ANMELDENRya's POVTwo hours later, the council chamber was humming with anticipation. The elders were seated in their numbers across the large wooden table. I could hear loud murmurs even from the outside, alongside the sound of shuffling papers. I pushed through the large mahogany door and stepped into the room. It grew silent. All eyes were fixed on me as I walked boldly towards the empty seat on the table.The air was thick with expectation, and every chair seemed to hold more weight than the last. These aged men wore the same look on their faces, that mix blend of uncertainty and trepidation. "Thank you very much for coming on such short notice," I cleared my throat, piercing the silence as I spoke. My voice was firm, but it carried a slight edge of unease. But unlike them, I was able to mask it with this... royal confidence. Who could tell apart from myself?"We've been summoned by Alpha Aldric of the Lycan Clan. He claims there are spiritual disturbances that concern not just us, but
Rya's POV "Shadow beings," I whispered the words again. I shook my head slightly—confused and lost. "I... I have never heard of that before. What... What could you gather about them? What do they look like? What do they sound like?""I'm not sure, my lady," Oscar answered in a flat tone. "However, I'm still on the search for what it could mean. It might not mean anything serious at the end. It could be these mercenaries are just trying to toy with us""No!" I cut him off sharply. My voice was low, almost as though I was whispering. "No. I don't think so," I said again in the same tone.My eyes were staring blankly at the ground. I wanted to believe him. I really did. That it could be nothing more than rumours, or made up words twisted enough to spooke us. But something within me refused to settle. It sat there in my chest, heavy and restless, like a truth I couldn't reach but also something I couldn't ignore either. The words lingered linger than it should have. It didn't feel empt
Rya's POV"Look at me," Frost whispered into my ears. He pulled me gently away from him, but still held me firmly by the shoulders. I was still in tears, sobbing quietly and sniffling my nostrils in a less noisy way. I lowered my head, just so he would have to stare at my extremely squeezed and pitiful face. But he thought otherwise. He tilted my chin upwards with just a slight push of his forefinger. And with his huge thumb, he wiped off the tear trail on my cheek, and tucked a few strands of my loose hair behind my ears. "Breathe!" He said to me, whispering softly. "Breathe! Breathe!! Breathe!!!" He repeated the words. He led the way. I managed to regulate my breathing in accordance with the pacing of his words, and to the rise and fall intonation of his words. It was calming, relieving, and in just a few seconds, I felt like myself again."Mind telling me about the dream you had?" He asked with an arched eyebrow. I was staring at him when an image of his darkened face flashed
Rya's POVThe world burned around me. I was laying against my back on the hard ground, with my eyes glued to the heavens. All I could hear was the steady pound of my heartbeat in my ears, with all other sound sinking in the background. My breathing came out slow and heavy, dragging in and out of my chest. I saw the stars well positioned in the sky, shining brightly. What should have been a beautiful scenery was rather swallowed by thick black smoke filling the air.I could hear voices—the echoing screams of women, children crying out loudly, and men that cheered as their swords clanged against each other. I looked to the side, to the sight of towers that stood tall in tribute to forgotten names, now being reduced to rubble. Bodies lay scattered on the floor, with blood pooling underneath them.I dragged myself forward, my hands scraping against the dirt. My back ached, my limbs felt torn from their joints, and my head tightened as I strained forward. Every move I made only felt he
Rya's POVI couldn't stop thinking. Frost had been the core of my thoughts over the last few days.For three days I sat by his side. I watched him keenly. And in that trying moment, I refused to step away from him. I held on to him, whispering prayers and assuring words into his ears that he returned to me.I loved him—with all of my heart and with everything I owned—I adored him. I could say it a million times and still never get exhausted. Yet losing him was the scariest thing my mind could ever picture to haunt me. I couldn't imagine having to rule a kingdom without him by my side. He had a way with words I just couldn't explain. They were always encouraging, rejuvenating. His touch was calming and comforting. These thoughts of him managed to put a smile on my face even while he remained trapped in his subconscious.But slowly, I began to live in the fear of his person, and of the things to come. I had begun to see the strangest things with him. Those moments when he muttered ol
Frost's POV "Take it for yourself. Wield it. It is yours to possess,"It had been an hour since Vargan's presence vanished from the room just as suddenly as it appeared. Still, those same words were persistently echoing in my ears. It was as though he was still there in the room, lurking at the back of my head and whispering those words endlessly to me. And with every moment I fought back to inflict my will and resist his influence, the words only grew sharper, and his voice turned darker. I was running mad. The loud voices in my head, coupled with the pounding sensation at the centre of my head was enough to force a loud scream out of my mouth, and send me running through the woods under the moon's ethereal glow. I was only holding on to a tiny thread of this reality and my fortitude. I kept assuring myself that I was indomitable, far above my father's reach and influence. But I needed to find a solution, and find it fast. The healer's option couldn't possibly be the only existe
Rya's POV It was barely dawn when Lily's soft knock echoed on my door. “Come in!” I answered without a thought. I was already fully dressed and even putting on my lab coat like the professional doctor that I am. The door creaked as Lily stepped in, professionally dressed as well. “I knew it!”
Rya's POV I raced as fast as I could towards the Southern district, with Frost close behind me and the servants who came to report racing forward in a panic. I just felt grateful that this crisis was a very good way for me to escape this complicated conversation I was having in the garden with Fr
Rya’s POV Our footsteps thudded through the empty corridor, as I assisted Vargan back to his chambers, our pace was slow not to cause him any more pain, and my leaner body held him up. Even though he’d been going on about how strong Alphas were, and how this was nothing, it was clear he was still
Frost's POV My question hung in the air, silence eerie between us. I stared at Rya, watching as her expression shifted through several emotions. Surprise, fear, calculation, and finally a careful blankness. I could tell from the way she stared at me she was trying to cook up something. I couldn







