The Queen's Mate

***Author's Note:Please read books 1-4 before reading this book or else you'll be extremely lost. You will not be able to read this as a stand-alone.Books are as follows:Book 1: P.S You're My MateBook 2: She's My MateBook 3: I'm His MateBook 4: His Warm-Blooded MatePlease remember to leave a review, vote with your diamonds, and comment!_________________________________________SYLVAINFor as long as I could possibly remember I have been enamored by the concept of the mate bond. I found myself drawn to the way people described it as if their entire world suddenly revolved around that one person. As if their heart beat solely for the one they were mated to. As if their breaths filled their lungs because of their mated half. As if nothing bad could harm them because their fated half blanketed them from the clutches of danger.There was a morbid aspec

SYLVAIN I rubbed at my chest as if it would alleviate the building ache there. It was something that was becoming a part of me. I didn't necessarily like it but I learned to appreciate it because it let me know that Tania was fine, wherever she was. My back still burned with phantom pain. I knew we were linked, so what was phantom pain to me, was real pain to her. I tried not to worry about it too much but my mind always drifted back.Was she being tortured? Punished maybe? Maybe she escaped and ran into some other kind of trouble? So many scenarios ran through my mind and I had no clue how to put myself at ease.There were times I could feel a gentle tug at my chest as if the bond was something tangible. As if she was tugging at the bond. I knew we weren't fully mated so the bond wasn't as strong however, those were the times I sent calming, soothing waves of tranquility and safety down the bond —

TANIAI sat on the floor of my childhood bedroom with my knees hugged to my chest while rocking back and forth. My gaze had latched onto the painting of wings on the wall and it hadn't faltered since. This was a special type of torture. Not physical but psychological. They were mocking me, reminding me that I no longer had wings of my own as if the sharp stabs of pain emanating from my back weren't enough.My father had retrieved me from the cell after a day. He had been the one to bring me food and he had been the one to note that I ate not even a single morsel. Zephyr thought that bringing me here would help me. It did the opposite. It led me deeper into the darkness of my mind, allowing them to feed off my misery until I felt nothing. Not the cold of the room at nightfall. Not the heat of the sun when a sliver of sunlight caressed my skin. Not joy or pain or loss. I just didn't feel.It could have been

TANIA I curled up at the bay window, hugging my knees to my chest, and glared at the gray clouds that hid the sun. My ears were trained on the sound of pelting water as Sylvain took a shower in the adjoining bathroom. My father had brought some clothes for him to wear and permitted him to use the forest within the wards whenever he needed to shift as long as he left our people alone. I was learning that Sylvain could be very compliant if it meant keeping the people he cared for happy. He could read a room and act accordingly, never making someone feel uncomfortable. The sound of the shower shutting off had me fumbling on a loose thread of the hoodie I wore. It was loose so it wouldn't brush against my back. My gaze didn't waver from the dull clouds when I heard Sylvain amble into the room with a growl vibrating the back of his throat. He seemed to have woken up in a bad mood and I knew better to get on his nerves when I

TANIA"We're looking for her, you know," my dad murmured in a soft whisper, seating himself at the foot of my bed."Not hard enough," I bit back, hissing at the way my body tensed at the mere mention of Kali. Running my fingers through my white locks, I added, "and even if you catch her, what do you plan to do? It's not like you could punish her for something you would have done anyway. Mum hasn't even spoken to me, let alone come here just to set eyes on me. ""You did threaten and almost kill her friends and the people they love," Zephyr deadpanned with a tight smile.A growl built in my throat and then left my lips before I managed to tamper it down, "Just because they are part of the council it doesn't make them her friends. Her priorities aren't in the right place.""And yours are?" My father challenged, peering up at me.I stood in front of him with