Chapter 45Lydia’s Pov“Wait hold up hold up,” I raised my hand to Ilene Margery and shook my head in confusion.“Now I’m really confused. Darwin is your brother and your mate is FAE?!!”“Who’s your mate?” “Why haven’t I seen him around and why does that affect your ability to use your title as a princess?”Margery sighed and resumed walking down the hallway.“Wait! I need answers,” I called out as I hurriedly walked after her.“Here,” she said as she came to an abrupt stop in front of two portraits.“King Kendrick and Queen Eloise,” Margery whispered as she raised her hands to the portrait on the wall and trailed it lightly with her fingers.I looked up at the painting of the man and woman staring into each others eyes with love.It was a nice picture but unremarkable.“Margery, I need answers. You can’t keep introducing me to past royalty without proper explanations,” I complained.“What do you see?” Margery glanced at me with a sad smile on her lip.“I really don’t understand what-
Lydia’s POVKeren’s face paled and she glanced behind her in fear.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,”“Keren,” I pleaded as I moved closer to her.“It’s a trade. You help me and I’ll help you,”“What do you even have to trade? I don’t want to get into any trouble with the king,” she folded her arms and shook her head but I could feel her resolve weakening.“If this works out and you teach me the procedure properly, I’ll be Queen and I’ll give you whatever you want,” I promised.Her brow shot up and she looked at me in mild surprise.“Is this to be queen? You’re already mated to his majesty. You were going to be queen but your wedding was attacked,” She shook her head softly “You don’t need to do all this. He’ll make you queen,”She doesn’t understand. No one does.“Just help me,” I pleaded. “All I need is the specific procedure. That’s all, nothing would be attached to your name,” “I’ll think about it,” Keren replied as she walked out of the alcove, leaving me behind.It was l
I coughed as my hands trembled and I blinked open my eyes softly.The whole room was smoky and as I licked my lips, I could taste the slightly powdery feeling of ash.“Wow… “ Keren paused to cough as she waved her hand in front of her face to clear the air.“That’s a bigger explosion than we ever dealt,”“Did it work? Did it work?” Lily’s eager voice came from the phone.I shook my head to clear the slight ringing in my ears and looked into the bowl.Where the bloody mixture had been, was a clear silvery liquid.“I don’t know,” I whispered as I shook my head. “I’ve never seen the elixir up close before,”“Lemme see,” Keren walked closer to me and peered I to the bowl.“Well?” I bit my lip and shuffled from feet to feet. The bowl still felt hot in my hands but it didn’t burn.“We never made anything like that,” Keren said quietly.“You did it,” Lily chuckled in disbelief “You’re going to be queen!”Keren looked from the iPad to me in confusion and delight. “Okay?…”“The bottle. Get the
Chapter 48Lydia’s POVI took in a shaky breath, no that’s not true. I absolutely do not feel a single thing for this overgrown psychotic man. Yes he might be sweet but I only need him for one thing. To be queen.“I was so scared and so worried,” Darwin whispered and my skin tingled as I felt the traces of his lips on my shoulder.I slowly turned around, rested my hand on his arm and looked up at him shyly.Can he tell what I’m thinking? Is it terribly obvious I’ve fallen for him? I took in a sharp breath as Darwin’s eyes darkened and he raked them over my form.His gaze set goosebumps along my skin and I had to tighten my hold on his arm to hold myself upright.“You look…,” Darwin blinked and started again “You look—““Utterly delectable? Like a good little servant you’ve decided to forgive?” I joked around, trying to lighten the mood in the room and hoping he wouldn’t notice my nervousness.“…Beautiful. You’re breathtaking and you look beautiful,” Darwin corrected in a soft voice.
Lydia’s POV“The elixir?” Darwin asked dubiously yet he lifted up the vial and his expression froze as he noticed the silvery liquid swimming inside of it.“How d— Wilson g—“ Darwin looked so utterly confused my stomach flushed warm and I smiled softly.“Don’t worry about how I got it. It’s for you,” I bit my bottom lip nervously.“How did Wilson make this? Did he leave the dungeon?” Darwin still looked confused and I noticed his hands start to shake as he bought the bottle closer to him.“Shush,” I placed my index finger on his lips and sparks shot through me at the skin contact.“This is to prove to you. I’ll never betray you. Ever,”I held contact with his eyes as he stared at me with a new expression and slight respect on his face.“You did all this to gain my trust again?” He was so shocked.Drusilla whooped and danced about as he mumbled and his lips moved against my finger.“Yes. I’m ready to marry you Darwin. I’m not made to be a servant but to be by your side. As you mate, yo
Chapter 50“I don’t think that’s how to use the eyeliner,” Lily chuckled from my phone.“Lil,” I tutted in exasperation. “You’re not even here and you’re stressing me out!”I dropped the eyeliner on the table and gave her a stink eye she could see through the video call.Lily laughed.“All I’m saying is if you’re going to do your makeup yourself then you should do it properly,” My lips twitched as I said at my reflection. “You’re probably right. I should ask Keren for help before Margery kills me,”“Too late,” Lily whispered.I raised my brows in surprise as I spun around to see the shock on Margery’s face.“LYDIA!!”I winced as she yelled my name in horror.“What have you done! How did you—“ She marched away from the room door and came to an abrupt stop in front of me.“Surprise?” I bit my lip and gave a nervous chuckle as one of the curls in my hair bounced down and hit my shoulder.Margery’s eyes flared as she sniffed me.“He marked you?” She whispered in shock.Heat bloomed in m
Lydia’s POv Drusilla snarled as my legs began to shake beneath the dress. I know this woman. I would recognize those golden curls and sea-blue eyes anywhere. “Lyssandra,” Darwin called out her name in warning. I glanced at him in shock. Why didn't he seem surprised to see her? Wasn't she supposed to be dead?!! “Tut tut,” Lyssandra sashayed and came to a stop before Darwin and me. “Why don't you look happy to see me?” She smiled mockingly at Darwin. “Leave!” He grounded out in a silent voice. “Oh please!” she chuckled. I watched her fingers as she tapped his chest lightly. “Has your mental health deteriorated that far? I mean..” She threw her hands dramatically up in the air “One second you're saving me with the elixir of life and the next you're demanding I leave your ball. Do you want me or not? Make up your mind,” My vision swooned as my breath caught. The elixir. Darwin used my elixir to save this woman. That was why he wanted the elixir so much—to save her. But why?
