Chapter 31

T here’s an old saying that goes, ‘Time waits for no one,’ but I wasn’t just anyone and I’m over Greyson’s antics. For the past two days, we’ve followed the same mundane routine that involves me stealing food from the kitchen while sneaking it downstairs into the dark, damp corner of the abandoned cells. Each time, I would stop by that stupid metal door and gather my thoughts, praying that we didn’t fight again. Greyson has taken pure joy in pushing my buttons, which made me hate the male species even a little more. Did I have a right to be mad? I guess not since I had him locked up, but it didn’t give him the right to dismiss my requests with a shrug. It was the least he could do since he lost control of himself. Condescending Bastard! The dark voice shouted from within almost every day since he’s been locked up. If he would just work with me, we could figure out our next move but that was easier said than done.

Delphine kept harping that I was leading with my heart despite everything. I did want to dispute that claim, but somewhere in me knew she was right. The wolfbane-laced knife I found, thanks to my family’s book, in our chest that was filled with old memories crossed my mind. I had picked up the silver gem-encrusted knife one too many times. Every time I held it, my stupid heart squeezed, begging me to give him another chance.

And I was starting to hate love.

Here I stood in front of Greyson with my hand digging into the flesh of my wrist and my teeth clenching together for dare life. As he lay on the table, handcuffed, his brown eyes held humor in them. Our back and forth had become a joke to him. There was nothing more I wanted than to wipe the smirk off his face, and today made no difference.

Smiling sweetly, I said, “Greyson, listen. I’m tired of coming down here and I know you’re tired of being down here. Just give me what I want, and then I can work out a feasible plan for us.”

Greyson closed his eyes and a deep sigh left his mouth. The silence stretched between us as he disregarded, which only caused my blood to simmer. My nail dug deeper into my wrist as I fought back my temperamental magic.

He hummed and hawed, knowing he was driving me crazy. “What did I say yesterday again?”

With my teeth clenched, “You said ‘not in this or the next lifetime.’”

“Oh, that was a great one…how about this one then ‘over my dead body.’”

Childish bastard!

“I’ve given you one too many chances to realize this is the best option for the both of us. I will get the approval of my people once I produce an heir, then I will work on getting your mother justice. I give you my word, Greyson.” I yelled, echoing the plan for the twentieth time.

Minutes ticked by as Greyson lay flat on the table with his eyes shut. Without thinking, I placed my hand on his arm. He was lost in his own little world as he ignored me like I was a nobody. My face became hot with shame but my magic that was burning its way through my body, itching to wreak havoc on Greyson.

“Princess Kaydian,” he spat out with enough venom laced in his words. “With all due respect, I would rather die than be cast away into the dark while you get to reign supreme. No, I don’t want you or any other witches watching over my pack or my child. Now, please unglue your hand from my arm, please. You’re just like them.”

“Like whom, Greyson?” I asked, even though I very well know who he was referring to since he’s mumbled it quite a few times since he awoke.

“Like your murderous parents and that weak bastard that killed my mother. I don’t even trust you to lead your murderous coven, much less my pack. When I get free, I will kill my uncle and your parents, with or without your help.”

Snatching my hand from his leg, “Fuck you, Greyson,” I said before I stormed out of the tiny room. The door slammed shut just before I heard the light sound of his manic, half animalistic chuckle. Sighing, I shook the callous voice from my head. I needed Greyson for now. The deep throbbing pain made it hard for me to swallow. With my eyes closed blocking, out the situation that lay before me, I stood there until those damn tears found their way to my tear ducts.

What a mess Youna had gotten me into.

Escaping the dark dungeon using the staff stairs, I dodged the staff that were working. I entered my small yellow sitting room, throwing myself, face first, onto the white chaise chair close to the window. Inhaling deeply, the citrus spray, or the magic spray I called it, that Ms. Kincaid purchased in town. It was laced with a hint of magic to help relieve stress. The tight muscles in my shoulders were uncoiled as I sunk deeper into the sofa, inhaling the fragrance. My skin warmed from the winter sun that filtered into the room. I could stay here forever, basking in the sun...

“Princess Kaydian,” Ms. Kincaid’s warm voice called out.

Luckily, I was facing the window. So, she hadn’t seen the way I slowly rolled my eyes. There wasn’t any time for rest.

Ms. Kincaid cleared her throat. “I know you’re probably very tired from running back and forth from the kitchen to the cell that you and Ms. Pourciau have been sneaking off to. The staff and I never venture down that hall unless it’s time for the yearly deep cleaning, but imagine my surprise to find the future queen and her partner in crime running back and forth to that unoccupied area. You would think Del would have had a little sense to use her magic to remove the scent of that dog you have in there.”

