AYLAIt’s been a few days since the lion attack, and more so, Queen Lyra’s accusation of me starting said attack.Now, because of her accusation, I get mixed reactions from the people in the palace. Some look at me with amusement while others give me the side eye. I could feel myself being undressed by them. But, in the days that have passed, I haven’t seen Riven, nor does anyone seem to know or remember him. I have been to the training yard to catch a glimpse of him, even waking up early, but he is nowhere to be found. It looked like he just disappeared. The first day, I asked the weapon master where he was.“Riven?” The old man squinted at me. “Don’t know anyone by that name, lass.”I laughed, certain he was teasing. “Tall, lean, a bit of an arrogant smirk? He helped train the new soldiers. He saved me during the lion attack.”His face remained blank. “I think you hit your head harder than you thought that day.”I left with my stomach turning.The second day, I approached a servan
AYLAI couldn’t move.I stood on the docks long after Slade walked away, his words echoing in my ears like a stamp on my body: You belong to me and only me.The guards eyed me warily, unsure whether to escort me back or pretend I didn’t exist. The sun dipped low, washing the sea in gold, but all I could see was Riven’s pale face disappearing into the ship’s shadows.Gone. Why had somebody else whom I had known only for a short time ripped away from me again?So Slade decided to send Riven away, all because I saw him as a friend. Have I ruined Riven’s life, the way I ruined my maids? When I returned to my suite, the air was suffocating. The silence screamed louder than any insult. The maids avoided my eyes. No one offered to take my cloak. I was invisible. Or worse, tainted. I have already denied them their daily payment. It will be best if they are not around me.I collapsed onto the edge of my bed and buried my face in my hands. I didn’t cry. Not yet. The pains and struggles I have
SLADE“You need to make sure it works,” I said to one of my commanding officers, my hand gripping the chamber door handle.“Yes, your Highness,” he saluted and walked away. The door opened, and I noticed someone on one of the chairs.“What’s so important that it should work?” Ayla’s voice floated through the air as she turned to face me. I smirked and smiled within myself. Putting on a straight face, I walked towards my chair and sat right in front of her; the huge table was the only thing between us.“What do you want?” I asked her, she took her eyes away from me, and she dangled with her hair. I tried to read her emotions and behaviour. She was trying her best to be confident, and she was failing at it.“I came to talk about the wages of the people under my service,” she said with her eyes locked on mine. I’m guessing her confidence is back. Well, I’m going to break it.“You are not here to talk about your lover?” I asked her, searching her eyes for a faint glimmer of the truth. W
AYLAI could feel how his body grew tense at the sounds of my words. I swallowed hard and kept trying to feel my powers even within the grasp of my fingertips, but nothing seemed to be working.Slade is right, something is wrong with me. I definitely don’t have feelings for Riven despite his claims, but my powers work on him; why can’t it work just as well on Slade?“I don’t believe you,” he said with a deep tone. I don’t believe myself either. I kept trying to use my powers, but nothing came out of me.“What don’t you believe?” I asked him. The look he gave me meant he is still hung over about Riven. “I’m not lying,” I replied. “And if I were, would I look this disappointed that I couldn’t heal you?”I turned away, holding onto a chair to give myself balance. I watched as he rearranged the table he threw to the other side of the room. He sat down and went through his cabinet. My heart skipped a beat when he brought out one of the numerous bottles inside.I would love to find out what
AYLA“You need to get out of my way before I lose my patience,” I said as she stood between me and the door.“I’m sorry, my lady, but I’m under strict orders not to let you leave the palace,” she said, and I scoffed.“Let me?” I asked her. She blinked and nodded her head. I sighed and looked around the room. I’m really getting tired of people telling me what I can and cannot do in this palace.“You need to get out of my way.” My hands turned into a fist. I could feel something inside me rising. “It’s okay, Lady Tara. My mother will pay the ultimate sacrifice,” Tara said. I turned to her, confused and sad. How could someone say that?“No one is paying any ultimate sacrifice because the King won’t pay your wages. I will take matters into my own hands,” I turned to the one standing between the doors. “Now, move,” I released my fist, and a wind filled the room. The wind didn’t cause any damage, but it was heavy enough for me to see the fear in her eyes. I closed my eyes and calmed down
AYLA“That’s a lie,” I said to Maria. “You knew I’d make it,” I said to her. Her smirk turned to anger. “What were you thinking, leaving the palace?” she asked. I exhaled and walked away from her. “I was thinking someone needed my help, and there was no way, I’m not going to give it.” I placed my hands on the walls of the building. “That’s just great, you are both stupid and righteous,” I took my hands from the wall and looked at her.“If saving a woman’s life means I’m righteous. Then I’m all for it,” I turned to her fully. Standing right in her face. “Are we going to get this over with or not?” I asked her.“We should come back another time. The palace is too hot right now,” she said, and I scoffed. “You are afraid of getting caught?” I asked her, with a bit of cockness in my voice. She didn’t say a word, but her silence was all the answer I needed. “Might I remind you, I have something that can destroy you and your place in the palace,” I said to her. “You could lose everythin
