the throne, and a king cannot be crowned without his queen. So he was forced to take someone who wasn’t his mate, and the council began the quest to find a suitor for him and c
..........Paris ........."I humble myself before you and ask that you accept my apology. I know this wound is deep, and I also know that my apology doesn’t mean much right now. But please know that I didn’t come to this decision lightly," my father continues, but Dimitris cuts him off, looking flushed like he isn't breathing as he struggles to maintain his composure. I can tell he wants to flip right now, but even though he has been wronged, my father is still his king, and he must tread carefully."Pardon the interruption, my king, but Gerulion has never been ruled by a human. There has never been a human queen in the history of our species. The council would never accept such a thing," he says, rather than asking what he truly wants to ask, which is "Why are you screwing me.” My father tells him the council cannot stand in the way of the gods before saying all this is his fault. He says the gods want him to fix what he did, earning a confused look from Dimitris before he explain
.........Evaki .........Tory and I pull back from the hug at the sound of the door opening, and just then, Paris comes within sight. I get up from the bed and run to him, and I throw myself in his arms and cry. I don’t want to; it’s all I’ve done since returning from the king and queen, but I’m scared. Before I came here, I told myself I could walk away from him, but I was fooling myself. I wouldn’t know how to, no matter how much I wanted to. We pull back from the hug, and he connects our lips in a long kiss, and more tears escape my eyes even before he says it. There’s no need to say it; the kiss screams goodbye. He wipes away my tears when we pull back, tears gleaming in his eyes as he tells me he loves me, but I stop breathing when he says my queen before a smile slowly spreads across his face. "The King gave you his blessing?" My voice comes out softer than intended, while Tory gasps behind me before letting out a squeal, bouncing on her tippy toes. "Yes, they did," he nod
.........Evaki .........I eventually calm down, and Tory helps me get ready. When I’m done, we head to her room so she can get ready, too. She and Anton also don’t share a room. I was surprised to find out that Tory is a royal. I never knew that. She told me her father is a prince, but he never wanted that life. So, he moved halfway across the world. Tory's grandfather died when her father was still very young, but unlike Paris’s father, who took over even though still young, her father gave the throne to his uncle to hold for him. Tory said as he grew older, he realized that was not the kind of life he desired, and decided to not ascend to the throne. His family cut him off because of that, and he has never gone back since. I also found out that Anton is not Paris’s biological brother but was adopted. His father was the king who tried to kill Paris’s father. I was shocked, and when the shock wore off, I felt sad for Anton. Knowing your father was a traitor cannot be easy. We hea
............................Author’s POV................................................................................At the Wizard’s Mansion....................................................Kyro's room is eerily silent as the moon shines through the window, casting an eerie glow on the figure shrouded in darkness standing over him. Driviar is surrounded by a thick cloud of black smoke, which seems to move and swirl with a life of its own as he stares at a sleeping Kyro while dressed in a hooded cloak that covers his face. He raises the knife, his dark robes blending in with the shadows as his piercing eyes glow a bright red, illuminating the room. But at that moment, Kyro's breathing changes, and Driviar's confliction paralyzes him, causing him to vanish through the wall, leaving the room empty in a flash. He storms onto his rooftop, his frustration palpable. His indecisiveness and the king's unexpected visit have thrown everything off balance, and he can feel the anger b
..........Kyros .........."What is this?" I whisper, taking an involuntary step back, noticing it's doing the same thing I am. I raise my hands, and it does the same."It’s you; it’s your other face. A wizard never reveals his true identity," Driviar says, causing me to look at him, and he tells me to go inside the mirror again. I do, and I end up in the same position, but the reflection has changed. It's still not mine, but it's not the same as the last one. "One face is for the outside world. So you will wear it when you leave the house, and the other you will wear inside the house. Your real face you will only wear when no one is looking, which means in the privacy of your room," he says before asking if I understand, and I nod, a bit creeped out by all this. Now I know how he looked like someone else when I arrived here. "Wait! Is this your real face or your indoor face?" I ask, causing his face to stretch into a smirk. "Have you forgotten your first lesson already? A wizard