Of course, I wasn’t even mad at Del or myself. I knew I should’ve been more upset with the revelation, but watching the trees sway outside my window and the spray made me not care. All that preoccupied my mind was the nonsense of Greyson and my mother’s wishes. The slow, soft tap from Ms. Kincaid’s flat turned into a harsh beat as she quickened her assault on the floor. She was losing patience. When I faced her, I couldn’t help but place my fake smile on as I sat up on the chaise. It was becoming second nature by now.

With my hands in my lap, I shrugged, “Ms. Kincaid…yes, I have stored someone that is important to me, ruling in the abandoned hall. I thought I was being careful, but I guess I wasn’t careful enough to escape you. I guess I forgot who I was up against.”

“Your Highness, I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not,” she said, folding her plump arms together with a pointed look that I returned. The muscles in Ms. Kincaid’s jaw ticked as she waited for my response. Quite frankly, I wish I told my mother about Greyson. Ducking and dodging from everyone from my parents to the house staff was becoming tedious. And Del and I both sported matching dark circles around our eyes like twins.

“Ms. Kincaid, there are a lot of things I’m regretful of, and this…” I paused to look her in her eyes. “Greyson's situation is something that’s on top of my list. Greyson, or Morgan James, is a mixling, half shifter, half royal witch. I’m embarrassed because, quite frankly, he’s incompetent Alpha and hates us…me. Rightfully so since his uncle, Muller, killed his mother.”

For once in my twenty-five years of life, Ms. Kincaid was speechless. The offending foot stopped mid-tap with her eyes bulging from the sockets. Her mouth kept opening and closing, but no words formed from them. For a whole minute, she stood there and watched me as if I just told her the world was about to end. I had to pull my bottom lip in between my teeth in order to stop me from laughing. Finally realizing I was still in the room with her. She walked over to me, still in a daze, dropping into the empty space beside me, leaving me in a cloud of citrus and cinnamon. Not a bad smell, seeing as I’ve been spending most of my days in the cell with Greyson.

“Youna! There were some whispers about it, but I never thought they were true. It sounded so unbelievable at the time that we just stopped talking about it. I mean, the Muller’s loved their children, especially Mary Ann. She was so sure of herself.” Ms. Kincaid paused, shaking her head. “Greyson is her son? I guess that would explain his outburst. Those mixlings are a peculiar bunch. You sure he isn’t a bit touched?”

My mouth twitches ever so slightly. These past couple of days were no laughing matter, and I knew Ms. Kincaid would not enjoy me laughing, even if I were laughing at the events of my day so far. So, I swallowed down the chuckle and positioned myself to face her. For the next five minutes, I told her everything, with nothing missing. The tip of her nose was the same color as the cardinals around the woods. Her mouth stayed agape until she noticed I was done rehashing my tortured couple of weeks.

Jumping up from the chaise, she stood in front of me with her hands behind her back.

“We have to tell your mother, Princess Kaydian. She should know that Greyson is a mixling. Even if you produce a child for the throne, what will you do if it turns unstable like Victoria? She was really blessed by the goddesses. You think the coven members will be okay with a mixling child?”

No, I already knew that answer. Just the thought made my stomach churn as I blinked back tears. I’ve been dreading it since I learned my fate was tied to Greyson. Many could call me a lot of things, but a child killer was not one of them.

Kids…

Yes, they would, but would that be such a bad thing? If I could just manage to have one... I think I would be happy with that. Just one to tell my stories to and bicker at, like my mother did. Even though I would always see the small smile, she would hide when she thought I wasn’t watching. My shoulders slumped as I realized my anomalous circumstance.

“Princess Kay?—”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Kincaid,” I said, coming back to the dreary conversation. “I guess just keep trying until one is almost normal…”

“Are you suggesting?—”

She started to say, but I couldn’t stand it anymore, “Ms. Kincaid! This was definitely not my idea and nor was the fact that my mate would be a mixling. If you had told me this would happen to me five years ago, I would have laughed. So, my plan until I figure out this mess is to keep him locked up until further notice. I don’t know what else to do anymore! I’m out of options and grasping at straws.”

Ms. Kincaid’s eyebrows furrowed as she took in my words. “Okay, Your Highness. I have no problem with you keeping…Greyson locked up. My concern is in regard to telling your parents.”

Of course, I thought as I got up from the chaise, no longer a source of comfort for me. Standing in front of Ms. Kincaid, I said, “Ms. Kincaid, please give me time to tell my parents. You and I know they have way too much on their plate already, with the harvest planning. Please give me a week, and I promise you I’ll fix it.”

