Thank you for everyone's love and support as we cope with the loss of a loved one ♡
~ KATALEYA ~The day of the summit is finally here, and where I should be excited to meet my family, whom I have missed dearly, I feel a sense of sadness instead.That night, those precious moments in the kitchen, that was the last time I saw Enrique until this flight we are now on to make the over ten-hour journey. A flight he has barely acknowledged me on despite how long it is and I know he is shutting me out.He’s wearing the prosthetic. That night I told him he has to wear it daily instead of his other ones, and it looks like he is holding to the promise he made.However, although he’s wearing it on the flight, he isn’t using it. Maybe it’s out of habit or he doesn’t want to use it, but at least he’s keeping it on. Maybe he’ll get used to it in time, but I do wonder why he dislikes it so much. I thought we had made progress.Valentina is on her way back too. However, she has taken a separate flight with Li Sheng, whilst I’m on a private jet with Enrique. I told her she need not re
~ KATALEYA ~Dad is the first to turn towards us. His salt and pepper hair is mostly brushed back, with a few locks falling over his forehead. He’s wearing a black suit with a white shirt that he’s left a few buttons open on, revealing his tattoos and necklaces, but it is his glimmering red eyes that make my stomach twist with fear.He’s angry again.I might have joked about being scared on the plane, but right now… I’m terrified.Dad is not someone you would want to anger. I could be brave over the phone, but in person it’s a lot harder.Besides him is Mama, Mama Mari is on his other side and there’s Raihana, Uncle Marcel and Winona. There are two places empty, presumably for me and Enrique, and I wonder if Dad was the one who wanted us at their table.On the table next to theirs is Azura, Uncle Liam, Aunty Raven, Rayhan, Delsanra, two witches, and then there is an empty seat, probably Leo’s.I glance at Raihana, whose eyes are glimmering as she watches Enrique with an expression I ca
~ ENRIQUE ~Leo picks up one of the name plaques at the table and smirks humourlessly as he glances at his woman, no doubt conversing via the mind-link. This is confirmed when she gets up and moves into the seat which would have been for Kataleya’s sister’s mate. Now the two spots at the table are between me and him.“Welcome Prince Mikhail Petrov, Princess Anya Petrova, Prince Gedeon Petrov. Glad you could make it,” Alpha Royce says with a smile that makes me wonder how he is relaxed when he has invited those that should be considered our worst enemies. Or so the storybooks say.I knew vampires existed, but most would not see one in their lifetime. They are a rare race and I doubt there are many left, but if these are royals… are they from the first line of vampires? Or self-titled?A man in black leads them towards our table. “Prince Mikhail, I will show you to the seat at the front,” the man says as Leo watches the one in the lead. He is definitely the strongest. I can sense the pow
~ KATALEYA ~I tilt my head as the clip is replayed once again.What is that? My heart is clamouring with fear at the first thought that entered my mind. It sounded like an army or something. I shiver, feeling the chill that creeps down my spine, and Enrique places his hand over mine, giving it a comforting squeeze.Skyla is sitting forward, her eyes blazing as she stares at the screen, and I take a glimpse at Dad, who is sitting at the front watching this video. Prince Mikhail’s cold eyes sweep over the room before they meet mine, giving me a small smirk.“When did you first come across this phenomenon?” Dad asks, and I’m relieved that he looks away.“Nearly fifty years ago. But in the last five years it’s grown faster, and not once have we heard of any life from within. I have men spread across the border, but the conditions of these lands are hard to survive on, yet we do our best to watch it. But it’s becoming impossible. It is too large and we are few. Something is happening there
~ KATALEYA ~“Fucking come again?” Dad growls, making my heart hammer for an entirely different reason.I glance up and spot Dad, Mama, Royce, Leo and Prince Mikhail walking towards the table. But it's Dad’s glimmering eyes that make me swallow hard as Enrique leans back in his seat, unbothered. And he does not remove his hand from my wrist as he looks at Dad challengingly.“You really don’t want to do this now, Lycan,” Enrique says arrogantly, with a small smirk.“What did you just call her?” Dad asks as the Russian prince sits down, amusement clear on his face as Sky hugs her mate.“Mi Amor. Do you want me to say it louder?”“Are you mocking me?” Dad asks icily, turning his irritated glare to the Russians. “Mind taking the front table?”“No thanks, I am enjoying the show,” Mikhail says as he picks up the bottle of untouched wine in the centre of the table.“Alejandro…” Mama murmurs softly.“Not now, Amore Mio,” Dad warns.“Dad, please. Enrique, come with me,” I whisper, pulling him f
~ RAIHANA ~Kataleya returns to the hall with Kiara and Skyla but without Uncle or Enrique. I still haven’t told Uncle. Seeing her determination, I don’t know what to do. How do I pretend that I don’t care how she feels and that I should do the right thing when I can’t.Her will and love is admirable. I sigh softly, closing my eyes as I reach for my juice.“Are you ok?” Raven asks, touching my arm as she turns from her table, concerned.“I am,” I reply with a small smile as Liam turns too. His piercing gaze makes me look away. He had already asked me at a previous meeting if all was ok with me and I had lied.I had been tempted to tell Liam so I could get permission to contact Jayce, but when I didn’t tell Uncle; I decided against it and settled on waiting until today.Goddess, what do I do? How do I get her alone without anyone suspecting anything?After a while, I spot Kataleya, Skyla, and Azura heading towards one of the exits and I smirk internally.Got you.We’ve all been that age
