Chapter 82I woke up coughing in a dark dingy cell. It smelt like weak old piss and terrible sweat.But that wasn’t what I was focused on. I could smell the rat running along the edge of the cell.I could smell the spider scuttling across its dusty web at the right corner of the ceiling and yet my eyes were closed.I gasped in surprise and blinked my eyes open. The pounding at the back of my skull was gone. All pains were gone, and the hollow space that Drusilla had occupied since my awakening, now felt alive.Like a fire had been lit in it.“Margery?!”I sat gingerly on my feet and scanned the cell. It was dark but my magic seemed to work stronger and I could see and sense every detail in the cell. Enough to know I was alone.Wow. So she let her mate kidnap me, throw me in a cell, and abandon me.I know I should be grateful Thoranelle didn’t kill me but it was hard to be hopeful when I sat in the dark.The dress I had been wearing beforehand was torn to shreds. I didn’t bother search
Chapter 83Darwin’s POV“WHERE THE HELL IS SHE!” I yelled in anger as I grabbed a hold of Wilson’s shirt.“Dad! Stop! Please, please,” Freya screamed as she hit my arm with her small hands and tried to get me to release her mate.“Your majesty, please let him go. He can’t speak if he’s dead,” Lily, Lydia’s friend chimed in as she came into my vision.My grip on his shirt tightened and I looked at the man himself.What a weakling, he had his head hung down to avoid meeting my eyes.“Where is my wife!” I hissed and pulled him closer to me.Tremors ran down my spine and I swallowed, straining to remain in control of my form.Damon, my wolf was angry. He was feral and had been spitting in anger since he realised Lydia was gone.“I didn’t take you for a bully Darwin,” Lyssandra’s irritating voice sounded from behind me.I shut my eyes and took in a deep breath to try and control my form.I can’t lose control in front of her. Not now, not ever.“Let the man go, he’s clearly too scared to say
Chapter 85Margery’s POV“Really this isn’t necessary. This isn’t what we agreed on,” I swallowed and winced as Lydia’s loud scream pierced the air.“I know, I’m sorry. It’ll be over soon.” Vren sighed and dropped his head into his hands.He wouldn’t say it but I knew it was taking a toll on him too. I could see the fear and concern behind his eyes. The despair he tried to hide each time he went into the lab and came out.“Vren this had been going on for two days. How soon will it be over? I need a specific date,” Lydia screamed again, the torture in her voice raising the hairs on my arms.“I I-“ he stammered.“You What!” I snapped impatiently as a headache began to bang behind my eyes. “When I told you she was part Fae, I told you because the queen needed help not because I need you to torture Lydia,”My voice cracked on her name as tears blurred my eyes and I tried to blink them away.“I’m sorry Mar, I really am,” he croaked and raised his head from his arms to look at me.For a s
Chapter 86Margery ‘s POV“Announcing Her Royal Highness Margery Eloise, Princess of the Rogue Kingdom and wife of Prince Vren of Thoranelle,”I stood on shaky legs outside the Queen’s chamber as her steward announced me and I winced at my titles.They are inaccurate. I’m not a princess. Not anymore and no matter how many times Darwin tried to force the title on me, I refused.But here in Thoranelle, your blood decides your title and it is not something you can change.A loud groaning noise signalled the whirring of the door engines as the large double doors that granted access to the queen’s chambers swung open and the steward bowed below before me.His deference made me uncomfortable but it schooled my face into a mask of indifference and strode confidently into the queen’s chamber like I had done many times over.“This way your highness,” A fae maid from the queen’s court smiled politely at me and waved a hand for me to follow her.I did as surprise had me raising my brows. I had e
Chapter 86Lydia’s POV“It’s okay child. It’s almost over,” I gazed happily into Luna Cathy’s face and held her hand.“Over? But I haven’t done it yet,” I frowned as an unsettling feeling filled my stomach.Can I leave It all behind? “I haven’t fulfilled your prophecy yet. You told me I would be the greatest queen that ever lived,” Tears pricked at my eyes and from the edge of my consciousness I felt that dreaded sucking motion began to fill my blood.“But you’re suffering Lydia. Do you want to be here? In all this pain? Come With me,” Luna Cathy pulled on my hand filling my chest with warmth.Her hand felt so soft. Her voice sounded like heaven. How sweet it would be to leave this pain behind.“What about mama? Is she there with you?” I contemplated leaving the pain behind.It doesn’t matter if I leave, they’ll all manage.“Oh my child,” Luna Cathy wept as she crashed to the floor beside me and held my temple.“Your mama isn’t here,” she shook her head and pressed a kiss to my chee
Chapter 87My head seemed to swim as I fought against the pounding in my skull.My body was on fire and my throat was raw from all the screaming I had done for hours. The doctor had thankfully taken a break. Probably to eat or do something but it wouldn’t last long.I knew because his breaks never lasted long. My body trembled as Drusilla worked fast to help with the pain and yet I could scarcely move.“Dimitri?” I called out softly through his mental shield.Talking to him helped. It distracted me from how horrible my pain was and from thoughts of Darwin and how everything Luna Cathy had told me.And the Royal sigil? What was that about? I supposed it wasn’t so surprising that I belonged to a noble family.But still. For my mother to go from noble lady to a slave?!“Dimitri!” I snapped more impatiently this time but he remained silent his slight snores reaching over the shield to flood my senses.“Yes, Angie confirmed it,”My ears pricked as I heard murmuring between two lab attenda
Chapter 88Margery’s POV“Your Majesty, I wish I could understand the king’s hatred towards werewolves but I don’t,” I sighed as I dropped the teacup in my hands and stared at the Queen.There was something she wasn’t telling me. If my suspicions were correct then she’s Lydia’s mother. Only one problem, Lydia is a hybrid which means her father is a werewolf.The thought hadn’t left me since the last time I had audience with the queen.Fear of Lydia’s death tormented me as I tried and failed to figure out a way to save her.It didn’t help that the queen had been busy and the king has barred my access to her until today. When she suddenly called me in for tea.“Margery,” her face fell into an expressionless mask. “We’ve had this conversation and I thought we agreed to put an end to it,”I swallowed and shook my head. “No, my queen. I can’t just accept her death so easily. She’s Darwin’s wife and the queen of the Rogue kingdom. Goddess knows he would be devastated to hear of her death,”
Chapter 89“Are you certain this will work?” I shifted uncomfortably as I placed the tablet in the jug of water.“It’s the only thing I can come up with,” Dimitri’s sighed in my head. “Please just get it over with. I don’t know how long I can hide here before they find me,”Dimitri had continued hiding in the cellar after Vren drew suspicion from him. But he was a ticking time bomb. At any time, the doctor could decide to go check again and burst in on Dimitri.“Fine,” I was still stirring the jug of water when I heard footsteps come towards me.Dimitri’s plan had taken a few hours to form. From the creaks in the cellar door, he watched the kitchen maids, taking note of their schedule and who delivered what to who.That was how he had know that at exactly four minutes to two, the maid called Zita, would come to take a cold jug of water along with some crackers up to the lab for the doctors and lab attendants to drink.Dimitri also knew the jug of water was served by another girl, who h
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