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With a mere flicker of her power, General Eesha brought me to my spiritual knees, rendering me powerless and at her mercy. Since that moment, I had been confined within the castle, banished to the confines of my chambers for daring to defy direct orders.
A complex web of desires and alliances had formed within the kingdom when both the king and the general laid their claim upon huntresses. Their forbidden love entwined with the fierce passions of the wild. It was a love that kindled conflicts and blurred boundaries. A magnetic force that drew them closer while threatening to tear apart the very fabric of the kingdom.
As I pondered the actions of the highest power in our kingdom, a sense of disbelief washed over me. How could they bend their knees to our enemies and invite them into our very stronghold? It was a puzzle that confounded my understanding. And yet, beneath the layers of confusion, I couldn’t ignore the unmistakable love they held for their mates. It was a love that thawed at the primal aspect of my being, the very instinct Zara had urged me to submit to. The conflicting emotions churned within me, wrestling between a desire for freedom and the yearning to embrace the warmth of connection.
What was it she told me?
When I finally surrender and submit to my nature, I’ll find ecstasy.
Hovering near the war room, the bitter chill of anticipation clung to the atmosphere like frost, seeping into my astral entity. The walls echoed with hushed whispers, carrying the weight of impending danger. At that moment, I caught sight of Queen Malia, her nerves palpable. With her regal presence and flowing blond hair, she adorned herself in a resplendent royal Lehenga Choli. Beside her stood another huntress in a graceful saree. Her energy pulsated through her veins. I assumed she was Eesha’s mate, for I saw the bared claiming mark upon her throat.
With a voice laced with determination, I managed to convince the guards a walk around the palace would help clear my mind. They relented, granting me temporary relief from the confines of my quarters. It was an opportunity to glean any sliver of information, any fragment of news that might shed light on my family’s fate…and on Zara, the pantheress I couldn’t keep from my head.
The air within the war room grew thick with tension as my astral form slipped through. The atmosphere appeared to have frozen solid, trapping the anxiety and worry within its icy grip. Maps were spread across the table, marked with strategic points and potential dangers. The flickering light from the sconces cast dancing shadows upon the walls; their movement mirroring the uncertainty that plagued the room.
As I glanced around, my heart pounded. I could sense the general’s piercing gaze upon me. Her command resonated through the air, slicing through the silence like a shard of ice.
“It appears we have a spectator, my queen.” A cruel smile spread across her lips. “Please, enter the conversation, Whiskerling,” she ordered, her voice dripping with authority.
A blush stained my cheeks as I heeded her words, sinking into my physical form just outside of earshot. Stepping into the room, the temperature rose to a boil, and I missed the chilly air my astral form provided. General Eesha, donning a modified Anarkali suit that combined tradition with military-inspired elements, stood tall. Her presence emanated a brooding authority that demanded obedience. Her hazel eyes bore into mine, a steely glare that pierced through any facade.
“Tell me, Evangeline, what brings you here, defying direct orders and intruding upon this sanctum?” The general’s words dripped with an undercurrent of suspicion.
I averted my gaze, bowing my head at the queen before speaking directly to her.
“I didn’t mean disrespect by going against orders, my queen. I only seek information that pertains to the safety of those I care about,” I replied. “I can’t stand the thought of remaining in the shadows, oblivious to the fate of our troops and the fate of my family hanging in the balance.”
At my words, General Eesha unleashed a thrum of energy that coursed through the air. It sent a warning for me to stay away, to cease my meddling in matters beyond my station. The raw power of her command crackled in the air, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Wait, Eesha,” a voice called out just as I was about to collapse on the ground. “She’s an omega in your ranks? I thought it was forbidden.”
In that moment, a flicker of realization washed over me, like a glint of sunlight reflecting off ice. I could feel the contrast between the general’s energy and the electric connection I shared with Zara. The former held no allure, no magnetic pull. It was a cold, distant force that left me numb. But Zara’s thrum, her commanding presence, ignited a fire within my soul, a heat that thawed the icy barriers I had once known.
“Enough pondering,” Queen Malia ordered. “The longer we wait, the closer our forces face peril. We’ll send reinforcements to the mountain to aid with the mission.”
“My queen,” I spoke, my voice steady but laced with urgency. “I know Celestial Peak like the back of my hand. Leaving me behind was the very mistake that led to the mission’s failure. I can be an asset, not a liability, if you allow me to aid the reinforcements.”
The general regarded me silently, her narrowed eyes holding a mix of curiosity and amusement. “Your spirit is strong, Whiskerling. I can see why my Sergeant pushed to allow you into my ranks,” she acknowledged, taking me aback with her statement.
All this time, I’d thought Zara had been pushing for me to be removed. But she’s the one who vouched for my entry? The weight of Zara’s actions and intentions shifted, as if the icy barriers around my perception melted away. It fueled a desire to uncover Zara’s true intentions within the connection we shared.
Beside General Eesha, her former huntress mate stepped forward. Her gaze bore into me, fierce and unyielding. “Eesha, she has a point. She’s a snow leopard, a shifter descended from the mountains.”
“Saira,” Eesha began, turning to her.
“Don’t dismiss her because of her status,” Saira asserted, her voice carrying a touch of urgency. “We can’t afford another mistake.”
General Eesha deliberated, the air crackling with tension as her gaze shifted between Saira and me. As moments passed, each second felt like an eternity, but then the general’s resolve solidified.
“Fine. Join the reinforcements. But their success lies in your hands,” she declared. “We’re counting on you, Whiskerling. Show us the strength of your spirit. Don’t let your queen down.”
Relief cascaded through my being, like a gentle snowfall settling upon my soul. What I’d fought for all this time has finally been granted to me—a chance to display my capabilities and earn the respect I deserved. Bowing at the queen and acknowledging the general, I sent a quick nod to Saira in a silent promise, thanking her for her support.
The daunting mountain loomed before me like a majestic guardian as I stood before Celestial Peak—my home. Taking in the atmosphere, the crisp air carried the biting chill of anticipation. The reinforcement troops, clad in winter gear, awaited for orders behind me.
“What’s the plan, Whiskerling?” General Eesha’s voice cut through the icy gusts as she regarded me with a cheeky smirk.
“Halt the troops here.” A growl built from my chest as my transformation took root. “I’ll scout ahead with my ability and ensure we’re not walking blindly into danger.”