............Kyros ............Driviar stares into my eyes, his eyes piercing through me like a knife, as I desperately try to keep my composure, my heart pounding in my chest. "Who are you?" he demands, his voice stern and commanding, and a thousand things go through my mind as fear coils me like the demon’s serpent. I need his help; I came all the way and left behind a person I care deeply for to seek it, but I can’t reveal who I am. He’s human and shouldn’t know wolf politics, but then again, he’s a wizard. What if he knows? What if he knows my grandfather’s story? I can’t take that risk. I swallow hard and sit up straight, still holding his gaze, and I tell him who I am."Kyros Argo, son of Andro Konstantinos. My father never knew his father, so I don’t know who my grandfather was," I respond, and he stared at me silently for a moment, making my heart accelerate even more. But I let out a silent breath of relief when he asks why I’m here, taking that to mean he believes me. I
..........Paris..........We get to our feet after the council tells us we are to reconvene in an hour. For now, we are asked to head to the dining hall for dinner. I hope it truly is an hour because I’m sick of being here. We start heading toward the door but stop when Dimitris asks the council if he may add something. My father and I just re-entered the hall; he was here with the council. They tell him he may, and Father and I share a look, wondering what he’s trying to do. He probably wants to add more reasons why marrying Evaki will bring death to our species. "I understand the council’s traditions and concerns, but I implore you again to consider that the gods' ways are not always understood, as I’m sure you all know. By granting this union, you will not only be setting our Prince’s heart free, but you will be setting the kingdoms free. What we did all those years ago was wrong, and it’s only fair that we try to make amends because I fear what will happen if we don’t. The crim
.......Tory.......My heart skips a beat and my eyes widen before tears quickly fill my eyes, taking in the breathtaking sight that greets us as we arrive at Antonis' father’s kingdom. I look at him to see a surge of emotions overwhelm him as he looks at me, his eyes mirroring mine, reflecting a mixture of joy, relief, and gratitude. The people have come out in droves to welcome us. The king and council pardoned Antonis, but we weren’t sure how the people felt, especially since they had been under the rule of someone with ulterior motives for so long. Dimitris might not have been the official ruler, but he still ruled, and many were born under his rule.We step out of the car and onto a raised platform, where we can see the sea of faces in the crowd. There are men, women, and children of all ages smiling and waving enthusiastically. I can feel the love and admiration radiating from the crowd, and a tear slips from my eye at the genuine warmth and acceptance we are receiving.Overwh
........................Author's POV......................................................Two months later..............................As the sun sets over the picturesque landscape, Evaki and Paris stand in awe of the serene beauty that surrounds them. They are attending a private wedding ceremony as witnesses, a momentous occasion for the brides and grooms. The couples look radiant, their eyes filled with love and excitement for the future.Evaki is wearing a silver gown with a regal silhouette that exudes elegance and grace. Paris stands next to her in a silver tunic tailored to exude sophistication and prestige, his hand resting on her lower back as they stand side by side. They are honored to be part of this special day, supporting their friends and family as they embark on their journey as husband and wife. Maia looks like the queen that she is in an exquisite masterpiece crafted from the finest burgundy silk, the color of Antonis's house. Kyros stands next to her in a g
........................Author’s POV......................."What’s happening Paris, please? And don’t tell me it’s nothing. Why do you reek of blood? What’s all this?" Evaki bombards Paris with questions, and Paris cuts her off, saying it’s Stefania. Evaki’s heart immediately accelerates, her eyes widening as she asks him what’s wrong with Stefania, her voice trembling with fear. Ever since she arrived, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong, and after her mother-in-law told her she couldn't see Stefania, she became more alarmed. Her mind starts racing. Is Stefania dead? Did she die in childbirth? Did she not wake up from the Lycan process? She starts asking herself but her thoughts are cut short by Paris’s voice, telling her that Stefania was not who they thought, confusing her."What do you mean?""She lied, Eva. She manipulated me; she hurt you. She…" Paris chokes on the lump that quickly inflates in his throat, and Eva cups his face, but Paris quickly turns
.........Evaki.........Confusion clouds my thoughts as I struggle to comprehend what's happening. My brother is supposed to be dead, buried in the ground, and yet here he is, standing in the flesh before me. My thoughts spiral into a whirlwind of questions while my heart pounds in my chest, echoing loudly in my ears and causing my hands to start trembling. I stare into the eyes that mirror my late brother’s. The same unruly mop of blonde hair, the same sharp jawline, and the same mischievous smile that used to light up our childhood memories. It can’t be."Everett?" I whisper again, my voice barely above a whisper, and my eyes wide with confusion as he takes small, cautious steps towards me, his eyes fixed on mine. His hand reaches out slowly, tentatively, as if afraid I might disappear if he moves too quickly."Hello, sister," he says, his voice choking with tears as I lean into the familiar touch. "My name is Kyros. I never met our mother, and I just found out that she never tol