Lydia’s POVI froze to the spot as my brain worked hard to compute what I had just heard.“Lycan? Ask in THE LYCAN?” I asked in awe.“The one and only,” he purred, “Now if you’ll excuse us Darwin, we have a dance to dance,” Darwin growled possessively and stepped towards me at the same time Dimitri opened his palm and stretched it for me.“Pick Darwin. Darwin please,” Drusilla begged but I ignored her and placed my hand in Dimitri’s“Well it won’t be unbecoming for me to reject the lycan,” I curtsied lightly as he beamed.“Sorry Darwin,” Dimitri chuckled as he sweeper me away to join the crowd of dancing couples.Dimitri’s hand rested respectfully on my upper back as I placed my hand in his and we began to dance.“So… “ I clears my throat.“So?” He smirked.“So, are you the one sending me anonymous messages and why can you mindlink me?” I asked directly.I had no strength or
Epilogue “Lydia! Hurry!” Lily waddled to my side with her hand on her stomach. She paused and stared at the scene before her with a smile on her face. “Just how many people are walking you down the aisle?” I chuckled and looked from Vren to Serena and Freya “Well you can’t fault me for having three people to walk me. Besides this is my third wedding,” Everyone chuckled and Lily rolled her eyes. “Enough of all this. Everyone in the hall now! Before Margery comes and here and catches this scene,” “Sorry guys,” I laughed as the palace guards opened the hall doors and they shuffled away in a file. “Not you Vren,” Lily called out at the last minute. “ I mean, your highness? What am I supposed to address you as?” Lily bowed with a chuckle. “Nonsense. That’s not necessary, especially in your condition,” Vren shook his head, making me smile. In the last four months I spent in Thoranelle learning the ropes, we had grown incredibly closer. Yes, you read that right. Vren stepped down f
My vision blurred with tears and I made to run to him when Lyssandra stepped in front of me and shook her head.“Uh-huh,” she chuckled. “If you belong to me now, you cannot go running to them at the slightest provocation,”A humorless chuckle left me as my tears spilled down my cheeks. She had been married to and mates to this man. How could she be so heartless?“Then call them off. Call of your guard dogs,” I whispered pleadingly.“Of course,” she purred and snapped her fingers.Like as though we were in some sort of trance, the entire palace went silent.The only sound was Margery’s soft groaning from where she lay on the floor.My eyes found Darwin and relief rushed through me as I saw he was still standing but he was losing blood and fast.I tried to move to him but the hall swam before my eyes and I paused.Lyssandra chuckled and picked up the bloodied knife from the floor.“You belong to me now,” she smirked as she lifted the knife to my throat.I swallowed. This is it, she’s fi
Chapter 113A still calm seemed to come over me as I moved back from Lily and staggered to my feet.Blood was still flowing from the wound in my hand. My legs shook as I stared at Margery on the floor.She had her hand on her stomach where blood was pooling fast.Her lips were white as she groaned softly.Vren was here. What? How?My shock was replaced by fear as Vren screamed in pain and crashed to the floor beside Margery.All around me, the people I loved were hurt and in pain because of this woman.Drusilla growled in anger and my entire frame trembled badly. I knew she wanted to shift and take over and I wanted to let her. So badly.But Margery needed my help, I moved to Margery’s side as quickly as I could and pressed my dripping palm to her lips.“W what?-“ Vren raised his crazed eyes to me but I didn’t have time for that.I couldn’t focus, not when this woman had control of all the pack members.My head swiveled, searching for Lyssandra and where Darwin had gone.“Shit!” Amari
Chapter 112Lydia’s POVI staggered out of the lab, my leg aching a bit, where I had repeatedly hit it against the door to force it open.From the hallway, I could hear sounds and what seemed to be screams. What the hell was happening?!Fear rushed through me and I flew down the hallway at lightning speed.“Lydia?!” Dimitri called my name a second before I went crashing into him.He held me from falling “What happened?! Where were you?! I thought you were on the aisle then next thing—““You thought I was on the aisle?! They were two brides?!” Shit! Lyssandra planned to pose as me.“Yeah and—“I paused Dimitri and listened in fear again as more loud shouts carried over to me. They seemed to be intensifying.“What the hell is going on?!” It sounded like protests Dimitri and I broke into a run as pack members began to flood into the palace.“Shit!” I swore under my breath.“Your majesty, over here!” Alexander and my guards covered Dimitri and me as the pack members yelled.The sounds o
