Hello my Lovelies. I hope you enjoy this next installment. I am always curious and appreciative to know what you all think so please leave comments on the chapters and if you choose, then please leave a review so others looking, can see what you think and feel about the book. And if you want to know more about me and my work then please look me up on Facebook. Much love, Ebony x
“Ash, my son. Long ago our ancestors were given a great gift, the ability to become wolves to protect those we care for. You are a direct descendant of the first wolf King. However, the ability to shift out of our human form and become wolves has been lost to us for about a hundred years. My son you are special, and this is a gift to embrace, but you must learn to control your emotions, or you will put us all at risk. Be cautious of who you allow yourself to become close to, for there are others out there who share this gift. They are in hiding, for now, waiting to see if a worthy Alpha will appear to them. You must prepare yourself for the challenges ahead.” That is what my mother told me after the first time I shifted into a wolf when I was ten and since that day, nothing has been the same. I have tried to control my impulses, I really have but it feels like something is missing and no matter what I do, I still ‘wolf out’ when situations become too much for me. Today I am once ag
Kayda, the Mother Dragon smiles as she watches Lilliana and Drake sleeping soundly, finally enjoying a brief moment of peace after such struggles. For a time, she was worried for them but now she stands proudly, watching as the world around them continues to come alive with magic once more. However, she can sense a building darkness, hidden from her sight and an unease begins to spread within her. She wonders what this will mean for the young leaders as they learn how to manage their people while also learning to control their ability. As this feeling builds within her Kayda decides to break her silence and she reaches out to Lilliana through her dreams. “Congratulations daughter of dragons, may you be happy your life long and rule with a fair and just hand. Beware, for you have enemies waiting to strike and take advantage of your weaknesses. Be strong and follow your convictions. I will be watching, always.” “Kayda?”
“Ouch! Will you be careful?! That Hurts!” The doctor is working on removing the arrow from my arm, but he is being especially rough about it. “Hold still, please your Highness. It is embedded quite deeply into your muscle. If you wish to retain the full use of your arm, I suggest you stop complaining and sit still.” “Argh!” He pulls on it again, the pain is excruciating, this is the second time she has put an arrow in me, and it was just as unpleasant the first time. “Just hurry up and take it out already! Are you a sadist?” The doctor frowns at my last comment but remains silent then gives the arrow one last yank, finally pulling it free. “Argh! Damnit!” I cradle my right arm in my left hand and put pressure on the wound to try and stop the pain. My anger hasn’t lessened any, but when I think about what happened I also feel a paralyzing fear take over me. A Dragon! She was really a Dragon, and she was going to seriously harm me! But he... My anger flares again as I think ove
I’m too shocked to answer, so I just stand and stare at Lilliana. She walks further into the room, allowing the door to close behind her. We are both thrown into darkness again momentarily before suddenly the lights flash on. I squint against the glare and when finally, my eyes adjust I see that she is standing in the middle of my room watching me with a frown as she looks around at the destroyed room. I’m wary of her intentions and a coldness enters my voice when I speak betraying my defensiveness. “What are you doing here?” “Always so cold and aggressive Lance. Did you ever consider that I was responding in kind?” “That is just your way of shifting all the blame to me, you are hardly blameless in any of this Lilliana.” Her eyes narrow at my response, and I can feel her power radiating off her in waves, I wonder what she intends to do, and I keep my guard up. She seems to sense this because suddenly the anger in her eyes fades and she looks at me strangely. “Yes Lance, it is tr
I rise with the dawn, the same as every morning and head to the stables to begin my chores for the day. I love my job, working on this ranch raising horses to one day serve the country on behalf of the Royal Family is extremely rewarding. We breed them to enter the Royal Cavalry, but many farms rely on horse labour as well, so we breed the larger ones for that too. The one other responsibility we have is capturing the wild mustangs for the Royal ‘coming of age’ ceremony when a Prince or Princess turns 18 or when an existing Royal horse dies, and they require a replacement. It is up to us to break in the replacement horse and make sure it is suitably trained to perform the required duties when delivered to the owner. It has been a few years since a mustang was last brought in to be broken, so for now, we just focus on our foals. There is a mare in the stables now who is close to giving birth, so I have been visiting her every spare moment I have, to check on her healt
Over the next few days, nothing changes much. The Queen and the Prince eat their meals in the main hall, but when she has work to do, he hides in his room. I am disappointed because I really hoped to have a playmate, but I’m not the kind of girl who gives up, so I start playing my games below his window. After a week I begin to get bored sitting there, so I wander over to the paddock and climb up on the fence to watch the men with the horses. “Hello, Rayne. Everything okay little one?” Mr Tobias calls out to me, and I wave back, smiling. “Hello. I’m okay, I wanted to watch you work.” “Really? Say, how old are you now?” “I’m eight.” “Eight you say, would you like to help?” A huge bubble of excitement rises in me, and I grin like an idiot. “Yes please!” He laughs and then walks over to pick me up and carry me over to one of the horses, he is smaller than the others. “This is Spade, he likes t
My return home is not a pleasant affair. My father had been so proud when the betrothal was agreed upon, but now as I stand in front of his throne awaiting my fate, he cannot bear to look at me. My family are all sat surrounding me, silently judging as my father decides my punishment. Finally, he looks up to speak to me.“You are an utter disgrace! I am ashamed to admit that my blood runs through your veins! I hereby denounce you as my son, you are no longer a Prince of this country! You will have no rights to the throne and will live out your days reduced to ‘Duke’ status. I don’t care where you go, just stay out of my sight. I never want to see you in my presence from this day forth. Now, away with you!”He turns his face away and waves his hand in the air as though he was swatting an annoying fly out of the air dismissing me. I glance at my brothers and sisters; I can see a conflict of emotion on their faces. They are equal parts annoye
***Flashback***Lance age 15My littlest big sister is due to turn eighteen in a few weeks, so they are preparing for her ceremony. Rayne and I wander over to the paddock where the mustangs are usually kept as we are both curious about the new horse that was brought in.We are both excited and talking about all sorts, I’m looking at her and watching her red hair blowing in the breeze, instead of paying attention to the paddock ahead.Suddenly there is a shout followed by the sound of splintering wood. When I turn to look, I see that the stallion has gotten loose.The ranch hands panic when they notice us in his path, everyone is shouting for us to move out of the way as they fear that we will be trampled to death.Anyone else would probably try to run away or dodge him, but I just think about protecting Rayne. I wrap my arms around her before throwing us both down to the ground and using my own body as a shield. She sc