I ran on adrenalin still with that silly smile plastered on my face, even if I knew it was a short-lived victory. As I ran deeper into the woods, the adrenalin pumping through my pulsating body began to feel like panic, and not before I ran up to one of the girls that had fallen did I stop. She was crying, so I helped her up, but speaking to her was impossible. She was so deep down in her own panic, so devoured by her own fear, I didn’t think she even knew I was there. With one hand clenching over her bleeding cut, she pushed past me with her elbow, and I fell on my back right into a thick bush. Of all the places, that’s where I ended up catching my breath. I just lay there and felt my heart pounding in my chest. Slowly, the pulsating rush in my ears faded, and my heart stopped trying to break through my rib cage, and I just listened. I watched the clear blue sky; what was I doing? I freaked out, like a deer caught in the headlights. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath; calm, I was
Elisabeth/Eir´s POV. Panic got the best of me as I crawled up the steep mountains like an animal. Small rocks and loose dirt rolled down around me. I clawed my way up, the howls echoing in my mind. The sweat trickled down my back, and I reached a small flat area before I managed to calm down. Far up the mountain, my eyes wandered, taking in the scenery. Wild was the first word that crossed my mind. Wild and untouched nature as long as the eye could see. It is a picturesque view, more breathtaking than any pictures I've ever seen. The sun colored the sky and the ocean on the horizon on its way down deep purple, light pink, warm orange, and bright yellow. Then, the backside of my little plan struck me; I saw everything from here, and there was nothing to hide behind. Scrambling to get to my feet to take in the mountain behind me, I wasn't even halfway up. But if I went around this first ridge, I could put the hill between us this first night. It was nearly pitch black before I reached
I felt the creature move behind me, and for some reason, I knew it was the wolf. Not human form, not the bear, but the wolf was stalking down the steep hill behind me. My, I clenched the little stone in my hand, franticly searching the area around me with my eyes for a way out, anything that could help. I'm not ready for this; this is not how it was supposed to be! One more day, I need one more day! Before I knew it, the hot breath of the massive predator fanned my hair and sent shivers down my spine. I threw myself to the side on instinct just as he launched forward. Big black paws slid on the loose rocks as the animal struggled to regain balance, and I stared at it with wide eyes—a big black wolf. No big would be the world's biggest understatement; it was the size of a goddamned horse! For a brief second, time I stood still. I sat a couple of meters away from a massive wolf; its fur was black, almost shining like the ocean waves at midnight when the cold moonlight hit the water ju
Those curious but terrifying grunts and sniffs turned to deep rumbling growls as a branch broke nearby. The beast turned around and faced something in the darkness. The hair on my neck and arms stood up as the cave rumbled; growls and snarls echoed off the walls around me, but besides scaring the living hell out of me, nothing happened. The beast’s growl died down and disappeared into the darkness. But I didn’t dare to move, breathe out loud, or crawl out to check. I stayed put and did my best not to fall asleep through the night. Again, I must have fallen asleep late at night because I jerked up and realized the sun was shining outside. I listened to birds, wind, and insects. That’s it, so I breathed out. My body was aching and sore, and I felt drained after a long night with little sleep. I ate the rest of my berries, drank some water, and washed my face with some of it before I pushed the bushes aside and crawled out. I yawned and stretched my hands over my head, trying to wake up
Toke´s POV. So, it didn’t go as planned, and even if I hate to admit it, she is different. So very different, feisty, stubborn, and clever! And what kind of a human fight a wolf? I didn’t even know her name yet. There was so much about this girl that puzzled me. She broke my fucking nose! She threw stones at me and a knife that hit me right in the shoulder. Had it been any other, my wolf would have torn them to shreds long ago. But he didn’t. I wanted to be mad at her, even if my nose, eyebrow, jaw, and the deep cut from the knife now had healed; it had been painful as hell! But what did my beast do? Whine because she fell and hit her head. Useless puppy! He growled in my mind, urging me to check on her, but I pushed him back. I found her, I got her, and the title was as good as mine. But as I kept stealing a glimpse of her from the corner of my eye, my curiosity for her grew. My wolf wanted to claim her and acted strange. Maybe it was just the rush of the hunt? His right to claim
Elisabeth/Eir´s POV I didn’t know how to feel. Angry, disappointed, or just deflated. This is not what I planned or what I wanted. And the Alpha dud added another day? Can he really do that? That’s so unfair. However, that means I still have time. This isn’t over, and I haven’t lost yet! I will use this time to charge up because this meat is fantastic, and I’m so hungry I felt dizzy earlier. I can still get out of this. I’ll play his game for a little while. I can be that sweet, naive damsel in distress! If you haven’t noticed, I already captured you. I mocked his voice in my head and rolled my eyes. Yeah, you wish. “Where is my knife?” “Somewhere safe..” “The safest place is in my hand.” He laughed, and for some reason, my heart skipped a little beat, and I did my best to ignore it and focus on my food. I’ve always been weak for good-looking bad boys, I know. But goddamned, get a grip! “It’s mine.” “Actually, it’s my mom´s. And I prefer to have it safe here instead of launched
“A deal? So, I must follow you back and trust that you let me go in five years?” “Basically, yes. I need to mark you for it to be believable, but the mark has weakened these last decades, so it’s nothing to worry about. Time is different here. We age differently, so five years isn’t that bad. The next time the portal opens, I will be Alpha. I will be the one in charge of picking up the new batch of girls. I can take you back.” “Fine, that scribble some mark on me and get that part over, but how am I supposed to know you will hold your part of the deal?” “Well, it’s a little more than just a mark. I’ll have to bite you.” A shudder sparkled down my spine; I don’t know why. Bite me? Why does that sound so alluring? No, it’s not! He can scribble something on me if he absolutely must mark me. “Hah. Nope, that will leave a scar! You can scribble something on me or something, write “mine” even. That should be clear enough!” Goosebumps appeared on my skin as his laughter filled my ears.
