Prince IsmirI am so furious I see red. With a shove, the door flies in on its hinges and the two males inside glance at me. “What is it Ismir?” The king asks. “Why have you called us so urgently?”I grab a vase from the wall and hurl it, and even the tinkling shattering sound does nothing to calm my fury. They don’t even flinch, they are so used to my outbursts. ”I was right goddamit! My woman has found a way to block me from her psyche.”“Impossible.” The king says. I grab the second vase and shatter it, so angry I am shaking. “You are wrong, Father.” I grit out. “You.” I spin around to the Whisperer and stomp the distance to him. “You told me it was fine to let her go.”“No, Your Highness. If I remember right, I suggested keeping her here. I detest changes I cannot explain and would have liked some time to study her.”“You should have known better.” I fume. “Are you sure you are not mistaken?” The king asks. “I am not. I have her blood in me. I am connected to her like a bra
CelineThe cut burns like a bitch. I wake up in a panic, fearing the worst and my hands snaps around the wrist as my eyes fly open. For a second, I think I must still be sleeping. Surely that is why it is not Lor or a vengeful Emma before me but... strangers. Strangers that I’ve never seen before. And right in front of me is the wrist the holds the dagger, stained with my blood. By the burning in my shoulder, he tried to cut me up. I don’t think anymore, I react. I crush the wrist in my hand, ignoring his expression of surprise and jerk him forward, spinning him around with the momentum and holding my ready claws to his throat. He is pressed hard into my front as I kneel on the slab and look at the two other men. “If you make a wrong move, I will rip his throat out.” I say and dig the first claw into his throat for emphasis. Hysteria climbs up my throat but I beat it down. There is a relational excuse for this. There must. “Who the fuck are you all and what the fuck am I doing her
CelineThe next time I wake up I am no longer in that cold empty room on a slab. I’m on the softest bed now, in what looks like a luxurious room but I’m in chains. My panic shoots through the roof and I jerk my wrist with all my strength. My two hands have been bound to either side of the bed with long chains, giving me much room to move but none to escape, how considerate of the fuckers. It does not stop me from trying, and my harsh breaths are accompanied by the determined pulling that gets me nowhere, no matter how hard I try. I grit my teeth and pull harder, until my wrist splits. Ruby red blood drops to the floor as my wrist bleeds but I don’t stop. The chains don’t budge an inch. Icy fear cascades through my veins and my teeth are gritted so hard they squeak. When I can’t take it again, I yell my frustrations. “Help!” Is there any semblance of a sane person here that could come to my rescue?“Help! Is there anyone here? Help me!”Silence. Sweat slides down my back with apprehen
NeemWhen I pull my door in this time I’m not even surprised to find someone inside. If it is not Aden waiting for me, it is usually Mia. Between the both of them, they have managed to make this castle with my hellish duty a home of sorts. Sera has of course, remembered to take my tongue again, so while Aden and I try our best to communicate non-verbally, it becomes easier when Mia is there because she translates for me. I’ve given Aden the book on sign languages and he is slowly getting good at it. “Did you hear?” Mia asks the minute I step in. “No.” I sign immediately, not bothering to ask what. Mia is my information source in the castle, the sole reason I am not always totally in the dark. If she has not told me, then I have not yet heard it. “How could you miss it? Rumours are that the prince has finally brought a female in.”I freeze in the process of stripping the veil from my neck and look at her. “What did you say?”Her brows rise as she repeats herself. “You must have he
LorI walk into Emma’s room and it is only Celine’s words and the sight of my son in her belly that stops me from dealing her back the same hand that she dealt me. She gapes at me like she is seeing a ghost. “I did not want to believe it. How did you- how could you-““Survive? Resist annihilating everyone in this pack and beyond? Was that your plan?”She snaps her jaw closed and the cogs in her brain visibly turn. “My plan? What are you talking about? My control slipped. I tried to hold on to it but I couldn’t. It’s probably related to the baby you put in my belly.”If I didn’t know better, I would even doubt the authenticity of her claim. Is the baby really mine or did she bring me another male’s baby to claim? I detest that there was such a vile occurrence between us, regret that I ever touched her, fucked her. This female standing here has become one of my greatest regrets. But I do know the baby is mine. She is simply too proud to allow another male to touch her. “Is that the
NeemShe is beautiful. It is the first thought that comes to my mind when I see her, even before she turns around from the window. She is silhouetted against the light from the window she looks out from, and when she turns around it is like golden wings sprouting from her back. The sight of her face punches the air out of my lungs, makes me feel like I stepped into another universe. Her sizzling grey eyes reach across the distance and grip me in a chokehold. Something about her is so commanding, exotic and thrilling, like electricity crackling in the air. She is perfect. Something ugly twists in my chest as I slowly approach her with the tray, stealing all of the beauty from the moment. I am mesmerised by her, and I’m just as female as she is. Prince Ismir never stood a chance, not against her cold beauty. I should look away from her but her intense eyes hold me prisoner, thinking a thousand thoughts that I yearn to decipher. I wish I could speak so I could say something to fill t
