It had been but four hours until the sun rose from his slumber, prompting the king to demand that his new son in law join them for breakfast. Maximus was found leaning against the bars of the human's cell, by the guard that had been sent as a messenger to deliver the request. The Alpha was agitated and though he could refuse, but he really didn't need more drama, and therefore decided to he would go.
However, before he could leave, he gently released his true mate's hand before placing a very familiar packet in it hoping that she still found delight in them. With a lovingly whispered farewell, he left the slumbering human to her dreams. When the familiar scene rolled up taking over the blank canvas she was dreaming, she wondered why she stood near the lake in Scileria, for she had already found her mate.
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"Don't fret so much dear" she heard the man's voice come from behind her and she turned around. There he stood, same as he was in his cell though she could now clearly see his aged grey hairs, every wrinkle that marred his skin, the dirt and grime that greased the torn shirt and pants he wore. Her heart broke at the man's state for it was one truly heart-breaking to witness.
"How are you here?" she questioned
"Because I called you here, one of the gifts the moon made sure I had for when time would demand it. See, only true mates have the privilege of walking on the land within the realm of dreams, its meant to help them find each other when they can't do so themselves, and have been apart too long" he explained, Amoura found herself quite fascinated by it all.
"But why call me here when you could have simply spoken to me in reality?' she questioned with furrowed brows
"I'm afraid that even dungeons have ears, and what I need to tell you, is for your ears alone"
"Uh-huh" was all Amoura could say, to which the old man chuckled as he stood beside her only to gaze into the lake.
"I'm not surprised that this is the place you're most drawn to for the realm to show herself in its image" at his words, Amoura remembered what had happed when she had gotten into the water last and asked
"Why?"
"For you to understand, I must first tell the tale of why. See, the reason the moon grows weak is because the essence of the originals didn't return to her as it was meant to. Selene had created the originals with a large amount of her essence, sure that with their death in time, it would return to her as it is meant to, so she could keep the balance of it all.
However, when the king decided to keep it all for himself, with every birth of a werewolf, the essence she had remaining lessened. And that is when you came to be, when fates wove the tendrils of your soul with that of Maximus, meaning you were fated before the moon chose to bind the two of you together, Selene found you perfect to carry the last of her essence for she knew you could bear it, being that Maximus was who he is, would help you balance it. Selene kissed you with her last breath Amoura, infusing abilities only Gods and goddesses can have, the very last of her essence, within you.
Your mating with Maximus was meant to set things into place again, awaken the power that's been slumbering within you, giving you enough to defeat the king and return the essence home, meaning you, for you are now it's home and once all her essence was restored within you, you would have taken your place on the moon as its new keeper, the new Selene.
However, Maximus has mated another and that has significantly weakened your bond, meaning it silenced the essence the moon itself had left in attempt to hold it together till your ascension. Therefore, because of this, werewolves will turn into rogues and rabid without cause, killing all before them until no werewolf exists. The time of reckoning has come and even the king himself will find himself without a kingdom to rule. Death will reign and blood will pour.
The king will never believe this nor be willing enough to give up his power, which I'm afraid means, the race is doomed, for I am yet to see another solution that could prevent the oncoming blood bath.
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The scene faded before the Oracle could speak any more and the dream faded to the back of her mind. Amoura's body woke her up minute it felt movement toward it, and
just as the guard outstretched his hand to wake the sleeping human, he felt his wrist firmly gripped by her and he found himself partially shocked by the amount of strength behind it, despite having witnessed her capabilities the night before.
When Amoura blinked her eyes open, her fingers released their pressure and her hand let go of the man's wrist when she took notice that he was the guard that had locked her in before.
"Time to go miss" the guard informed her as he stood up straight in posture. She gave a mere nod and made to get up, only to notice that her other hand was fisting something. When she looked down at her open palm, she couldn't help a tiny smile at the bag of candy, her heart warmed at the fact that Maximus still remembered her favourite candy.
Giving little attention to the guard, she walked out and was about to head for the door that led to the woods thinking she'd be brought straight to the podium, however, the guard said otherwise as he led the way to the doors that led to the castle.
