It stirred something dead to life inside Zach. He wasn't afraid to die. All his fear vanishes in thin air. He was finally going to meet his dewdrop. Even if it meant after death. “ She… she saved me from those looters. She was a thief herself.. So I got this idea. I gave her an opportunity to visit the ball pretending to be me.” “ I gave her my scent bottle. My name. My clothes.” “ She could loot there all that she wanted for a day.” “ And that's where you both met.” Things were making sense now. Why Zach thought Eirene was his mate when she wasn't. Why she smelt like her. “ I returned to Caleb. We were happy but… we lacked the basics. We had no pace to stay, no food. Nothing.” “ And then I we got the news of your marriage.” “ You married Eirene thinking her to be me. Your mate.” Caleb smirks to speak next. His head stays dipped in Emerald ‘s neck. “ And then we made a plan. Em here was to return and you would know that your dearest Eirene had been nothing bu
Present- The Penitentiary Dungeon. *Whip* " Speak you filth! Why did you kill them!" * Whip* " Spit it out! What made you murder those innocents? " * Whip* " Confess you piece of shit!" * Whip* The interrogator roars, putting in all his force and the wolfsbane-laded whip recoils the hundredth time, after connecting with the convict's skin. "Shit. " Dropping from his hand, the whip settles on the floor of the dungeon. It's metal studs dripping with fresh blood.The interrogator breathes laboriously. Staring down at the fresh blisters covering his palms. He grits his teeth to look at the body swaying from the chains suspended on the ceiling. The black hood covering the convict's head aspirates near the person's lips. Signifying that the person was still conscious. Breathing. Damn it. What is this person made of? Steel? He groans under his breath to wonder. He has tortured and executed thousands of people before. Serving the court makes one do
Something flashes in his eyes, but it is gone as fast as a bolt of thunder in the dark sky. His fists clench and his features harden into something colder than ice. " Zach...Listen to me just once..please.. " Her pale chapped lips struggled to whisper and it snapped something in him. His strong hands wrap around her tender neck like a viper's grip. And her already pale face turns ashen. " Your Highness. Address me as your highness filth!" His growl reverberates in the entire dungeon room and she closes her eyes. Unable to see the hatred simmering in them. A tear drop streams down her closed eyes and his eyes narrow down on them. Her sobs rock her bound body and he leans in closer. His hot breath fans her sunken cheeks. " Shsss don't cry dewdrop. These crocodile tears are of no use now." When she refused to stop crying. He lifts his hand to cup her wobbling chin softly. Her body leans in closer to his touch despite the state it was in. "Let me enlighten you on a
From punishing anyone who even dared to talk to his dewdrop in a loud tone, it has come down to this. It hurts. It breaks her. He didn't even resemble the shadow of the man who she fell in love with in the last 6 months. But who was to blame for this? Her mouth stays open, head falls back but no scream escapes her lips. Taking in deep breaths, she tries to bear with this wound like countless others on her body but somehow this one hurts ten times worse. Maybe because it was given to her by the very man who she loved. Blood streams down her thigh like water in a river and a sudden jerk hits her body. Zachary sees her lips turning more pale if possible. " You...will regret this..." Her voice comes out ice cold, nothing like the plea of mercy before. That softness in those brown orbs cracks to show a hint of the most deadly murderer under them. And Zach feels the aura around her shift. What hundreds of whips and countless broken bones couldn't do, his one stab did
18 years ago. Crescent Moon Territory " Where were you? Did you again open your legs to that bastard like the sl*t that you are ?" " London please listen to me. I just went to take-" Smack! The woman's frail body stumbled back to fall with the impact. Tears streamed down her brown eyes. She held her throbbing cheek to get up when another kick landed on her stomach. And she crumbles into a ball. " Now you will lie to me huh? It seems you are forgetting your place. " " I just went to buy the medicine. I swear. I am not lying -" Smack. " Keep your trap shut. Now be a good little mate and come here." " No. Please." The man turned around to lock the door shut. But what he stood unaware of, was of the little child of barely 10 years hiding in the cupboard. The girl's brown locks were made into two neat ponytails, tears streamed down her eyes, but no words left her lips. Clapping her palms shut on her lips, she won't go against her mother's order. " Hide Re
Present. The Royal Office. 10:45 pm * Knock* " Enter" A drained gruff voice speaks from inside and the speaker enters. Bowing. " The black warrant for tomorrow's hanging. It needs to be signed by you, Your Highness. " " Put it down. Dismiss. " Placing the Manila folder on Zachary's desk. The guard bows and leaves. The door closes and Zachary's eyes stay fixated on the document. Clenching his fists. He extends his hand to pick it up. Taking a deep breath, he flips it open. And the small passport-size photo in the right corner made a knot twist in his stomach. Those brown eyes which were once his world stared back at him in coldness and those wild tendrils he loved to take hold of when he entered her, were wildly cupping her oval face. Eirene Waters aka Phoenix The name written at the top mocked him like a sick joke. The two persons he loved and hated the most in his life, we together in one line. They were one. Unknowingly the corner of