Toke´s POV She calmed down, not that she stopped glaring at me, but she calmed down. No, I had to get going because her scent drove me crazy! I had felt the beat of her heart through her skin, traveling over mine and making my heart match her rhythm. I was just teasing her at first, but then I couldn’t stop. I had to have more; I needed to be closer. Fury roared in my head, more, more, more! Then her smell hit me. That sweet, alluring arousal filled my nostrils, and I had to fight my wolf not to jump her. The scent filled my head and my lungs. Swirled around in my body like a tempting mist. A greedy, fast-growing lust made my breathing heavy. Addictive and dangerous! When I finally snapped out of it for a moment, I had to turn my back. I needed to breathe in something other than her scent. Fury was panting in my head, my dick pulsated in my pants, and my hands were practically shaking. As we walked through the forest, I cleared my head, and Fury calmed down. It had been so easy to t
Chapter 2 of book 2. Queen of KingsThe reaction was immediate, and no matter what I told myself, I lost control of it even before it started. My heart dropped; it felt like I was pulled back into an alternate reality where I watched the Fay march through the pack´s village. Sound and shapes faded out around me as I felt an unbearable need to cry. My chest started aching, my heart raging against my rib cage, and a lump threatened to suffocate me as I struggled to swallow. It was a real-time fight-or-fight reaction, but they conflicted with one another, crashing inside me as my body began to run. All I could think of was my kids. I forgot all about Eir; there was no room for anything else as my feet carried me in a rush between small cottages and houses. Are they okay? Still with Arcane? They are fine! Of course, they are! But still, all I saw was their small little faces, crying and calling out for me in desperation. Calling for their mom, and I wasn’t there! Irrational, it is irratio
Chapter 1. of Book 2. Queen of kings.Three years later.Maya´s POV.“Stop that!”“I don’t like it!”“I don’t care! Stop being such a baby, Arcane; stand still and try it on! Dressing you is worse than dressing the kids! And they have the ability to turn into wet noodles whenever I try!”"Is it really necessary? It feels like you’re trying to hang me!""Oh, stop the whining! It’s just a tie!""From what I’ve seen, nobody dresses up with something tied around their neck if they’re not going to hang! This is unnatural! Do you even think she will do it this time?"I paused, let my hands fall, and watched with a plain face as Arcane ripped that poor tie off him like a burning curse etching on his skin. I wanted to yell at him, and I wanted to hit him, but I knew it wasn’t fair. He was right, after all. It had been over two years already, and three times, Eir and the Dragon had prepared for the Royal mateing ritual and every time, she had found a reason to back out of it.There was no longe
Amon/ Dragon King´s POV.The deep-rooted frustration and disrespect faded the second he laid eyes on her. Dragon vision zoomed in, and his wings had stretched as he lowered his head and aimed. Everything was different now, and everything had changed. Why? I’m not sure, but I will figure it out. Her sob-filled laughter danced over the dark field yet again, and I wanted nothing more than to relish in this feeling. A quest for later, I thought to myself, right now, all I need is here. All I need is her.For once, I understood her. I hated to see her cry, and my heart felt pain with each heartbeat. But she cried while smiling, cried while laughing. I’ve never seen such love between two creatures, the way they fight joy, pain, heartbreak, and love. Because Maya, the lost Valkyrie, acted just the same as she did. Despite all the darkness that tightened around both girls’ hearts, love and happiness shone through just by seeing one another, and I think that is the only thing that kept me sane.