With her packet open, she let out a heavenly sigh at the sugar that exploded on her taste buds, relishing its sour delight, she almost missed the grandeur of the castle when they finally reached the hallway.
But of course, the luxury couldn't allow it, for it always demanded attention from the golden high hung chandeliers to the black marbled floor, not forgetting the red drapes that hung opened beside the windows that gave a splendid view of the sunset, she couldn't believe it then that she had actually slept the day away.
She walked by family portraits that had golden frames, murals that scram blood and death, she also noticed the many turns they took and wondered if whether they castle
was a maze. Though some walls were decorated, most looked too similar it was enough to confuse a person and have them wonder if whether they'd been walking around in
circles or not.
However, she remembered each turn and detail with such precision that a child that had grown up within these walls can only achieve with time. Forgotten was her dream as if it were a distant memory as her mind was occupied by questions of just where the guard was taking her, the reasons behind such a lengthy walk. She didn't have to wonder long though, for it seemed they had arrived at the destination when the guard stood before the doors only to give a knock once, and they
entered when they were told to. Inside stood the woman Amoura had figured to be the queen, the woman stood conversing with another that had an unfamiliar face.
There were two more young ladies that could have possibly been her age and she wondered what it was that was going on. She couldn't deny however, that she found the bedroom to be quite beautiful in all its whites and pastel pink, a huge bed rested in the middle of the wall, opposite it was a crème white Victorian vanity table paired with a matching chair. Atop the table sat what she had come to know as make up, something she had found out Lucy loved putting on.
"I see you're finally here, good, Mace here is our royal stylist, she'll make sure you look prim and proper for your mating ceremony." the queen spoke as she assessed Amoura from head to toe, before facing the woman now called Mace, "And do be quick about it dear" to which Mace gave a nod of affirmation. Satisfied with everything, the woman
took her leave.
"Come on, let me introduce you to my team, this is Tatum the hair stylist and she is Tiffany is the make-up artist, and I am the fashion expert and you must be...?" Although Mace already knew the answer, she still looked at Amoura expectantly
"Amoura" she introduced still standing awkwardly by the doors that were now closed,as if ready to make a run should she suddenly feel like it.
"Well, you heard the Queen, we need to hurry, so do us a favour and take a quick bath okay, then we'll proceed with the rest" Mace said as she directed Amoura to the door that must have led to the bathroom. Amoura figured she might as well do as told, the sooner she complied the sooner all of this could be done with and she could finally see Maximus.
She refused to think about how she felt with regard to bearing a mark that didn't belong to him, or what kind of man she would be tying herself to, and the only comfort she hung onto was that, as soon as she's figured it all out on how to make things right again, she would find a way to break it without killing neither of them.
For she had heard that once you're marked and bonded, should the bond break through death, another death would be the result, and she figured that that must apply in all cases. She was so focused in thought she almost missed the image of her new self in the mirror, which received a gasp of shock she finally noticed her changed appearance. Her white silvery strands were gone and in their place was a red that shone like a ruby's, her eyes just the same and she found herself terrifying to look at.
When a figure neared her frozen stature, she turned her head the woman's way, which only startled her, confirming what Amoura had thought herself to be, terrifying. Questions, shocks and adamant refusals later, she sat bathing in the giant tub filled with lavender oils. She couldn't believe that royalty had helpers that bathe them, she found the notion ridiculous and quite lazy, and she refused to use that service offered by her soon to be new-found title, one she cared little for. When she was done, she was ushered to the chair beside the vanity table, in nothing but the white robe she wore, and Tatum busied herself with her hair. It was when Tiffany was about to begin on her face, that she spoke up
"You aren't putting that stuff on me" it wasn't a question but a clear demand and she shot the woman a blank look, who found herself highly tempted to roll her eyes at that, for she thought Amoura without a choice, because surely the queen would be displeased otherwise.
