CHAPTER EIGHT

"What did you just say?" Lyzara suddenly charged.

"You heard me. Don't act like you didn't," Merida said, approaching with a slow, swaying gait. She was still smiling while Lyzara felt like a lead weight had suddenly passed through her chest. Lyzara stepped forward toward Merida, her shadow looming over her.

"You must have forgotten that I am your queen for you to splay your wings like that and speak to me that way."

"You have six months left in your contract with the king. I want to see your face again when your contract ends. Come speak to me then, my queen," Merida said, her smile widening. Lyzara felt like melting ice, struggling to curb the humiliation Merida had just meted out to her. She could not possibly let her have the last word.

"You must be all fired up because you think..."

"I don't think, my queen. We adults don't think; we know," Merida interrupted effortlessly.

"Of course you don't. Lucien loves me, and there is no way he would settle for someone like you."

"Well, sometimes the pack doesn't give someone a choice. I mean, our Lycan King Lucien doesn't have much choice but to obey the council, who wants you out as their queen after the commotion you caused yesterday. Barging in almost half clad looking for someone that was banished out of the palace six years ago because of you... don't you think the universe is working in my favor?"

"I wonder what is feeding your audacity, Merida! Have her kneel before me, now!!!" Lyzara yelled at the top of her voice. Her servants rushed forward. Merida’s maids rushed to guard her, but it was useless. "I am the queen! All order belongs to me before any other act of obedience! Have her kneel at my feet!!" she yelled, and even the guards joined in, forcing Merida down to her feet.

They held her down while she struggled. Lyzara, despite her burning anger, watched her with cold satisfaction.

"Even if I am going to be a queen for the next six months, I will remember today. The day I had you at my feet and you could do nothing about it because I am the authority. I could have them lock you up in the dungeon if you utter one more word that is against me," she continued, while Merida smirked.

"Am I that much of a threat to you? Are you that scared of me, or my future rule, or about Lycan King Lucien? You will never change the fact that I am his fated mate."

"You are nothing but a stupid, delusional pest!" Lyzara yelled, grabbing her by the jaw. "Make sure you don't die early. I may kill you if your tongue runs too hard against your queen. Even Lucien won't save you."

"Take her out of my sight! She is not to stay in this room anymore. She has grown more audacious because my king was generous enough to make her live in luxury. Now she thinks she can dine with the queen? Take her to one of the servant chambers. That is her place as long as I am queen!"

"My queen!!" Merida screamed, but she was being dragged away. "You think this makes you have more power? You think this will make the six month contract go away?" She kept talking until she faded into the distance.

Lyzara tried to contain the anger running through her before she lifted her dress and began to move again. "What happened yesterday after I showed up in front of the council?" she asked her servants, who were scurrying after her as she headed back to her room.

"They argued about... about your misconduct and how the Lycan King always indulged you, though it was in hush tones... they seem to be leaning towards Merida," one of the servants reported. All that she said hit a nerve. Lyzara stopped abruptly, and everyone behind her began to bunch into each other.

She closed her eyes for a moment, almost shaking, but she dared not show it. "You were saying earlier that I had a dinner with the council women of the pack?" she reminded them, whipping back to look at her servants.

"Yes, my queen."

"Have that arranged. I am hosting."

"Yes... yes, my queen," they said, trailing behind as she walked away into her room. They rushed around to prepare her bath while some prepared what she would wear. She bathed as if her life depended on it; she wanted to scrub out the words Merida jabbed at her earlier. Her audacity... there is no way letting her stay at the servant chambers can serve as the only punishment for what she did to her. She came down from the tub and the servants dressed her up.

She sat down and her face was dolled up. "I must really stand out," she told them as she admired her reflection in the mirror.

Then she heard her name. "Lyzara..." Like an echo, she looked around. "Did you just call your queen by her name?" she asked, and everyone paused their activity, lost about what she said.

She relaxed back, seeing the confusion she stirred by her question. "Lyzara..." The name echoed again and she panicked, especially when she looked into her reflection in the mirror.