"Oh shut up, Hades, you know you love me."Nida winked at him before shifting her focus back to me, and to my surprise, the beautiful snake-like woman smiled at me with a beaming smile. Her white teeth looked unnaturally white, and her sharp canines glinted in the light. Deadly, stunning, and mythical. Nida was not someone I had expected to meet ever again and to be frank, I had no idea how to react. I should hate her, and she worked with Loki. But then again, she never did me anything wrong. Not really. To my surprise, Hades mumbled and looked down to the side, giving Nida all the space she needed without hesitation. I heard him beside me, still mumbling uncoherent words like a scorn teen.A cold but delicate little hand with long nails gently lifted my chin."Don’t let him sour your mood, little human. He is an expert at sulking. I mean, he beat the most skilled, spoiled, and stubborn toddler I’ve ever met anytime."I couldn’t help it; her voice was so cheerful, and I felt drawn towa
Eir´s Pov.She had long and thick brown hair in soft curls over her shoulders. Sparkling blue eyes, her skin was pale, but she had miniature roses on her cheeks. With a beaming smile, she looked nothing like I remember her. Blinking slowly, once, twice, and then three times. But she was still there, so healthy and... normal? Yes, normal. This couldn’t be real, but I couldn’t help myself; I had to talk to her!“Mom?”“My little Elly girl! Look at you!”Her hands reached out for me while she walked up. I couldn’t stop looking at her, and she was so different. But I still could not accept it, even when all of me knew and wanted to take it. Accept her, smiling at me! Wanting to hug me! So, of course, I just stood there, gaping, unable to move a muscle.“You grew up, baby girl, I’m glad. ““ I… Who are you?”“You know who I am, Elly! This is like I always told you: In the next life, Elly! In the next life. Well, technically, we are between, but who cares for the details!”Her smile faltered
Maya´s Pov.“WHAT DID YOU DO!?”The beast split into two men, both running straight for me, screaming. I could see the hatred, the evil, and their accusation pierced my skin. But I couldn’t react to them, could acknowledge their presence. All I saw was her, her white wolf, lying lifeless on the cold and dirty ground. Fur drenched in blood burned patches from my sword up her front leg where it had hit the bracelet.Shouting and cussing, words meant to hurt, bounced off the walls all around me. Tew and Arcane stopped them, curling them to the ground with no mercy or gentle touch. But I could feel even their eyes on me. The doubt, the shock, and the accusation they so desperately tried to hide. My sword fell to the ground, and the clang of metal against stones echoed down the darkness, over and over until the sound died out.“I didn’t kill her, I didn’t kill her…. I DIDN’T KILL HER!”A whisper I had no control over, a chant meant to convince myself. It didn’t work, and I didn’t hear mysel
Oh, goddess, was I wrong! I wanted to run and leave this incredible, horrifying darkness so many times, but Hades held me back. Took my hand and led me forward or held me back; eventually, we slowly walked down the narrow, black stone tunnel, filling my head with whispers. Stories about how they died, their last memories, their lust for revenge and despair. All through the hall, desperate cries of a baby echoed all around us. It was horrible, full of pain and fear, and despite not being used to babies, all I wanted was to pick up this poor soul and comfort them. But just walking there, not doing anything, made my heart shatter, my chest ached, and tears streamed down my face while walking silently.I clinging to Hades’ hand like it was the only lifeline I had, and I am not sure I will ever be able to forget this. I don’t know if I will ever stop hearing the poor baby crying in utter desperation. I can’t explain this feeling, cannot explain how this sound haunted me, pained me, and tore
“Anja? How the hell can you call that thing something so casual?!”“Because that is, or it was her name at the beginning.”We had finally stopped, sitting down in the pitch-black depths of the cave. The cold stones bit my back as I leaned against the cave's walls, pressing my knees up against my chest.“All lost souls, detached or roaming spirits, end up here. When she did, she was a woman like you. I am not sure what she was, but the legend says she was a shifter, but there are many stories about what kind. However, they said she was a greedy woman, sly and conning, and that she would use any means necessary to get what she wanted or felt she deserved. Nobody knows how she obtained the fallen dragon, but somehow, she did, but she did not anticipate the cost of her greed. There is nobody she can complain to, nobody that can change her faith, so as the years passed, her spirit became part of the skeleton. Together, they are now one; together, they collect all lost or wandering spirits a
*Mumbling* Goddess me, what an annoying sound! *Louder mumbling* A voice, a familiar voice at that. Do I really know people with such an annoying voice? “WAKE UP!” The shouting cut straight through the fog and mumbled and yanked me out, leaving me confused and annoyed at the same time. My eyes were soar and dry, making me blink several times before managing to make sense of the scenery around me. Still, it was so dark, and it all felt so strange. Surreal. The air was neither cold nor warm; it just kind of was there—no wind, but no wind still. No fresh air, no dense old air, heck, I'm not even sure there is air here. However, I am still breathing, not struggling. I feel no pain, no relief, just an immense void inside of me. “You took your time! Hello? Do you hear me? “ His voice was too loud, too close, and sounded so irritated and impatient that it rubbed off on me. Blinking desperately now, I tried to see him, remember him, but my head worked so slowly. Damned, did I drink last