As I stood in front of her, waiting for an answer, I wondered if I did the right thing by telling Ms. Kincaid. However, she was entrusted to our family. She was loyal to the sitting queen without a question, just as she would be to me once I reign supreme. Finally, after she worked out the problem in her head, she nodded and quickly departed to take care of the staff downstairs.

A single tear escaped from my watery eyes, dripping onto my clothes. At least I could scratch off one small victory. I guess Youna wanted her bloodline to end with me. Now, as I headed into the lion’s den, the little trickle of doubt nudged at the back of my head like a bad memory. No matter how much I tried to act calm, it still festered inside of me, causing my magic to rip through my very being. On most occasions, I would never seek out Sir Reid, but this couldn’t wait until later. We hadn’t finished our conversation from the previous night and knowing him. He would have a lot to say. Downstairs the house bustled with the staff zipping in and out of the doors, cleaning and prepping the home for the harvest in two months.

“Early beats being late” is Ms. Kincaid’s famous line to live by.

After stopping a staff to get Sir Reid’s whereabouts, which was harder said than done since the majority of the staff basically blushed and stumbled all over their words. Five minutes later, I was headed to Sir Reid’s room. He chooses to be on the first floor, close to the offices and the foyer. Right before the short hallway to my parent’s office, I turned down the hall, viewing the blue door that Sir Reid had painted when he first got here. Face neutral, back straight, no sweat. I got this, and if I don’t, I will just command him.

And as I stood at his door, I snickered slightly because Sir Reid was like moving a boulder if he didn’t agree with you. My hand curled into a fist as I brought it up to the door to knock, when it suddenly swung open. Loose curls that fell from my bun danced in the gust of air. Sir Reid stood before me. His face was straight, with no glint in his eyes today. He was in his training gear, meaning he was headed out to the coliseum soon. Youna! That means he’s in a prissy mood already.

“Your Highness…it’s about time for us to talk about your dog,” he said as he turned away, leaving me standing in the doorway with my hand suspended in midair. He fixed a chair for me to sit on. “Are you going to stand in the doorway? Or will you come sit?”

Sir Reid’s room was just like him, dark. He left the dull gray color that was used in the house. A big bed, a small desk with a notebook, and a lamp without a shade that sat on the small desk. Inching closer to the notebook when he turned around, I squinted to make out the miniature cursive letters on the page. All I was able to make out was Ms. Kincaid’s name right before Sir Reid’s oversized hand landed flat on top of the notebook, closing it shut from my prying eyes. His smoky scent reminded me of the wood stove back at the pack village. As I took a step back, he leveled me with one of his annoyed glares. I just smiled sweetly into his sulking face, which made the corners of his pink mouth sag even further.

“Sit down, please,” was all he said through his clenched teeth, and in a trance-like state, I fell into the wooden chair. “You finally made your way down here…but for what, Princess?”

Pulling at my fingers, “Well, as you know, Greyson is a shifter and can’t very well rule beside me without changing the rules. So, I plan to have an heir until I can change the law my family created.”

Sir Reid raised an eyebrow and just stared at me with his hands planted on his knees. His intense, unwavering glare made me squirm in my seat. Was it that bad of a plan? It was the only one I got, and it would have to do for now.

Finally, when I was just about to pass out from embarrassment, “Did you learn anything in your royal class?” The poor springs in the large bed let out a long and tortuous creak as he leaned back, folding his arms together.

My mouth opened up, but nothing came out. Sir Reid took the moment to continue, “The people in town are presentiment about you ruling the coven. If they even got wind of Greyson, it would leave us with an ugly case of mistrust. Not to mention if your child is a mixling, how will you explain that to the coven leaders and the rest of the coven, if the child becomes mentally unstable…like his father? What — are you living on a hope and a prayer?”

Well, yes. I wanted to throw back at him, but Sir Reid’s incredulous look made my mouth feel like cotton. “Well…”

“Where did you get the idea of having an heir?”

Fidgeting with the end of my sleeves. “My mother kind of suggested it and... It’s the only solution I can come up with right now.”

Sir Reid chuckled, but it didn’t sound lighthearted. It sounded dark. “I’m almost certain she doesn’t know he’s a shifter. Does she?”

I shook my head. I didn’t need to reply to his question because what could I have said? He continued, “I know for certain your mother... neither your father knows about this, or my sword would be lodged in his skull by now…or maybe I could send his head to that cocky bastard of an uncle from his pack.”

