Ashina –
With the black drapes still closed, I didn't know whether it was day or night outside or how long I had been sleeping. Marking a she wolf is like taking a really strong sleeping pill. Sometimes a she wolf will sleep for a week, but not often.
Sleeping this long will prepare her body for her heat and those changes that happen after being marked while mated. With the wolf side as strong as the human side, the ranks merged. It feels like I'm stronger, even though I'm hurting all over. I have no idea how long I've been sleeping.
I feel giddy as I kick my feet on the bed and turn my face onto my pillow. I can't believe the moon goddess selected such a great mate for me. My heart squeals with joy.
I jumped into the shower after waking up, eager to see my mate. I wore a sun dress and a button-down angora sweater. Putting on some white flats, I hurried down to Andor's office.
As I rush through his closed door, my heart is pounding fast. As I smiled, I said, "Andor, I miss ...". My mouth dropped open in shock. Papers were scattered, chairs were broken, and Andor was passed out with a bottle of whisky in his hand, his head on the desk.
As I saw on the desk the letter, I hadn't given him yet, that had been in my top drawer upstairs, my heart dropped. My eyes filled with tears as I knew that he thought that I had abandoned him, that I didn't love him. The reason I need to leave without him is because I love him. I don't want him to die in my war, nor feel resentment in our relationship because he left his kingdom for me.
Andor –
I heard Ashina running into my office. I pretended to sleep at first. I didn't want Ashina to see the tears I had shed. I doubt she has ever loved me. Why she let me mark her I can't figure out. Maybe it was because of her wolf. I give up, I will set her free...
Part of my heart is devastated and another part of me is angry as she gave me hope. However, only to have my world crushed by a single letter. Reading the letter my heart felt like it was being carved out of my chest with a butcher knife being served to the vultures in their nests on the mountain tops.
My heart was about to do something that would destroy my wolf and I, so she could have the freedom she craved.
"Ashina! I want you to leave! GET OUT! Don't return, take your warriors and leave! NOW!" I threw something at the wall knowing that I would miss her.
My heart was broken as I read her words over and over again.
Andor my love,
It's not because I don't love you that I'm leaving without you. This is because I love you. I don't want you to die fighting my war and leave your kingdom without a king. Let's not make you regret following me. Life sometimes means sacrificing ourselves for the greater good. That's what I'm doing right now. I beg you, please don't hate me. I don't want you following me either.
Maybe in another life we'll be free of titles and live a happy, ordinary life. Keep in mind I love you, but let's move on.
With all my love eternally,
Ashina
As soon as Ashina ran out the door, I crumpled up the letter and threw it. After I marked Ashina, I've been having issues with fire bursting from my fingertips. Not only did we share titles, but I think we also shared her magic, and I don't know how to control it. At mid-flight, the letter burst into flames.
Ashina's heart broke, but I could feel her resolve that she was leaving me behind for the right reason. She's running scared, from a relationship with me. I think she's lying to herself. She doesn't realize I'm a mess, and the kingdom will become my sister, regardless of whether I follow her. Without her, madness would strike.
As several dragons took flight, I could hear their wings pounding against the air. As much as this made me angry, I couldn't look outside, I was already in a mess emotionally, knowing Ashina was leaving me.
My emotions were all jumbled up. I punched the walls in my frustration after losing my mate and inadvertently blew them up.
As my heart aches from my pain, I shift into my wolf and run into the woods, running away from my pain without my other half.
Ashina –
As I ran out of Andor's office, I was an emotional mess. It's in my heart to apologize to him for my actions. I didn't want him to hate me. There's no way I can let him die. Without wasting a minute, I grabbed my duffle bag with my supplies and ran up to my room.
I gave the warriors instructions and had the warriors and vampires that had already been to the troop units meet me there. Margaret and some of her witch friends travel via teleportation to the main troop grounds.
I'm going to fly with dragons. Olivia offered or, more like, demanded to take me there versus Cadma. It made me sad because I miss my own mate bond.
As we flew over the different troops, I noticed some troop sites were burned to the ground. My heart sank, we lost before we began.
Angry and determined, I went troop to troop, riling them up. We're taking the fight to Malcom now. I'm going to kill him, and I'm going to free my mom.