AYLAI roamed my fingers around the letters of my mother’s pack, Seraphina Nightshade. I remember her telling me stories about it. She used to say how beautiful it was, and everyone loved each other like family. The thought or act of conflict wasn’t heard or seen in Seraphina Nightshade. I begged her numerous times to take me there, but she always had the same answer for me back then. “I’m no longer a nightshade, Ayla. I’m a Stormbringer,” remembering those words now, I could hear the fear in her voice. Like she thought returning to her home wouldn’t bring peace, but war.I opened up the pages, and as I read each line, it sounded like my mother’s voice in the back of my ears. I could feel her breath like she was behind me. What I read were exactly the stories she told me back when she was alive. I flipped the pages when I saw another title that peaked at me.“The Prophecy,” I read out loud. It stated that it begins in the Nightshade pack about a werewolf who is also a witch. This wer
AYLAIt has been a few days since Slade confined me to my room. I wasn’t allowed visitors or maids. My meals were brought in, and that was the only human interaction I had seen.But instead of being upset, I used the time to learn some spells from the old books I found. I started with easy ones, like lighting a candle with just a word or lifting small things with magic. I’ve gotten good at those, so now I’m trying harder spells. Some of them can actually be used to protect myself, or fight, if I need to.Ever since I started practicing with spells, the magic in me seems to be growing stronger unpredictable. I still haven’t come to terms with being a wolfless werewolf and a witch. But I try to push the thoughts away and focus more on my practice. Today, I’m ready for something bigger. I raise my hand and speak the words from the spell, “Pa vanos.” The air around me shivers, and the window in front of me suddenly shatters, disappearing into nothingness.“Damn,” I mutter, stepping back
SLADE“Ayla,” I whispered, pushing the woman in front of me away. How is she here? I had her door guarded. How did she walk past them without them knowing? This is their last day on the Job. “Leave,” I ordered the woman in front of me. She quickly put on her clothes, walked past me, not before touching me flirtatiously. She and Ayla shared a look. I don’t know what that was about.“What are you doing here?” I asked her as I put my clothes back up, trying to stop the feelings inside of me. “That’s all you are going to say?” she asked. I looked up to see the pain and disappointment in her eyes. “Especially after what we shared a few days ago.”The kiss. She is talking about the kiss. I ran my hands through my hair. Without answering her question. I opened up my cabinet and brought out the potions I had my Beta procure for me. I looked up to see Ayla having the same look she had when she looked at the woman I was with.“I thought you were better than the other Kings,” she said. “Using
AYLAI looked at her, confused. “How did you know?” I asked her. Instead of responding, she took the cup from the small table beside her and sipped from it. “Tea?” she stretched it forward. I scoffed and shook my head.“No, thank you. I’m here for answers,” I said, looking at her. “What makes you think I can give them to you?” she asked me. I rolled my eyes and walked around the room. It looked different from the first time I had been here. More clean and neat.“Probably the same thing that told you I would return with questions,” I answered. She sighed and placed the cup on the table.“I’m sorry, I can’t give you what you came for,” she said, and I arched my eyebrows. “You can’t be serious,” I said to her. “I am and I know I owe you, but I can’t give you what you want, my lady,” she said. I turned around and held my head.“You don’t owe me anything. I just need answers,” I said to her. “You really are cut from the same cloth,” she whispered, and I turned around. “What’d you jus
AYLAIt has been a few days since Slade confined me to my room. I wasn’t allowed visitors or maids. My meals were brought in, and that was the only human interaction I had seen.But instead of being upset, I used the time to learn some spells from the old books I found. I started with easy ones, like lighting a candle with just a word or lifting small things with magic. I’ve gotten good at those, so now I’m trying harder spells. Some of them can actually be used to protect myself, or fight, if I need to.Ever since I started practicing with spells, the magic in me seems to be growing stronger unpredictable. I still haven’t come to terms with being a wolfless werewolf and a witch. But I try to push the thoughts away and focus more on my practice. Today, I’m ready for something bigger. I raise my hand and speak the words from the spell, “Pa vanos.” The air around me shivers, and the window in front of me suddenly shatters, disappearing into nothingness.“Damn,” I mutter, stepping back
