Cora’s POVThe oddest sound made me jolt awake.The sound of heavily beating drums seemed to be going off in my head and I couldn't for the life of me figure out where it was coming from. It was equally bothersome that Nina and the other maids were sleeping soundly and snoring peacefully like they couldn't hear anything, the drums were rowdy, irregular and unrhythmic and it slowly became annoying.My head was banging with every sound the drums and I soon sat up in bed to try and stabilize myself. I reached out for the jar of water that Nina always placed in between out beds and as I tried to pour some water into a glass my hands began to shake and the jar slipped and broke.It felt like I was losing control of my reflexes and I couldn't even pick up the cup and drink the little water I’d managed to pour before I started to feel weird shivers all over my body like ice had been injected into my veins. My hands flew around my sides and I wrapped myself tightly to shelf myself from the ch
Cora’s POVBurn me? I can’t die at the stake because of a lousy allegation, and in such a shameful way to say the least.No.“Alpha Kai, kindly give me a little more time to ascertain if she's truly a witch because the moon goddess hasn't given me a clear indication just yet” The witch hunter pleaded with him on my behalf for some reason.“And why would I wait for that when you clearly implied that she was a witch because she heard the drums that even we who were present while you were chanting for in preparation for the trials didn't hear?” Kai was talking to him but his angry eyes were directed at me as they radiated his ruthless nature.“Because the moon goddess oversees this process and if an innocent is killed as a witch, she will lay an irreversible curse on me and the land upon which the blood of the innocent was shed” He told him in a somber voice and I could literally see the wheels turning in his head.“You have ten minutes to prove whether she's a witch or not or I’ll burn
Cora’s POV I couldn't hear shit, just harsh whispers and angry breathing.However, I had a feeling that it was a conversation that I desperately needed to tune into because my guts indicated that it’d have something to do with the witch trial that I’d just suffered through so I tuned into my wolf’s hearing and I slowly began to make sense of their conversation.“I had a gut feeling that you were dead wrong but I chose to trust you anyways and look how things turned out” Kai hissed angrily through his teeth as he pinned Leila against the wall.“I'm so sorry, I could've sworn that I was right” Her words came out like whimpers as she looked anywhere but at him.“Well you weren't! Do you even have any idea what you cost me with this little rouse of yours? Do you!?” He barked at her and she shook her head fearfully in response.Can they speak in clearer words? Was this conversation about the witch trial or not because I needed to get back to bed.“You wasted a shitload of my resources and
Kai’s POV I started to stir in my sleep, over and over.It seemed like something was drawing me out of my sleep, like someone was trying to mind-link me for some reason repeatedly but the link was extremely weak. I kept stirring and trying to ignore it because I really just wanted to sleep until I heard the call for help.“H—help, I'm dy—ing…” It was Leila’s voice and I’d never heard her in so much pain before.Immediately, I jumped out of bed and ran out of the room to search for her but apparently I didn't need to go too far because I spotted her under Cora just a few inches away from my room being punched to an unrecognizable pulp.It didn't look like Leila had any fight left in her and she barely had any life either from what I could see, so I sped over to Cora’s side and flung her across the hallway until her back slammed on the wall just across my room.“Leila, Leila, are you alive?” I shook her as I took in the horrible sight that she’d become and I couldn't help but wonder ho
Kai’s POV I and Levi were going over the expenses of the palace for the last month carefully and he was writing off some extra expenses as per my request.“We had more liquor than we needed shipped in so we had to spend extra for the cases we weren't expecting, because I never turn away liquor, especially one of such great quality” I explained after Levi pointed out an elaborate expense that didn't add up.“Ah, of course” His eyes lit up in understanding and he nodded before he wrote it off.Just then, we heard a knock on the door, I turned toward it but Levi’s eyes remained focused on the file before him.“Yes? Come on in” I called out when I picked up Leila’s scent from behind the door.She walked in and I noticed that her scars from the unfortunate night with Cora still hadn't fully healed, the physician had explained that Leila would heal really slowly because her wolf had also been badly injured so it couldn't speed up her healing and she might even end up with a scar after the
Cora’s POVKai’s hand flew to his cheek but judging from his strength which I knew of, I knew that he hadn't done so because the slap had stung but because he was still shocked that I’d slapped him in a room filled with men that feared him.I held the shreds of my dress tightly against my chest as his blazing eyes met mine, he looked like he was unsure what to do with me, and as much as that scared me, I kept up appearances by glaring back at him angrily as well.The men in the audience who were rowdy like the bastards they’d proven to be earlier were still dead silent and if a tear dropped on the floor at that moment, I could swear that we’d all hear it. Soon enough, Levi walked into the hall with heavy silver chains in his hands and I realized that I’d indeed made Kai so furious and speechless that he’d preferred to mind-link Levi to do his bidding. As quiet as an obedient puppet, Levi walked toward me and began to bind me in the chains like he must've been asked to.“Of course he'
Cora’s POVI woke up to an unusual jangling of keys in the lock of my cell and I knew that it couldn't be a good thing, and I immediately confirmed that when I looked up to see Kai, Levi and some guards walking into the cell like men ready for battle.Bit of course, with me, everything was war.The guard on Kai’s left was holding a weird looking iron, the one on his right as well as Levi we're holding fire torches to illuminate the dungeon and another guard was holding a can that was steaming hot and my mind began to wander to a million things he must have planned for me. I wondered what in the twisted name of the gods was about to go down, and involuntarily my heart started beating like crazy.“What is it you want from me this time?” I asked him boldly as though my nerves weren't all over the place.Kai didn't even spare me a glance, he didn't even act like anyone had spoken, he just kept looking around the cell like he was trying to find the perfect spot to rain his terror on me. I’
Leila’s POVI woke up bright an early with a mission, to drag Cora’s ass through an ocean of pain that would barely compare to what she’d put me through on the night of the witch trial. Even though she’d gotten off the hook because she wasn't a witch, at least I didn't lose on all sides that night because I found out that she had a magical heirloom that had been protecting her from my spells all this while.Luckily for me, Kai had asked her to get rid of it and that meant that I could now cast spells on her at will and it’d work without any interruptions. On cue, the puppet I needed to carry out the most important part of my plan against Cora knocked on my door to resume her morning duties.“Yes? Come in” I called out and she pushed the door open cautiously, probably trying to gauge my mood because in the past week when I was recovering from the injuries Cora inflicted on me, I’d taken out all my anger on her in various inhumane ways.“Good morning, miss, I'll get your bath ready now”