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ROYCE. ‘He raped me.’ I frown, trying to push those words away. There are many things I’d thought I could be accused of but not that… ‘He forcefully marked me!’ ‘He did this to me!’ I place my head in my hands, trying to calm the pain that claws at my chest. How is she doing? I know he’s done something to her, and what hurts the fucking most is she is having to go through this. Is she conscious inside of her mind? Is she hearing what she’s saying? For her sake, I hope not, because this is just going to make her feel even worse… Fuck, I need to save her! Instead, I’m sitting in this prison… Are they really mates, or is he playing some sort of sick game with her? I have never wanted to kill someone before as much as I do now, and I don’t care that he’s my brother. I don’t care for his fucking reasonings, but what I do care about is the fucking twisted games he’s fucking playing with Skyla! If he wants to hurt me, then he should fucking target me, not her. My aura surges, sl
ROYCE. It isn’t hard to find where Aleric is being held. The power that I can feel radiating from the northern side is intense and when I burst through the entrance of a hallway similar to the one where I was held, I can smell him. Past the witches that are watching him, and despite the commotion, as some try to stop me and others on edge at the sound of Raihana’s scream that travels through the halls, the emotions and nerves are heightening. I come to an abrupt halt, raising my hand to show them I’m not here to fight, but what truly gets to me is the fact that nothing is out of place. Nothing is going on here. Aleric is simply sitting there, past the barriers that hold him hostage, with his head in his hands. “Royce Arden, surrender!” Magdalene’s voice comes from behind me. Even the sound of her approaching was silent. I glance back at the woman that stands in the entrance but doesn’t respond, before looking back at Aleric, who now raises his head. Curiosity in his eyes. Wha
A/N: This chapter may contain some distressing content, I will place a ***** before and after the content, I deem the most distressing part. ALERIC. I close my eyes, the fire witch’s anguish cries filling my ears. It’s not a melody… but a stabbing noise that is making me restless. He was a casualty just like Quade… The number of dead is rising and I’m losing count. But he was a necessity… the plan is in motion and the blame needs to be focused on Royce. Who killed Chris and how? Even though I don’t know the answer to those questions, something makes me wonder if Apophis has got someone else working for him… I don’t know who he has but if he has someone doing his bidding, then it is a cold reminder that if I fail, he can and will easily replace me. He won’t need me and will cast me aside with ease. What am I doing anyway? What is the purpose of it all? To be powerful… I don’t feel it. I feel as if I’m destroying everything I worked for in life. The agonising pain in my nec
SKYLA.Chris is dead.The voices are a blur as they all try to hold things together.The emotions that are seeping off everyone are overwhelming. Giving birth to a restlessness that I cannot get rid of.I can still see Mama Mari’s face when she learned about her daughter losing her mate…The way Heaven froze before she ran from the room…The way Tatum’s eyes filled with tears before he walked to his Mama’s side and hugged her, telling her to stay strong…Trying to be the man of the family now that his father was gone.He shouldn’t have to. He’s still young.Rayhan’s pain, Sienna’s… Ahren’s… Dad’s…The pain in my chest is becoming suffocating, and it takes my all not to shift into my Lycan and let it all out.This is happening because of me… I sided with Aleric and because of me, he was able to do this…I’m no fucking Lycan. I’m a fucking excuse for a werewolf.Useless.Pathetic.I slowly walk up the stairs, unable to take any more of the painful atmosphere of the room downstairs. I see
SKYLA. STOP! I scream internally as I try to stop myself from tilting my hand to spill the poison. I can feel my body becoming tense as I fight against myself. I won’t kill my father! I won’t! It’s like I’m possessed. My body has a mind of its own and it’s terrifying. A part of me is trying to keep my arm straight and the other part of me is hell-bent on spilling the poison into the incisions my nails have made on Dad’s back. No. I will never hurt anyone. No! I’m not a monster! I’m stronger than this! Fuck! A sickening crunch fills the room and Dad instantly pulls me back as a scream leaves my lips. I broke my wrist. The power that is holding my body captive, clearly ready to go to any lengths to succeed, agony rips up my arm as the door flies open. “What the…” Dad says as Royce and Leo stand there in the doorway, ice encases the poison vial that I hold in my hand as I stare at my wrist. “Sky!” Royce says, and he’s by my side instantly as Dad gently snaps my wrist back i
ROYCE. I’m shaking, and it’s not from the injuries but the broken state of her wrists, legs and ankles. The darkness disappeared the moment she fell unconscious and Delsanra’s magic slams through. “Royce, you're hurt!” She murmurs as she begins healing me, but can’t they see she’s hurt more? “Heal her,” I say quietly as I pick up her slender hand. She’s broken several bones, and her wrist is mangled. This is the result of her fighting it. “We can’t expect her to fight it on her own.” My eyes sting, and the pain in my chest as I see her like this is killing me. I wish her pain was mine. Why her? There’s silence as Kiara and Scarlett rush in and both women and Alejandro kneel beside Skyla. Kiara’s hands go to both of us as I gently snap my goddess’s bones back into place. “She’s trying to fight it,” Alejandro says quietly, and I nod. “At what cost?” I ask, looking into his eyes. It hurts too much seeing her like this. “We need to do something else, we can’t let her carry on li
ROYCE. “Fucker!” Alejandro growls as he goes over to the door. “Where the fuck have you been?” “Sorry Dad,” Dante says as Alejandro embraces him. I’m not so sure if he’s angry or relieved to see him as he slaps him on his back. He greets all his family, teasing Delsanra that she looks beautiful. There’s an inside joke there as everyone but Rayhan laughs, instead he raises his eyebrows at his younger cousin. He walks over to the bed, and I look at Skyla, who is sleeping, the image of her fighting with everything she has raw on my mind. “I’m proud of you, My Audacious Lioness…” he murmurs, crouching down beside the bed and kisses her forehead before he tilts his head. Intriguing that he calls her a lioness, to think a lioness is linked to Bastet. Was it a coincidence? I don’t think anything is a coincidence with this man. He brushes her hair back before he glances at me. “Things are looking good.” He says before he turns and looks at everyone in the room. “Apophis is breaking div
A.N: The chapter may contain some triggering content – Skyla hits a very low point. SKYLA. My eyes snap open and they’re blazing purple, an arm is draped over my waist, and I turn to see Kataleya next to me, her eyes open as she looks at me with concern. “Hey, afternoon, Sky.” She whispers. I can smell Royce’s scent lingering in this room. I look down at the shirt I’m wearing. I don’t know how, but I know he put this on me. What the hell happened? My body feels as if it’s been hit by a damn rhinoceros. The events of what happened suddenly rush back to my mind and my stomach twists as the influx of memories and emotions make it hard to breathe. I tried to kill Dad… I hurt Royce. Again. I tried to kill him… That’s all I ever do, cause him pain… I hurt him, mentally and physically. He’s too fucking good for me. “Skyla?” I turn my back on her. The overwhelming guilt of what happened is suffocating me. It’s better if I’m dead. This time they were able to stop me… but what i