176 Celene Alex strode Towards me, his shoulders tensed, his expression blank, he leaned over, his voice firm “Princess Celene, I am sorry.” I refused to look up at him, the pain of betrayal wreaking through my body. Mondrian's lifeless body was wrapped beneath my arms. He didn't move, his arms stretched out, brushed my shoulders, “The king wouldn't want you—” “Why?” I whispered cutting him off. He was startled at the question, his expression dark. “Pardon?” “Why!” I screamed, my voice raw and trembling with rage and grief, as I demanded, “Why didn’t you wake me up?!” Alex stepped back, his jaw clenched. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. I turned to the people around. Mondrains people. They shifted uncomfortably, avoiding my gaze. Arlen stepped forward, “Princess, please. King Mondrian wouldn't—” “I could have saved him.” I stated dully, cutting short whatever he'd planned to say, “I could have stopped the curse!” I thundered, staring daggers at the men bef
175CeleneNo.The moment Alpha Daniel said those words, a silence overtook my mind, a loud yet ringing silence. Like a beach after a storm, it raged.Alpha Daniel continued to speak, to tell me all about my mate's death, but I could hear nothing, see nothing, feel nothing.The news struck me hard, breaking whatever hope I had managed to Garner after Christoff's betrayal.“No.” I whispered, looking at him, “You are lying.”Alpha Daniel hesitated, his eyes flashed with pity, and he patted my hands, “Celene, my child, I wish I could tell you that this is all a cruel lie. But sadly, it is not. It is with great sadness I inform you that the Lycan King is D—”“No.” I cut in more forcefully than the first, pulling my fingers from his grasp, “You are lying to me. This is all a joke. Tell me this is all a joke.”Daniel exhaled, scrambling up from his chair to assist me. I pushed his hands away as I struggled to stand, my legs wobbled, threatening to give way, I pushed forward ignoring the ach
174CeleneHis arms whipped towards me wrapping around my neck, before I could understand what was happening.I gasped, and my fingers flew towards his scratching, in my attempt to get away, but he didn't relent, tightening his hold.Christoff stared down at me, his eyes flashed with an excitement that sent a chill down my spine.“You really are beautiful Celene.” He said, his voice lower than a whisper, and he leaned into my ear, “I wonder what you taste like. How about we mate before the ceremony? It doesn't matter which happens first does it.”He chuckled at my pale face, "Dint be shy darling. I'll be better than any you've ever had."Blood rose to my head, a warning bells rang as I processed his words without thinking, I unleashed my powers striking his face.Christoff, screamed in pain, releasing his hold on me. Without a second to spare a feigned a dodge and made a run for it.My heartbeat, louder than I'd ever heard, I urged my feet to move further, and my hand reached for the
173Celene“No!” I screamed, dodging the raised hands, “You can't do this. I do not accept this mate bond .”Christoff smirked toying with the staff in hand, as he glanced lazily a the crowd, “My darling Celene, I don't think you have a choice.”At the sight of his smile, I wanted to attack, to wipe that sorry smile out of his face, but the look of fear from the people held me back, I stood frozen holding his gaze.“You are a sorry excuse of a man Christoff, you might be able to rule for a while through fear, but what happens next? What happens when someone bigger comes for your throne.”Christoff stilled, his lips tugged down in a frown, as he gave my words thoughts, for a second I thought I'd gotten through to him, but I was wrong.As though a switch had been turned his eyes brightened, “I'll kill them.” Raising Valerie's staff, “With this. Years of undiluted power were captured into it. No one for eons to come would dare to challenge me. Not even you.”I gasped at the viciousness r
172CeleneChaos.Everything was in shambles, the palace half destroyed, Valerie, dead and Christoff holding the staff of power–Valerie's weapon of destruction, like it was some trophy. The tendrils of leftover magic trailed out of it.My heart pounded as I pushed against the wall of mercenaries that formed a barrier between us. They refused to budged, still like statues, except for their eyes, which flashed with excitement.“What is the meaning of this?” I shouted, the horror of what I'd just witnessed, cracked my voice, I struggled against Christoff's men, my fingers clawed, trying to break through, “Get out of my way!”All around me, the people cowered in fear, as Christoff, made his move. Their faces were streaked with tears, ashened from a dust mix of dust and smoke. They were frightened, scared for their lives.But a few remained clear eyes, the hidden warriors, those who had tasted death, either in battle or long before they held their front protecting the people, yet a trac
171 Celene A wave of silence swept through the crowd, like a tidal wave in the middle of summer, deafening and destructive. Christoff stood back, dressed in black slacks and a top, his armor nowhere to be seen, without them he looked different, safe. Coupled with his ever-charming smile he stood tall and harmless, except for the dark wooden staff emitting dark light, and his hands were currently placed on, that once belonged to Valerie. My eyes raked over the body of the said woman, her body battered and broken, thrown farther into the room like a rag doll and her dark purple eyes forever widened in surprise as though the thought of anyone—Christoff using her own staff against her never occurred to her. The thought of it replayed before my eyes. I could still see her shock, the flash of annoyance the moment Cristoff had stepped forward revealing the staff. Valerie sneered, her eyes viciously slanted as she pointed, “What are you doing with that? Give it back?” Christoff tilte