The Wedding.“And you're certain this plan will work?!” Dimitri asked for the hundredth time.“Shut up and get out of my head,” I hissed impatiently. “We don’t have a choice. It's too late to make adjustments. We just have to carry on and hope for the best,”A knock sounded at my bedroom door, I got to my feet slowly and turned around as the door opened and Margery filed in with a team of beauty professionals.“Good morning Your Majesty,” she chirped happily and clapped her hands. “It’s time for your wedding!”Her good mood was infectious and my lips tugged up in a smile too.“Morning Marge,” I smiled.“Your Majesty,” A worker passed me a cup of tea.“Thank you,” I took it and blew gently on the steam.“Okay, everyone let’s get to work,”I took my seat as they began. Within the next two hours, they worked on my nails, styled my hair, did my makeup, and helped meInto my dress.“You have impeccable taste,” I smiled at Margery and patted my hand down my white lacy dress.“I can’t decid
Chapter 110I burst into laughter, clutching my stomach as I finally sobered up.I looked from Wilson to Freya to Margery but they had straight faces.“Wait,” I sobered you and looked at them incredulously “You’re serious?!”Freya rolled her eyes and turned around to face the mirror. She uncapped a lipstick and began to scrawl on it.“Look, we've approached it from several different scenarios. I know Lyssie. She would never tell us how to break the enchantment so that’s out of it,” she drew a red X on one part of the mirror.“We can’t kidnap or hold her in some cell. Dad and I tried, we released the news she was dead and kept her incapacitated for years.She found a way to make him go crazy so he bought her the elixir,” She drew another X“She definitely won’t be repenting and turning a new leaf anytime soon, and she has started manipulating the pack members,” She drew an X with a sigh.“Manipulating the pack?” I looked at Margery. “What is she talking about,”“His Majesty requested w
Chapter 109“Thank you, Alpha for having us. Our stay at Silver Streak was memorable,”I smiled at Serena softly. Her eyes watered and to the shock of everyone around she enveloped me in a hug. I froze for a beat then gently brought my hand up to enclose her.“Thank you, Lydia. I hope everything goes well. If you need help, call me and I’ll definitely be showing up for your wedding,” Serena whispered as she stepped back with a small smile.She turned to Dimitri and I didn’t fail to notice the look that passed between the two of them.“Lycan,” Serena bowed. “Alpha,” Dimitri repeated her motion with a chuckle. I rolled my eyes in amusement, he’s never serious.“Momma!” My eyes went straight to the beautiful silver haired little girl coming our way. Anastasia held on to her hand but she was bustling full of energy and ready to bolt towards us.Of their own accord, my feet carried me a few steps toward her until we stopped before each other.“Your Majesty” she chirped and gave a cute
Chapter 108I sat beside Claire, my hand on the little heart who stole my heart with one grey eyed glance.“She’ll be fine. She’s a fighter,” Serena gave me a hopeful nod and wiped Claire’s brow with a towel.“What happened?” I voiced the question that had been eating at me since I first saw her sick frame.Serena sighed and sat up fully to look at me. “A fall,”“Pardon?” I was horrified. Just look at her, she’s tiny, how could she have fallen and just where did she fall from?“Yeah,” Serena chuckled humorlessly “My reaction exactly. She was four, a few days before her fifth birthday. She said to me— Momma can I play in the garden with Papa. I said yes,”A small gasp left me. Since she was four. That was two years ago.“They played on the trees and he left. Dave left my little girl up there alone. She fell and has been sick ever since,”Horror and blind anger rushed through me.“Oh I know,” Serena read my face and shook her head. “I wanted to crush him with my bare hands. I was so blo
Chapter 107I staggered back a bit in shock.“Your Majesty,” The servant girl dropped the bowl of water on Serena’s lap and I watched as Serena put the towel in the water, wrung it, and gently sapped her daughter’s head.Slowly, my feet carried me towards the little girl. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was even. I placed my palm on her head to feel her temperature and her eyes snapped open.“Claire?!” Serena whispered in excitement. She dropped the towel and held her daughter's hand tightly. “Claire baby,”The workers in the room began to murmur in excitement and I even saw a maid hurry off, presumably to call a doctor or nurse.Claire had her eyes open but she wasn’t staring at her mother. The baby girl was staring straight at me. I blinked in surprise.She could see me? I gave her a shaky smile and waved at her. Her eyes lit up a little and her lips moved.She mouthed two words. “Save me,” Then she closed her eyes.Her mother clearly heard her. My heart broke as Serena’s ey