AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Anticipation hangs heavily in the air. We all know the hunters will strike soon. They will gather their forces and march on us, determined to end the monsters once and for all and claim the kingdom. Under their reign, magic will die, half-breeds will be punished, and all the beauty and differences which make our land unique, if scarred, will be ash.
Our histories will be rewritten, and our future hangs in the balance.
Standing before the mirror in the room we claimed, I eye myself as these thoughts trouble me. Cora is preparing, as should I, but I am just staring.
My skin glows, reminding me I’m not human anymore. I am one of them, one of the monsters about to fight for our freedom and land. My hair tumbles over my shoulders in drying waves, my magic tattoos seem to move on my skin, and my eyes shine brightly. When the shadows of the room swallow everything else, I shine.
My monsters, my men, are here, waiting for me.
They have been hurt, hunted, and abandoned, and although they just wanted to be left alone and find happiness, they now find themselves in a battle for their lives and the soul of our land because that is what it boils down to.
If the hunters win, there will be nothing but death and destruction. This world will never recover from the senseless murder and slaughter that will ensue. We have to stop it. We have to save our people and theirs too—humans and monsters alike.
There will be so much death, yet none of us can stop this now. I feel like we have reached the point of no return, and I almost choke on my panic of what I will do and become.
Can I pay the price?
As my men step into the mirror’s reflection behind me, I know I can. I have to so I can keep them safe.
“Let us help you prepare,” Dade murmurs, and I incline my head, afraid if I speak, I will either scream or cry.
I am just a girl from the Shadow Lands. I was meant for nothing other than to work the fields, have a family, and die in the very house I grew up in, yet here I stand, defending monsters and glowing with ancient magic, prepared to wage war.
If my father could see me now . . .
My lips curve up at that.
Dade kneels as Weyland moves to my side. Carefully, he detangles my hair with his claws and starts to braid it. Kaito moves to my left, kneeling opposite Dade, and I glance down tosee them tugging up some leather pants. Once they are settled on my hips, they fasten up the sides which are laced. The color is a deep brown, almost black, and when I move, they move with me like a second skin while also feeling thick and padded.
Rook stands behind me, meeting my eyes in the mirror as they dress me, his hands settling on my hips.
Weyland drapes my now braided hair over my shoulder and ties it off before he nods and steps back, grabbing something else. Dade and Kaito stand and help me into a white peasant blouse before pulling on my breastplate made of Nero’s scales and then adding my thick-soled, knee-high boots. I watch them the entire time as they transform me from a lowly peasant girl to a warrior.
They add armor to my thighs and arms before slipping daggers into their holsters and securing a sword at my hip. When they stop, I look at us together as I reach for them. I take their hands before meeting Rook’s eyes.
“It is time, my little oblivion.”
I nod once more, sparing myself another glance before turning away.
When I look at myself again, there will be a stranger there, one capable of taking life, but I will be alive, as will my monsters. I have to believe that.
Coraand her mates are waiting for us when we emerge just beyond the old king’s throne room. For a moment, when she turns to me, I still. She looks every inch the queen she is. Her crown sits atop her tightly secured hair, and she wears gold and black armor, matching her mates. She has a sword at each hip,and her hands glow with magic. She stands tall, and when I join her, I realize we complement each other.
The glowing golden queen and her shadow.
She squeezes my hand as our mates spread out behind us. “Are you ready for this?” she murmurs quietly just for us.
“No, are you?” I ask, turning my head to meet her gaze. Gone is the sobbing woman from last night who mourned the death that will occur today. Now, she stands tall today under the pressure, and I am awed by my sister’s strength.
“No,” she admits, “but fake it until you make it, right?”
Smiling, I squeeze her hand. “I will follow you to the very end, Cora. I need you to know that. Whatever happens, I will remain at your side where I belong.”
Tears form in her eyes, even as her smile curls up. “And so will I, my dear Kai. Let us end this the way it started—with two sisters.”
The doors open without command, and I keep my hand clutched in Cora’s as we stride into the waiting throne room. Monsters line the walls, but I note some humans amongst them—either staff from the castle or those who will fight at our side.
The room glitters with gold as we walk confidently down the middle of the amassed crowd. As we pass, they drop to their knees, their heads bowed in respect.
