The queen called for Hendrix and her other trusted men to deliberate on the bloodsucker’s issue.
“They are gaining ground with each passing day. I am afraid we will have to find a solution as quickly as possible,” one of the advisors contributed to the discussion.
“The bloodsuckers have outnumbered us both in terms of arms and manpower. We have to come to a conclusion before they wipe us off the face of the earth,” lady Alisha piped in.
“How many days will it take them to invade our territory?” Rosalie murmured to herself.
“With the mountain in between, barely a month,” she studied the map and concluded in concern. A deep dent between her brows as she mulled over the fact.
Then her eyes swept to the other end of the map where the Moonhowler mountain was drawn. The Moonhowler was notorious for housing the barbarians. She had vowed never to look its way but fate apparently had other plans.
“How long will it take for the messenger to ascend the Moonhowler?” she found herself asking as her gaze trailed over the mountain.
Rosalie had already pondered over the issue before calling for the meeting. No matter from what angle she looked, there was no solution except to join forces with the abominable clan.
So much for vowing to never bring his name on her tongue.
“A week at most, your highness,” Hendrix perked. This was the first time he had contributed to the meeting. Rosalie didn’t need to be told, she could see Hendrix was all up for this damned alliance.
She lifted her face and fixed her gaze on Alaric, her beta who was in his early thirties.
“Send a man to the Moonhowler. Tell them the Queen of Avalona wants to meet their chieftain and also send an invitation to the messenger of Attiha,” she announced with an impassive face.
Hendrix gazed at her with a hint of suspicion. He couldn't understand why she had called for the King of Attiha.
The meeting was dispelled after the decision was made. Everyone marched out of the room except for Hendrix.
“Rosy,” he called out to his best friend’s daughter. Rosalie glanced up from the map and looked at her uncle with a worn-out smile. The way her eyes sparkled he knew this smile was not practiced but came straight from her heart. She didn't resemble the queen she was but a young girl.
“What are you thinking so hard about, cherry-pie?” the old man worried out while staggering up to her.
“Nothing, uncle, just about the war,” she lied and smiled to make it sound convincing.
“Don’t worry about the war. I can assure you we will emerge victorious if the barbarian agrees to help us,” the certainty in his voice was baffling.
“ What if they refused?” she queried. Barbarians didn’t have a good reputation to their name. They were famous for rampaging through the villages and looting. After ascending the throne, the first thing she did was to put strict measures in place to keep them from invading her territory. Queen was lauded for her security measures as Barbarian attacks were reduced to naught after she came into power. But deep down she knew the reason for their sudden withdrawal from her territory was not the measures but her.
She shook herself from the old memories and brought her focus back on the man who was staring at her with deep concern.
“They will not. They are too greedy to refuse,” the old man stated in a thoughtful tone.
“They are deceitful too,” Rosalie quipped. Hendrix nodded in agreement. Barbarians were famous for their deceitful nature. They had no loyalty to anyone but to their own interest and honesty was a foreign term to them. He would certainly be concerned about it if he’d not heard the famous tales of the current chief.
Ryker.
This barbarian is ruthless to the point his victims prefer to kill themselves before getting caught by him. Some say he eats the flesh of his victim and some believe he bathes in their blood. There are thousands of rumors running free about him. The wind carries the tales of his barbaric nature which is enough to strike fear into anyone’s heart. His wolf is called Devil Shadow. He kills to live and tortures for fun. They say whoever dares to look into his hazel eyes doesn’t live another minute to speak of his achievement. The tales are also of some people dying of a heart ailment after hearing about his ominous arrival.
The reason why no King has dared to come in his way.
But at the same time, he is also known as a wordkeeper. Once given, he doesn't go back on his words. A quality that again distinguishes him from his predecessors.
“Most likely he will not but we can't rely on the telltales. Let us have a meeting with those savages before drawing a conclusion,” Hendrix said.
Rosalie gave a small nod. His wisdom has always impressed her.
“Now go and have some rest. We have a lot to plan if the Savages agree to work for us,” Hendrix said and turned on his trembling limbs. Rosalie called for one of her guards and instructed him to escort Hendrix to his wing.
She returned to her chamber after the meeting. She felt drained of energy. It seemed as if years of exhaustion had finally started pressing down on her. When was the last time she had slept without care? She couldn't remember.
