Lucious is flying above us, burning everything his fire can touch; he doesn't care if the people he harms are on his side or ours. "Draq, Dru," I yell out to the twins, hoping to be heard over the screams of those being burned alive. "Lucious must be stopped. If he continues on this way, nothing will be left." The twins both give each other a knowing look, communicating in a way that only twins can before they acknowledge me. "We will do our best to make you proud, your highness," Draq replies, bowing his head before shifting into his massive beast. "If anything happens to us, just know that we fell with honor," Dru states, bowing his head as a sign of respect before shifting into his great beast. Anya gasps in astonishment, this more than likely was her first time seeing a dragon up close, reminding me that she'd come along with us. "Marques," I commanded the merman, "I need you to take Anya somewhere safe." "You need me in this battle," Marques states urgently, glancing over
Ambrose's magic exploded, throwing Nevaeh and I in the opposite direction of Nikolai; while I was still pissed that Nevaeh hadn't listened to me and sought safety, I couldn't focus on that right now. I needed to focus on the tasks at hand, keeping Nevaeh and myself safe while cutting through our enemies and helping Nikolai rescue Mary. I glanced around, taking note of the mayhem surrounding me; there wasn't an easy path to take getting to Ash's home; we would have to head directly into the center of the war. I looked from where Ambrose's magic had tossed us, ensuring he was okay. He was battling head-on with the witch Befana. He seemed evenly matched with the high witch, battling her spell for spell, but I wondered how long he would be able to keep up with this; Nikolai had fed from him earlier, and he'd held the protective shield over us for nearly half the battle. Looking quickly over Ambrose's features, it didn't seem like the fae was weakening in the slightest bit. The longer he
When Ash tossed me aside, I expected to feel something, anything but the emptiness I was feeling inside of me. How could I feel the intensity of Mary's throat being slashed and then feel nothing but sorrow? How could a mate survive their other half's tragic death? I'd watch my mom destroy herself from the inside out over my father's death, but looking at her physically, no one could tell that she had died on the inside. That's exactly how I felt; I felt dead inside. I could hear people screaming, swords clashing, and the smell of fresh blood spilling onto the ground, but I couldn't do anything to stop it. I couldn't move from the spot where I had landed. I could hear the Alpha laughing and taunting me, jesting over Mary's unnecessary death, but I was too weak to stop him. I was too weak to put my sword through his back and silence him. I had failed my friends and my country, but more important than both of those combined, I had failed her. Mary trusted me to keep her safe, she truste
As I sit in my chair looking outside, I recall the past. It's been over a year since my Phoenix cleansed the Earth, and to hear the way others told it, it had been quite a spectacle. Nevaeh told me she'd felt herself dying and then saw a bright light so pure that she couldn't help but walk to it. She thought it was the entrance to the Heavens, but when she reached for the light, she felt herself being pulled through a fiery inferno, and when she came to, Kade was cradling her head, murmuring to her softly over and over again how much he loved her. Kade had told me he was mourning the loss of Nevaeh when he felt a darkness sweep over the Earth. The darkness that surrounded him was ice-cold, and its touches felt like the grim reaper had come to collect the souls promised to him. Kade said he felt the darkness engulfing him, but then a pure voice called to him, beckoning him to jump off a ledge away from the darkness. Kade told me he almost didn't listen to the voice; having lost Neva
My heart was pounding in my chest as I tried to slow my breathing. The hunter was near; I knew he'd be able to sense my fear. "Shh... Anya." I whispered to my little sister, who was sniffling right beside me. "If you don't stop crying, we will never be able to find mom and dad.""I'm trying, Mary." My sister clung tighter to me. The wind shifted, and I felt the breeze blowing in my hair. A low howl sounded. I knew then the hunter had caught onto our scent. "Run, Anya!" I screamed at my little sister, "Run to the river. Quickly Now." "What about you, Mary?" Anya asked, a worried look on her face. "I will make a false trail; I'll circle back and meet you at Silver Stone Lake. Float the river to the lake Anya. Don't get out until you make it to the bottom.""Mary, I'm scared," Anya whispered to me, clinging tighter. I knew the hunter would be on us in a matter of minutes. If we had any chance of freedom and finding mom and dad, we had to leave now. I grabbed Anya's head, holding h
When I woke, my eyes were heavy and swollen. The events of the night before came flooding back to me. "No, Anya." I whimpered, clutching my knees to my chest. A loud bang startled me, pulling me from my memories. I took in my surroundings and noticed I had been locked in a small cage. There were ten other small cages in the room, each filled with a human woman, more exotic than the last. I'd heard enough about it to learn that I had landed in the slave trade. I was to be auctioned to a vampire. I would be his walking blood bank. I felt a shiver run down my spine; I wish they would have killed me; I wish they would have ended my life the same as they ended Anya's. No, I'm glad the hunters left me alive. It would give me the chance to avenge Anya. I would make them pay. I swear to you, Anya, that I will avenge you. I thought to myself as I watched the women in the other cages. The woman closest to me had tanned olive skin, and her hair was pitch black and curly; she must've felt me sta
Nevaeh looked at me oddly, as Beta Daniels put me into my cage. I knew she wanted to know why I was in a robe. My face flushed red with embarrassment. I didn’t want her to know that the wolves found me sexually appealing, and viewed me as a conquest. It was bad enough seeing Nevaeh get groped by Diego, I didn’t want her to think I was getting special treatment. Beta Daniels locked my cage, and walked out towards the front of the office. The auction was about to begin. I could hear him speaking to a crowd over a microphone. Nevaeh looked at me questioningly again.“I’m too big for my bikini.” I whispered to her, opting into telling her a half truth. “Oh.” She mouthed. I reached down into the corner, where I had hidden my locket, and put it back around my neck.“I promise you Anya, I will get chosen today, and. I will avenge you.” I whispered to my self bringing the locket to my lips.There was a loud banging noise and I knew the auction had begun. The capture had grabbed the first
"I have already told you, time and time again, that I do not need a Queen. Having a woman by my side will not make me stronger," I growled out at my council, feeling my anger rise. "If anything, it will make me weaker; my enemies will have something to target. "But Nikolai," One of the Elders said, "You need an heir." I could feel my anger rising with every mumbled agreement from the council. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "I am a vampire, not just any Vampire. I am King of the Vampires. I have been around for a Millennia now; I do not plan on dying anytime soon." I stared down at my council, letting my eyes flash red as my aura surrounded them, "Unless one of you is planning on taking me out and becoming the next King, I suggest you heed my words right now. I will not be forced to take a Mate by anyone."The council stayed quiet. No one dared to speak; they knew better when my mood was like this carnage followed if anyone dared to speak against me. I turned and walke