As I sat in the wooden chair, the permanent stones in my stomach became boulders. Staring at Sir Reid until his pale skin turned blurry against the dark gray walls of the room. Gripping the edge of the chair, I promised not to cry in front of him. But damn, it was becoming harder to banish them from falling. In the back of my tired mind, I wanted to keep Greyson alive because despite everything. I loved him as much as I loved my sanity, but as fate would have it. I had already prepared myself to consider this outcome because Sir Reid was right. Neither my mother nor any of the covens would ever entertain a mixling, much less the Royal. Uncurling my fingers from the seat, I wiped my eyes with the end of my stretch-out sleeves.

Sir Reid sighed deeply, “I?—”

“I understand, Sir Reid. I wanted Greyson and me to work…because I…I loved him, and I just thought being fated mates would be enough, but again, foolishly, I was wrong. As Royals, we were supposed to trust our ancestor’s path for us and I guess I’ve drifted off that path one too many times.”

That was the truth of the matter. Greyson would never be okay with leading my people. He would never be okay with living here in the “murderous compound” I called home. We both would be unhappy and trying to save ourselves from murdering each other. Would any sane person accept those terms? No answering my own question. Everything I’ve done in the past couple of weeks after leaving home was to make him happy. But what about my needs? My hopes and dreams.

My mother always said, “You can lead a horse to the water, but you can’t force it to drink.” The first time she mentioned this saying, I was completely confused by her words. They were like another puzzle from the three sisters that I needed to decipher. Until today, I never gave the saying the time of day, but now those words rang truer than when I first heard them. I nodded at Sir Reid and with my head held higher than it’s been, I left the room without a glance back.

Deep down in my heart, I knew without a doubt I would choose my family and my coven over Greyson. Walking into my room, I retrieved the silver knife from the emerald chest. The heaviness I felt before when I first found the knife was gone. My fingers glided over the harsh cut gems until they landed on the button that would release the wolfsbane elixir stored in the hilt.

“It’s time to skin a dog,” I muttered to myself.

I was surer of myself when I made my way down to the dark cell. My magic plunged through my veins and swept just beneath my skin, prickling my senses and making the hairs on my body stand up. With each step, the fight between my magic and the part of me that wanted to keep Greyson clashed as they have countless times before, but this time, my magic was winning. With the knife in my pocket, I entered the room. Delphine had been feeding Greyson a sandwich. As she turned to me, I could see the relief in her blue eyes. She didn’t like coming down here, but she put up with it because I was too afraid. Simply put. And for that, I could never thank her enough. If it’s one thing Youna and the goddesses got right, it was giving me a sister. Absentmindedly, I placed a hand on Greyson’s thigh, causing him to flinch, muffling his pain as he chewed his food. If this was two days ago, I would have at least tried to use my magic to help his wound heal faster. Looking down at him, I felt nothing. Just the small twinge of our connection that wanted to make this work. That wanted me to allow Greyson to roam free and do what he pleased. I wanted to curl up under him and forget about my family and our differences.

Which was more than a daunting thing to even think about.

Del’s face flushed, “Thank Youna! I can leave this dungeon. It smells like old wounds and shit.”

“Not so fast, Del…I appreciate everything you’ve done. I know how you feel about wounds and blood from anything other than an animal. This wasn’t easy for you…I trust you with my life and my secrets. I’m going to ask you another favor once more. Only this one will be taxing on you.” Pausing to hug her tightly, I retrieved with my shaky hand, the knife in my pocket grabbed her hand, placing the knife, with the silver hilt facing Del, in her dominant hand. “I know I’ve asked a lot of you lately, but I promise it will be for the best for us and our future. I’m going to take the throne, and there can’t be any deterrents in the way.”

Poor Del, her face turned ruby red. Liquid pooled in her eyes as she stood frozen. This might have been too much for her right now, especially since I’ve asked to hide this secret from everyone, including her parents.

I sighed, “It’s okay, Del. I can get Sir Reid to do it. I just didn’t want him to be around when I breakdown from the separation?—”

Hot air pummeled out of Del. “I—It’s okay, Kaydian…Your Highness. I will do it for you. You trust me and…I love you. If you trust me with your life and this…then I will do it.”

Squeezing her hand one last time before removing them, leaving her with the knife. As I approached, Greyson, who had been quietly peering at our interaction, humphed.

“So, have you finally come to do what you always wanted to do?”

Was he serious? “Greyson, I really did try to help you.” Shaking my head at the lost cause of this conversation, my heart throbbed in my throat, but I continued on. “From the moment you saved me, I knew you would be the death of me. But just not how. I stayed with you, despite my better judgment. You wouldn’t even entertain trying to work with me to get answers. I should have paid more attention to the signs. Greyson, and this is no fault of yours, but you don’t know how to lead your own people, much less one of the biggest and strongest coven. If you would have just trusted my plan and let me lead, we wouldn’t be here. It finally dawned on me. I don’t need you or any man to rule with me.”

