Cyrus's POV
I paced around in the training arena while yanking my hair. The men looked at me with worry and concern because their Alpha was running mad. It's my fault that she got captured, my fault that she ran out of the manor and into the forest because I pushed her away. I couldn't protect her, I couldn't protect my mate and I still couldn't figure out why I let it happen. My useless temper and selfishness made me ignore her for weeks because of her exes when I had many.
It's my fault.
It's my fault.
"So stupid, stupid, stupid!" I said, hitting my forehead aggressively.
"Cyrus, please calm down," mom said anxiously.
"I can't! I just murdered my mate with my stupid and childish temper. I can't calm down," I cried. "I don't even know why I got mad over something as stupid as the number of men she has been with. I mean, she's fucking twenty-eight, what was I expecting from her?!"
She sighed. "She'll be fine, son. I know…"
"Don't fucking tell me that, mother!" I yelled, "don't tell me that she'll be okay because you know she won't. I know you're trying to make me feel better but I'll also appreciate it if you don't lie to my face," I spat disdainfully, though to myself. "We don't even know who took her, we just know she was taken away. The scent of the intruder can't be tracked and it's obvious that magic is involved in this. I've hired three witches and none of them can break the damn spell placed on the scent! Tell me, how on earth is she going to be fine?!!!"
"Cyrus, stop yelling at mom," Cyra snapped irritably, "it's not her fault you're an idiot," I glared at her but she wasn't done, she glared at me right back. She was also an alpha female and a Luna, so glaring back at me was never a challenge for her, especially when she was as angry as I was. "Listen here, big brother," she said sardonically, "no one here is responsible for th–" An abrupt force of flame collided on the ground, in the form of a massive fire devil. The force caused a shockwave that threw off most of the people around. Luckily, we were far from the fire devil and we were fortunate that it appeared in a space with no people. The flames continued to burn, spinning furiously but not moving.
Everyone moved back, lining up against the walls to get away from the heat as much as possible. The flame swallowed itself as abruptly as it started, dropping and morphing into the form of a woman. The flame slowly turned to flesh, bare flesh covered by blue fire. The blue flame snaked around her body like a dress, covering her nakedness—barely. Her head remained a ball of fire with three holes signifying her eyes and her mouth. She was either a conjured-up tool or she didn't want us to see her face. I couldn't perceive any murderous intent from her, I couldn't perceive anything at all.
"Hello, Cyrus," she said, her voice echoing in the large space.
"And you are?" I asked warily.
"Who I am is none of your business, Alpha," a growl rumbled in my throat as the temper increased in me. "There it is again, that unreasonable temper. You need to control it. This is what led Arabel to the current situation," she snapped. My shoulders dropped at the mention of my mate's name. At that point, I didn't know if I should be angry or concerned.
"Who are you?" I asked again.
"I'm an unquenchable fire," she said cheekily. "And I'm here to help you only because Quelly insisted I do, and because I can't let my friend die for your stupidity. I will lead you to her but I can't promise you that she will be alive when you get there, so don't blame me."
"Who took her?" Cyra asked, voice quavering with fear.
"That's a question I will leave her to answer. Follow the bird of fire and you will find her. This is the least I can do for you but hurry, you wouldn't want her to lose your pup, would you?" My heart skipped and sank to my stomach. My face grew pale as my mouth fell open with shock. "Oh will you look at that, she didn't tell her husband that she was expecting. I wonder why," she said sarcastically. "Find her." The flame around her body burst, making me close my eyes for a few seconds. When I opened my eyes again, there was a bird made out of fire flying in the air. It let out a screech and took off. Without thinking about it twice, I shifted and ran after it, letting the rest of the pack members shift and follow behind me.
I'm coming, Arabel.
Ara's POV
Well, this is uncomfortable.
I clicked my tongue as I watched them go to and fro, preparing the altar for my death. I was strapped to a chair, patiently waiting for Cyrus. He was coming, I could feel it but my fear was if he would arrive on time. I'm too young to die and I have my baby to protect. I could have used my magic, but the new chain used to tie me down prevented me from using my magic. I got to learn that Lucas was some kind of rogue alpha, Milo was a wizard, Douglas was a vampire lord and the last one whose name I was yet to know was a lycan. Except for the wizard, all of them held a thing or two against Cyrus.
The Lycan hated me more than anyone else. He marched up to me and roughly carried me over to the altar. There was a rope tied to my legs so when he released me from the chair, I still couldn't use my magic. He tied me down to the altar with an evil smile on his face and chuckled. "It would be fun feeding on your corpse,"
"Sorry, I don't speak cannibalism," I said, smiling sweetly at him.
"I hate you," he said spitefully.
"Thank you. I pride myself on my ability to draw such beautiful emotions from you," he rolled his eyes and left without a word. Coward. The old man replaced the lycan, standing beside me. He placed his palms on my stomach and rubbed it gently.
