Hello everyone! I hope you are enjoying this story so far. My current update plan is 5-7 chapters a week, with bonus chapters when the characters get chatty with me. :) If this is your first book of mine, the story of Lily's parents, Rik and Cara is told in The Broken Warrior's Daughter. As always, thank you for reading!
I called my father last night, letting him know we were staying overnight in Alpha Leonardo’s pack and explained why. He was concerned about the possibility of wolves and vampires working together against the Guardians and said he would look into it as well. Leana and I are up early, knowing we have a long run today. As we’re leaving, we can still hear the grumbling of several warriors. This pack was reminded last night that Guardians are blessed by the Moon Goddess. Even Alpha Leonardo went down. To both of us. But he and his Beta were better sports about it than some of his pack members. Apparently, in this pack, it’s optional for the females to become warriors. Personally, I think that puts the pack at a disadvantage. Why wouldn’t a werewolf be a good fighter, simply because she’s a woman? I get taking time off when you’re pregnant or nursing, but to entirely ignore half of your pack’s population simply because they are women? As a woman and a Guardian, it’s insulting. In truth, i
It’s been three days. Three days since I gave Lily my ultimatum. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so rash. It’s not like me. But the pain of knowing she was with someone else had been too much. She was always meant to be mine. Even her Moon Goddess made her mine. Women throw themselves at me all the time. But the only woman I want, doesn’t seem to want me. I’m walking through the forest around Araphyra, lost in my thoughts, listening to the magical sounds around me. Well, I don’t consider them magical, but almost everyone else does. Fairy wings gently whistling in the breeze, dryads chittering to the trees, gnomes and dwarves beneath my feet, digging around in their homes, searching for treasures in the deepest parts of the earth, and in the distance, there is the sound of leprechauns playing their harps and pipes. The sounds of the forest soothe me, calming my frustrated soul, helping to easing my aching heart. I didn’t have a destination in mind, but as I walk, I find myself on a well-w
The morning after we met with Alpha Wyatt, Leana and I grabbed an early breakfast before walking to the outskirts of the city. From there, we shifted and began running. The fastest way to Araphyra from here was through King Urien’s lands. While both Leana and I were feeling unsettled about crossing the vampire’s land, but our parents have known King Urien for years. He was the first of the vampires and other supernaturals to swear his allegiance to the Guardians, specifically to Aunt Angel. It takes us several hours again to get to the outskirts of King Urien’s lands. We stop and eat, discussing our plan. “I think we should cross. I’d rather not stay the night, do you agree?” Leana says to me. “Absolutely. I think I’d feel more comfortable sleeping outside than in a vampire’s lair.” “Who do you think will be guarding their borders?” Leana asks, as we finish our lunch, putting our garbage away to toss out later. I look up at the sky. It’s a bright, sunny day. While vampires don’t b
Ever heard the phrase ‘Up shit’s creek without a paddle’? Yeah, that’s about how I’m feeling right now. Hera pushes her aura out, feeling Kella’s as well. We need to know how many vampires are in this room and surrounding us in case we have to fight our way out. “How did he die?” Leana asks the King. “It was time for him to retire. He and I disagreed on too many things. He wasn’t willing to change his outdated and archaic ways, so I killed him and took my rightful place as king.” He comes to stand in front of us. When he hits our aura, he’s stopped in his tracks. “Is there a problem, Guardians?” I give him a fake smile. “I’m afraid I’m not feeling very welcome in your castle, King Lance. My wolf is feeling threatened and when she does, she takes a protective stance. I’m sure you understand.” He returns my fake smile. “We’ll have to change that. I wouldn’t want you to leave here feeling as if I was not a good host. Especially since this is the first time I’ve had an opportunity to
When we step out, I see that there are guards, or I’m sure King Lance would call them guides, waiting for us. Their eyes immediately go to our necks and their eyes turn red. “Custos Regni.” One whispers. “If you want to continue to live this life you seem to enjoy, I suggest you get your fucking eyes off our necks and take us to the dining hall.” I snarl at him, Hera pushing forward. “Yes Guardians. My companion meant no disrespect.” “We’re not here to be your feeders, so you can spot licking your lips like we’re dessert.” Leana and Kella snarl. When we walk into the dining hall, there is one long wooden table that is filled with vampires and their human counterparts. I notice there are a fair share of male humans willing to be feeders as well. Vampires are known for being indiscriminate when it comes to sexual partners. Well, in truth, I’ve heard that they mostly participate in feeding orgies, but that’s what I’ve heard. I’ve never actually seen one. King Lance stands from his po
As we walk out, I look at Leana. She’s stiff, rigid and Kella is shining brightly in her eyes. Is this because she just killed that vampire? I reach out and take her hand, feeling her clasp mine tightly. I give her a look, letting her know without words that we’re okay, that we’ll be okay and that I’m here. I’m not sure what’s got Leana on edge, but something is wrong. We follow Drake through the castle to a much quieter part of the castle that we haven’t been in yet. “At the risk of being forward, the safest place for you tonight is in my room. I’ll have the sheets changed and you can both sleep there. I’ll stay awake and make sure no one bothers you.” “What was your father planning to do with us?” I ask as he opens the door to his room. I feel Leana tense and watch as she takes a deep breath. Oh no. I know what this is. I turn and give Drake a closer look. He’s Leana’s mate. He steps into his room behind us and closes the door. He leans against it and runs his hands through his h
After speaking to my father, explaining what happened and talking him down from attacking King Lance, I realize today is day four. I’m halfway to the time that Aolis gave me. I thought running would be the faster way to get to him but with all the challenges we’ve come across, it’s making it difficult to meet his timeframe. I walk away from Drake and Leana and attempt to call Aolis again. It rings and rings and when it goes to voicemail, I hang up. He wouldn’t move on if I don’t make it in seven days, would he? He’s waited this long. If I’m a day late, he won’t hold it against me, right? And he wouldn’t shorten the time without telling me, I hope. He’s never, in all of my life, not answered my call. And now he hasn’t answered my call, twice. It makes my heart hurt and I realize I’ve taken Aolis for granted for too long. I need him to know that I love him, that I want him. When I return, we begin running again. Now that Drake is here, Leana is more focused on him. It gives me time to
It’s day six and no Lily. I realized a couple days ago that I left my phone at the council. In a glimmer of hope, I asked our tech guys, meaning our tinkering leprechauns, to transfer my voicemails to my new cell phone. Not one message from Lily. It’s time for me to start making plans to live my life without her. I start by packing my bags. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, long enough to ask Lorelai to marry me, have a wedding and then have a fae version of a honeymoon. So, at least a month. I pack my wedding robes. I’ve had them for years. They are the formal wear of the fae, and since I thought Lily would be my bride, I had them made in the color of her eyes, pale blue with golden hemming to include Hera. I pull the robes out of my closet, my heart aching for what will never be. I pack them away before I become too melancholy, grabbing clothing for travel and for formal dinners. Then I add some casual clothing for wherever she wants to go to seal our bond while we get to know e