Every morning brings in new hope and dreams. It's a testament to the fact that no matter how dark the night is, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. But not today. Not for her. The day progressed and before anyone knew it, it was already dark. The rattling of chains echoes around her, as her body is pulled forward through the Martin chain attached to her waist. Her naked feet stagger, struggling to move forward when suddenly they get caught on something and she finds herself falling forward. With hands tied and a heavy round neck chain pulling her down. She couldn't even break her fall and a shattering pain hit her jaw. She could taste blood in her lips and a crease appeared on her forehead. " Get up bastard. We don't have the entire day for this. " She tried. But she couldn't. When she didn't move the man holding her chains, sighed in exasperation. " I guess you still want what they call the last-minute motivation. " Before she knows it, a s
The crowd goes crazy instantly. Few even take out their shoes and start throwing them at him. " Kill him!" " Murderer!" " Burn him alive!" " Show his face!" No matter what the people say, Phoenix's black hood-covered face doesn't lower. He walks straight and tall. The guards continue to drag him forward. His body crosses the council and a strange knot twists in Zach's stomach. Emerald's hand rests on his shoulder for support, but at that moment it means nothing. All he could feel was that strange feeling of dread inside. Like he was going to do the biggest sin in his life, which will neutralize all good he ever did. No. She deserves this. There is no turning back. He can't possibly sympathize with a murderer now. Fighting his resolute he looked down to find a trail of blood following her. Her blood-coated feet leave behind their footprints. New fresh marks trailed her back, signifying the last whip session was barely minutes ago. Every attempt was
It stirred something dead to life inside Zach. He wasn't afraid to die. All his fear vanishes in thin air. He was finally going to meet his dewdrop. Even if it meant after death. “ She… she saved me from those looters. She was a thief herself.. So I got this idea. I gave her an opportunity to visit the ball pretending to be me.” “ I gave her my scent bottle. My name. My clothes.” “ She could loot there all that she wanted for a day.” “ And that's where you both met.” Things were making sense now. Why Zach thought Eirene was his mate when she wasn't. Why she smelt like her. “ I returned to Caleb. We were happy but… we lacked the basics. We had no pace to stay, no food. Nothing.” “ And then I we got the news of your marriage.” “ You married Eirene thinking her to be me. Your mate.” Caleb smirks to speak next. His head stays dipped in Emerald ‘s neck. “ And then we made a plan. Em here was to return and you would know that your dearest Eirene had been nothing bu
The most beautiful and prosperous kingdom of all, the Royal lands was on the verge of getting turned into ruins. Fires had been lit, soldiers have intruded and treasures were ready to be looted.With eight enemy packs striking together, bordering the kingdom from all direction. Escaping was no longer an option. And maybe that's why the ruler has materialised walls of trees and depths of trenches to surround it. To protect his people till he could. Yet, the question remained. How long will the King protect them when he himself was surving on counted breaths. How long can one man fight against millions? And especially now, when his soul had been shattered by the betrayal of that one person he loved more than anyone? “ Em?” Her name left Zachary’s trembling bloody lips but no emotion becomes evident on her face. Lowering the barrel, she steps over his body to walk towards Caleb’s coughing frame. “ Baby? Are you alright?” She cups Celeb’s face and helps him get up. “ I
Zachary’s POV ‘I threw her to my men to be broken and tamed. They took their turns.’ ‘A toy first needs to be broken to be made according to your choice and taste.’ Each word the bastard spoke plunged a knife into my heart and the words Eirene told me suddenly started making sense. ‘I slept with another man. I am not a virgin.’ ‘I don't deserve you.’ ‘What if you get bored of me someday?’ It has all happened with her before. Her fears were not baseless.That bastard, her very mate pretended to love her and when he got bored of her? He tossed her to his men to be abused? Why didn't I realise it? Fuck! The way she flinched when I first touched her. That constant fear and lost look in her eyes. How her hands always trembled when they touched me. How she was always weary and on high alert. How it took months for her to finally relax and feel comfortable in my arms. Ex mate. Caleb. Rape? “ Villains and heroes are not born, Zachary. They are made. Never judge a pe