"The queen gave us strict instructions and they well included the makeup and suggested that you wear contacts as well, because we'll, a human with red eyes is quite, off putting" Mace was the one to speak up
"Honestly, I don't care what the queen said, I agreed to mate with their son, not tobecome a dress up doll as well. That make up isn't touching my face, and if anyone is bothered by how my eyes look, they can look elsewhere" Amoura said in a tone that made it clear she would not be convinced otherwise.
"Look, I get that you're new and everything when it comes to royalty but the queen's word is usually law and that gives you no choice in the matter, so quit being a pain and let me do my job. Consider yourself lucky that the king is allowing you such freedom, being how lowly your kind is to our kind" Tiffany spat highly irritated by how the human thought she could do as she pleased just because the king gave in to her one demand.
She found herself bitter at the poor choice, since she always grew up with the thought that should Eurich ever come to choose a mate, it would be her. With a cold chuckle that exposed how unamused she was, Amoura stood up minute Tatum was done with her hair and walked toward Mace, who stood next to a dressed up mannequin and questioned
"Is this what I am to wear?" as she admired the fine silk material black in colour. It pooled to the floor with thigh high slits on both legs, and cinched at the waist only to have straps that delicately swirled around beneath her shoulders. She found it to be fitting and beautiful, and she almost laughed at the fact that it was the queen that chose it, because quite honestly, she had half expected the woman to have chosen something unflattering and hideous.
"Yes, one of my best works" Mace beamed proudly and Amoura found her pride justified.
"It's beautiful" Amoura complemented and she heard Tiffany scoff at her words from behind. Mace merely shot her friend a look before she smiled at Amoura
"Oh trust me, I know. Now let's get you dressed up, chop chop". Amoura discarded her robe in exchange for the slippery material, behind the all black folding screen, only to have a struggle with the zipper on the back and have to call out for Mace to help. When she was done, she walked out and toward the full body mirror that stood on its own beside the vanity table. She felt naked without her Gothic coat, something Lucy had made her aware of what it's actually called, when she had asked why she always wore the ever dark attire.
The dress exposed a lot of her and that is why she found herself not surprised by the gasp both Tiffany and Tatum let out when they saw her. She was littered with both old and new scars, reminders of just where she had come from, what she had come to overcome, and found it far greater than to be bothered by Tiffany's sneered expression as if she were repulsed.
"Gosh, those are really disturbing. Not only are your human but you're damaged too, what the hell was the King thinking" Tiffany spat as if appalled
"And you think yourself a better choice don't you? " Amoura asked through the mirror as her ruby reds clashed with her own dark browns.
"Yes, so don't fool yourself if you think you'll have Eurich fawning over you or anything, he'll never accept you despite the mark you'll bear" The woman responded
"I believe that's Prince Eurich to you" a voice said all of a sudden, Amoura only let out a gasp at the feeling the sound of it gave her. She saw him walk toward her through the mirror and dared not to turn. The look in his eyes seemed like that of a crazed man, both furious yet starved, she could only fidget from one foot to another as she burned within the intensity of his gaze.
"And I'd be most glad if he really didn't think to be comfortable with her, for after all, she is mine, has been and always will be" she could hear that it was Aurelius that spoke such possessive words and she couldn't help the yearning she felt at the notion of all the rides he had given her in her dreams. He was a stunning wolf in all his darkness and she missed him dearly.
"Careful, or the princess might hear, I'd like to live through the night after all" she couldn't explain the odd satisfaction she got every time she threw it at him that he was already marked by another, refused to think of the two of them close as lovers are
beneath the sheets.
"I'm already having trouble controlling myself little red, I'd tread carefully if I were you" Aurelius warned, truly he was on the verge of making sure the only mark she'd come to bear on her shoulder be his and not anyone else. He couldn't help but drink in the stunning sight of her dressed in a void he wouldn't mind disappearing within to never be found again.
The thought that another man would be marking her truly drove him to the brink of insanity. It didn't matter that he was bonded to another, he found that he felt nothing for the princess even with the bond they shared, he was still Amoura's through and through, and he hoped that she would feel like his regardless too.
