Chapter 9

   Catalina's POV:

       Ignoring Roscoe, Alex placed the crown on my head. The instant surge of magic that flooded me was insane.

   I stood up, the crown glistened a bit and my clothes started changing. The magic washed over me until it covered every part of me. I closed my eyes to bask in it, as it healed and changed me to look more like me with magic.

   Off-shoulder, sheer strap sleaves appeared, my dress changed to a gown. A purple flowing gown with a mermaid skirt, a lavender shimmery belt on the waist that tied the whole dress together. My hair turned a pretty amber pink shade with a few red, purple and green flecks. My hair flowed freely and my eyes turned purple (my original eye colour). A pair of purple strappy heels appeared on my feet, finishing the look. The magic faded slowly till only a hum was left behind.

   I twirled giggling at the feeling of euphoric rush it brought me. The lycan pack, witch coven and vampires were down on one knee before me, looking down, a sign of submission and acceptance of power.

   "We congratulate your majesty, on claiming the throne. Long Live the Empress Luna." They recited

"Rise." I smiled

    "Empress Luna, has a wonderful ring to it." Blake smirked

"Luna?" I was confused

   "To the Lycans." Blake shrugged

"You're the Alpha." I stated

    "Not anymore. I haven't been for awhile. Ever since you started assisting me with pack stuff, little by little, without even realising you pretty much took over the pack. I was only Alpha in name, you handled everything while I acted like your second in command. So, you're the Alpha now, you can choose a second-in-command but I'm going to enjoy life without Alpha stuff in the way." Blake explained

      "And I'll be enjoying life as a regular member of witch coven, lovely High Priestess. Accept this ring please." Jovinne said holding out a ring with a platinum band, it had a big emrald in centre and a ruby on each side.

   Pretty. Me wants it! I quickly slipped the ring on my index finger in my right hand. Wait! Did she call me High Priestess? Oh fuck, this ring is symbol of me being the High Priestess, isn't it? I was tricked by pretty!

   "Don't worry. All the pretties trick you, all the time." Axel snickered

"Let's find a place to sit and discuss things. Certain things need to be explained and well, I'm tired from all the work." Jovinne suggested

   "What work? I'm the one that dealt with the headache of a mate of hers!" Orion scowled

"Alright. Alright. Let's get going. There's much to discuss." Alex rolled his eyes as he guided me away

    "You want an explanation, don't you? Let Avalon take over and follow. Otherwise, forget about even hearing a word from me. I warned you all, if you keep me from my family then we will retaliate and I won't stand in their path of destruction." I said not bothering to look back as I went with my brother

Alex led me out of the pack borders into a beautiful clearing. The magic here seems so suppressed yet so pure. It calls to me, to my very being. It wishes to be freed, it wishes to be just as beautiful as it once was. I left my brother's comforting and safe embrace, stepping further into the clearing. I stood right in the centre of it, the call for help was the strongest here. I knelt down on the ground, resting my hand on the mud and grass and plants that grew there. I felt that hum, I felt it grow as it tried to reach out to me. I closed my eyes and focused my energy and magic trying to reach to that hum I felt, just as it reached out to me. I let my magic spread throughout the clearing but let it's focus be in the centre. The little hum that I felt reached out just enough for me grab onto it, I pulled it towards me, trying to free it from it's chains that bound it.

   After much energy and vigorous effort, the hum latched onto me so firmly that I was able to pull it out of it's chain with my last bit of expendable energy. I felt the chains break as the magic flooded everywhere but still it's focus remained where I knelt. It wrapped itself around me, embracing me and healing me. It thanked me for the freedom I granted it. In my mind, it formed a physical form. A beast that was much bigger that a wolf and lycan combined but all the same adorable. It had a dark yellow coat, there were green swirled lines on it's neck, they seemed like ambers if you were really looking closely and where the lines ended, a two red spots formed. On it's forehead, a purple six petal flower mark emerged and then faded. Eyes were a beautiful and striking blue.