Aiden was waiting for that moment when a searing pain tears him and he takes his last breath. When his tender neck gets ripped under the beasts canines and his blood gets spilled along with thousands of others. He waited. Seconds pass. No sound was audible. And Aiden opens his palms to suddenly feel an aura of fear and vulnerability hit him in full intensity. It wasn't his aura. Saph's aura was out of question. Then.. It could only belong to... He snaps open his eyes and what he saw made his fearful eyes widen in shock. The shadow, the beast was still hovering over him. But he couldn't move. Not even an inch. Unknown tree branches have uprooted from under the ground and were tightly wrapped around Caleb's frame like a snake swathing around its prey. One thick branch was coiled around his neck, another around his hind legs and one around his chest. The branches were moving... coiling tighter with every passing second and Aiden could see saliva dripping from the Caleb'
Their footsteps were coming closer while our breathing was turning heavy. Closer… closer. “ Aghhhh!” Saph stumbles on a branch to fall and that was all it took. We stop and within seconds we were surrounded. The wolves surround us from all the directions and one of them shifts to look at me. “ Well, well, well. If it isn't the future Prince of this Kingdoms.” “ Did we got lucky boys? Boss would be so delighted.” His eyes cloud. He was sending a mindlink and my fists clench. Standing in front of Saph, shielding her from their disgusting gaze I seethe at the man. “ You are nothing more than cowards. If you think you can defeat your Highness like this? You are mistaken!” The men only look at each other to chuckle. Their huge frames tower over my 4’2 one. “ We don't think pup, we know. Your dear your Highness is going down today. Its just a matter of time.” “ Its impossible! He is an elemental! You all are of no match to him!” Saph speaks from behind me and I see det
Aiden's Pov Adults don't understand and see a lot of things that we as children do. The longer a person stays on this planet, the more he or she gets tainted by this worlds dark colours of greed, selfishness and mercilessness. We as children stay immune to this and maybe that's why all I could see right now was that my new family needed me, while all Rowan and Raven cared about was this kingdoms heirs safety, my life. They couldn't understand that I can't live like this. The kings title, the power, the responsibility. I needed none. I just needed my new family safe. I just needed the people who took care of me and loved me in this unknown place when everyone turned their back on me, breathing and taken care of! I was pinned under Uncle Rowan, restrained to not go back. Tears dripped my eyes at my vulnerable stare as I imagined my new family getting slaughtered to death. Saph... Grandma. And most importantly, Zach. The man who gave me what no one else could ever
Three pairs of thudding footsteps run through the deserted forest as screams and cries echo behind. Their breathes were laboured but none could afford to catch their breath, even for a second. " Aunt Raven. We need to stop. I am not going to flee like this." " Father, Saph and grandma need me! They are there all alone!" One pair stops to be only dragged ahead by Raven's grip on his petite wrist. He thrashes, begrudgingly moving ahead. " Don't be stupid Aiden! This is a war! They are going to kill you mercilessly if they reach us!" " We need to reach safety! Your mom is waiting for you!" Raven's blunt authoritative voice did nothing to alter the kids resolute. Determination shone in the kids eyes as he tugs to withraw Raven's grip from his wrist. Everyone stops to stare at the resilient boy. " Mom never taught me to abandon my people and run away like a coward. I am going back-" Aiden turns around to go back when Rowan steps in front of him to block his way. Softly
Zachary stood on the barrister, his emotionless eyes look down at the enemies army approaching his castle from all sides. Small forest fires lit the forest and he could hear distant screams. Clenching the barister tightly, he whispers in a low voice. " How many, Ron?" " In hundred thousands, Your Highness! We were attacked together from all borders! My estimate is that there are way more than 5 packs. And if I am not wrong it…it…” Zachary sighs to complete it for Ron. “ It's a coup.” Deadly silence followed. No one said anything and Zach breaks into a series of coughs. Unable to keep them in. Catching his breath, he gave his next order. “ Escort the elder and woman out. Take Aiden-” “ We are taking him along.” Zachary’s eyes shift to Rowan and Raven standing on the threshold. He could see the determination in Rowan’s eyes and this time he had nothing to argue about. In times such as this, the kid will be more safe with his family. Nodding Zach sighs to lean a
Zachary ‘s Pov “ I am so sorry, Your Highness. But it all happened in a mere second and the person just vanished in thin air.” “ I have never seen something like this before. However one thing that got confirmed was that Wilson was working for someone.” “ And when we caught him? The man feared that his name will be spilled so he killed Wilson on the spot.” A series of coughs break through and I feel my chest constricting. My palms resting on the table clench into fists and I take deep breaths. “ Sir!” Ron rushes to offer me a glass of water and I gulp the cold liquid. What all that healer, Raven said is turning out to be true. There is no use delaying this. Not even till tomorrow. I have to declare it. Now. “ Ron?” “ Yes your Highness?” “ Are all the elders staying over?” “ Yes Sir, everyone arrived for the judgement tomorrow.” “ Call then over to the meeting room in 5” Another series of coughs break through my chest and Ron nods. “ Should I inform Qu