.........Evaki ........The grandeur of the palace looms before us as we step out of the car, and my eyes widen with a new sense of wonder. My transformation into a wolf has heightened my senses beyond anything I could have imagined, making me see the world with a clarity I have never experienced before. The colors are richer, the textures are more defined, and the scents are incredibly distinct. I can even identify the faint scent of humans, which surprises me as they are nothing like what I imagined. Wolves can always tell when a person is human before they even see them, and I thought that meant humans had the same scent, but it turns out they don't. Humans have different scents, with the only common denominator being the strength of their scents, which are very weak compared to those of wolves. Everyone smells good, but Paris smells divine and intoxicating. I even found myself sniffing him on the plane.I look at him as we make our way toward our quarters, and my brows furrow
........Tory .........I look back as we enter the forest, even though I know the house is sealed and the baby is safe. I also have a monitor and will be able to check on him if he wakes up. I didn't want to bring him out here, but I couldn't miss witnessing this very special moment as my friend joins me on the supernatural side. Paris sets her down, and the elders walk up to check on her. We are outside in a clearing in the forest at the back of our place. The gods need to witness her first change and release their blessing upon her, so she had to be brought out here and make her first shift under the moonlight that is shining brightly above us, as though also celebrating with us. It's also the only source of light.I take a deep breath, the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves filling my nostrils and creating a sense of contentment deep within me. I love the fresh and earthy smell of the forest. I was terrified when Paris arrived with the two elders since Eva began this journe
.......................Author’s POV .......................Dimtris is still standing by the window, his mind racing with thoughts of his elaborate plot to usurp Veseleios, when the room's door clicks open. He turns, quickly fixing his face as he does, ready to shower Veseleios with a fake compliment about something he saw in the fields, but his breath catches in his throat when his eyes lock with Maia's.He doesn’t even register the uncannily Evaki look-alike next to her until a second later. "Daughter," he mumbles, his body turning cold, the look on Maia’s face sending shivers down his spine as it screams his worst fears. He wasn't kind to her the last time he saw her, and he knows she killed Charon.He quickly composes himself while thinking of how to get out of this. Charon was supposed to mark her and tell her who she was. His eyes quickly trail down to her neck, and she doesn’t have a mark, which means he didn’t mark her, but what about the truth of who she is? He can see in he
...............Stefania...............My heart races in my chest as the elder leads me to the room, and I look at my father, who's being escorted by the king to another room. He nods at something the king says, carefree with no worry in the world, while I'm dead inside. My mind is a whirlwind of anxiety, fear, and pain—the pain of losing my brother and mother. They never wanted any of this, and now they are dead. I only asked my father what killed Charon because I didn't need to ask what killed my mother. I already knew that losing her son killed her. He said he didn't know; he's waiting for the guards he sent to Red Lake to get back to him. But I knew he was lying to me. He knows because he said we can't let their deaths be in vain, which means my brother was killed doing his dirty bidding for this stupid plan that has now ended our family."This way," the elder softly says, gesturing for me to go down the stairs, and I can feel my palms growing sweaty as I clutch onto my skirts,
..........Paris ..........Antonis's voice booms over the phone. His eyes are burning with urgency as he barks orders to the guards, telling them to close all exits and stop King Dimitris and Stefania from leaving. My father and I stand frozen in shock, listening to him."Antonis, what's going on?" Father demands again, walking up to him. "Why are you closing the airport? What madness is this?" Father grabs him by the shoulders, stilling him."He's a traitor. All this time, he's been planning to kill us all. He wants to become a Lycan," he says, shocking us and Father asks him what he's talking about."You are not making sense; what are you saying? Who told you this?" he asks, now cupping his face and Antonis says it's the maid's daughter, Stefania's adopted sister."How? When?" Father asks, and I ask if she was the one mind-linking him, since this is all happening after the mind-link. He says yes, confusing us even more. Father demands that he sit down, take a breath, and then tell