Navine was staring right back into her face from the depths of the polished glass. "Long time, Lyzara. Did you miss me?"

She gasped, the sound catching in her throat as she almost shook out of her skin. Her breath seemed to be seizing, her lungs refusing to take in the scent of the lavender oils in the room. The world around her blurred, leaving only that haunting, violet eyed reflection pinned to her gaze.

"Navine..." She mumbled, her voice a ghost of its usual tone.

He smiled into her eyes, a slow and cruel curl of his lips that was designed to drive her fear home. It was the smile of a predator who had finally returned to his favorite hunting ground.

"You were looking for me, weren't you?" he whispered from the mirror, his image rippling like water. "You couldn't bear seeing that I am not home anymore. You miss me?"

"Navine!!"

She sprung to her feet so violently that her vanity chair scraped harshly against the stone floor. "I knew for sure that you are back! I knew it! I didn't believe it when they said that you are not in this pack, but I know you are! You sneaky omega!"

She was screaming at the glass, her fingers trembling as she pointed at her own reflection.

"My queen..." the servants collectively said, breaking her out of her reverie.

Lyzara blinked, the violet eyes in the mirror vanishing as quickly as they had appeared, replaced by her own panicked, blue ones. She looked around to catch herself, standing in the middle of the room with her chest heaving. She was frustrated, worn out, and panting heavily while her maids huddled together, their eyes wide with the realization that their queen was shouting at thin air.

And then, a cold, slow whisper drifted directly into her ear, so close she could feel the phantom chill of his breath.

"You are right. I am in the pack, and I dare you to find me."

CHAPTER NINE

LOCATION: BLOOD MOON PACK

NYRA OF BLOOD MOON PACK

"You are right. I am in the pack and I dare you to find me..." wheezed into her head before she opened her eyes, just as her doors flew open and Eidlene with a group of maids marched in.

"Queen Nyra, still in bed?" Eidlene started as she stood in the center of the room, her eyes spanning across the space. "You are just like I was told; you cleaned up this place into something befitting for you. I didn't know this room had any potential until now. You must be an expert at being a servant instead of a queen. Have you thought about any role you can play in the palace to help me through my delivery?" Eidlene said while Nyra managed to sit up on the bed.

So early in the morning and she has been greeted by the worst face she would want to see right now.

"I am talking to you, queen. Or ex queen, since my coronation is today."

"Coronation?" Nyra asked, that coming as a shock even when she knew that it would happen sooner or later. What did she expect from Derula now when he has done the worst things? She could hear the giggles from the maids behind. The exact same ones she tried so hard to placate; she tried to make their lives easier by always helping them out in little ways possible.

"I would want you to be by my side. Like a bridesmaid," Eidlene continued before rolling her eyes. "You should be happy. I am taking this long route because my king wants us to get along. I would gladly need your help as you have been the queen before. You could guide me through; you know I am also pregnant."

"Be nicer to her, our future Queen. Don't you know she is getting publicly denounced and rejected today?" one of the maids said in a mocking way, and the rest giggled. While Eidlene frowned at them.

"I won't have you disrespecting the woman who helped me take care of my king while I was away. She deserves at least a reward for it. After today, tell me whatever you want and I will give it to you."

And they left just as they had come. For Nyra's feet to touch the floor, it required effort; it was almost like her entire body suddenly was not responding anymore.

She managed to wash herself. She walked back into the room to see Derula sitting on her bed. What does he want too?

"Eidlene needs your help. I don't know if she came to ask that of you."

"She came," she replied.

"Well, please help her. Both of you need to get along if you actually want to exist in this house."

"Does my opinion count?"

"What?"

"Can I say something?" She started feeling heavier than she was before. "Derula, can you... you won't listen to me anyway, but you don't have to publicly reject me before we both know that we don't have it with each other anymore."

"Everyone has to know and welcome the new queen. It is humiliating, but you have to bear with it... shouldn't you? I mean, you owe me that much."