"Or what? " Amoura turned then, ignoring the three faces that looked on with curiosity instead of shock, for their interaction confirmed what everyone had thought, that the two were true mates, somehow, or at least had been, until the bond was broken by the Alpha's actions. Maximus knew Amoura had him then and that she knew it, when she smirked at him.
"You're a sight for a man's sore eyes, love "he complimented a smile on his face as he saw her golden skinned cheeks gain a taint of pinkness at his words.
"Thank you" her attitude having done a one eighty as she shyly breathed out. This only caused him to let out a chuckle before he ushered her toward the door, except a voice spoke up
"Pardon me, Alpha, but we still need to put the mandatory make up on her " Tiffany said and Maximus merely gazed down at his mate as he placed a hand on her low back, he spared the woman no glance as he said
"She doesn't need it; can't you see? She's already perfect as is" and resumed their walking. The other two women only fawned over his words only to be met with a displeased look from Tiffany. They knew she was merely jealous of the human for she was being carted off to the man of her dreams. They almost felt pity for her, for she had given herself to the prince in hopes that the man would choose her for a mate, yet thought she had it coming for baring feeling for a man way above their standards.
"Did you like the gift that I left you?" Maximus questioned as he led her toward the dungeon, giving Amoura a fleeting glance before facing forward to look out for any danger, for he didn't put it past Clair to not try something, or even involve her brother who still thoroughly enjoyed his freedom of being mateless. Ignorant to the fact that the prince himself held views same to him when it came to mates, although he did tarry about with young women, only one would have his heart and that would be his true mate.
"Yes, I can't believe you remembered" she spoke honestly
"How could I forget the thing you had insisted it be added to just about everything you ate, when you had first discovered their existence. You gave mom quite headaches when you refused to eat otherwise" he chuckled at the memory which only caused the woman to groan with embarrassment, for she knew now that she had been quite the trouble. She realised then that the memories came with ease and she almost gasped in surprise wondering when it was that her memories had returned home. She couldn't believe that she had missed it.
"Well it's not my fault that I had a sweet tooth" she defended
"I have to admit though, I like the other colour more" the Alpha swirled a lock of red hair between his fingers before letting it drop
"Well, I kind of like the red, I look badass with it" she said, drastically flipping her hair over her shoulder
"Lethal as sin yes, but I'd like my angel back" he jested as he looked down on her. They had stopped before the doors that led to the woods, as they faced each other, Amoura gave a sad smile with her next words
"I'm afraid that girl died years ago, Maximus, now let me get this over with, mhmm?" she said, straightening up as she looked determinedly at her mate
"Just don't forget who you belong to little red" he gave her a stern look that only made her chuckle and say
"Impossible with you here to remind me"
"Damn right"
The crowd seemed more than it had been compared to the night before, probably expecting something else to enfold. Only, they were disappointed when nothing eventful happened and Amoura found herself marked without a hitch. She had almost gagged at the taste of their blood for it had smelt rotten, barely scram when Eurich's canines had pieced through her skin simply because she had felt nothing in the literal sense of the word.
When the deed was done, Maximus' hands bled from how deep his claws had pierced through when he had clenched his hands as he was forced to watch a sight that tortured him to the soul and wondered if Amoura had felt the same, yet found himself stupid at the question for it had been clear that his mate had felt more than he did.
Both refused to discard the meaningful title of mate for that's what they would always see each other as for as long as their love thrummed alive. Perhaps that was reason for her nonchalance when the prince had made sure to let her know her place when they stood in his bedchamber as expected, that they would now share his private place.
"Just so we're clear, I don't like you nor will I ever come to like you. So don't think yourself as my mate because you never will be. Don't expect me to be faithful to you either. You're nothing but a nuisance I intend to ignore for the rest of your life." he had stood before her, his face in front of hers as he spat the words.
Amoura had merely shrugged, much to the prince's annoyance, he had admitted to himself that he had aimed to get some sort of reaction from the woman, yet he had received none. She had appeared cold and indifferent because that what she simply felt.