***Author's Note:
Please read books 1-4 before reading this book or else you'll be extremely lost. You will not be able to read this as a stand-alone.Books are as follows:Book 1: P.S You're My MateBook 2: She's My MateBook 3: I'm His MateBook 4: His Warm-Blooded MatePlease remember to leave a review, vote with your diamonds, and comment!
_________________________________________SYLVAIN
For as long as I could possibly remember I have been enamored by the concept of the mate bond. I found myself drawn to the way people described it as if their entire world suddenly revolved around that one person. As if their heart beat solely for the one they were mated to. As if their breaths filled their lungs because of their mated half. As if nothing bad could harm them because their fated half blanketed them from the clutches of danger.
There was a morbid aspect to the bond that werewolves forgot to mention, or they never mentioned it because almost none cared to reject the bond and we found it almost poetic that we died after our fated half — because one couldn't live without the other.
Except, what if your fated half was the villain in your narrative. What if your mate had done despicable, unforgivable things to the people you loved, and what if it was because of your mate that you had to murder someone who was on your side.
Protection is a compulsion when it comes to the mate bond, especially when you are tied mind, body, and aching soul. Protection means doing things you don't want to but, because it means safety for both you and your mate, you'd find yourself doing it —like standing in a drained lake of your pack stuck in a maze with a witch's bloody, throbbing heart in your hand while yelling at your murderous mate to get the fuck out of there.
Would I have changed what had happened that day? No. If she wasn't my mate would I have done what I did? Still, no. But I had to believe that there was a reason for her being my mate. I had to hold onto that hope that she wasn't all dark and death and that she was salvageable. I had to believe that I could save her.
But first, she had to want to be saved or it was all pointless.
Would I have changed what happened after that day? No. Because I poured everything I had into my mission.
It wasn't attracted to any particular gender, I found everyone attractive. But her, as attractive as she was, it was what lay on the inside that I found attractive. Because under all that darkness was something worth fighting for. It wasn't light and neither was it beauty. It was something more precious than that. Under all that darkness laid someone broken and I wanted to mend her with pieces of my soul. I wanted to fill the void in her heart with a piece of mine. I wanted to repair the scars or at least die trying.
Because I had no way of anticipating that my mate would be my enemy. And, I had no way anticipating that I wouldn't only be compelled to die for her but I'd willingly do it, I'd protect her with my dying breath. The white-haired princess with eyes as black as coal and skin as pale as stars was destined to be Queen. She just hadn't realized that it was written in her fate yet. All she had to do was reach out and grab it with both hands but first, she had to step out of the darkness because darkness blinded her.
She thought she needed the shadows to unlock her full potential but that wasn't what she needed and she would soon realize that. I'd help her realize that.
Tania had a rough road ahead of her but I was going to be her tour guide. I'd show her the path to redemption, usher her through the valley of forgiveness, and teach her how to swim in the storm of love that brewed between us. And even if everyone was against us, even if they hated her, I'd prove to her that our love for one another was enough and would always be enough.
Because love was a form of magic more powerful than the rest. It was a form of magic we both possessed. And a form of magic that would inevitably save us.
TANIAFrom darkness is born light.From wings of ruin,From a child of the moon,From throne to throne. Golden and not white.A new era.A queen will be born. A queen will unite.A prophecy foretold,For a new world in sight. But first, there must be darkness,so born is light.I replayed those words in my head. A poem — a prophecy — mother's told their babes at night to lull them. It was a prophecy from a mighty oracle during the times of the Old World. A time that had long since passed. Many had forgotten that the words were meant to warn us of the future. It had become a folk tale to our kind.To me, it was more.My parents may not have gifted me much now, but when I was still a babe that showed no signs of her dark power, they adored me. Tiana, my mother and the woman I was so clearly named af
SYLVAIN I rubbed at my chest as if it would alleviate the building ache there. It was something that was becoming a part of me. I didn't necessarily like it but I learned to appreciate it because it let me know that Tania was fine, wherever she was. My back still burned with phantom pain. I knew we were linked, so what was phantom pain to me, was real pain to her. I tried not to worry about it too much but my mind always drifted back.Was she being tortured? Punished maybe? Maybe she escaped and ran into some other kind of trouble? So many scenarios ran through my mind and I had no clue how to put myself at ease.There were times I could feel a gentle tug at my chest as if the bond was something tangible. As if she was tugging at the bond. I knew we weren't fully mated so the bond wasn't as strong however, those were the times I sent calming, soothing waves of tranquility and safety down the bond —