~ ENRIQUE ~“Make it quick, I don’t have all day,” I say, smoking my cigarette as I stare ahead into the night sky. I’m no longer that kid who was helpless, the one who had hopes in a certain king, and as I look across at him, I can see the change in him from back then.His hair is littered with grey, age has left its mark with the frown lines on his forehead, the sharper jaw… That’s just how life is…Age. Inevitable of who we are, it will always catch up with us.But seeing him like that is also a reminder that he is not a god, but a man who had tried. Yeah, it hurts, it will always hurt, but I also acknowledge that perhaps he really didn’t have a choice… but it doesn’t mean that pain goes away.Kataleya’s words she spoke that night, words I know she’s never shared with anyone else. The thoughts that sometimes crept into her mind about her father and what happened back then. But she’s foolish for thinking it. After all, she is a woman no one can forsake… willingly.“My daughter is fuc
~ ENRIQUE ~When we re-enter the hall, the Lycan’s final words that he had said to me through the mind-link he could form with other alphas replays in my mind.‘I hope you do the right thing.’The right thing? But what is the right thing?She’s nowhere in sight and I can’t help but search the crowds for her as I take a seat at our table again. This is it, the last few hours to see that beautiful smile.I’ll make sure I defeat those crawlers for her. I’ll destroy them and make sure they never hurt her.I turn sharply towards the door as I see her enter with four other women of her family. Her eyes are downcast, her long hair falling over her shoulder and her hands are locked in front of her.A vision of pure beauty.She suddenly looks up through her thick lashes as if sensing me watching her. Our eyes meet, and I swallow hard, looking away.She really did just make her way into my life, somehow passing through the walls I created.“Hey, did everything go ok between you and Dad?” she ask
~ KATALEYA ~I wake with a gasp, my lungs clawing for air, it feels like I’m drowning. I suck in a breath, clutching my throat. My heart is thudding but it’s as if the sound of it is coming from all around me, reverberating through the chilling darkness. It’s too silent.This place… it’s similar to Azarakh’s crypt, but not quite.It holds the same evil. Feeling something move, I look down and realise something cold and slimy is clinging to my legs, black tendrils - slithering as though alive.I gasp as I scramble to my feet or try to. The stench of rotting meat and damp earth so thick it feels like it’s inside of my mouth. Shuddering, I try to get up quickly, flinching as pain rushes up my waist and I touch it; there’s no wound, but the pain remains.How did I even get here?I frown slightly, trying to remember what happened.That woman! Her face was so warm and innocent. Was she a part of this? I touch my head. It hurts too.Dragging myself to my feet from the tar-like slime that cove
~ SKYLA ~Rayhan…I won’t forget this moment, and it won’t be one of those good, happy memories. This one is devastating. The heartbroken Delsanra who has always rushed to help others despite the risk to her own life. Ray…. Ri…Despite everything, they always were there for us, but in their time of need, where the fuck were we?Fuck! Why them?Raihana now wraps her arms around Delsanra as both women kneel on the ground, their grief so strong, their pain so sharp it could carve away flesh from bone.There has to be something we can do!Enrique is examining the symbols, his power swirling around him subtly.I look up at Royce, “Let’s try to open the portal, maybe he’s ok. Royce, Dante, you both saw the symbols-”“It’s too late for that. Kiara said Ahren felt the shift in power. He is now the Alpha of the Black Storm Pack,” Dad says brokenly.“How can he be Alpha?! He doesn’t even have his wolf!” I shout. This can’t be happening!“Love…” Royce wraps his arms around me tightly.“We have to
~ DELSANRA ~“Rayhan…”Something isn’t right, I know it.I know I shouldn’t leave my spot, but the worst is sorted. I warn a few of the warriors I’m moving, and I rush to the crack where Rayhan and the others disappeared. I jump in, creating a barrier around me to protect myself from the crawlers that are still trickling out from the ground.They’re coming in smaller doses now, but they are still resilient.“Does anyone know if they managed to find the opening?” I ask worriedly.“No, not yet. We lost contact ” Liam replies, worry clear in his voice.He’s currently manning the break in the packhouse wall, making sure no crawlers get inside to the people.“We need to get down there!” I hear Sky shout from somewhere above.“What happened?” I ask.“I don’t know. Royce called for help!”My heart thuds as I keep going, moving as fast as possible.I can sense both her and Raihana not far behind me, the urgency and fear within me growing. I suddenly stop as a powerful pulsating that comes from
