In the Rogue Queen’s ritual chamber, deep inside the Rogue Island palace, the room was covered with smoke from burning herbs and molten silver.The walls were filled with torchlight. Keira was strapped to a stone table, her hands tied, her eyes half-closed, the drug’s effect was fading but her body still felt limp, she half consciously rolled to the side, The rogue gown she wore was beginning to feel uncomfortable as it tingled her sweat-drenched skin. The Queen stood behind them, in the shadow, she had changed into a dull black robe with red threads for the ritual, her face was hidden beneath a hooded black veil, only her hands were visible, as she silently watched the ritual begin. An old witch, bent over the floor beside where Keira was lying, wearing long black see-through lace, while stirring a bubbling old pot, her hands shaking, her voice muttering incantations, the green flames began to burn brightly as her incantations grew louder.“Faster, Akira, we don’t have all day,” t
Asher grabbed the van’s steering wheel, his hands shaking, his eyes looking around the dark forest road as he drove through Rogue Island. He looked over his shoulder, in the back of the van whereKeira lay unconscious, her clothes looking tangled, he was sorry he had hit her so hard but he couldn’t let her be conscious while he tried to run, she would have made too much noise leading to him being captured.His heart was beating loudly.“She belongs to me,” he muttered to himself, clenching his jaw as he drove, his eyes filled with desperation. The rare wolf in Keira was his to claim, it was his path to power, and he needed a witch or sorceress to extract it before the Queen could.He drove even faster, driving as fast as he could down the road, the red-claw flags of Rogue Valley slowly fading behind him.Just as he turned a corner, he noticed headlights flashingin the rearview, Asher’s eyes grew wider, his hands began to shaking, his legs tensed up as he stepped on the accelerator
Callum stood in the palace courtyard, ready to move. His eyes on a line of black vans and buses, all ready to depart. Patrol officers ran around unloading gear, while dividing themselves into units. The blood test results was still in his mind, he couldn’t believe he had really let Asher, a rogue escape under his watch, not only had he escaped but he had also succeeded in taking Keira to Rogue Island. His heart was beating faster, and filled with anger as he debated on how to go about his plan. “Sir, everything is ready.” A patrol officer said to him. Callum nodded. “Move out,” he said, his voice rough. He began walking towards the lead van. “Your Highness, we’ll surround Rogue Island by dusk,” Ryk said, his voice serious, he carefully adjusted his weapon, his eyes shiny as he climbed in beside Callum. “Do it fast,” Callum said, his voice serious, his hands holding the van’s door open, his eyes on the road ahead. “Asher’s got her, Ryk.” He said. “ We don’t stop until
Asher stood in the dark room where he had left Keira, his hands shaking, his eyes on the closed door, listening to her talk.He had expected her to feel angry and betrayed and he had been right.He turned to look at her as she whispered another painful word again.“Everything you say is a lie.” He couldn’t understand why every word she said cut deeper than he expected. He sighed standing up to leave the room.“She was right, but it wasn’t like he had a choice.” He shook his head and sighed again.“She’ll come around,” he muttered, as he stuck his hands into his pockets, trying to convince himself. His plan was still intact: He would deliver Keira’s rare wolf to the Rogue Queen and then secure his place. The Rogue Queen would give him the wolf, as she agreed, and he would then go behind her back and take her down.Just then someone knocked heavily on the door, and he heard a guard’s voice come from outside.“The Queen summons you,” the guard said, in a sharp voice, his hands on a sp
Keira stood in shock in the middle of the courtyard of Rogue Valley, her eyes were on the black flag with the red claw sign flapping in the wind, in the middle of the courtyard. All she could hear was that rogue language being said all around her.Just then she saw more men in dark cloaks walk towards Asher while staring at her.Asher stood across the courtyard, wearing a robe similar to the men's.She watched in shock as the men bowed to him.Asher began to speak their language fluently, but she could not find the market trader she thought she knew. Her heart began to race as she staggered backwards.“This isn’t right,” she muttered, her eyes looking for an escape.Asher turned, noticing her again, he smiled gently at her. “Take her,” he said, in a low voice as he turned to two maids in gray robes, The maids nodded and quickly rushed forward. “Clean her up, and dress her properly.” He said.“What?” Keira said, frantically looking for a way out as the The maids began to approach.
The black van drove along a sandy road, dust rising behind it.Cocks crowed in the distance as the morning sun slowly rose.Keira sat in the passenger seat, looking around silently, holding her bag, her eyes fixed outside the window. She didn’t know how to feel, a part of her was glad that the palace was gone, and she had left behind Callum’s cold words.All the rejections and heart aches were behind her now.“Hey.” She heard Asher say to her as he turned down a road.He smiled and turned to look at her. “Are you doing okay?” he asked, his voice warm, making her feel a little more comfortable.“Barely,” Keira said, and sighed, she placed her hands on her thighs, her eyes fixed on the passing trees. “I think I just need to get away from everything Asher.” She said.Asher smiled.“You will,” He said, in a smooth voice.“My parent’s town is quiet, Keira.” He said.“No drama, just peace. You’ll feel better there.” He added.“I hope so,” Keira said, her voice shaking, hands loosening, e