جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

SERENA My new wings kept beating slowly, lifting me higher above the burning stake. I looked down at the thousands of werewolves on their knees as they bowed to me. "Stay back," Alpha kael growled to his men, but they did not listen. They stayed on the ground. I tried to move my wings on purpose. They responded, sending a gust of wind across the square that made some of the werewolves shiver. I felt power rushing through my veins like fire in my blood. Then it happened. A loud boom shook the ground. The execution platform exploded in a blast of purple and black magic. Wood and stones flew everywhere. People screamed. I felt strong arms grab me from behind before I could fall. Cold shadows wrapped around my body like a blanket. "Easy, my lady," a deep voice said close to my ear. "We have you now." I tried to turn my head to see who it was, but everything was blurry. Three or four figures in dark cloaks moved like smoke around me. Shadow warriors. I had never seen anythin

SERENA "Elara, what is this?" I asked again. My voice came out higher than normal. "Am I dying? Is this part of the dragon thing?" The old witch moved fast for her age. She grabbed my wrist gently but firmly and looked at the glowing veins. Her face went pale. "No, child. You are not dying. This is your power waking up more. But it is too soon. You should not be showing this yet." She dropped my hand and started moving around the small room, grabbing jars and herbs like she was in a hurry. I followed her, still holding my hands out in front of me like they might bite me. "You said I need to be patient," I reminded her. "But I cannot just sit here while my body does crazy things. Tell me something. Anything. You said I was never an ordinary orphan. What did you mean by that?" Elara stopped. She turned slowly and looked at me for a long moment. "Alright," she said finally. "I will tell you one thing. Only one. You were never an ordinary orphan, Serena. You were hidden. Someo

SERENA I stopped under a big pine tree that gave a little shelter. My hands shook as I pulled the pendant out again. This time the chain felt warm against my cold skin. I opened it the same way as before. The letter was still inside, glowing softly like it had its own light. I unfolded it carefully and the letter changed from what I had read earlier. I didn't care much then I started reading from the beginning. "Dear Serena Ashwood, If you are reading this, then the old witch has done her job and you have survived the first awakening. You were never meant to live as an ordinary orphan. Your blood carries power older than the kingdoms themselves. Mooncrest Academy is waiting for you. The headmaster already knows your true name. Show this letter to no one until you reach the gates. Trust the dragon inside you. It will protect you when the time comes. This letter was written on the third full moon of the winter cycle, eighteen years before your birth." I read that last part twi

SERENA I left the old hunter’s cabin before the sun got too high. The fire had helped, but I could not stay in one place for long. Kael was looking for me. Those stupid assassins were probably still out there too. I needed to look like someone else. Someone boring. Someone no one would notice.I found some old traveler’s clothes in the cabin. A plain brown cloak, worn boots that were a little too big, and a hood that covered most of my face. I tied my hair back tight and rubbed dirt on my cheeks to look like a regular traveler. I even tore a piece of cloth and wrapped it around my neck like I had a cough. Just an ordinary mage heading to the academy for studies. The path through the mountains was rough. My feet hurt in the new boots, but I kept walking. Every now and then I checked the pendant. It stayed warm, like it was pointing me in the right direction. I did not know how, but I trusted it. Elara gave her life for this.After a few hours, strange things started happening. At

SERENAI stood there staring at Lucien on his knee. The wind blew through the trees and made the leaves rustle. "Get up," I said quickly. "People do not kneel to me. I am nobody. Lucien rose slowly. He brushed the dirt from his pants like nothing big had happened. "You may not know who you are yet, but that does not change the truth. I will not explain more right now. It is not safe to talk about it here."I crossed my arms. "You cannot just kneel and then say nothing. What did you mean by that? Why did you call me my lady like I am some kind of royalty?"He started walking again and waved for me to follow. "We need to keep moving. There are eyes on us. Werewolf scouts have been moving through these woods since the execution. Talking too much will bring them right to us."I hurried to catch up. My mind was spinning. Princess. The word he did not say but I felt hanging in the air. Me? A princess? I grew up washing dishes and hiding from trouble. This was crazy.We walked side by sid