And now him…
She thought they were done for. It took her years to get used to the deadly gash he had slashed through her heart when he left without a backward glance. It took her years to make peace with the truth that he had rejected her and that he was never coming back. Words cut deeper than a knife. She wished he had stabbed her with his sword than ripping her into shreds with his sharp words.He had broken her to the point she lost her will to live. She begged him to stay and pleaded with him to not dishonor their mate bond but he jerked her away and walked off as if she was no one to him. She was no one to him only it took her a hard way to realize it. She let out a sigh, walked over to her window, and looked over at the capital that she ruled.He had left her in pieces, perhaps in the hope that she would perish soon. But instead, she built herself up, far stronger. Like a Phoenix, she rose from the ashes and soared. She has a deep loathing for barbarians, more so, after what he did
The boy had hardened into a ruthless, feral beast. He looked exactly who he was. A barbarian. She watched as his gaze openly roved down her person before moving back to meet her eyes. There was nothing in his cold orbs, no emotion, no judgment. They were like pits of darkness trying to suck her in. Rosalie also refused to look away. It was her way of conveying that he doesn’t affect him anymore. She was no longer the gullible lass he took on ride and abandoned.Soon his lips tugged up into a smirk. Rosalie gripped her throne arms a little too tightly in indignation. It was apparent he was not taking her seriously. “ Bow to the queen,” one of her advisors admonished the barbarian in a loathsome tone. Ryker raise a brow in amusement. “She is no queen of mine,” Ryker spoke in his deep sonorous voice that could put any woman into an erotic trance while staring square into her eyes, rubbing her ego raw. He was trying to rile her up, get some reaction out of him. But Rosalie refused t
Rosalie POVOnce I found myself cocooned in the solitude of my room, I let out a sigh and lifted the crown off my head. I craved for the moments where I could be just myself. I flopped down on the bed and carefully placed the crown beside me. Looking up at the window, I entertained a slew of thoughts that crossed my mind at the moment. Did papa also feel this lonely when he was the King? He had always said a ruler possesses no ally or foe. They are supposed to keep the welfare of their subjects above anything. I had felt those words in the lines creasing his face and exhaustion in his eyes that made him look older than his actual age. The only time I saw him in peace was whenever he was with my mother. She was his serenity, his pillar of strength. Their bond was inspiring. Something I fancied secretly to have as a child. 'Mate. This one word is both boon and bane for the werewolves. Our whole world revolves around this one word. The one the Seline has chosen for us. For me, it turn
Rosalie POV I had no inclination to entertain the chieftain of barbarian over lunch not even in the slightest. I had more pressing affairs in hand to deal with than humoring him. I was still not able to fathom why did he request a private meeting. I had inferred this much from his cold steely gaze that he still disapproved of me, not that it affected me in the least. Only Goddess was privy to his true intentions. I was not able to sense, Riyaga, my wolf since the moment we learned about that female. I knew she was out somewhere recovering from this news. The news that our mate had replaced us. I decided to give her some time. I know my Riyaga will bounce back like she always did. She is a true warrior who cannot only fight the world but also her pain and sorrow. It would be a lie if I say the news didn't strike me hard. It did. But not as much as it would have all those years ago. And I believe whatever pain I felt, it was because of the mate bond. For me, it affirmed only on
Ryker turned his bored gaze away from me and glanced over my shoulder. He snapped his fingers and beckoned one of the servants to serve him. But before the maid could make his way towards us, I raised my hand and stopped the servant. He arched a brow in question. "I am afraid you will have to serve your lunch on your own," I told him in a plain tone. I had expected another fierce glare in response but all I got was an amused smirk. "At least one thing hasn't changed with time," his voice was nothing but strings of murmur as he reached for the food but I heard them. He was referring to my feisty nature. I let it slide. "I hope you had enough time to ponder over the matter," I broached the subject, watching him loading his plate with the food. With the kind of monstrous physique he owned, he clearly had a huge appetite. I wondered if the assortment of food on the table was going to sate his hunger. My nose crinkled in disapproval as instead of going for spoons, he grabbed the m
I wasn't able to think properly due to the amount of rage that had consumed me. My wolf who had gone missing was now back equally furious. She clawed at the barriers, demanding release to unleash the seething heat within. I yielded without hesitation, granting her control as she surged forth, a relentless force of primal fury.I shifted into my wolf Riyaga. With her snow-white fur, blue eyes, and a crescent on her forehead, she looked regal. She had an unhealed scar spanning her neck which she'd earned while fighting a group of rogues. My wolf standing tall and carrying her tail high made her way towards the training ground in her regal gait. The warriors who were in their wolf form paused in their act when they saw Riyaga and showed their necks in reverence. She scanned over the warriors and snarled lowly, a clear challenge to fight her. The wolves bowed to her before one of them stepped forward. The wolf and Riyaga started circling each other while growling in a low but threatenin
I relaxed against the edge of the tub and closed my eyes. My wolf was completely spent after the fight with the Devil's Shadow. His strength was frightening but it was his agility and shrewdness that made him dangerous. I was aware he had not unleashed even half of his strength while fighting me. He wasn't named Devil's Shadow for nothing. Just where did he gain the audacity of making such demands? How could he ask an heir from me when he was the one who rejected me? What a fool I was. I was ready to relinquish my title, the comfort of my palace, and all the luxuries that came along only to be with him. I was ready to become one of them. That much I had loved him. And the love I felt for him was beyond the mate bond. But now all I feel is an acrid burn of hatred whenever I hear his name. After taking the much-needed bath, I decided to take a stroll in my garden and clear up my head. I was greeted by a cool gust of wind the moment I stepped out. This garden was personally built fo
Chapter 6RosalieI wish I had someone to lean on. I was trying my best to not fail my father but how long would I be able to keep up this facade of valor? The loneliness was tearing me apart, bit by bit. I felt the sting each time it ate away at my heart but there was nothing I could do other than sit on my throne and let it finish me. Why did Seline condemn me for this life of utter loneliness? Wolves can't stay alone as a result of which Seline blesses us with a mate to share our joy, grief, fear, anything and everything with them. Life is easier and everything seems possible when your mate is beside you. I also had felt this feeling no matter how brief it was. I had felt the joy of having my mate beside me. But it was all destroyed in a matter of day. The day he called our union a misfortune. A lone tear slipped past my eyes. I had a mate and I was still so alone. Now he wants an heir from me. A pained smile drew over my lips as I thought about his demand. If only he knew. If o