Mikaela's Point of View
Pain shot up my right leg in flames. Blood dripped onto the forest floor as Jasper remained standing over me. His smile grew more poisonous than ever before. To think once upon a time I had thought him a good man. A friend. He was now just as cruel as Adriaan was. I prayed Katharine had kept running even after the shot. Her little legs had to keep going until she reached her father.
Jasper crouched in front of me, looking at my bleeding leg. The gun in his hand looked foreign, strange. Not the normal type of fire arms I was no so utterly used to by now. Spitting in his face, I hissed at the motion. Black dots swam in and out of my vision as the pain increased with each gush of my blood. Jasper smiled at me again, pleasure written on his face. All I had to do was entertain him long enough for Katharine to slip away.
"Thought you could pull a fast one on us, didn't you?" Jasper mused and slid the gun over my leg towards
Caspian's Point of View Julian had laid Luciana down in her old bedroom. Maids had prepared it extensively, only choosing the finest sheets and best clothing to put her in. I hadn't stayed long after that, not whilst everyone else was saying their goodbyes. Staff members were tearful as they said their goodbyes and I understood why. She had given them the luxury of choosing where they wanted to be. Who they wanted to serve. They had chosen her time and time again. Now the girl who had promised freedom was no longer free herself. Bound to the next world for all eternity. There would be funeral preparations to come in due time. Julian was too out of it to plan anything just yet. He needed time and so did I. Father had asked me to head back to my pack. To govern and rule my people again, but I had declined his offer. For now, all I wanted was to be as close to her as I still could. We had spent barely any time together, started a bond that now crumbled
Sophie's Point of ViewI had sent Ezekiel home. His pack needed him there more than I needed him here. I had the Valkyrie to bare witness to my pain. Yet no tears came. None. Even in their company, I felt hollow. As if Luciana had left a hole in my chest. My sister. The one person who had always found a way to make me smile, even when I was annoying her in some or other way. She never knew how much I had admired her. How much it hurt when she had left and left me there, along with every single monster prowling the night. Suddenly, I was in the hands of a beast. The same beast she had been protecting me from her entire life.***The house was filled with the sweet scent of mother's milk tartand roast. Fire crackled to my right, Jasper splayed before it. June was a cruel month where we stayed. Some elders even predicted some snow fall later in the month. Snow was breath taking and fun to play in. But most importantly, my birthday was a w
Julian's Point of View Three days. That's how long she had been gone. Cold as ice. Pale as marble. Beautiful as an angel sent to me all those years ago. With her fiery temper and resolve of steel. Those flames within her soul had gone out, leaving this world colder than when she had come into it. Regret gnawed on my insides, tearing apart the parts of me that hated myself the most. I had lost her once, but that was nothing compared to this pain. This suffering. Whiskey came in short coming. Even my staff knew to steer clear of my office. How could she have been gone? With her smile and tenacity to raise Cain. There was nothing in this world that could bring her back. Witches were long since dormant and I feared that even they wouldn't have been able to raise her from her eternal slumber. Caspian had taken to his own room, leaving only to get another bottle of bourbon. We often met in the bar. Both looked as if we had seen better days. Those d
Julian's Point of View Breakfast was at 8am sharp. I had ordered everyone to attend. Sonja had gathered the Valkyrie, along with Ezekiel and Caspian. Lillian was retrieved from her villa and Amelia already sat waiting in the dining hall. Today was the day that I ensured the victory of our war. Our species, united as one. We had lost someone vital to our cause, but that did not mean we had to lose everything else as well. I had invited Caspian's father as well, but was politely declined due to the preparing of more men for war. Our war. They whole heartedly stood behind us now, thanks to Caspian. And in part thanks to Luciana. The old Alpha had heard nothing but praise for my wife from Caspian, thus resulting in us having more allies to rely on. It was bitter sweet in the face of losing her. The crown atop my head gleamed in the early morning rays. Last night I had stayed awake, rehashing Amelia's conversation. She was right. I couldn'
Caspian's Point of View Julian and I avoided each other like the plague after our quick kiss. My emotions left me bubbling. Boiling at what happened. He was Luciana's first mate. The King. A man. How could I possibly be feeling anything towards him except loathing for having her before me? There was nothing tying us together anymore in this world, yet I couldn't help but feel those same sparks with him that I had felt with Luciana. The brush of his lips against mine sent fire rushing down my throat. What had happened was a strange occurrence, but could easily be chalked up to grief and lack of common sense. Another bourbon bottle stood on my nightstand, almost empty. I had come to use glasses in the presence of people yet drank it straight when I was alone. There was no need to pretend that I was a healthy member of society when I was alone. My mourning was my own and I wouldn't have it any other way. Luciana had found me and then she was gon
Julian's Point of View My feet couldn't find the floor fast enough. I zipped down the corridor, my mind a raving mess. Sebastian hadn't uttered her name completely before I broke from Caspian and took off. Katharine was here. Somehow, the goddess be blessed, she was safe within our reach. The foyer quickly came to view, the big double doors opening up. In strode my men, a timid frame between them. Her chestnut hair was dirty against her head. Blue eyes wild. The small girl shook once when she looked to the side and saw Sophie. A radiant smile crossed her face but nothing compared to the one when she saw me. "Katharine!" I all but screamed and collided with the girl, wrapping my arms around my daughter. Tears prickled my eyes. She was safe. Safe and home. Dirt stained the front of my clothes as she drew even more into my arms. I couldn't care in that moment. She was home and I thanked every star in the sky for her safe return. "Pappa,"
Caspian's Point of View An unnerving girl with chestnut hair exited Luciana's room. I assumed it to be Katharine her daughter, but something didn't sit well with me. She was too graceful for someone of her age. Too self-assured. Was she saying goodbye to her mother one last time? Soon after, Julian left the room as well and casually strode to his office. But my intentions weren't to see him. Oh no. After what happened last time, it was best I stayed far away from him for the time being. We were both weak from losing her and we took to each other for comfort, but it wasn't right. He wasn't mine and I was most certainly not his. Even if his blood was in my body as well, even is she tied us together even before death, we were doomed with each other. I soon found myself beside her. The moonlight slithered in from an open window, letting a calm breeze play with locks of gold. The black tips to her hair added a sense of rebellion to her visage, but
Caspian went slack jawed, staring at my naked form, drinking in every bloodied feature. He looked tired beyond recognition, but his eyes were alive as they dipped over my body. Disbelief danced within his face, nose wrinkling up. He couldn't fathom that I was looking back at him. Lust twirled at the bottom of my stomach as his gaze went lower. For some reason, just the sight of him nearly brought me to climax. As if raising from death whet my appetite. Maybe even in more than one way. "You are alive," he breathed, barely audible. My eyes went into slits. He smelled different. Almost as if Julian had rubbed himself all over Caspian. Their scents mingled together perfectly, filling the room with the heady aroma. "And I am still waiting for you to take my hand," I mused and took a small step forward, feeling the power in my limbs coil and uncoil. Unwittingly, Caspian took a small step back, eyes now glued to my outstretched hand. I could almost see every thought