ZERON
There's this unexplainable pain in my chest. A pain that began as soon as I saw the look of hurt in Alanna's eyes. She probably doesn't want to have anything to do with me again. I know this because for the past six days, she has been avoiding me. I shouldn't feel so bitter about it, right? But, I'm miserable.There's one part of me that enjoys her company and I can't admit it to her face.These past few nights, my nightmares seem to have worsened and everytime I close my eyes, the nightmares begin. Then, I awake in cold sweat few minutes later. I feel like a zombie. Who am I kidding?I've felt that way for years.I open my eyes, wincing when I'm met with the sight of the winter morning sky. Usually, I never get to sleep till dawn but today, I seem to have slept past dawn. The next thing I notice is how hot my room is. My skin is soaked with sweat and my breathing is laboured. I push myself to a sitting posALANNA A smile curves my lips as I make my way towards Zeron's chamber. Yesterday had felt like something out of a daydream but it had really happened. Zeron had allowed me to lull him to sleep. I really hope he doesn't lash out at me today because usually, we move two steps forward and five steps backwards. I should be sick of it all by now but, I know that I have to be more patient. Avoiding him for six days was not really my doing. The queen had insisted that I stayed away from her son because I was bad energy. I raise my fist to knock on the door but is startled by the familiar voice coming from behind me. I quickly turn to face him. "He's not here" Talon says and I frown."Where is he then?" I ask and he shrugs."The garden" he responds and I nod, shooting him a grateful smile. "I never got to thank you for being so brave and freeing me. Thank you" he says and I beam.
ALANNA Wrapping my arms around myself, I gaze down below from the open window of my room. Today seems to be colder than usual; not that I'm complaining. Seven days.There are only seven days left for the bonding ceremony to take place. Strangely enough, Zeron hasn't been avoiding me like he usually does. We don't say much, we only spend time with each other in the garden, in his favorite private spot, in his room and in the library. Yet, neither of us have the courage to talk about our kiss. There's this undeniable tension between us. I can feel it and I know he can feel it too. I close my eyes and let out a sigh when I recall Zeron's dreadful words about the fact that he believes he's dying. God, I hope not.He can't die, not under my watch. The door to my room creaks open and I turn around to see the queen mother as she steps into my room elegantly. She's wearing a black and green floral dress today with her h
ZERON "I'm alive?" I croak, unable to wrap my head around the reason why I'm still alive. I was really going to die; I'd felt it. But how am I still alive right now? "Yes, you're alive" Alanna responds as she pours me a cup of water. I stare at her, not failing to notice the stiffness of her body and the tension resting heavily on her. "I could've sworn that I was dead" I say and she sighs, her teary eyed gaze finally meeting mine."Will you just stop it? You're not dead and that's it" she snaps and I stiffen.Something is wrong, I can feel it. "Here, have some water" Alanna says as she hands me the glass of water with shaky hands.That's the confirmation I need. Something is not right and it has to do with both Alanna and my near death experience. So, I gulp down the water and try to sit up, but my body is too weak for that. This only adds to my growing frustration. I should've died, I just can't
ALANNA With a cheerful smile on my face, I knock on the door of Zeron's chamber with my free hand, a tray containing his breakfast balanced on my other hand. The door creaks open and I walk in, the dark shadows instantly wrapping themselves around me, it tickles though. It feels like they are very comfortable around me and it doesn't feel weird. "Hey" I say to Zeron who is lying on his bed, facing the ceilings. He looks tired but there's a different air around him. He's still a demon and all but, something's changed."I brought you breakfast" I say, leaning closer to press a kiss to his temple. A smile ghosts over his lips and I grin. "Help me up" he rasps and I gently bring him to a sitting position with several pillows behind his back, supporting him. His long hair falls over most part of his face and I smile at how adorable he looks right now.My adorable demon.
ALANNA Flinching at the sound of the door of Zeron's chamber being jerked open, I shakily rise to my feet, anxious about telling my husband the truth about Ervis. But, I'm shocked when the person who steps into the chamber turns out not to be Zeron. "Your highness, thought I'll find you here" Ervis says with a mocking smile on his face. Surely he doesn't know that I'd eavesdropped on his conversation with Lochan, right? "What do you want?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady as I pray and scream internally for Zeron to show up. The last thing I want is to be spelled by this disloyal bastard. He sighs and begins to move around me in circles."You might be the queen of the winter kingdom but you're not my queen. There are many of us out there who despise you . Trust me, there a lot of people who want you dead. Yet, I was willing to spare your life. But, you made everything worse by eavesdropping on my conversation
ALANNA The persistent knocks on the door of Zeron's chamber awakens me from my rather peaceful slumber. Sitting up slowly, I turn to look at Zeron who is still lying beside me, asleep. I get out of bed, careful not to awaken my husband. Then, I pad across the room and swing the door open only to be greeted by the flamboyant sight of the queen mother. Before I can say anything, she's already pushing past me and making her way into the room. Zeron opens his eyes and glares at his mother, the darkness of his eyes making his glare more menacing than usual."Why are you here, mother?" He asks in a very manly morning voice. "What happened to your eyes?" Tiana asks with a frown on her face."Long story short, I'm becoming a lunatic. What're you going to do about that?" He responds with a blank look on his face."You're not a lunatic and you know that, my boy""Oh, so
ALANNA "Mother?""Nah, try again" Tiana drawls with a smirk on her face. "Rohanne" Zeron spits, his eyes darkening with fury.Rohanne barely gives us a chance to process what's really happening before she casts an offensive spell that sends a fiery monster towards me. My eyes widen and I'm too shocked to move. But before the fiery monster is able to get to me, Zeron's shadows swallow it up and it vanishes from sight. Rohanne unfreezes the coven elders and a dozen fire witches storm in, flames licking their arms, ready to be used to do damage."What? Surprised?" Rohanne says, with amusement written all over her face. Zeron clenches his fist, frustrated. Hera and the rest of the coven move forward to stand as a barricade between Rohanne's men and Zeron. Chaos then breaks out in the coven room as both witches engage in combats using their magic."Z, we need to get out of here" I say and he
*Flashback* ZERON "Zeron, I know that I haven't exactly been the best mother lately and I'm so sorry for that-" mother says to me and I narrow my eyes."You're sorry, really? I can't believe I'm hearing this from my mother. Who are you and what did you do to the woman who birthed me?" I say, not liking the air of weariness and defeat that is around my mother."I want you to understand that I am still your mother and I should've done this before now. I couldn't bear the thought of loosing you, Zeron. Throughout the past decades, I'd had hope that you would eventually find your cure. I was ready to do anything to keep you alive but I wasn't happy with the way your were transforming from bad to worse. Then, things escalated to a point where you no longer cared; it scared me, Zeron. I