A shudder raked Alyssa’s body and she pressed her face in her hands. This was the first time she was hearing about it. Tears flowed out unbridled. She had felt a strong connection when for the first time she saw the Averine Valley. Those white flowers were beautiful. How could fate be so cruel? She had ultimately found her father but to what future?
She sobbed and sobbed until she was breathless, until her tears became dry, until knots formed in her stomach. Her chest ached and she didn’t know where the future would now take her. The pain in her was unbearable. It was like a thousand shards had stabbed her skin and then twisted. “What do I do Fenris?” she asked as her shoulders raked with tremors. “What do I do?”
Fenris pulled himself in front of her and then wrapped his arms around her. “I am sorry Alyssa. Please
33 A few hours back: Tova watched as Alyssa left with Fenris to the lab at the back of the keep. He wanted to follow her but was immediately swarmed with the girls who rushed to meet him. For the next one-hour, they kept him occupied by throwing multiple questions at him. In the groups of two or three at the most, each was trying to outsmart the other one with their intelligent queries, which mostly centered on his life at Renada and how close he was to the king and queen, whether he had his own house and how many servants were there. Out of foolish curiosity, one of them, Jenna went ahead to ask how many babies he planned to have. Tova’s face was red and he remained quiet. One of the girls was Jade, who was the most influential amongst them. Her father was chieftain of the Touno settlement while her younger broth
“You can talk later Alyssa. If you won’t have food, I will force feed you!” he grated. There was a dangerous scowl on his face.She knew that he meant what he said. With a sigh, without arguing she picked up the plate and murmured “Thanks.”Seeing that she was eating, Tova fell back on the pillow. He watched her eat, his beast becoming satisfied by feeding his mate.Once she had finished her food in silence, Tova left the room only because his mother had called him through a mental link. Otherwise, he had planned on staying with Alyssa till he could. He didn’t want to go back to the girls.Alyssa exhaled heavily once he left. The air became so heavy with him that she needed to breathe, needed to get out of here.
Jade added fuel to the fire. “That is also true, Tova, but then each to their own. We can’t say much.” Tova shook his head in frustration. He looked at Fenris and barked his order, “What are you standing here for? Go and get food for Alyssa. She is in no condition to go down!” “Yes, my lord!” said Fenris and started to leave when Jade called him from behind. She said, “Fenris, please ask the cook to make steamed broth for her. I don’t think we should give her solid food at the moment.” Fenris nodded. The woman was very forthcoming and very helpful. “I will do just that, m’lady,” he replied and walked out of the room. “I am going downstairs to talk to the maid and my mother,” said Tova. “I will be
Jade blinked her eyes rapidly as she took in his comment with a shock. “But Tova, she needs rest. Besides you haven’t had your dinner,” she said with concern and shock in her eyes. “Ever since Alyssa fell down to the time she has eaten her broth, you haven’t rested. I have to say that you are a fantastic host. Now you should also take care of your health.” She walked up to him and put her hands on his arm. “You must come out with me and have your dinner. In my opinion Alyssa needs to sleep.” She tugged at his arm as she tried to take it near her bosom. Tova removed his arm from her grip. “Thanks for your concern, Jade. You have been really nice with Alyssa, but there is something I would like to discuss with Alyssa,” he replied sternly. “You may join the rest of the girls in the main hall for dinner. I will come later. Though I do suggest that you go finish your dinner and go back to your room. It i
Fenris mounted behind her and said, “I am so sorry for this mess Alyssa.” She chuckled, “It’s not your fault Fenris. You are only helping me out in this situation. The decisions are mine and not yours.” Fenris didn’t say anything. He knew what she must be feeling leaving the place. Even in the darkness he could see her pale face. She had tied her hair in a braid and the bandages on her head were like a chain to her thoughts. He trotted the horse to the portcullis where the guard lifted it for him and then he raced the horse to the place where he had organized the portal for her. After she had fallen and injured her head, he decided that she was not in a position to create a portal on her own. And Alyssa didn’t tell him that she was feeling the hum of ether, of magic in her ever since she had fal
