(P.O.V. Jared Woods)
After that blast between Riley and me, I broke a few ribs and my ankle. Looking at Riley as he retreated into the arena gate, I could tell he was seriously injured, too. I don't know why Riley let me take the throne like that. I know deep down he still had a lot of fight in him. I need to talk to him and find out why he let me win. The royal medic team took me to my bedroom after the fight. A doctor on that team got me all fixed up. After he fixed me up, one nurse was helping me get cleaned up. She was a cute little blonde girl. She looks younger than her actual age.
"What happened to my brother?" I asked the nurse. I know that the royal medic team would take care of Riley after our fight, as they did me. But I'm apprehensive about him. I believe the blast did a little more damage to him than it did to me.
"We took Higher Prince Riley to his room after your fight. And is being treated," the nurse says as she helps me put on a clean shirt.
"How much longer will he be treated?"
"They just started to work on him."
"They're just starting to treat him?... Why in the hell wasn't he treated before now?" My voice coming out a little harsh.
"We had to tend to our new king first, your majesty." Is she kidding me? Riley left the arena before I did. They should have taken care of him first. But since I'm the new king, they didn't tend to him until I was treated first. They should almost be done with him as we speak."
Grabbing my crutch, I go to see my brother. First, I had to make sure he was okay. The nurse got upset and wouldn't shut up about me getting back into bed. Riley was two hallways away from me. The closer I got to his room, I could hear his screams of pain and agony. His body must not be accepting the pain medicine.
Werewolves have incredible healing powers. Because of this ability, our bodies heal the broken bones as they are. This medicine helps us with the unbearable pain when our bones have to be re-broken to be set back in place. Where Riley has been waiting longer to be treated, his body has been healing longer. This means when they re-break his bones, it will hurt more. Depending on the level of pain, the medicine doesn't always work. Getting closer to his door, a doctor stepped out. Soon as he saw me, he bowed his head in respect.
"Your majesty." He says he looked surprised to see me here.
"I wish to see my brother." Giving him a command.
"Sire, he really shouldn't see anyone right now. He needs to rest, as do you."
"I want to see my brother,," Giving him my alpha tone.
"Sire, please let him rest." The doctor looked at me pleadingly.
"Jared Matthew Woods, leave your twin alone and get back into bed." A woman's voice says strongly with command. Looking behind me, there my mother stood. Before I could refuse, my mother gave me a look that most mothers give. It's the look when you know you're in trouble, and you better do as they say.
"Yes, mam." Telling my mother.
The doctor takes his leave as my mother walked me back to my bedroom. She told me about how the nurse came and got her. Entering back into my room, I sit on my bed. As my mother went around in my room, turning off lights.
"You need to get some rest. After all, you will be married to your mate and will be given the crowns tomorrow." Mother tells me.
"I don't really feel like I deserve the crown." Telling her honestly.
"Why?.. You won the fight in the arena."
"Yes, but that because Riley gave it to me. He had so much more fight left in him. So why would he give me the throne when it is both our birthright?"
"To be honest, I don't know why your brother did what he did. All I know is that you two will make an excellent team, no matter who has the throne. You boys have always been a great team." After turning all the lights out except my bedside table lamp. She sat down on the bed next to me.
"Not of late. He won't talk to me like he used to. I feel like our bond has been broken apart. I fear losing my twin mom."
"Give him time. Let him figure out whatever it is he needs to. Then one day, he will come around when he is ready. That all you can do, as for your bond. The best thing sometimes is to let something break. To be stronger when it's put back together." Sighing deeply, my mom gives me a big hug and then gets off my bed. Heading towards the bedroom door. "Get some rest. You got a long day tomorrow."
"Hey, mom.." She stops in her tracks and looks at me with her hand on the door handle. "Thanks for the advice."
"Anytime. I love you, Jared."
"I love you too." She smiles and leaves my bedroom, closing the door behind her. Turning out my bedside lamp, I lay down in my bed, trying to get some sleep.
Last night was a long night. I got little sleep. For one, I am bout to become the higher king who puts a lot of pressure on me. To be the king of all the kings to rule all five kingdoms, including my own, which makes six kingdoms. For two, I'm nervous about my wedding night with Karen. She, not the first girl I have made love to. I'm more nervous because she is my mate. Then they're the big number three. I was up all night wondering about Riley, hoping he was doing alright.
Walking down the castle hallway, I listened to my Beta, my best friend, Mitch Clarkson. He is a tall, handsome, big, and quiet fellow with his dark black long locks up in a ponytail. He has the eyes color of the sea when it looks green. He has a voice real deep that intimidates you. Listening to him list off the different things that will go on today. The first thing is my wedding to Karen, which will be at noon in the gardens. Then a recipient after that few activities Karen and I can do alone. Then, after those activities, there will be the ceremony where Karen and I accept the crowns.
{P.O.V. Evanora Lexington}
Tonight is the night I will put my plan into action, and what a privilege it's going to be when everybody is celebrating the new higher king and queen. Lexi will sneak into the castle basement and deactivate the magic protecting the castle. When it goes down, I will only have an hour window to get in and get out before the magic goes back up. My new lover does even know what I'm planning for tonight. Only because I know she will try to stop me.
In fact, at this very moment, I'm standing in the forest that connects to the castle garden forest. The ceremony of the crowns is over, and now they all celebrate in the ballroom. Waiting for a few more minutes, the magic that was protecting this castle goes down. Now is my chance to begin my plan. The first part is to attack the old higher queen. Oh, how I have longed to kill her. It's like an itch that I can't get rid of. I want to hear her scream in agony and watch her bleed as it stains her pretty, fancy clothes. Most of all, I want to watch and hear her choke on her own blood, then after her death.
I will kill the twin of my enemy, and then I will kill his children. And while doing all of this, I will destroy all six kingdoms. Saving Zyston Woods for last, but I won't kill him. Oh no, death is too glorious for that hybrid. Instead, I will lock him up in prison. He can't escape and let him rot. As he remembers the death of his family and the kingdoms he helped raise. And I will do all of this in the name of my one true love, Alexander Parr.
Getting closer to the gardens, I hide in the greenhouse. And to my surprise, there my target sat on the bench, surrounded by gorgeous trees and flowers. She was sitting there quietly, thinking about something. This job made my entire job easier I didn't want to kill her so easily; I wanted the last fight between us. The fight I had with her was when she was pregnant with her twins, when I was sent by the Dark King to receive her and the fallen king's sword.
Walking towards her, my heeled boots clicked on the cement floor. Making it echo in the greenhouse. It caught her attention as she looked at me, and when she did, she had tear-stained cheeks. She has been crying. Something deep down in my cold, black heart ached for her. But it was enough to stop me from the plan I had created for her and everything she held dear.
"Evanora?" Adriana's voice cracked as she said my name in confusion. "I thought the dark king killed you... I heard your screams after you had locked me in that cage for him... I'm...I'm..."
"You're what? disappointed that I had survived?" I asked rudely in a vixen tone.
"No... I'm glad you're okay. No matter how bad or good of a person you are. Nobody deserves to be treated so violently like the screams you had screamed." She is glad I'm okay? That small part of what was good left in me wanted to believe her. But I really couldn't my hate for her, and Zyston was too great to forgive.
"Thanks for the concern, but I'm alright. Besides, I didn't come here for your sympathy; I came here to kill you."
"I'm still glad."
"Enough chit-chat, and let's get this fight going." She nods her head and stands in a fight position, and the last fight between us begins.