   "Thank you for the freedom you grant me, I am eternally grateful." It spoke

"Who or what are you and why were you chained up so badly?" I asked

   "I am a gaurdian. I exist to protect one person and just her alone. When I was born, I was yet to find that person and I was unable to find her even when I came of age or for many years after it. I was the strongest one of my kind to exist but I hadn't found my person, after searching for long, I was deemed a disgrace to my kind. Since, I was still the strongest, I was still respected for my strength and power. One day, some people attacked our kingdom, my kind were slaughtered but only I remained alive. Some of my kind weren't there during the attack, so they were thankfully able to escape unscathed. I wasn't as lucky, I was able to live through the slaughter but was enslaved. I would never be allowed to regain my full strength, only a fourth so that I can be tested on. They wished to know the secrets of my kind and I was not as indulgent, so they sought out more torturous ways to get the answers they wished for. It didn't work well, in the end I was locked up and chained to this place where once our kingdom stood. Their destruction came soon but even after their death I remained chained. I have been waiting for that one person who could hear my call and answer my pleas. After thousands of years in imprisonment, I finally found you." It said with a grateful undertone to it's voice

   "Do you have a name?" I asked

"Zolactide but you may call me anything you desire." It answered

   "Absolutely anything?" I asked curiously

"Indeed." It nodded

   "Then I must call you Amberiose." I smiled, proud with the name I came up with

"Am-beri-ose? Why that name?" It asked as it tested the name I have it

   "The green markings look like ambers and there was a purple flower on your head which faded after a while." I shrugged

"Purple flower? Did it have six petals with a little lines?" Amberiose asked

  I nodded not knowing what big deal it was.

   "No wonder, I hadn't found my person for so long. I wasn't looking in the right place or time." Amberiose said to himself in a way that seemed like he was laughing at his own ridiculousness

    "Who is your person?" I asked curiously

"You. You are my person, the one I am to protect and guide. My saviour and my master. I shall forever be in your debt. You have not just given me one but two greatest of joys that I could ever ask for. A new purpose and freedom. I only pray that you would let me heal and cultivate myself until I have retained myself. I will return to you once I have regained my entire strength." Amberiose said looking at me with exceedingly joyous and hopeful eyes

  It felt as though I had given a thirsty wolf the much need water which it was gulping down greedily. It most likely was the case with this beast, just much worse.

   "You mean to tell me that your fluffy, adorable self belongs to me, now?" I asked cautiously

"Yes, I am to protect and guide you. I am to help you nurture your power to full extent and help you unlock your true potential. For this life and every other to come, I will be contracted to you. Henceforth, I shall always stand by your side and protect you from every harm. And did you just call me fluffy and adorable? I am very scary, mind you. I am not adorable nor I am fluffy." Amberiose started proudly but by the end of it's monologue, it had a bewildered look about his face

   "Then, anything you desire shall be yours. You may leave to where you wish so that you can regain your strength and cultivation. Take all the time you may need, I will be waiting here for your much anticipated return in all your former glory. If even a descendant of the person who harmed you lives, then I will make sure that vengeance is served. Rest assured, I will be safe." I nodded, completely ignoring the bewilderment

    "I shall return to you soon. Please tell your mate that he must stop trying to command you and trying to bend you to his whim or I might make him and amazing snack as retaliation." Amberiose said

   The form of the huge and mighty beast faded from my subconscious. I slowly pulled in my magic and just as slowly opened my eyes. Just as expected, everyone was staring at me with concern marring their features.

   "What happened?" Alex was the first one to break through the stupor

"Nothing of significance until it comes to pass soon. Magic felt suppressed, I merely released it. This place will most likely feel more lively in coming days." I said with a smile

   I caught Jovinne's eyes, she looked at me with a raised eyebrow letting me know that she caught my bs but she won't force me. I was the Empress Luna High Priestess (damn that's a long title to bear) now, who would dare to question me? Even if that's my very own sister. They just have to trust that I knew what I was doing.