"I owe you that much?" she asked and chose not to chase it. She was too exhausted repeating cycles of this conversation when it led nowhere apart from more hurting words that broke her the more. "What did your mother say?"

"You should stop worrying about my family from now on. Worry about yourself, as I won't be protecting you anymore."

Like he ever did protect her. Like he ever chose her, but still has to make it sound like a chore that he performed for her.

"I stand here today..." Lycan King Derula started as he stood before the entire pack in the hall room. Nyra occupied the middle stage, her head bowed. Everyone already knew the outcome of this. "To publicly reject my queen from being my mate, my wife, my queen, and the luna of this pack." He said, and she crushed to the floor immediately, tears pooling out of her eyes at the wrong moment. Pain didn't see when to weigh her down, but right in front of everyone, cheering for their king for finally making the right decision, everyone she thought she won to her side were really not with her.

"And I hereby welcome a new legacy into the pack, Eidlene!!" He called and large oak doors opened, followed by loud cheers and loud noises as she walked in, carrying a bucket of flowers in her eyes, looking as radiant and seeing Nyra finally crumbling seemed to add to her happiness.

She walked past her and leaned, offering her a hand, but out of anger, Nyra could not take that hand.

"That old wicked queen is finally showing her true colors; won't even let our new queen be generous to her."

Eidlene leaned down. "You refused to help me today... I get it. It is too much for you. I suggest you leave after today since it is too hard for you to bear. Save yourself the extreme heartache. If you are thinking of taking back Derula, I only let him go once; I never said I would make the same mistake of letting you have him twice." She said softly so that no one could hear as she wiped Nyra's tears.

"We have a compassionate queen." The murmurs broke out as if Nyra had never tried to be compassionate towards them all this time.

Eidlene straightened up and walked past, heading toward Derula who already spread his arms, waiting to welcome her.

She went into his arms and the crowd cheered. No one batted another eye at Nyra where she sat on the floor.

"She's also carrying an heir for us!!!" he announced. "Our new queen is not barren and weak enough not to give us a baby."

Direct jabs at her. Maybe not at her, but toward her soul. Her heart seemed to shake, crack, and bend. A sudden rush of anger filled her.

Their eyes met. Derula was staring too coldly at her that she felt like she was a nightmare they needed to wake up from.

"Take her out of my sight!" he ordered the guards and they came at her immediately. They lifted her from her feet and began to pull while she watched.

Derula placed his hand gently on Eidlene's waist, pulling her close. He kissed her.

The pack howling their approval, her hand resting protectively over her stomach. She didn’t look at Nyra as they dragged her away. She didn’t have to.

“She will be your Luna,” Derula announced.

CHAPTER TEN

LOCATION: RANGERS PACK

LYZARA, QUEEN OF THE RANGERS PACK

"No... No... No... No..." Lyzara continued screaming before she opened her eyes, still screaming until Lucien forced her into his arms, his arms whipping around her back to still but she doesn't seem to be in focus.

"No... No... No..." she continued. Her eyes were wide and glazed, darting around the room as if searching for enemies hidden in the tapestries. She tried to grip onto Lucien’s tunic, her nails digging into the fine fabric.

"It's okay... I'm here... I'm here now," Lucien whispered into her ears. He held her firmly and slowly, the rhythm of her breathing began to even out. Her eyes began to focus on the familiar carvings of the ceiling, and her heartbeat slowed its panicked drumming. Lucien did not stop patting her back, offering a steady comfort until she finally snapped back into reality. She pushed back at Lucien, needing to disentangle herself so she could look at his face and be sure he was real.

"What happened?" she asked. Her voice was weak, and she looked around to see her maids and servants moving with hushed urgency. They were wringing out wet towels and carrying away buckets of water as if a great struggle had taken place while she was unconscious. The air in the room smelled of damp stone and medicinal herbs.

"You were unconscious since last night," he said. He reached out, bringing his hand to her face to brush away a stray hair. "You were right. I should have listened to you... Navine is in the pack. I should have paid heed instead of letting him get to you last night." He spoke softly, palming her cheeks while she breathed out a heavy, shuddering sigh. "Do you want to lie back down?"

