[Erica]She looked at the spilt liquid with dread. What was that memory? What did her mind just reflect? Was this tea...a way to bring out her identity? She was breathing heavily as her gaze remained on the broken porcelain pieces and the golden-brown liquid. "Erica, are you alright?" she heard Xavier ask anxiously. An arm wrapped around her shoulder and it was then that she realised that she was trembling. "Your Highness?" She looked up at them and saw how their faces had paled. "Erica? What did you both plan?" the last part was directed at the two Elders. Xavier growled loudly. She placed a trembling hand on his thigh. "I want to go back." Her heart was pounding. She was this close... "Sure," he murmured. She barely registered his call to Jade and then there trip back to Xavier's room. As soon as they reached, Xavier carried her to their bed. She did not even protest when he fussed over her, too dazed and shocked by what could have been the outcome fo drinking that tea. "Erica..
[Xavier]He heard Erica's voice calling him, breaking through the fog of sleep. He felt her hands lightly patting him as his senses awakened. Blearily looking at his mate, he groggily asked, "Yeah?" He blinked a few times to chase away the remnants of his sleep and as his gaze gained back its sharpness, he saw the flush high on her cheeks and excitement dancing in her eyes. "I am so sorry to wake you up." She pecked his forehead in apology, still not giving a reason behind her actions. "But can we go to that nook you showed me that day?" she looked at him hopefully. He stared at her, baffled, but sat up nonetheless. It was then that he realised that dawn had barely encroached the land of the living as if drawing out its rendezvous with the night a little longer before the former slipped away. He turned to look at Erica who had shuffled into their ensuite washroom. "Why are we going at this time?" he asked loud enough for her to hear as he pulled on his joggers and t-shirt. She grabb
[Erica]She smiled apologetically. "I never told you about this, did I? I am sorry. It just slipped out of my mind." She looked sheepishly at Xavier's pinched face. She knew it was a lame excuse. But honestly, it never came to her mind to tell him about their connection with the late King and Queen. "So the truth is that I am the reincarnate of Queen Rosamond and you are King Merek's. Although I guess you are quite different from him," she said and looked at him, waiting patiently for him to process and then hopefully say something in return. "How...did this slip out of your mind?" He managed to ask. Erica sighed. "Between my kidnapping and coming back, I just provided you with the information that was of utmost importance. I know this one is too but..." she looked away. She didn't want to hide it but now telling him after so many months of knowing, now she was felt as if she had been concealing the truth. "Aldred told me that I am the Prophesied Queen since I am her reincarnate. T
[Erica]She doesn't know how long she stands there, unmoving. The letter clutched in her hand, burning her skin. 'They will never be revived...' — the sentence echoed in her brain, hammering her senses and making her lightheaded. She felt numb. Her feet frozen on the spot. Her...close ones...gone? Elias...Lucien...gone? How? Who did it? she couldn't think anymore. "Elias?... Erica," an urgent shout followed by a garbled whisper broke her trance. She whirled around and saw a devasted looking Lucien standing at the doorway. Her eyes welled up. The tears she had been holding back, rolled down her cheeks in a steady stream. A broken sob escaped her lips and before long she rushed to him as if he was a spectre. She went into her grandfather's waiting arms and hugged him. Fear, helplessness, anger and despair intermingled as she sobbed."Are you alright?" he murmured, relief clear in his voice. She pulled away a little "What...happened here?" she asked in a quivering voice. Hopelessness fl
[Xavier]He followed Erica as she rushed down the stairs. "She is in the study," he said a little loudly. Erica, who had by now become well-acquainted with their house, turned right. He was getting worried about her. She was not herself at the moment and he worried that she might take a wrong decision. Erica was quite shaken by what she must have seen. He only hoped that his aunt had a proper solution. His aunt was waiting for them, looking tense. "Queen Jade, you have to do something," Erica cried out the moment they entered. "Erica, calm down and tell me everything," the older woman replied. Xavier could see how tired his aunt looked and that increased his respect for her even more. After he knew what she might have faced, how oblivious she still was of his mother's real identity, he couldn't help but hope that she wouldn't feel resentment towards her own sister. "They have been poisoned....all of them, but they are still alive or that's what the letter says and Elias is missing a
[Erica]"Your Majesty, we meet again," Elias bowed solemnly. She turned to look at her mate in surprise. Again? But she held back her queries. Instead, she rushed to Elias and hugged him. "Thank God," she whispered in relief. The older man wrapped her easily in his arms. "I am glad as well," he murmurs. However, Elias looked unhappy with the sudden intervention. But he politely said, "I wasn't expecting...so many people." Jade replied, "Erica was worried about you and them," she gestured vaguely at the mages who were dubiously looking back at them. "You can't get rid of us that easily, Rica," Grey jeered half-heartedly. Erica's lips quirked up. She chuckled. "I'll hold you to that." But for some reason, she felt an ugly feeling churn in her gut and instantly she knew that this wasn't her feeling but Xavier's. She turned her head and glanced at him. His gaze was on Grey and they were shooting daggers at him. 'Oh shoot,' she cursed internally. Xavier did not like the familiarity with
[Erica]Her insides churned when she heard this. She stood rooted to her spot while Xavier asked in a menacing tone, "What?" Her ears were ringing as she knew that the visit wasn't a casual or a coincidental one. They had come for her. Her palm tingled all of sudden and her vision turned sharper. She had to go to that nook. Something told her that the nook had every answer she was looking for. A sharp intake of breath drew her out of her racing thoughts. She noticed Alpha Samuel stepping back, his eyes widened with ill-concealed horror. "What? Who are you?" Alpha Samuel asks, his voice barely audible. She furrows her eyebrows before she hears another gasp. "Erica, your eyes..." Queen Jade whispers and that's enough for her to understand the older man's sudden change in reaction. She whirls around and looks up at Xavier who does not react in any way. He rests his hand on the small of her back, a calming touch, a silent reassurance. Erica closed her eyes and willed herself to calm down
[Xavier]Ice coursed through his veins. Leikos growled threateningly in his mind. "No!" Before he knew it, the word was out of his mouth. Leikos continued roaring in his mind, restless and bloodthirsty. He wanted to rip off their heads for blatantly disrespecting him and his mate. Sir Leon shifted his gaze towards him. Raising an eyebrow, he reiterated, "No?" Beside him, Erica had stiffened, her palm had become sweaty. He could feel how she was holding on to her indifferent facade with every ounce of her will that was teetering. "What he means is that what if this concoction, whatever this is, turns out to be poisonous?" Queen Jade comes to his aid. Luna Freida hums in agreement, "It appears as if you wish to force your assumptions upon her." Xavier turned to look at his mother who had defiant look on her face. "I agree," Ava said. Xavier felt an amalgamation of emotions. He had earlier thought of his friend as envious and prejudiced but despite not knowing Erica properly she was su