Celine I get up from the floor and face him. He is still standing well out of my range and he looks around at the mess I’ve made in the room grimly. “Was the food not to your liking? He asks and I scoff. Is he psychopathic?“No. It wasn’t.”He nods. “Tell me what you like then. I’ll have it delivered.”“You don’t serve what I want apparently. I don’t want anything from your kitchen. What I want is glaringly obvious.” I say and he sighs. “You cannot leave, so you must get accustomed to this place. You have to, I can only give you a full day to decide voluntarily.”Chills race down my spine and I feel like bugs are crawling around in my head, like whatever they might have put in there. “And what if I don’t?” I ask. “A chain of events has already been set out and regardless of your decision, they will proceed anyway.”I work to tamp down the instinctive spike of my heart-rate but his meaning is clear. He is confident he can influence my decision anyway, regardless of my wishes. Int
LorBefore my guest comes, I flip through the dusty tomes about magic. The search for Celine is underway, and this time, it is more widespread than before. I’ve recruited everyone within my reach, which is more than half of the werewolf community and they are actively searching for any sign of her. I also have eyes and ears on the underground movement for any sign of her but my gut insists that I’m doing everything wrong. And so I came down here, following the strong gut feeling. My mind keeps lingering on things beyond my grasp, beyond the knowledge of almost everyone alive. The dusty tomes I flip through have a lot to say about the magic of old, before magic waned and entire species went extinct. I search amongst a tally of all of the creatures that used to be alive. Vampires that fed on human blood for sustenance were the most dominant species after werewolves. There were witches and mages that were gifted with several powers, and several others. I search through their features o
Neem "I thought you would be done dressing up. We are going to be late." I tell Aden. "These buttons are hell." He mutters. "There should be about a hundred buttons on here.""Hardly." I say, amused. "There are only fifteen."Our clothes in Lyria never had buttons and it's always amusing that something so simple always gives him so much trouble. "Might as well be a hundred." He mutters and shaking my head, I go to help. He stares down at me as I work one button to the next. "You are staring.""I can't help it, you're beautiful." He says and I smile. "One would think you were only seeing me for the first time.""It feels like that sometimes." He says. "Sometimes I wake up amazed to have you by my side.""Only sometimes?" I tease him and he laughs. "Come here." He pulls my lips to his and kisses me and I forget about the buttons as I hold on, revelling in the movement of his lips on mine. I moan when his tongue darts in to taste me and his hands clench conclusively on my ass. "D
EmmaOne of the creatures runs at us, foaming at the mouth and bleeding from a dozen cuts. Celine intercepts him and kills him and I stare at her. “They said you controlled these creatures. Control them and end this wretched war.”She shakes her head. “It’s not that easy anymore. I was able to control them when my cat was dominant, when they absorbed my wolf. Someone donated her energy to bring back my wolf, but she neglected to mention that I would lose control of the soldiers when she is restored. I wouldn’t have it any other way anyway.”I sneer. “How pathetic. Of what use are you with your wolf then? You should sacrifice her to save hundreds of lives if need be but you are nothing but selfish as ever.”Her brows rise. “I’m not receiving a lecture on selflessness from you, am I? Now I have seen it all.”Behind us, Lor finally rips the king’s heart out with a roar. The war seems to stop for a second, everyone watching as he twists his head off his throat and sends it flying. And t
Celine They are unending. It is as if the entire world has moved against the Island. My soldiers are not enough, and so people of Lyria have joined, fighting against the enemy but they are lacking in spirit. Perhaps because they have been broken down by the economy but they fall like corn stalk against the enemy. I keep soldiers on their leader constantly, but he is not the only one to be worried about. My soldiers tear into most of the soldiers before they have a chance to defend themselves but too many of them are experienced killers, cutting through our numbers in swaths. I glance behind me but the king and the Whisperer are now gone from their perch, and then finally the harpies are released. Terrible terrible creatures that can ice the blood in your veins with a touch. Where they go, death follows, immortals shrivelling up and dying in numbers. And yet more of their army comes. There are about ten of the harpies and I’m surprised when one of them streams from the ground right i
