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~ KATALEYAI stumble back, my heart skipping a beat at the way he holds my arm making sure I don’t fall, his power surging forward, and I don’t know if I’m just somehow more heightened to his power but I can feel the difference within it, it is not just a powerful aura that belongs to an alpha but one that is intertwined with the very threads created with magic and fire.My eyes blaze as Enrique raises his other hand, a blast of blinding power throwing the chupacabra back where it lets out a strangled blood curdling scream before it incinerates completely just as another one pushes out from the crack.Enrique turns, but this time I beat him to it. Raising my hand, I send a wave of light surrounded by glowing petals at the monster. A move that looks more beautiful than dangerous, but the moment it touches him it is torn apart, and I look away as bits of the monster fly everywhere.No! I wasn’t trying to do that! Oh, that’s gross!I am trying to hold back my powers but I’m still overdoin
~ KATALEYA ~“How- how is that even possible?” I know he can’t be Enrique’s… or his father’s? No… I’m certain all three are dead… and at that time, back when Enrique was little, Hugo was there… so someone before Sebastian Escarra. “Enrique’s grandfather’s?”He looks a little surprised before he smiles, “You are a clever woman, My Queen.”“So, I’m right?” I ask in disbelief.He looks down at the dug-up earth and smiles a little. “Not exactly but close. I was a guardsman of his great grandfather’s, usually, we die with our king of course, and with the djinn, their life was shortened, but even then, we do not live past our king unless he commanded us to fulfil a duty that outlived him.”“And he asked you to watch over his family…” I say slowly.Hugo nods, “Yes, so I did what I could, simply taking care of the family and offering guidance and support for the Escarra kings and their families… and although the djinn was defeated, it left a devastating impact on Alpha Enrique.”“I see… But I
~ KATALEYA ~It’s much later, yet Enrique has not returned. Soon the pack members begin returning and there is nothing we can do to keep them away for any longer without alerting the guardsmen or Enrique. The chefs needed to cook, too. I missed helping and I stopped in to say hello to them all.“You should head back, Sky. I want to stay a little longer,” I say quietly when I exit the kitchen.She raises an eyebrow but doesn’t question me, which I appreciate since I want to do a little searching upstairs in the closed-off quarters.Since I can’t be sensed, it will be better if I go alone. I know Enrique wouldn’t like me to go there, but we don’t have time to waste, and since he isn’t back I can make use of my time and try to locate the Ash Stone. We have to start somewhere.Going upstairs, I quietly sneak up to the unused area of the packhouse.Planting my hands on my hips, I look around.Right, so anything that contains a rock could be the Ash Stone, so I’ll begin by separating those t
~ ENRIQUE ~I smirk as I slink away from the stairs, not wanting anyone to sense me. Seeing Kataleya get her sassiness on is fucking hot. I like it when Mi Amor gets all possessive.My smirk fades as I ponder on her parting words.A stone… I don’t have any kind of stone… and there is no stone that means anything to me.But even as I think that, there’s one that comes to mind. My heart races as I pause, I need to check it out. Although I have touched it a few times over the years and I’m assuming that I should have felt something I still want to be certain.Maybe something is missing. It’s worth looking at again.I head to my office, lock the door behind me, and walk over to the shelf where the box containing the necklace she gave me long ago used to sit. It’s something that I’ve always held onto although I have tried to hate it with everything I have.I scan the shelf remembering I had moved it, turning - I glance at my desk, about to walk over to it when I stop, cursing as I run my fi
~ KATALEYA ~“And you are certain that is what he said?” Uncle asks once again.I nod. “Yes. I understood his words completely, they were absolutely clear,” I answer.“So do you think that image that the witch drew was this Azarakh dude?” Ahren asks curiously.“Well, the image depicts the darkness consuming Enrique…” Raihana sighs. “Goddess, I wish I knew, it’s complicated.”“Maybe if I think enough, maybe I can make a vision come to me. I’ve done it before when I thought about something,” I suggest as Delsanra taps her chin.“I don’t know, I know you are capable of that, but it’s a risk. Remember the enemy sees you too, and although you have had enough run-ins with him, we still have to be careful,” she muses.“I’m not sure she’ll be able to do that anyway,” Raihana says, looking over at Delsanra before glancing at me. “According to what Janaina has shared, your 6th sense may have disappeared completely when you came into power. That is a gift of the Deimos line, not Asheton.”“But sh
~ KATALEYA ~“A little more volume, don’t you think?” Raihana asks as she tilts her head towards Delsanra.I can’t give my input as the mirror in front of me is covered up by Raihana, who said I can’t look until she has finished getting me completely ready.She’s got her own hair in curlers and she’s wearing a satin floral gown. We’re all getting our hair and makeup done before we get into our dresses. Well, us three anyway.Delsanra takes a look at my hair before she nods from where she’s sitting on the floor in my room, applying her own makeup.“Kat, you are really going to stand out tonight,” she says, smiling at me.“I’m nervous,” I admit.“Don’t be. No one will be able to keep their eyes off you tonight.”“I think that makes me more nervous,” I say, making her chuckle.“You’re a Rossi, own it, I know you can. People will stare at us whether we want it or not,” Raihana says proudly. She did love attention, but I don’t want all eyes on me. I want to hide away when people look at me.
~ KATALEYA ~“No tears,” Raihana warns me.I nod as I turn and hug her tightly, trying to control my emotions.“Thank you, Ri.”“You don’t need to thank me,” she whispers, hugging me back before she moves back. “Now don’t go ruining my effort. Enrique is the only exception to ruin my hard work. Skyla snickers at that.Raihana smiles, brushing a curly that frames my face into place. “You know, on your father’s engagement to Jasmin, I did your Mama’s makeup.”“You did?” Skyla asks in surprise.Raihana nods and I smile. “I know, she’s told me, and Aunt Raven chose her black dress.”Raihana nods again. “Yeah. Look… no matter what happens tonight. I need you to keep your head high and remember that you are a queen, a Rossi, but more than that, you are a strong woman.”“Thank you,” I say.“Well, I better go get ready, I won’t be long, our dates should be here soon.” Her smile fades and I want to ask if everything is ok, but she leaves before I can.“I better go get my dress on too. You reall
~ KATALEYA ~“Yes, of course, ask away.”“If you spot any kind of stone, crystal or rock… will you please put it aside?”He observes me for a moment before suddenly realising something and smiling. “I see what you are trying to do, and I think that is a very good idea indeed… I wonder if Mi Rey has the same thought…” he says the last part more to himself, but I don’t want to waste any more of his time.I smile. “Thank you. We’ll be leaving soon. It’s a shame you won’t join.”“I have more important things to do here.” He smiles at me, and I nod before I return to the hallway.“I can’t wait to see how Enrique crumbles when he sets eyes on you,” Skyla says as she cuddles Malevolent before placing her kitty down.“Hmm, I think that depends on how you look at it.” I muse. “I mean, if he doesn’t go through with it, it means he is unable to stay away from me, a sign of his feelings for me. Or… by marking her to protect me? Which is the greater good? Will he have enough strength to make that s