The Beginning of The End
Chapter 77

Suer was a great help, he filled in some of the blanks, and I learned that Maddox and Ryker had combined their kingdoms together so neither of them would be away from me, and that was a nice thought from them. I guess it shows that they can play nice where I am involved, even if they sometimes can't stand the sight of each other.

I'm getting used of the idea of being theirs, even if it is taking me some time to fully adjust. I honestly don't know if I will ever truly get comfortable with the idea, but I hope that I will. For everyone's sake.

Miya was given a room attached to mine so she could tend to my every need, not that she will, I wouldn't let her. I was perfectly capable of looking after myself, I have been doing it long enough. But it would be nice to have her so close all the time, kind of like when we were back on the farm together.

Except here we are surrounded by people who potentially want to kill us, or bite us, or drink us dry of blood.

I mean, yeah, we had that danger on the open roads, but it was different here, they were much closer, and we couldn't just hide and hope that they disappear.

We live with them now.

I never thought I'd see the day when I lived beside them, and to make it worse, I am above them all, I'm their Queen.

I bet there are more than a few of them who do not like the fact that a fae is ruling over them with their Kings, but they don't have a choice. The choice was Rykers and Maddox's, no one else's, not even mine.

I climb out of bed, sleep eluding me, and i walk towards the door, opening it to replace Suer and two others guarding outside.

"Suer." I say, and he bows. "I want to see Ryker."

He looks at me like I've grown three extra heads, it makes me want to laugh.

"Of course." He clears his throat, "But maybe you should put some clothes on first, my queen?"

He gives me a pointed look and I glance down, realising I am only wearing a bra and panties.

Kill me now.

What the fuck was I thinking?

I notice that the other two guards are looking everywhere but directly at me, the poor guys must be mortified.

I laugh awkwardly and slam the door shut, for a moment I'm sure I hear soft laughter, buts it is gone before I can process it.

I was so preocupied in my own mind that I completely forgot that I am supposed to always act like a Queen, instead, I am acting like a fool who can't remember to cover up her body.

The worst part is that it isn't even the first time I have done it, it's the second or third time.

I'm going to be the talk of the castle by morning, I was I'll never be able to leave my room again.

I rush into the wardrobe and grab a purple woollen dress, the long sleeves and high neckline sure to keep me warm enough, I grab a pair of slipper-boots and shove them on my feet. The castle is too cold to go barefoot.

I have a fireplace in my room, and Miya has a small one in hers, so I won't be cold in here, but the halls don't have anything like that, and this place is a millennium behind on technology.

I walk back towards the door, holding my head up high. "I'm ready to go." I tell Suer.

He laughs, shaking his head. "Right this way, my Queen."

If he laughs at me one more time, I'm going to get him executed. I can do that, right?

He waits until we have gone down the first flight of stairs before he laughs again, gently shoving me in the hip.

"You are not supposed to give your bodyguard a heart attack." He says, "Those poor guys didn't know where to put their eyes."

"Not on me clearly." I remark with a growl, "I didn't do it on purpose!"

He laughs again, "Don't worry I won't tell the kings, there would be two less guards to protect you if I did."

"If you laugh at me one more time, I am going to get you executed." I grumble, crossing my arms.

He stops a few feet ahead of me, "Don't be like that, Elora, it's a joke."

Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you're on novi L5s.com for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading!

This time it's me who laughs.

"You really think I'd get you executed over laughing at me?" I ask, feigning anger.

He growls and shakes his head, "Sneaky little fae."

I giggle a little, smirking. "You know it."

"Ryker is just in here." He points to a door on my left, "I can't go in with you, but I'll be right outside if you need me."

I nod, patting his arm before I walk towards the door, knocking lightly, I didn't expect

to be so nervous, but I am. I haven't seen Ryker in over a week, i don't know how he'll react to my presence.

"Enter." Comes a voice from inside.

It's Ryker's voice, I'm sure of it.

I walk inside and shut the door behind me, noticing my mate straight away, he is

propped up on several pillows in a double bed, still bandaged and bruised.

He smiles at me.

I blush.

"How are you feeling?" I ask, stepping closer.

"Better now that you are here." He says gently, "Come sit with me." He pats the bed beside him.

I nod, and smile, moving to closer inch by inch. I couldn't shake the nervousness in my chest. It was almost crippling me.

Almost.

But the excitement from seeing him after all those days was enough to make my legs

move.

"I've missed you." I say, and I have never spoken the truth so freely in all my life.

He smiles at me, pulling me closer, "you have no idea how much that means to me."

He says. "But we do have to talk."

I tense. "About what?"

Is it because I didn't get vengeance for him?

"You need to be stronger for me, my love." He says with a sigh, "You have to be ready for the coming war and what you'll have to do to survive the next few months."

This time it's me who sighs, "You mean I have to get comfortable with the idea of killing."

He nods. "Yes, and not just killing the enemy when you have to defend yourself." He takes my hand, his skin dry and rough. "You have to get used to being the first to attack. You won't always be able to defend yourself, you have to make the first move."

"I don't know if I can." I whisper, dropping my head, "I don't know if I have the strength to do it."

He places two fingers under my chin, making me look at him, "You must, because if you don't I may be unable to save you." He pulls my head against his chest. "I won't always be there to save you."

He's right.

I hate it, but he's right.

I have to learn how to strike first.

I have to become a killer, just like them.