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SKYLA. Warmth. It’s so warm... And it smells so good… I open my eyes, and my heart skips a beat. Royce. I’m in Royce’s arms… I died. I smile softly. That’s why it’s so peaceful… ‘Death is not what you deserve, Lycan princess.’ Bastet? ‘Then what do I deserve?’ ‘Embrace every part of you that makes you… you fought him, and you broke his hold upon you. You did that, child.’ ‘Yeah, by killing myself.’ ‘Attempted to kill yourself. You did not succeed.’ My eyes snap open as I stare up at Royce’s neck. His scent, the feeling of his body against mine. This feels so real… What? ‘Your life was saved and for a good cause, your death would mean Apophis will always have a hold on this world. Always.’ ‘How are you speaking to me now? You were gone?’ I ask. ‘Hecate’s daughters helped channel my energy to you.” ‘I see… I’m a danger to them, to them all.’ ‘In the bathroom when you took a stand, refusing to hurt anyone any longer, and determined that even death is better than hur
RAIHANA.My heart is hollow.I never knew a person can feel so empty…When a thousand emotions should be coursing through me, ripping into me like a plague, clawing away into me, I’m oddly… blank.That is how I was feeling until last night when I realised that my family needs me.It left me numb. I somehow manage to turn my emotions off, almost.A part of me wonders if subconsciously I have cut my emotions off. A dangerous little trick that witches can do… because without our emotions… we are far more deadly…But… my family needs me, my children need me, and I need vengeance.For my man.The last conversation I had with him before we parted ways that day replay in my mind.(FLASHBACK)“Hey, kiss me goodbye,” Chris smirks cockily as he pulls me back into his arms.I roll my eyes, “I’ll be seeing you in half an hour. Wasn’t that kiss enough?” I ask airily, raising my eyebrow as I run my hand up his shoulders.“That was a peck, but I admit even if it was a kiss that lasted a million lifet
ROYCE.“Why would they help him, though?” Marcel says quietly.“Not to mention Skyla said he had injected her with something three times to gain control of her, according to Bastet,” I say, frowning.“Oh, yeah?” Leo says, his eyes flashing. “This shit is fucking twisted.”“But that took him three doses,” Raihana says.“Exactly. So how did he manage to control the witches?” Kiara says.I can tell she’s trying to contain her emotions, knowing her daughter’s just left.“I don’t know…” Raihana murmurs. “But there’s something Magdalene was trying to say…Skyla’s promise when she pleaded for me to allow her to do this replays in my mind, and the seed of self-doubt is beginning to grow.As they talk, worried about her, I remain silent, trying to contain my emotions.I let her do this. I let her go to him alone.What if he finds out she’s pretending? What if he tries to hurt her?Was it wise after she tried to kill herself?Will her promise to return to me be enough?I run my fingers through m
RIC THE DICK. “I want them to feel the pain,” she murmurs, staring ahead. “I want them to feel the pain I was in as they held me against my will!” “Oh?” I ask. I don’t trust her fully. Not after she’s been with them… Never underestimate your enemy. We are on the way to the Arden mansion at her request. She thinks as the rightful next Alpha, it’s my duty to be there, for my pack and people. And of course, I think it’s very important for them to know I am in charge. I rang ahead, commanding them to secure the place and making it clear Royce is not to step onto Shadow Wolves' ground. She’s touching me, but that spark between us has lessened. It’s strange, but these days I don’t really feel my wolf anymore. An odd wave of regret washes over me, he is- was a part of me, his emotions and mine mixed… Now I wonder if he’s simply closed off or is dying. He fought the powers given to me by Apophis, and I had to shut him down. He wasn’t strong enough for me! I needed more! I look down
SKYLA. Fucking worm. The only thing keeping me sane is the fact that I need to make sure I’m successful in this act. Once he’s inside that building, our spells and everything will secure him there. Just a bit fucking longer. Last night I told Dante about the plans for the engagement. It is the perfect way to lower this loser’s guard a little. Even when he hit me across the face, I acted like it didn’t matter, despite the fact I wanted to rip him to fucking pieces. I’m biding my time and I am going to bitch slap him into fucking tomorrow. I look down at my arm, as one of the two makeup artists covers my tattoo up. She-wolves that he didn’t seem to care to not check out in front of me when he had first told them what he wanted from me. He’s fucking sick, like he’s chosen an outfit that will cover me from neck to fucking toes, saying I’ll look like a lady. Yet, he is happily allowed to check out and enjoy looking at other women with skin on show. I can’t stand him. Danielle and
SKYLA. I’m about to say something when I feel a wisp of air swirl around me. She’s leaving! Although I know she’ll remain in a way, I won’t ever get to talk to her again and oddly, that fills me with sorrow. ‘I won’t fail you.’ ‘I believe you won’t. I have faith in you, my Lioness.’ Her words seem to echo inside of me and my eyes flash as I feel something like a sharp zing rush through me. It affects my arms, and my head and it’s intense on my stomach and back. My eyes blaze and I stare in the mirror at my now cat-like eyes before I close them, not wanting the women to notice them. I won’t fail you like your people, Bastet. She’s gone. The moment I felt that touch, I felt it. She’s still with me, but not in the way she has been until now. Now all I have left is what she has given me and hoped for from me. I won’t fail her. “There, we are all done,” Lenora says, I stare in the mirror. The woman in front of me is not me, but an image of the ideal woman in the eyes of Aleric.
SKYLA. We reach the venue soon enough, and it is as beautiful as its name. The entire building is made of mainly crystal glass, with pearlescent pillars and beams. The witches are surrounding it, blending into the shadows of the trees and archways. Most are outside… Perfect. ‘The witches think the attack will come from the outside, don’t they?’ I say through the link as the doors shut behind us. ‘Yeah, and it fucking will for the most part, but once we’re in those outside will be locked out and those inside, inside. No fucking witch can stop us from crashing that fucking engagement,’ Dad’s growl comes. I can’t help but smile slightly. Never have I been happier to hear Grump Bear’s growl. ‘Care to share why the fuck you sprung the idea of getting engaged to him? A tad fucking extreme, don’t you think?’ he asks. ‘Because Gherkin Dick is conceited. I needed something extreme to make it more believable.’ I reply. ‘I’ll see you guys soon,’ ‘Soon.’ Kataleya’s soft voice comes as I
SKYLA Aleric and I both turn sharply. My stomach does a flip when I spot him. There he stands, the Solaris Sword of the king, in the hands of the Solaris King himself. There’s my man. My Reign. My Alpha. My Fucking King. He’s wearing a white formal shirt that hugs his muscles and grey pants. A murmur ripples through the room as a sharp wind blows around him and he strides across the hall, cutting through the crowds as he reaches the dais. A few witches jump forward, but his shield of violent wind is impenetrable. “Royce!” Aleric snarls, raising his hand, flames rippling around his hand. Royce doesn’t reply as he steps onto the dais, skipping the three steps and reaching me in seconds. His arm snakes around my waist, and he yanks me against him, making me gasp. My heart pounding, as every ridge of his body moulds against mine. Oh so perfectly… “ROYCE!” Aleric thunders. Royce simply raises his sword, forcing him to keep his distance, his eyes on me. ‘One night without you