[Elias]"What? Why?" Erica asked him, perplexed. Elias' lips thinned. He wanted to withhold the information for a little longer. But the stakes were high now and Erica had to be alert and aware. "Freida Ravenwood is a mage." He stared at Erica, who went rigid. After a prolonged silence she finally managed to ask, "Wha-? Mage? I-I mean...she was never found out? How?" Elias shook his head as Erica tried to piece out the information, process and make sense of it. "Erica, don't overexert your brain," he said kindly. He understood where she was coming from. He didn't want to tell her if it hadn't been important. "Overexert? I am not doing that...I just...I am..." she babbled dazedly. Elias sighed, "This is exactly the reason why I conceal things. But you just tend to run into the secrets and then every bottled secret just bursts out."Erica frowned, "Well, not my fault for being lied to all my life." He poured his lips and looked at her disappointedly, "Now that's harsh." "Anyway the

[Erica]She didn't know which was more daunting -- facing Ava or meeting Tristan again? She fumbled with the small gift basket that she had brought on the way. "You didn't have to do this," Xavier had said gently. "You know, it seems like you are more nervous to meet them than you were when you met my parents," he chuckled. "Well, you are not wrong," she said, pursing her lips. "By the way, did you tell Ava about..." she trailed off. Xavier nodded, "Yes. She is relieved actually. When I told her if she could take on the duty of Luna Queen, she was startled at first. She thought I wanted her to be my choice mate." Erica stiffened a little. Even though she was aware of the truth now but still the thought of Xavier mating with someone else made her skin crawl. Xavier must have noticed her sudden change in body language because he immediately apologised, "I'm sorry. It was insensitive of me." Erica shook her head, "It's okay. It's just..." she looked out of the window. Silence prevaile

[Erica]She inhaled sharply. Even though she was having a bad premonition, she never would have guessed that Freida would blatantly just call her out on this. She stared at her for a while, dumbfounded. Freida gazed back at her, unblinking and unwavering. "I do not have all the time in the world Miss. Morris," she said in a clipped tone. Erica realised that she has no way out of this. If she had to reveal her identity so be it. Mentally apologising to Elias she gave a jerky nod. "Yes, what you heard is correct." She saw the way the older woman's eyes widened infinitesimally before her mouth set into a thin line, her jaw ticked. "And you...have the audacity to.." she seethed, her pupils rimmed with a fiery red. Erica was almost tempted to step back. Almost. But she did not. A voice at the back of her mind told her that this wouldn't be a one-time occurrence and fear will only let the other person get a stronghold on her own conscience. She lifted her chin and said defiantly, "Yes, I

[Erica]Her heartbeat quickened the moment their car halted in front of the castle. Through the tinted window, she could see the obscured figures guarding the entrance. She wrung her fingers in nervous as her father opened the door and got out. Evelyn put a calming a hand on her sweaty ones. She looked up at her mother to see her smiling encouragingly at her. Her eyes conveyed, 'Everything will be alright.' Lucien had decided to go back, much to Erica's and Evelyn's disappointment. He had reasoned, "I don't want things to go awry. This ceremony is important for all of us." No one could refute that. Adrian seemed mildly relieved, Erica suspected that he was rather tensed about the whole thing especially with a daughter who happened to be a mage. She swallowed back varying emotions bubbling in her heart. Evelyn had told her that this ceremony was as solemn and auspicious a wedding. This was in a way a wedding. Drake had stepped out and was rounding the car before he opened the door on

[Xavier]The lone thought in his mind was that his mother was like Erica. As he awaited his mate's arrival, his thoughts wandered. Was she born as a mage? Or did she practice? How did aunt not know about this? This one revelation had shaken him to the core and it was something he wouldn't be able to discuss or ask his aunt. What if his mother had hidden this from her family. Then how did Sir Leon come to know? Who was he talking to over the phone? Nothing was adding up. His thoughts threatened to overwhelm him. He groaned as his head began to throb. 'Calm down.' Leikos' soothing voice filled his mind. He closed his eyes and tried to ground himself. Leikos was right. He should keep this information at the back burner right now and ponder upon it later. This moment, this night was for him and his Erica. He felt the small gift in his pant pocket that he had specially ordered for her. His lips twitched up. He stepped on the very balcony from where he had first gotten a glimpse of his be