A Week Ago...
“Emory, you slacker, hurry up!” Kira shouted from the terrace of Aunt Kinshra’s bungalow. “We’re going to be late for the ceremony!”
That was definitely loud enough to not only draw her aunt’s ire but to wake Emory too. Not only was she inviting Kinshra’s wrath by yelling so loudly, but banging on the front door as well. Kira seemed to have a death wish tonight and she was about to get it. Her aunt didn’t tolerate any noise, and Kira had a lot of experience with that rule. It was the first thing she learned when she moved here years ago.
With such heightened hearing abilities, Kinshra could hear a needle drop a mile away, which made her very sensitive to loud noises.
With a hiss, Emory rolled out of bed and trudged downstairs.
“Get your friend off my porch before I send her ass flying back to the goddess’ bosom.” Aunt Kinshra warned softly as Emory walked
Emory watched Rodyn’s eyes blaze with anger. “He can’t be yo–,” he hissed before stepping away from her like her very intimidating mate had told him to. “What is it?” she asked. Behind her, she felt her mate’s presence, and turned to find him face-to-face with her. His gaze softened when it met hers. It felt like her lungs had been ripped out of her chest and all she could think of was bringing her heartbeat back to normal. As her throat pricked with the sudden lack of air, she took a deep breath as they stared at each other. “Emory?” he asked, like he wanted to make sure. The sound of her name on his lips made her happy, and despite the urge to smile, she forced a pout. “I’ll tell you mine after you tell me yours,” Emory said in a low voice. He tapped his finger on his mouth without saying anything. Then he smirked at her and looked up around the hill just as the wolves and Lycans swarmed. She turned to look at Rodyn — one of
Stretching into the sky, and clawing at the blackness above, a single tower loomed over everything else in Eleadoí. Its black walls shone with a brilliance that could be seen from the farthest corners of the city. It was a reminder of the long reign of the Lycan dynasty and this tower was their pinnacle. “This is the castle of Eclin,” said the Lycan sitting beside her. “The Tower of the Lycan King.” The sheer magnitude and grandeur of the building was as she had anticipated. Constructed entirely of black stone, with spires and parapets that stretched as far as the eye could reach. The thought of entering the tower filled her with dread. Simply looking at it made her feel claustrophobic and uneasy, and the one thing on her mind was her brother, Rodyn and her aunt. She felt a crushing weight on her chest as she contemplated the implications of what this would mean for everyone: Lycans and Wolves With the last two alphas captured, it meant that the Lycan
“The last hunter,” Hendrick said, standing in front of her. She was taken aback by Hendrick’s presence, somewhat intimidated by it - much like she felt with her mate. Still, she faced him, determined to maintain her composure even with how uncomfortable and out of place she felt. Why was she meeting Hendrick instead of her mate? His presence was nothing like she’d ever experienced. The way he spoke and his mannerisms left her feeling very uneasy. “I’ve got a name, you know. I’m sick of being called wolf, hunter, or whatever. I have a name.” Hanging her hands on her waist, Emory held his deep blue gaze. “What is it?” he asked as he circled around her before returning to stand in front of her. “Emory,” she said. “Ah, yes.” He nodded, his eyes widening in recognition. “The last Chavére.” He added much to her surprise. “Colin and everyone else leave us,” he ordered. Emory watched Sabine and the group leave, then turned back
Emory took a step forward, her eyes locked onto Rahl. As she ascended the platform, an electric energy enveloped her, making the air crackle with an otherworldly power. Rahl extended a hand, signalling for Emory to join him. “Kane is a-” “You’re not about to spill that secret without my say-so, are you?” Kane’s growl echoed from below. “She needs to know,” Rahl insisted, his piercing gaze locking with Kane’s. Emory couldn’t help but admire the contrasting dynamics between the two. Kane, despite his intimidating exterior, had a rugged charm that intrigued Emory. Rahl, on the other hand, exuded a refined confidence that drew her in. As their silent conflict played out, Emory realized she had questions that needed answers—about Kane, Rahl, and the Dracans. “I’ll reveal it when the time is right, but not now. She needs to awaken and triumph in this tournament. You can’t postpone it indefinitely,” Kane stated, climbing the short steps to the platform. “We might need to schedule it for
The smell of gardenias welcomed her as Dante led her into a private bourgeois estate. It was surrounded by thick stone walls, with an army of guards patrolling the grounds. Although the area was isolated from the main tower, it was guarded with equal ferocity. As they approached the towering grand fortress, Emory wondered if this was the king’s court. The guards bowing to Dante when they passed further confirmed her suspicions, making her even more eager to enter. Imagining it may cause Lady Moore to burst into flames made her smile. A pair of guards flanking the double ornate oak door stepped forward to open the doors as they approached. Then Dante turned to her and gestured with an outstretched hand for her to enter. A snarl slipped unintentionally out of Emory’s mouth as he stared at her. “Don’t worry,” he assured her. “I won’t bite,” he joked. “If I do, it’ll only be a little.” When he leaned in, her breath caught as she stayed perfectly s
They followed the army of guards out of Dante’s estate to the tower, up the stairs and through the winding corridors of the castle. A set of heavy steel doors greeted them when they reached the top. It creaked open slightly, revealing a dark chamber, and Emory peered inside anxiously. As the guard in charge of the others turned to face Emory and Sabine, he frowned. “Lady Sabine, only the hunter was-” “Call me Emory or nothing at all, but never use that word again.” Emory’s words rang out with fiery emphasis. “I’ll be right here, Emory.” Sabine squeezed her hand and stepped back. Running her fingers through her damp red hair, Emory took a deep breath before entering. Whatever this was, she dreaded it because it made her stomach churn and her heart race. As soon as she crossed the threshold, the doors creaked shut and the room lit up. She squinted, straining her eyes to pick up the finer points of the room. Her eyes were drawn to the int
“Dante,” Hendrick grunted before slipping out through the door below the throne.Watching him leave, Emory almost gasped at how much he resembled Dante from behind. Anyway, she was glad he left. It didn’t exactly make her feel better to be alone with Dante, but the lack of an equally intimidating audience made her slightly less wary.“I must give you props. You handled Lady Moore beautifully. You have truly proven your mettle when it comes to managing difficult people, which makes me certain you will be an excellent sovereign.”As the compliment enveloped her like a warm hug, she nearly gushed. After a few minutes of allowing herself to enjoy the feeling, she returned to her usual Stoic composure.“I guess I’d better tell you now that I don’t want to be queen. You’re being incredibly presumptuous by assuming that. You didn’t even ask me what I wanted.”Having to live in this tower wo
“How did it go?” Sabine asked as they followed the guards back towards the king’s tower.“I’m not sure,” Emory replied.At that point, she wasn’t even thinking about the council, but Dante’s response to what she’d asked for.Emory slowed down as they approached the gardenia-scented courtyard. At the centre was a grand fountain with a marble statue of a woman reaching out with an offering of water–that wasn’t there before. Curious at the bizarre sight, Emory wondered what triggered the sudden appearance.The memory of Dante’s request brought a sigh to her lips. Giving Dante what he wanted was the only way to free her family. It was her fault they were captured; she had to pay the price. Even so, she didn’t understand why Dante was so determined to destroy Morrian. Was this his desperate attempt to stop Aworyn from scourging the Lycans?Unless she figured this out fast, Mor