Greyson’s eyes were closed and when he opened them, they were those golden orbs that I’ve come to detest, but I knew better than before.

His wolf represented something Greyson couldn’t be because it wasn’t in his nature. “You’re nothing but a fucking piece of filthy shit. Just like your people and just like your bastard mother.” His voice was rough from the transition.

All I could do was chuckle. “I will take my rightful throne and carry my coven into the future, and out of mercy for Hawk, Elder Alo, and Kathleen. I will show mercy to your people. This I promise you as…. “filthy shit” you so claim me to be, but at least I will be alive.”

“Wait,” I said, as I watched Greyson and his wolf power struggle commenced. Yellow and brown eyes warred in his pupils for dominance. That didn’t get my attention. It was something that finally clicked in the dark corner of my mind.

I said out loud, “Celestoria has four journeys, but only three will survive. The third will meet a death by the sun.”

A giggle bubbled out of my mouth as the truth dawned on me. “My Hiema. My sun.”

Looking over to Del, anger and confusion etched in her blue eyes, which made me smile. “Everything makes sense now…Del, I have no further use for this waste of royal blood. Push the button in the middle of the hilt.”

With each slight click of the button, my skin became dampened with sweat as I started to tremble in my spot. Sweet revenge . As the thick purple liquid slowly coated the silver sharp edges of the knife. Lines of sweat streaked down my back. Although I couldn’t smell anything but the rotten smell of fruit, it seemed Greyson could as he turned pale against the table.

“Wait, Kaydian!” Greyson called out, making me turn from Del. “Just please tell Elder Alo, Kathleen, and Hawk that I love them.”

Shrugging, I’m not making any more promises. “Del, we’re wasting our time with him. So?—”

Pain hurled through my veins before I could finish the sentence. The invisible tethered string that roped us together forcibly snapped, leaving me clutching my chest for dear life. Dropping to the floor, I struggled to breathe as the air had been knocked out of me. My knees throbbed and ached as I used my hands to balance myself. Pain racked my body to the point that even my magic couldn’t heal them. I had prepared to feel this once a long time ago during my lectures, but nothing prepared me for the real thing. Drops of my salty river tapped against the back of my hand, pooling onto the floor and mixing with my snot. Warm vanilla shrouded me as Del wrapped her trembling arms around me, pulling me into her warmth as I cried into her chest. Rocking me back and forth, the only sounds in the tiny room were my nasal cries and Del’s soothing song laced with her magic.

A part of me wanted to tell her I needed some time alone, but my brain couldn’t quite get my mouth to do anything but sob. I need this. Need to feel the comfort of someone who still loves me. Who still believed in me. Del’s heart became my new favorite song as she held me to her chest. It was like time had stood still, and we were locked in a continuous cycle of my desperate cries and Del’s gentle swaying. The tears came in and out in droves. One minute I would be soaking my clothing, then the next my eyes would be dry. My body hummed like it was an open spark. Silence finally greeted us, but neither of us moved as our actions finally caught up with us.

Once my nose finally dried up, I smelt it. Death clung to the tiny room like soot. The rotting, foul smell of decaying flesh filled my lungs, causing me to hack and gulp down more of the horrible air. Del got up, and I followed suit as we stood in front of Greyson’s gray skin. His hazel eyes were glazed milky white as they lay in their sunken sockets. My teeth sunk into my bottom lip until the metallic liquid peppered my mouth. Loneliness tugged at my soul even with Del’s arms wrapped around me. We stood rooted in front of Greyson’s body until the cacophonous of our coughs overtook us, and Del dragged us out the door. Once in the hall, we leaned on each other until we were able to breathe normally.

Del wiped her forehead before wiping my face off. “Are you okay?”

“Yes…I-I’m just really tired…weak. This was worse than what they taught in royal school.” My voice was cracked, and my throat was sore from crying. “I just want to curl up and sleep for the next two months.”

“How about this? I’ll ask Sir Reid to help me with…the body, and you take care of you, go rest. I’ll meet you in your room, and I’ll stay with you. Deal?”

I paused. Del looked worse for wear. Her blue eyes were surrounded in red, and her face was whiter than the walls in the cells. All of her clothing was a crumple mess. No other word except “thank you, Del” came to mind. Right before she ran off to find Sir Reid leaving me watching her until I realized I was staring down the empty hall with the haunting reminder that Greyson’s fate may also end up being mine. Loneliness was now my new friend, and I wondered how long they’ll be here to stay.

Lonely? How can that be when we are meant to be?