Upon hearing Alyssa’s truth, Tova’s eyes widened with shock. His mind became numb and the room reeled around him for a second. His stomach became hard and he thought that if he didn’t hold onto something, he would collapse. He hated all witches but the one he hated the most was Magda. He stared at Alyssa as if she had grown two horns. His mate was Magda’s daughter? This was so fucked up. Merely recalling what happened in the past made his breaths shallow. She was the daughter of the woman not only he hated, but his parents and the people of Averine hated. Memories of the past came flooding like hot molten iron on his conscience. Panic grew stronger as his mental faculties gave way to bitter emotions. Feeling like the same eleven year old child, his body shook with terror. The bitterness of his emotions grew to the extent that he felt strangulated by the
Tova was surprised as to how the maid could disappear so fast. His suspicions that she had thrown the oil on the staircase on purpose much earlier and that she had purposely bumped into Alyssa right on the landing, solidified. The maid surely had a plan but he didn’t know what. He became worried as hell that there was definitely someone who was after Alyssa to kill her, because a maid wouldn’t have the audacity to pull this kind of a thing on her own. Tova’s men had instead apprehended Katie’s family and held them prisoners in the servant quarters on the right side of the bailey. Katie’s father, a drunkard, had shouted at his wife for their daughter’s gaffes. The parents had no clue as to where she was. Tova had ordered his men to throw her parents in the dungeon hoping that this would draw her out from the hole she was hiding in.
Penny knew how much Ludwig was trying to save her. She cupped her husband’s cheeks and forced him to look at her. “Let me meet her Ludwig. You and Tova can stay here with me.” When Ludwig frowned and tension crossed his face, she said, “Please…” She was aware of Tova’s importance as Ludwig’s beta. Moreover, she didn't want to be known as an unjust queen. She had to assess things herself. After a long time, Ludwig nodded. “But I have a condition.” “What is it?” asked Tova, feeling better after Penny’s intervention. The girl was wise for her age and that is why he liked her a lot, loved her once, but now he couldn’t even think of anyone else other than Alyssa. Ludwig looked at Tova and said, “I will be announcing your arrival in the kingdom. For that I will be holding a ball in the Alnor Castle. You can
Seeing the unusual quietness that surrounded the castle, Borgan raised his hand up to signal his hands to stop. Izhal and Auria descended and came to a stop near him. “Why is it so quiet?” Borgan wondered. It was eerily silent. “It is just as usual,” said Izhal. “They aren’t expecting the attack, hence I think they all are going on with their daily humdrum of life.” “That’s right!” said Auria impatiently. “Why are we standing? Let’s attack!” “To think that a Lykae Chieftain like Trald doesn’t know that we are attacking, unsettles me,” Borgan said with a doubt creeping in his mind. “You are overthinking!” Auria fumed. “Let’s just attack and get over with it.” Saying that Auria dashed forward on her broom. White lights crackled in her hands and she flung a thick
Trald narrowed his eyes. “Alyssa, be careful of what you speak,” he warned her. Alyssa pursed her lips. “I am sorry,” she replied and lowered her head. She felt stupid to have interfered like that. “If Borgan called her, why didn’t she inform you that she was leaving? I can’t believe that she would go without telling you or mother anything,” Tova asked. “Even if she was spying, how does it matter now?” Magda said. “You all have to think of how to prevent the attack!” She turned to look at Trald and said, “Have you stationed your men already?” Trald nodded. “I have, but there are at least five chieftains with Borgan. It is going to be one hell of a battle!” He stopped eating, losing his appetite suddenly. The seed of the fact that Melanie was s
Alyssa was shocked to hear her mother’s revelation. A few weeks back she was running for her life. Did her mother know about it? Magda continued, “When I returned to Yezia, I enquired about you but no one knew where you were. Why did you leave Alyssa? What forced you to leave the kingdom?” She asked her. “In fact when I came, the first thing I did was to call the council meeting. Raz and Izhal were there. I had already come to know about Raz’s intentions and that’s why I called the council meeting.” “Magda,” Trald called her as he leaned forward with a frown on his face and resting his arms over his thighs. “This certificate annuls your marriage with Raz.” A slow smile crept up on her lips. “No, it doesn’t, because he married me after Alan was killed.” She took a deep breath. “This certificate o
