"What happened to your sister?" Duncan asked, springing out of his chair with worry lines, creasing his forehead. Hildergard shivered, unable to speak as she looked to be terror-stricken from whatever it was that might have happened to her sister. Duncan walked away from the chair and made it to where his beta stood. She launched into his arms, releasing her entire weight on him. He fastened his arms around her waist, his heart skipping a beat as she panted and began to sob. "Talk to us. What is going on?" Lara's voice rang out, followed by the sound of her chair scrapping against the polished tiles, hinting that she was getting to her feet. "And who is she to disturb our precious time as a family?" Calypso asked, sounding the least pleased. "The future beta of the kingdom," King Mirthorn responded. Hildergard ceased to sob. Duncan released her body when she pulled herself away from his hug. "My apologies, Your Highnesses." Hildergard offered Calypso and the king a curt bow an
Duncan's eyes bulged out of his sockets when Hilda fell to the ground with Evin on her, trying to bite her neck. Hilda struggled, pushing Evin's chest and whimpering. Arching his back, Duncan shook as his bones snapped, and his muscles grew larger, stretching his clothes until they began to rip apart. His breathing intensified, and he bared his teeth, feeling as the fangs elongated and grazed his bottom lip. "Duncan..." Hilda's voice shook as she called out to him, causing his heart to beat erratically. He swallowed a deep breath, gripping his shirt and ripping it apart as hair sprouted out of his skin, covering his entire body. Duncan, in his wolf worm, darted towards Evin, throwing a blow to the side of her head and sending her against the wall. Evin dropped on the floor, glaring at Duncan and growling with the voice of a thousand beasts. Saliva flew out of her mouth as she poked out her tongue, and it reached her chest. Duncan breathed heavily, wondering what it was that she
Duncan disentangle his arms from around Hilda's waist and paid deaf ears to Lara's question. He made his way to where she stood and pulled up short in front of her with his jaw clenched. He turned his back against her and tapped on it. "What is going on, Duncan?" Lara inquired. "Get on my damn back," Duncan instructed, and he could hear her swallowing the rest of her protest. His ears twitched when the guards mind-linked him, informing him of their arrival. Lara wrapped her arms around his neck and heaved herself up. He locked his wrists around her legs and carried her comfortably on his back. "We should head to the palace. The guards are already waiting at the door." Duncan walked out of the bathroom, feeling a little discomfort when Lara tightened her grip around his neck. Hilda tailed behind him, asking, "When did you call the guards?" "When I was cleaning your wounds," he responded. Duncan reached the exit door and stretched his hand to open the door, but Hilda beat him to
Erin Nightwind Erin sat on her bed, staring out of the window at the fields of dandelion a few miles away from the castle. She hugged her pillow tight, wondering what it was that Duncan did to her that made her feel safe with him. Her eyebrows creased into a frown, and she chewed on her bottom lip. "Am I insane?" Erin inquired, tossing a worried gaze at the floor and returning it to the dandelions. It aided in calming her nerves. "How did I let a strange man into the kingdom?" She stood from the bed, throwing the pillow on the bed. She walked to the window, eyes rolling over the houses and hills that were situated metres away from the castle. She lifted her chin, gazing at the blue sky, which had no sign of the rain, but heavy pillows of dark clouds were gathered in the sky. Her heart constricted, and she splayed her fingers over her chest, massaging the spot that ached alongside her heart. Erin shook her head, palming her face and then resting her elbows on the window sill. Sh
Erin stayed in her room for a few hours before emerging to do something else. She had been talking to the flower about the things she enjoyed doing. Her head occasionally showed her images of Duncan, and she couldn't wrap her head around the fact that she was into a man she only met twice or thrice. A man that looked like her very own Darcy. Erin made her way to the courtyard, watching the servants going about with their daily activities. "Anna, would you like to pick some dandelions with me?" Erin asked her personal maid, who accepted enthusiastically. Erin waited, watching as Anna rushed over to the other side of the courtyard to pick up a straw basket. "Did you keep that there?" Erin asked when Anna approached her with the basket in her hand."Yes, I was hoping you would pick some dandelions today like you always do." Anna beamed, walking beside Erin as they made it to the beautiful and nicely scented field of dandelions. Erin chuckled, shaking her head. Anna was her most tru
A fat frog sat in her throat, restricting the flow of oxygen. Lola shook, widening her eyes and clinging to Erin's body. Lola was the eldest, but she had been born to depend on her sisters all of her life. Sometimes, she told Erin she wished she was dead because she was a curse and not a blessing. The knock sounded again from the other side of the door. "Who is it?" Anna asked in a confident voice. "It is I, Amelia," she announced, knocking again. "The fanged elders are demanding to see Erin." Erin's heart sank into her stomach at the discovery. What did they want with her? "Why?" Erin asked, crawling from under the bed and rising to her feet."I have no idea, but they await your arrival, and Father said to tell you not to keep them waiting," Amelia said and added, "Hurry so I can replace you," in a low voice that was barely above a whisper. Erin unlocked the door and stepped out of the room, throwing furtive glances around the hallway.Amelia threw her head into the room, scann
Erin's chest constricted and tightened her heart until it began to ache. Her chest heaved when she laid her eyes on Lola's body, which lay motionless and submerged in the water, while her red dress floated on the surface. "What did you do?" Erin's voice shook as she darted into the bathroom and dropped to a crouch beside the filled bathtub. Her hands trembled as she plunged them into the cold liquid, desperately pulling Lola's head out. Erin wrapped her arms around Lola's pale shoulders, crying, "Wake up," as she gently tapped her cheeks.Lola's eyes remained closed, and her chapped lips were slightly open. Erin was devasted, but there was still hope since Lola wasn't turning blue yet. In a panic, Erin screamed, "Help!" dragging Lola's body out of the tub. Erin winced when Lola's limp feet hit the tiles with a light thud. "Help!" A shrill sound flew out of her lips as she pulled Lola's body out of the bathroom. Managing to place Lola on the bed, she placed both her palms on Lo
Duncan Mirthorn "But she is the only family," Hildergard croaked, desperately glancing at the king with glossy eyes."That is the only way out," Felicia said, gathering what she had used to consult the goddess. "No," Hildergard panicked, breathing heavily as she snapped her gaze to meet that of Duncan. Duncan's heart twitched, and he looked at his father, hoping he wouldn't agree to eliminate Hildergard's sister. "I think we should kill her before she kills the entire kingdom," one of the elders suggested, and two more agreed, nodding their heads. "No, please," Hildergard croaked, crawling toward her sister, placing her hand on her feet. "She is the only family I have." Her sister struggled, growling at Hildergard for touching her. The rope tightened around her body, burning her skin. She screamed, almost rendering the occupants of the hall deaf. The king hummed, stroking his chin as if deep in thoughts. "We can not have her around, endangering the innocent people of this land