"Where is he?" she asked, her voice instantly sharpening at the mention of her tormentor.

"We are looking for him. He has not been found yet," he said. Lyzara’s eyes immediately swept across the room, landing on Derreck. He stood by the far wall, his expression unreadable, as if they were not discussing the whereabouts of his own mate.

"And he doesn't know where he is?" she asked, her finger trembling as she pointed directly at Derreck.

"He says he doesn't know where he is," Lucien replied, Lyzara snorted, a sound of pure derision.

"How did you believe that he doesn't know? There is no way he doesn't know where his mate is... there is always a connection, always a strong bond. If Navine is never found, I want him locked up, Lucien. I want him in the dark unless he reveals where he has hidden Navine."

"I cut off my bond flow with him so I could..." Derreck started, stepping forward to defend himself, but Lyzara was in no mood for negotiations or excuses.

"That is a lie! You know where he is. Lucien, why do you keep him so close to you when he is so sneaky? I know what he is up to and I clearly want Derreck beheaded if I can't find Navine."

"Lyzara..." Lucien intervened, trying to temper her bloodlust, but she shook her head violently.

"Don't refuse me this time if you really don't want to see me die. If you don't want to see me give up on this life I have, then please don't shut this down. It is getting out of hand for me, Lucien. Either he provides Navine or he will lose his life."

Lucien looked from his trembling wife to Derreck whom he had clearly suspected of having an affair with Lyzara. He had occasionally seen him walking out of her room late at night but he had never been able to bring it upon himself to ask her. The tension in the room was suffocating. Finally, Lucien waved his hand in the air, his face hardening.

"Okay. Guards, arrest Derreck."

"My king..." Before Derreck could protest further, the guards moved in. He was bundled away, his boots scuffing against the floor as he was hauled toward the door. "My king... I truly do not know of Navine's whereabouts!" His voice faded as he was dragged across the hall, if Lyzara wanted Derreck gone by herself simply because of the reason of Navine and no other, he will gladly lock him up. He's been looking for a reason to punish him anyway.

Lucien clasped his hands with hers, trying to bring the warmth back into her fingers. "Now rest easy, would you?" he said. Lyzara nodded her head, letting him guide her back down onto the pillows. She closed her eyes, but sleep was the last thing on her mind. The images of her dream still burned into her retinas. "You had a bad nightmare this time, didn't you?" he asked.

She nodded, but then her eyes snapped open and she sat up with a sudden, jarring energy.

"That Queen Nyra... do you know about her?" she asked, her voice intense.

"What queen?"

"The one from the Blood Moon Pack. Do you know anything about her?" she asked again. Lucien peered into her eyes, searching for the source of her obsession. He had heard the messengers' reports from the neighboring territories. That Lycan King Derula had denounced and rejected the new queen for a new Luna who was with his child.

"Why are you so interested in her?" he asked. "Shouldn't you be thinking about getting some rest? The elders actually came back with the result for our consummation date while you were out."

The change in Lyzara was instantaneous. The terror and the shadows seemed to evaporate, replaced by a desperate, leaping joy. "You really looked into it?"

Lucien smiled, a rare, soft expression. "I clearly told you that I would find a consummation date for us."

Lyzara didn't wait for another word. She rushed into his arms, almost hobbling over the edge of the bed in her haste to reach him. She clung to him as if he were the only thing keeping her on this earth.

"I said it! I said it!! I knew you would find a consummation date! When is it?" she asked, her eyes searching his face with a happiness so bright it was almost painful to watch. Lucien couldn't help a little grin.

"In three days," he said.

Lyzara jumped out of the bed immediately, her weakness forgotten. "Lyzara, you were supposed to rest!" Lucien called out, but she totally ignored him. She was already spinning around to address her maids, her face glowing with a triumphant, frantic light.

"You heard him, right? My consummation date is in three days! Please, I want all hands on deck! Organize everything! I want the finest silks, the best oils... everything must be perfect!"