SYLVAINI was a light sleeper, always had been. So, when an unrecognizable scent filled my room and had my hackles rising, my sleep easily broke but I didn't stir. I kept my breathing even and waited for the stupid fuck that had the bright idea of sneaking up on me to get within arms reach. The floorboards let out a barely audible squeak beneath the person's weight and I knew, whoever it was, was coming at me from the right. I lay on my stomach with my hands beneath my pillow, so when my nails gradually elongated into claws, the person didn't know.I knew when they reached my bed because they were foolish enough to sit on the edge, shifting the weight. That was when I shot up, coiled my fingers around their throat, and slammed them down onto the mattress beneath me, effectively pinning them with a low growl.A hand instantly flew to my own neck, tightening with enough force to cut my air. I glared down at
TANIAI sat on the floor of my childhood bedroom with my knees hugged to my chest while rocking back and forth. My gaze had latched onto the painting of wings on the wall and it hadn't faltered since. This was a special type of torture. Not physical but psychological. They were mocking me, reminding me that I no longer had wings of my own as if the sharp stabs of pain emanating from my back weren't enough.My father had retrieved me from the cell after a day. He had been the one to bring me food and he had been the one to note that I ate not even a single morsel. Zephyr thought that bringing me here would help me. It did the opposite. It led me deeper into the darkness of my mind, allowing them to feed off my misery until I felt nothing. Not the cold of the room at nightfall. Not the heat of the sun when a sliver of sunlight caressed my skin. Not joy or pain or loss. I just didn't feel.It could have been
TANIAHe stayed with me as I ate, making sure I finished at least half the portion of mash, chicken, and peas that were brought up to us. Then, he ushered me into bed, jaw ticking mercilessly each time I winced at the sharp pain that lashed my back with every small movement. I laid on my side, ignoring the electrical current that shot through my body when his skin made minimal contact with mine.Using the tips of his fingers, Sylvain shifted my white locks off my forehead and tucked them behind my ear. His smile was gentle and it had my gut twisting because I knew, if it weren't for the stupid bond that wolves had between mates — the same bond that was inflicted on us — he wouldn't have been here now offering me that gentle smile.Some wolves couldn't wait to find their mates, from what I had learned, most didn't share the sentiment like me. I didn't like the idea of someone dictating my life a
TANIA I curled up at the bay window, hugging my knees to my chest, and glared at the gray clouds that hid the sun. My ears were trained on the sound of pelting water as Sylvain took a shower in the adjoining bathroom. My father had brought some clothes for him to wear and permitted him to use the forest within the wards whenever he needed to shift as long as he left our people alone. I was learning that Sylvain could be very compliant if it meant keeping the people he cared for happy. He could read a room and act accordingly, never making someone feel uncomfortable. The sound of the shower shutting off had me fumbling on a loose thread of the hoodie I wore. It was loose so it wouldn't brush against my back. My gaze didn't waver from the dull clouds when I heard Sylvain amble into the room with a growl vibrating the back of his throat. He seemed to have woken up in a bad mood and I knew better to get on his nerves when I
SYLVAIN One of the many guards in and around the estate led me to the library Zephyr and Tiana had beneath their home. The place was huge and the scent of dust, old paper and leather, ink, and wood filled the room. Tall walls were made of stone with veins grown with magic clinging to them—every vine had a vibrant flower which allowed an undertone of something sweet to longer in the air. I stuffed my curled fists into my sweatpant's pockets and clamped my molars shut so they wouldn't stutter against the cold draft. There were no windows, just ever-burning flames placed strategically across the vast expense of the library to offer a warm glow whilst keeping the books protected from their heat. It was beautiful and it made me feel almost envious that they had this sort of magic to bend to their will. For a brief moment, I almost understood how Tania must have felt. She gr
TANIA"We're looking for her, you know," my dad murmured in a soft whisper, seating himself at the foot of my bed."Not hard enough," I bit back, hissing at the way my body tensed at the mere mention of Kali. Running my fingers through my white locks, I added, "and even if you catch her, what do you plan to do? It's not like you could punish her for something you would have done anyway. Mum hasn't even spoken to me, let alone come here just to set eyes on me. ""You did threaten and almost kill her friends and the people they love," Zephyr deadpanned with a tight smile.A growl built in my throat and then left my lips before I managed to tamper it down, "Just because they are part of the council it doesn't make them her friends. Her priorities aren't in the right place.""And yours are?" My father challenged, peering up at me.I stood in front of him with