Semua Bab The Lost Royal: Bab 61 - Bab 70

Haden and I shared a shocked glance, as Saxon tried to find the words to respond to Laila's suggestion. Nightfall had not had an official ally for decades, even I knew that. They had isolated themselves since the war with the Royals, shunning almost all outside contact, only becoming more and more insulated as the years passed. To say it was unexpected for them to not only be willing now, but actually suggest it themselves, was an enormous understatement. Laila and her Betas waited patiently for Saxon's response, and after a long moment collecting himself, he dipped his head graciously. "We would be honoured," he said humbly, and Laila beamed in response. "Wonderful. I think our packs could truly flourish together," she said brightly, with a glance in my direction. "And learn a great deal from each other," she added, and I couldn't help but think of the former Royal witches she'd mentioned.A part of me couldn't resist the pull of the past, yearning to learn more of where I'd come

As I watched Lanna leave, I suddenly realised that there was still something I had meant to ask her. Knowing it would now have to wait until our return home, I sighed in disappointment, the soft sound immediately noticed by both Saxon and Haden. Saxon moved closer, placing his hand on my hip, and his nose close to mine. "What's up, pup?" he whispered softly, as Haden watched with concern and the others moved away, giving us some space for a moment. "What's bothering you?" he continued, exchanging a glance with Haden, who had moved closer too, his stance protective. "I.. I just wanted to ask Lanna.." I began, feeling a little embarrassed at their sudden worry over something so small. "It can wait though, it's not urgent," I said, trying to reassure them both. "Ask us," Haden said quietly, his voice calm and soothing, close to my ear, "It's obviously important to you." I gave him a warm smile, and shrugged lightly, "I don't know if you can answer, you were with me the whole time," I

Dinner was pleasantly light-hearted, surrounded by my new pack, and our new allies, who seemed to fit in perfectly, despite their notorious reputation. I wondered briefly, as I watched the leaders of each talking and laughing jovially together, how they'd gained it, but the notion quickly evaporated when I remembered that Saxon, and Crimson Forest, had the same. And how wildly inaccurate that had turned out to be. I joined in the conversation as we ate far too much food, listening especially to Laila's stories of meeting the triplets, and her first few weeks at Nightfall. Even moreso, to her discovering her royal powers, in defense of her mates and her pack. I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment, and even guilt, that mine had not shown up when I'd needed them most. Or at all. Had they skipped me, I wondered? Was that even possible? I knew nothing at all about them.Maybe they'd be something completely useless anyway. Hell, I didn't even know what kinds of powers Royals

For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt Ceridwen suddenly stirring in the deep recesses of my mind, as though awakened by the sound of their names. Did the witches mean something to her? Did she somehow remember the witches themselves? It might be possible, I guessed, not knowing a whole lot about our inner beasts before our coming of age revealed them, but her cool and distant silence gave nothing away. Still, I felt her watching, listening, waiting.. for something. I realised it was the first time I'd felt her presence since Reagan's poison had begun to take effect.I drew a deep breath, and nodded gratefully in acceptance of Laila's offer. "Yes, thank you. There's much I'd like to ask them," I answered, and Laila gave a sympathetic smile, "I hope they will have the answers, and closure, that you're hoping for," she said. 'Do you remember them?' I tried to ask Ceridwen, but she only retreated back into the darkest parts of my mind, her presence imperceptible once aga

My instincts were immediately to argue, to defend Mama, yet a glance from Saxon made me hesitate. She had lied. About a lot. Mostly to protect me, or at least I'd thought so, but there were many lies, all the same. "Three?" I repeated, a little shocked by that, and the two elder women nodded in unison. "But.. I don't remember.." I said, knowing that Lycans had developed memories much younger than that. Surely werewolves weren't so dissimilar? I'd always believed as a child that my later memory development was a human thing. But of course, that turned out to not be true, either. "Shouldn't I remember?" I asked, and Elyanna and Mathilde both nodded again. "Yes," Mathilde said gravely, shooting a pointed look at Elyanna, "You should remember.""Tilda," Elyanna said, a warning obvious in her tone, but Mathilde brushed it off, arguing. "Ely," she responded, mimicking both the familiarity and tone. "She needs to remember," she continued, though Elyanna shook her head in disagreement. "Wh