"I'm sorry, child. If I don't help her, she will kill my people." He was the one I was waiting for. I couldn't just lie there and wait for Cyrus, I needed to escape. I didn't need his help entirely. If only I could get the chains off or enough time to unleash the energy Raquelia sealed to prevent others from finding out about me, I could save myself. The problem was that if I started the incantation to release it, Icy would know and stop me. I needed a cover for that. I can't die, not yet.
"What if I promise you that she won't? I can help."
"And here you are, strapped to an altar," he said with an amused smile."Your powers are limited, dear. If you were the winter witch, I would have believed in you—"
"But the real witch is in my womb. If you kill her, no one will ever be free of Icy," he paused, his eyes flying open as though he just realized the obvious truth. "Do you think that after she succeeds she'll let your people continue living in peace? You have to help me escape and in return, I will help you. I know someone stronger than all the season witches combined, and I'm sure the floral witch won't mind helping."
"Little secret," he whispered, leaning closer to my ear. "She's dead. She died a few months ago but no one knows. Icy can't know," he whispered.
"Now I see why you feel so helpless. I can help, really, just give me a chance." I said pleadingly.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Buy me enough time,"
He sighed sadly. "I will see what I can do but it might cost me my life," he said sadly. "But I will happily give it to stop Icy." I beamed back at him. He closed his eyes and started muttering a spell. I'm not sure what he was saying, but I looked at Icy who sat on a chair, watching us with impatient scrutiny. She wasn't noticing anything so I closed my eyes and exhaled, preparing myself for the release.
Raquelia's POV
I stood on my bedroom balcony, staring down at the battle displayed below me like a chess board or rather, tiny people on a chessboard. The old wizard was smart, he has always been and that was why the late floral witch took a liking to him. He was supporting her awakening with an enchantment, to further bring out her true form, the one Arabel was yet to conquer. It was going to hurt like a bitch but Arabel could bear pain better than anyone I know. However, even with the help of the man, she needed time before it was fully completed and she didn't have that.
"Should I go help?" Jena asked calmly, staring down at it too. She held my bicep so she could see through my eyes. I wanted her to help, I badly wanted to interfere but my baby was important. I was already risking its life by using my foresight.
I shook my head negatively. "Not yet," I said calmly.
Icy hissed impatiently, a sign that time was running out. "What are you doing, old man?! What's taking so long?!!" Icy roared, advancing to them. Time's up.
Milo increased his voice and speech frantically, reciting the final spell with too much haste. I unconsciously twisted my finger, correcting the error in his speech. A tiny pinch in my stomach reminded me of why I shouldn't use my powers. "Will you let him die?" Jena asked honestly, unperturbed. She wasn't one to care about a lot of things, except the people she considered worthy.
I smiled but didn't bother with a reply. Icy raised her hands, conjuring a rain of ice spikes to descend on Milo, but an equally powerful column of ice grew from the ground and formed a roof over his body. The first line of defense is Icy's daughter. I know I wasn't supposed to, but it needed to be done. I used her hatred towards her mother to manipulate her affection and line of duty toward Arabel. She was no match for Icy but she was the first shield, an expendable one.
"Eirwen!" Icy screamed, "I warned you to stay out of my business!" She yelled at her daughter. She shrugged.
"It's better than being alive to mourn the pain of my dead mate. He loved me but you killed him in the name of queens don't love. I hate you and even if I die, I will be satisfied that I destroyed your plans." She said nonchalantly, she had no fear of what was to come, a part that came from her. Icy hissed at her daughter and charged toward her. Eirwen had done a lot of things with or without her mother's order, and this was my way of cleaning out the trash by recycling it for one last use.
I turned my attention to Cyrus who was speeding toward the ritual ground faster than I expected. How he was able to run perfectly on ice was no surprise to me, after all, he was marked as a universe gifted. He wasn't as powerful as the future gifted, but he had enough grace to survive and enough privilege to make sure the witch is safe. A small pang of pain shot through my stomach, causing me to wince.
"You should stop," Jena said anxiously, "you have done enough,"
"Not yet," I said with an excruciating smile.
"You're hurting yourself,"
"It is the will of fate to keep her alive and I must answer to fate, a leading spirit of the universe, my master. If I fail to carry out her will, I'm afraid I'll lose more than my baby," I said sadly, lowering myself to the floor. Tears pricked my eyes but I didn't dare to cry for the chaos it would bring. I couldn't fathom why I would be blessed with a gift for it to be taken away, but I deduced that it was punishment for something I failed to do but is unaware of. Jena sighed and knelt beside me, clasping her hands against mine. I couldn't believe I was sacrificing my miracle for another, but when you have my job, the choice is never an option.
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