CelineI feel it when Ismir dies, like a lance directly into my heart. I scream in pain and my attack falters. No. I look back, knowing I will not find him at he balcony he once occupied with his father and the Whisperer. My eyes meet his father’s and I wonder if he knows. My distraction costs me. Strong arms wrap around me from behind and I’m plastered hard against a male chest. “Stand back.” He orders the creatures, keeping them in front of us and me as a shield between them. They angle and pace, the front liners reluctant to attack and skewer me. “What do you think you are doing?” I grit out, trying to break out of his grip but he’s too strong. “You’re coming back with me.” He says, shuffling back. I burst into laughter, a little hysterical. “Are you daft as fuck? You want to leap through the barrier to freedom? The both of us will die before our next breath.”“I passed through the barrier to get here.” He says, his voice resolved. “By some freak accident. You will not be so
EmmaHe has grown so much in three days alone, this baby that has become my last surviving shield.“Dan!” I snap, heading to the balcony. “Yes, Emma.” She says from where she balances precariously on the ledge, not even bothering to look up. I thought the female stuck to my side because she had grown a soft side for me, as I have worked hard to lower her guard. I should have known better, she is an omega herself, an emotional fortress. Since the end of the three days that we raised Alaric, she has completely withdrawn, not even bothering to stand for any other person but the little brat. ”You said the three days were all we needed to ensure his survival.”“Yes. Your boy is stronger than a horse.” She says, raising her face to the sun. “Mama!” The culprit comes toddling out, holding chubby little hands out to me with a grin. I stare at him, my face going sour. “So why the hell does he still follow me around everywhere?!” I ask in dismay. I can’t look across a room without finding h
Neem“You found the source.” He says. His voice is cold and the way he is looking at me scares me. I affect a light tone. “Prince Ismir-““I cannot allow you to live.” Chills race down my spine and I laugh awkwardly. “What are you talking about?” I say, my voice pleading. I always knew my inquisitiveness would land me in trouble one day. I cannot believe the day is finally here. “Why do you always have to go around snooping and putting yourself in situations you have no business being in?”“I’m sorry!” I say, taking a step forward. “I’m sorry okay? This will never happen again.”“You are right, it won’t.” He says and then he shifts. I scream and dive to the side as he leaps, coming up on my knee and watching him nearly crash into the crystals. He sidesteps them in a precarious move in the last second and spins around, furious. I’ve never seen him shift, and for good reason, I realise. That is no wolf, he looks like he belongs amongst the deformities on the front line. He is thre
NeemI burst into the library, unconcerned about the racket I’m making as I race through the shelves to the back. Maria is reading a book and doesn’t bother to put it down. “Ordinarily, you should be banned from coming into the library.” She says placidly. “Outside.” I say urgently. “They are engaged in a fight. Celine and-““I know.” She cuts me off, not taking her eyes off the book. I gape at her. “You do? Then how can you be so calm?”“I am calm. I would recommend some to you too. What concern is it of mine if two idiots want to kill each other?”She’s right, she doesn’t give a fuck. She has said it enough times and yet she was the first person I thought of when I needed help.“I need your help.” I say and she finally puts the book down and pins with a stare piercing enough to make me squirm. “I see you got your tongue back.”“I need your help.” I say again, refusing to be redirected. “No.” She says, making me gape again. “No? But you don’t even know what I want to ask.”“I d
Prince Ismir“How did he come through the barrier?” Father snarls, finally thrown off his feet by the unexpected happening. “I don’t know.” The Whisperer says, my first time hearing him utter those words. “It should be impossible.”Apparently not, if he’s right there. “What do you know about him?” I ask. There is something about him that has my hair standing on end. It is simply my most primitive instincts recognising a threat, a major one.“Nothing,” The Whisperer says. “But judging by his power and the fact that he entered the barrier unscathed, there are only a few people that come to mind. I believe that is her mate, the one commonly known as the demon wolf.”“What?” I say, startled out of the blue. Is that where the sense of familiarity comes from? Am I feeling her familiarity with him? “She does not look like she recognises him.” I say, tracing her location.“Not with the the amount of poison we had to pump into her system.” He says. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t ev
LorFor the umpteenth time, I put a hand on the barrier and it goes straight through. My hand curls into a tight fist and I punch it hard. Nothing. It is just air. The demarcation that shows the island of Lyria, a slight shimmer in the air is quite obvious if you know what you are looking for. Otherwise, your eyes would probably skip right over it. We have besieged this perimeter for two days now and to my frustration, we have nothing to show for it. Not a soul has stepped out of it, and neither can we step inside either. If I didn’t have a strong gut feeling that she is behind that barrier, I would have believed that it is all a conjecture of my deranged mind.Maddilla comes to a stop beside me and peers into the barrier. It is not just Bloodbound pack but nearly every damn pack this side of the world out here. There are more than a hundred and fifty packs here, each one of them as eager and enthusiastic to pierce the barrier of the island as the next. I didn’t have much convincing