Serana POV.I have locked myself away from everyone and everything. Just me and the journals, scrolls, and photo albums.A knock on the bedroom door has me looking up from the sofa by the fire. I ignore it as I turn my gaze back to the flames. I haven’t left here since the day in the throne room. That was over a week ago. I don’t know what to do anymore.“Rana, come on, please. You need to eat something. You have eaten nothing in four days.” Wesley says from the other side of the door, yet I don’t respond as I look down at my lap at the photo album of my parents when my mom was pregnant with me and I smile at them.I chuckle at one phot in particular. It’s of mom surrounded by different food, snacks and drinks eating a pickle. The label underneath says ‘pregnancy cravings are the best’ I laugh at that she was truly beautiful. I turn the page and see another of my mom and dad together sitting in the palace gardens. He is holding her from behind with his face over her shoulder as they b
TRIGGER WARNING, READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION!Vilkas POV.“It’s ok, I’ve got you.” I say to Stacey as she whimpers in my arms. Fresh tears leave her eyes and my heart breaks for her.“It hurts, it hurts so bad. I only said hello to her and she … she attacked me.” More tears and cries leave her as I clutch her to me as I make it to the infirmary.“Someone, help. My mate has been hurt. Please help her.” I shout as the doctor and nurse and both run to us.“Save her.” I say, and the nurse looks at me in shock. Why is she is in shock?“Place her on the bed. We will take a look at her. Please Vilkas, step out so we can heal her.” Stacey grabs my hand as I place her gently on the bed.“No, he is your king.” She says, and I smile at her. I lean down and kiss her softly.“I’ll be outside. You are safe. She won’t ever hurt you again.” I say as I leave the room, closing the door behind me.I move to the wall and lean on it; I lean my head back and blink the tears away. I failed her. Serana could
Stacey/Starci POV.Oh Serana, you walked right into my trap. I chuckle to myself. But damn, what she did hurt, and she isn’t at full power yet.“She was going to run. We did what we had to. What I wasn’t expecting was Vilkas to fucking mark us Star. You should have stopped him.” Lex snarls in my head and I groan.Yeah, that wasn’t meant to happen. It looks like I will have to be extra careful now when I go and meet up with my favourite people here in the palace. Joel and a couple of the dark fae. They are good fucks; they know what I like and what I don’t, plus they know it’s just sex, no feelings involved, or that’s what I told myself. Joel is different. I really like him even if he is a vampire.“What does it matter if he marked us? Serana saw it and is no doubt heart broken now. So she will become weak.” I say and she shakes her head, clicking her tongue.“You don’t get it, do you? The mark will fade. How are you going to get him to remark you before the next full moon? You can’t s
TRIGGER WARNING, PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION!Serana POV.I don’t even know what day it is. It could have been hours, days, weeks. They all blur together. Pain, that is all I feel. Bedelia heals the internal damage as I hang weakly from the gold and obsidian cuffs and chains they have bound us in.“Still alive? Well, you won’t be for much longer.” One of the dark fae spits in my face as his spittle drips from my cheek. I look at him in defiance. I can’t give in. They can beat me, torture me, but I won’t break, because I am already broken. I was broken a long time ago. The pain lets me know I’m still alive.They have broken all my fingers, toes, some ribs, my legs, and arms. I have been whipped, hit with bats, had my nails ripped from the nail beds and my jaw broken, just to name a few.Scars line my flesh as Bedelia heals the broken bones and internal injuries. He grabs me by my jaw, forcing me to look at him when he smiles at me and I am at his mercy all the time Vilkas sits a
Serana POV.Whatever happened, the night Starci came to taunt me, the dark fae and Vilkas haven’t returned. I lay there, looking up at the ceiling. The scent of dried blood, mould, and mildew fill my nose. My skin is dirty and my hair is matted.At least I have a toilet in here and a sink, so I can have water and wash my face. I hear scurrying in the corner of the room and see a familiar little face. The only friend I have down here. A rat. Yeah, I’ve lost the plot. It will no doubt eat me if I die. Oh well, at least he will have a meal.“Hey buddy.” I say weakly as it sits up and sniffs the air before it runs closer to me. I used to be terrified of them, but what’s the point? I’ll be dead soon.It squeezes through the bars and into my open hand. I lift it up and giggle as it rubs its brown body against my hand.“I will be leaving you soon. Thank you for being my friend.” I say when I laugh at myself, God, can I hear myself? Fucking hell, I’ve definitely lost it.It squeaks as it jump
Serana POV.The landscape changes the closer we get to the volcano. Lush greenery, teeming with life. We are camped in a forest not far from the volcano. This used to be the camp, the camp that was my home. It has been destroyed and long abandoned.I hope Pascha and Wesley are ok. Also Joel, even though he betrayed us, I can’t hate him. He helped me escape that awful place.I look up at the sky as dark clouds roll and it will rain soon. I stand and pack away the sleeping bag and bottles of water Pascha and Wesley had so thoughtfully packed. I wonder how long they had planned this? It doesn’t matter. I need to get to the volcano and get Bedelia to ascend.Walking towards Nero who is happily grazing, I pack away the things and take his reigns. We will walk the rest of the way. He has worked hard to get us here. So it’s only right I give him a break from carrying me for a while.“Come on,” I gently tug him and he follows behind me. Thunder rumbles in the sky and the first drops of rain h
Vilkas POV.I stand looking at her as she stands by the lava pool, the same pool I was reborn from.“Serana, don’t do this.” I approach her when he takes a step back and I stop. Holding my hands up to show her I’m not a threat. This feeling in my chest becomes worse.“Why? So you can rip my heart from my chest and give the heart scale to that bitch!” she spits at me and I close my eyes. How did she find out? Doesn’t matter, I was a fucking fool to listen to the voice.“Please Serana.” I try again when she laughs. Her laugh roars over the lava and bounces off the walls.“No, I told you before Vilkas, it stays with me. I will not allow you to destroy what is left of humanity for that cunt. You both deserve each other. But the scale stays with me. I told you I would die to protect it and that is what I am going to do.” She turns and steps into the lava. I scream as she walks further into it. I move to the edge and drop to my knees and something breaks inside of me as I look at her and sh
Vilkas POV.I sit here looking at the wall in the volcano that hasn’t broken since it formed over a year ago. I come here every day to try to break through, and no matter what I use or do; it doesn’t budge. It is well and truly sealed shut.In the past year, the kingdom has been rebuilt. The human survivors and the shifters loyal to me have been training harder than before in preparation for the war that is coming. The war I caused. Lara has spelled the kingdom, so we will know if Starci or any Lycan enter. She has also enchanted weapons and magic bombs which have been infused with wolfsbane and silver. She has also put a spell on the wolf shifters so they are immune to silver and wolfsbane. Their fangs have been moulded with silver and their claws infused with wolfsbane. As for the vampires, she has infused their armour with magic so they won’t die.Everyday more humans enter the kingdom and they are put under a truth spell and so far they have all been truthful. The kingdom has grow