Trald went and stood a few feet away from Alyssa. He was so overwhelmed that he willed himself to stay cautious of his behavior. He studied her features carefully, and then in a low emotional voice, he said, “I can’t believe that Alan’s daughter was in front of me all the time and I didn’t recognize. I thought I would never see this baby.” He stretched his palm towards her and caressed her cheek with affection. His Adam’s apple bobbed as suppressed the onslaught of memories about Alan.Tova and Alyssa were totally shocked at Trald’s disposition. They were expecting a full show down instead… he melted.Mizette was appalled and she gave him a hard stare.Magda… was shocked beyond comprehension.&ldqu
Alyssa stepped forward and snarled at Mizette, “Don’t talk to my mother like that. She didn’t even know about all this?” “That’s right,” Magda replied in a careful voice. “I received a letter from some... Jade.” Tova muttered curses and punched his fist in the table near him, which splintered. Mizette laughed. “That letter doesn’t make a difference. Your daughter has put my son under her spell just like charmed my husband!” “She hasn’t, Mother!” Tova said. “Alyssa is still honing her witchcraft. She doesn’t know how to cast refined spells.” “Oh shut up!” Mizette spat. “How could you be so naïve Tova? She is Magda’s daughter, who is the queen of Yezia. Won’t she know about the spells?” Mizett
Alyssa was extremely exhausted when she came back to the manor. Tova had gone crazy with shopping. Not only had they shopped for the wedding, they had also shopped for the honeymoon, which Tova had planned on taking the moment he married her. There was no way he was going to go back to his job after getting married.“Tova, I will not go anywhere tomorrow!” she said as he made her sit on the bed and removed her boots.“Aly, you are just tired. We are going to take a hot bath, have good food and go off to sleep. You will forget all the pain once I will give you a tincture to drink. Tomorrow we have to shop for your dresses that you will be wearing in the human realm.” Though he had full intentions of shopping for those dresses in the human realm also.A crease came in the cent
With Jade gone out of the manor, Alyssa felt much more relaxed. Not even for once did she feel bad about using witchcraft on her. In fact she was sure that if needed she would use it more. They had resumed breakfast and Alyssa was trying to convince Tova to not buy more for her, but the lykae was adamant. For the first time in his life he had this basic need to splurge and spoil the woman who was his mate, and no one could stop him, even his mate. “I have so many dresses that even if I wear them for months, I won’t be able to repeat a single one of them!” Alyssa said as she poured banana and chocolate milk shake for him. “That is not the case,” he replied calmly, yet stubbornly. She passed the glass to him. He held her arm and tugged her, urging her to come and sit on his lap. After he had marke
Jade started to shiver. “T— Tova—” He put his hands up in the air to silence her. “I am the General of the army of Renada. Nothing in this kingdom, and I mean nothing, goes unnoticed. And this is my manor. You thought you could go against me in my home?” “N— no Tova!” She shook her head. She hadn’t anticipated that the letters would end up with Tova. “And what did you say? That you are going to be my future wife?” “Of course!” she replied. “You parents are looking forward to our marriage. With this union you will get full support to protect Averine. My father and brother are going to help you against Borgan.” “Ah!” Tova replied. “How come I never came to know that? And where does Alyssa fit
Alyssa nodded as her body quivered. She held his hands to cup her breasts and then began working his shaft’s head inside her. As she guided him in, he demanded, “Take me deeper. I want more of you.” All at once Tova realized that the moon was up in the sky and its beams were falling in the room through the window blanketing them in its light. The rays were like heat on his skin. He gazed at his mate’s flawless skin and that beautiful face. He plunged deeper and she undulated her hips in pleasure. His cock stretched her, filled her. She didn’t know where he began and where she ended. Slowly he started to thrust himself in her as his gaze went to her eyes. His mate’s emerald’s eyes were the most intriguing in the world. He licked his sharpened fangs to spread his venom over them. Alyssa removed the hair