AYLAI roamed my fingers around the letters of my mother’s pack, Seraphina Nightshade. I remember her telling me stories about it. She used to say how beautiful it was, and everyone loved each other like family. The thought or act of conflict wasn’t heard or seen in Seraphina Nightshade. I begged her numerous times to take me there, but she always had the same answer for me back then. “I’m no longer a nightshade, Ayla. I’m a Stormbringer,” remembering those words now, I could hear the fear in her voice. Like she thought returning to her home wouldn’t bring peace, but war.I opened up the pages, and as I read each line, it sounded like my mother’s voice in the back of my ears. I could feel her breath like she was behind me. What I read were exactly the stories she told me back when she was alive. I flipped the pages when I saw another title that peaked at me.“The Prophecy,” I read out loud. It stated that it begins in the Nightshade pack about a werewolf who is also a witch. This wer
AYLA“That’s a lie,” I said to Maria. “You knew I’d make it,” I said to her. Her smirk turned to anger. “What were you thinking, leaving the palace?” she asked. I exhaled and walked away from her. “I was thinking someone needed my help, and there was no way, I’m not going to give it.” I placed my hands on the walls of the building. “That’s just great, you are both stupid and righteous,” I took my hands from the wall and looked at her.“If saving a woman’s life means I’m righteous. Then I’m all for it,” I turned to her fully. Standing right in her face. “Are we going to get this over with or not?” I asked her.“We should come back another time. The palace is too hot right now,” she said, and I scoffed. “You are afraid of getting caught?” I asked her, with a bit of cockness in my voice. She didn’t say a word, but her silence was all the answer I needed. “Might I remind you, I have something that can destroy you and your place in the palace,” I said to her. “You could lose everythin
AYLA“You need to get out of my way before I lose my patience,” I said as she stood between me and the door.“I’m sorry, my lady, but I’m under strict orders not to let you leave the palace,” she said, and I scoffed.“Let me?” I asked her. She blinked and nodded her head. I sighed and looked around the room. I’m really getting tired of people telling me what I can and cannot do in this palace.“You need to get out of my way.” My hands turned into a fist. I could feel something inside me rising. “It’s okay, Lady Tara. My mother will pay the ultimate sacrifice,” Tara said. I turned to her, confused and sad. How could someone say that?“No one is paying any ultimate sacrifice because the King won’t pay your wages. I will take matters into my own hands,” I turned to the one standing between the doors. “Now, move,” I released my fist, and a wind filled the room. The wind didn’t cause any damage, but it was heavy enough for me to see the fear in her eyes. I closed my eyes and calmed down
AYLAI could feel how his body grew tense at the sounds of my words. I swallowed hard and kept trying to feel my powers even within the grasp of my fingertips, but nothing seemed to be working.Slade is right, something is wrong with me. I definitely don’t have feelings for Riven despite his claims, but my powers work on him; why can’t it work just as well on Slade?“I don’t believe you,” he said with a deep tone. I don’t believe myself either. I kept trying to use my powers, but nothing came out of me.“What don’t you believe?” I asked him. The look he gave me meant he is still hung over about Riven. “I’m not lying,” I replied. “And if I were, would I look this disappointed that I couldn’t heal you?”I turned away, holding onto a chair to give myself balance. I watched as he rearranged the table he threw to the other side of the room. He sat down and went through his cabinet. My heart skipped a beat when he brought out one of the numerous bottles inside.I would love to find out what
SLADE“You need to make sure it works,” I said to one of my commanding officers, my hand gripping the chamber door handle.“Yes, your Highness,” he saluted and walked away. The door opened, and I noticed someone on one of the chairs.“What’s so important that it should work?” Ayla’s voice floated through the air as she turned to face me. I smirked and smiled within myself. Putting on a straight face, I walked towards my chair and sat right in front of her; the huge table was the only thing between us.“What do you want?” I asked her, she took her eyes away from me, and she dangled with her hair. I tried to read her emotions and behaviour. She was trying her best to be confident, and she was failing at it.“I came to talk about the wages of the people under my service,” she said with her eyes locked on mine. I’m guessing her confidence is back. Well, I’m going to break it.“You are not here to talk about your lover?” I asked her, searching her eyes for a faint glimmer of the truth. W
AYLAI couldn’t move.I stood on the docks long after Slade walked away, his words echoing in my ears like a stamp on my body: You belong to me and only me.The guards eyed me warily, unsure whether to escort me back or pretend I didn’t exist. The sun dipped low, washing the sea in gold, but all I could see was Riven’s pale face disappearing into the ship’s shadows.Gone. Why had somebody else whom I had known only for a short time ripped away from me again?So Slade decided to send Riven away, all because I saw him as a friend. Have I ruined Riven’s life, the way I ruined my maids? When I returned to my suite, the air was suffocating. The silence screamed louder than any insult. The maids avoided my eyes. No one offered to take my cloak. I was invisible. Or worse, tainted. I have already denied them their daily payment. It will be best if they are not around me.I collapsed onto the edge of my bed and buried my face in my hands. I didn’t cry. Not yet. The pains and struggles I have