~ ROYCE ~We kept going down, and the deeper we go, the more I feel a power that is fucking immense and there’s only one other aura I’ve felt with this much power and that was Apophis’.“Do you guys feel it?” I ask, my voice low, but even then, it feels too loud in this darkness. Occasionally, a crawler or two will hiss and claw at us as they come from somewhere beneath us. A confirmation that we are headed in the right direction.“The aura?” Dante mutters. “Yeah, and I have no idea who it belongs to.”His unease is obvious, and I remain on alert. My royal mark is glowing, and I am not the one who is summoning it forth. Almost as if it too is warning me of the dangers ahead.“Don’t worry I won’t let anything happen to you both.” Rayhan jokes, although we’re both stronger than him.“Don’t fuck around,” Dante’s harsh reply comes.Rayhan turns to him, a flicker of concern on his face. “Dante, do you want to turn back?” he asks.“All three of us?” Dante replies.“I speak for myself. You tw
~ ENRIQUE ~Magic fills the air, strong and powerful and I know it’s Raihana’s. I can feel Delsanra’s reinforcing the barriers, her magic feels different, and there are parts that are not like ours – not from Hecate.Raihana is working on blocking out the moonlight, in a huge attempt to completely stop the crawlers from coming out of whatever shithole they are coming from. Jose quickly filled me in, and I sent more power to both witches, giving them the strength to continue.They are two witches alone and they are doing a lot. Royce, Rayhan and Dante have gone down to find the exact location. ‘Send some warriors to handle the crawlers so they are not burdened.’ I command Jose.It doesn’t even make sense that so many crawlers are able to get in. It’s not a fissure in the veil, but that’s something that’s been obvious from the start. The crawlers have appeared everywhere at any time, not from one point like the chupacabras. They had a different way to get through. Another means that we n
~ KATALEYA ~My eyes widen as I turn sharply and stare into Enrique’s molten gold eyes.“Enrique!”‘No!’ Azarakh shrieks, the earsplitting sound hammering into my head causing me to flinch.“I’m sorry it took a while,” Enrique murmurs in his deep, beautiful voice that makes my stomach flutter. I shake my head before looking back towards the spot where Dad had fallen. I can’t see him! I can’t sense a heartbeat amongst the storm of crawlers.“How did you break free?” I ask softly, torn between running to Dad and keeping my hold on Azarakh.I know Enrique is in control for now. I can sense his presence, his aura strong and free from darkness.“You needed me,” he answers softly as he stands tall. “You’re my strength, Mi Amor.” My heart surges with so much emotion as we gaze into one another’s eyes, pink and gold, perfectly complimenting each other.Azarakh’s form has solidified as he fights to keep a grasp on Enrique, but he’s failing.His unearthly shrieks are all that he has left as Enr
~ KATALEYA ~Azarakh’s mouth twists into a snarl as he lifts his claws, aiming for my heart. I can see the glint of triumph as he lunges at me, but I hold my ground, letting him think he’s got me. But the moment his claws dig into my waist, slicing through fabric and skin, the smell of the hot rush of blood, and the sharp sting of agony makes me cry out. I suck in a gasp, gritting my teeth as I clamp my hand around his wrist, ignoring the searing pain at the contact.In a single motion, I call forth every ounce of power I have, letting it surge forward in a blinding wave. A scream leaves me as I put everything into it. My blinding pink aura swirls around him in a flash, engulfing him completely. Azarakh recoils, his shrieks cutting through the night like metal scraping against metal. He claws at his prison of light, his form writhing, his shadowy form twisting in agony as he tries to escape and get away from my aura.But not this time. My aura is like an iron cage holding firm, shackli
~ KATALEYA ~‘We can share! I told you together we could have had it all. Yet you declined!’ Azarakh hisses, but he’s still only clinging to Enrique. The shadow form still surrounds him, but he hasn’t possessed him yet. Or perhaps he can’t.I fuel my power forward, trying to reach through our half-formed bond.“I would never choose you,” I say, my voice quiet yet firm. “Never.”‘You served your purpose, and you will continue to do so. That is why you were chosen, whether you wished for it or not.’ He chuckles darkly.What does he mean?“How do you have a hold on, Enrique? He is not evil,” I ask as our powers continue to slam against one another, attacking, hammering against one another. Light against dark.‘We were created from the blood of the same goddess. One could say we are brethren.’ I shudder at the very thought as his evil eyes now burn into me. His sharp teeth stained with blood. ‘The Goddess Hecate created us for another goddess, yet she betrayed my goddess by creating someon
~ RAYHAN ~“Alright, let’s do this,” I say, looking at Royce and Dante the moment the three of us are within reach of one another.“We’ll have your back and cover you from behind,” Royce says.“I’m assuming you can’t mask the moon, Magic Fingers?”“I wish I could, but with that tornado thing going on, it would need a lot of power without being sure of the results.”“And you would call every single crawler to you,” Dante adds.“Not necessarily a bad thing, really. I could be the decoy,” Royce answers as they both cut through the crawlers and I asses the area.“I don’t think so,” Skyla says through the earpiece.“Don’t worry, Love, I’ll return to you in one piece. But call me back if you need my help, Raihana, I’ll be there.”“Thanks, I’ll let you know,” she replies.“It’s intriguing how our auras attract the crawlers but somehow Kataleya’s is the only one who isn’t attracting crawlers with her aura. Instead, hers is deflecting them,” I murmur as I look through the storm of crawlers, aur