Prologue

Miriam P.O.V.

It’s been a week since I caught Athena. A week where she has been in and out of consciousness, and when she’s been awake she has not acknowledged my presence at all. Neither has she acknowledged anyone else’s, not even her brother, or her allies. It doesn’t really matter in the least to me because I have plans with her, and my plans are not short term. She’ll come around, and in the end she’ll beg for death, and I will keep denying her that pleasure. As of right now, I’m allowing her to live in her head, wherever that is. 

In terms of the other packs we attacked, most of them surrendered and brokered a deal where the Alpha and Luna stayed in place to rule, but under our eye and our laws. While we attacked the packs, we also attacked all the Councils. Or should I say we attacked the Council headquarters. They were empty when we got there and we have yet to locate either of them or the High Council. Right now they are underground with Athena’s twin brothers, her parents and younger siblings. I also don’t know where her Gamma’s are, but I will find them. Her Beta’s are fighting in the Nochturn coven, and trying to keep Henri from taking the throne. 

He is not closer today than he was a week ago, but they are fighting and our numbers are stronger than theirs, so it’ll only be a matter of time, I’m sure of it. Although Iloni has shown to be a bitter opponent and strong in her siren magic, even on land. I’ll have to think up a plan to kill her. Henri is angry I have not sent him more men, but right now I’m also fighting on multiple fronts. 

My grandmother came back just as strong as she was, and thoroughly pissed off at the realms. She’s taken over absolutely everything she can; my room, my office, my leadership. Or she’s tried with my leadership, luckily for me those bastards I lead actually proved to be loyal and told her to fuck off and they would only deal with me. So she had to step back, which she did with a scowl. Now she’s calling me her right hand woman. She also ordered me to call back my aunts. 

You heard me; aunts. She explained, like I was a fucking child, that Carly and Hildra are not my aunts because they are her sister, but Cindy, Corvinna and Cresida are my aunts because they are Carly’s daughters, which makes Lukas and Leonardo my cousins on my fathers side. Complicated? I think so. I have answered that by calling Hildra and Carly by their first names, which especially annoys Carly. 

My grandmother keeps telling her to leave me alone because I’m special. I have no idea how to respond to that. I did call all of them home, and my aunts and Leonardo came back immediately, Leo, as he tells me to call him, started complaining about the assignment, the headquarters and everything in between. It took my grandmother screaming at him and his mother to shut him up. In turn she also magically renovated more of the estate for habitat and moved the entire family upstairs. I don’t even know if it was worth it yet to free her or not. 

What surprised me the most was how quick the Moonstone Alpha and his Luna surrendered, and I ordered some trusted men to take residence in that pack, and told Alpha Nate they were to be present at every meeting, every mealtime, all training etc. He readily agreed, which only made me more suspicious. Then I asked him if he knew what had happened to the Blue Light pack that the twin brothers of Athena were to be Alpha of? He said he had no idea, and I had no way to prove him wrong, so I let it go for now. 

The dragon lands also gives me a headache, which only grows stronger when Cresida once again approaches me at my breakfast. 

“We need to talk, Miriam.” She says, placing her hands on her hips. 

“Right, and mornings are the time for that?” I ask, rolling my eyes. “Sit down.” I gesture to the chair opposite me. 

“I’m going to the vampire coven today, and I won’t hear a word of it. The only reason I’m telling you is because I know you are going to throw a tantrum competing with Caitlyn’s if I don’t.” She says, cutting right to the point. 

“And why would I sanction that?” I ask, sticking a scrambled egg into my mouth. 

“Because I’m not asking, I’m telling. Also, you are not the boss of me and I will go get my son. He is fighting something that has nothing to do with him.” She says, standing up. 

“Do you know why he and Leo switched places?” I ask, narrowing my eyes. 

The question has been bothering me lately. Paired with the fact that he did not come back, and have not reported back on any of my attempts to make contact. I fear he is either captured, dead or has switched sides. I don’t think it’s the latter, and I don’t hope it’s the former, but then why. Henri says he has seen him, but doesn’t know where he is now. It's very.. Concerning. 

“No. But I’m going to find out. Good day.” She leaves, something unreadable in her eyes as she turns around. 

I’ll have to keep an eye on her as well. I add it to my never ending list of things to do.

After my strange conversation with Cresida, I return to the other issues at hand, and I must admit she and her son glide out of mind. That is until a couple of days later when both of them return; dirty, cut up and pissed the fuck off. 

Cresida brushes right past me, almost running inside, her mind seemingly million miles away, but her son stops in front of me, his expression sobering a bit. 

“Did you know?” He asks, crossing his arms. 

I lay down the pen I’ve been using to write an overview in the nice weather outside, and stand up to be at eye level. Maybe Cresida didn’t see me because I was sitting? Maybe she ignored me on purpose? Either way, I’ll have to talk to her about it.

“Know about what exactly?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. 

Cresida comes back outside, seemingly realising her son did not follow her inside. Her eyes land on me, the anger in the bright and burning. I would be scared if I knew what the hell she was so pissed about. Right now I was getting more annoyed to be honest.

“I switched places with my cousin.” The bright crayon in front of me says, and I roll my eyes. 

“Oh really? Hadn’t noticed.” I reply, my voice filled with sarcasm. 

“Don’t you dare use that tone with him, Miriam. I know it was you who ordered Henri to send my son into the front line of the attacks, trying to get him killed.” Cresida yells, storming over. 

“Whoa, I did no such thing. I didn’t know they had switched until cousin entitled brat came home from the dragon lands, where your bright crayon should have been. And I was under the impression Henri had no idea where Lukas were, as I told you a few days ago.” I tell her, looking at him as well. 

“Henri sent me into the front line of the rebellion he is creating, but not directly against the crown. He sent me against the Nobel family's armies with only a little of a handful of people at my disposal and told me to kill everyone who dared oppose him. He said it was your order to punish me.” 

“Oh, no no. Not going to take that out on me. That is either his own idea, or someone else in this camp is working against you. Not me. I just want to know why you switched in the first place.” 

Cresida storms inside now, her voice sounding over all the noise from the constant comings and goings of people. She is yelling for her sisters, her mom and my grandmother. Fuck. Is this going to turn into a family event? No thank you. 

“I had a feeling Leo needed to be in the dragon lands, to learn a lesson.” Lukas says, avoiding my eyes. “And now I need a shower.”

He also walks inside, and I’m left wondering what the hell all of that was about? I shrug, sitting down again, writing to all of my allies that phase 2 can begin now. A new dawn is approaching, and the realm will be overturning one region at the time. We have all the packs, almost, under our control, Athena is refusing to be present, which is fine for now, Alec and Maeve is a treat to taunt every time, especially Alec who is so reactive to me, and when my utterly annoying cousin Caspian someday returns from the divine realm, because he will, my grasp around power will be so strong that he can do nothing but bow down to me. At that point I will have broken Athena as well, and maybe made her my own little puppet. Wouldn’t that be fun?

I whistle as I work, my mood in high spirits despite the yelling from inside, and the fact my grandmother is screaming for me to come in and explain what is going on. She can wait. All of them can. I’m in charge, and it’s high time she and everyone else realise it.