book #3 DARK KNIGHT ***COMPLETE***

#20 rejection is a bitter pill to swallow

leaving the bed chambers they followed a long hall that opened up to a large room. there were books on a shelf and a cozy fireplace and chair. the room was beautiful with all its simplicity. Zara ran her fingers over the titles of the books. "these are all the lineage of the past kings and queens. these books could help us later on to show proof that Avaly is the true heir and queen."

avaly came forward pulling a book from the shelf. she flipped through the pages and looked up in shock. "these books they have our entire history both fire and ice shifters. it even has how Ithica was created and why. these are amazing."

Zara turned towards the group. "we need to go. we need to find Michael and stop what he is doing." she turned towards Avaly. " we can read these when everything is done and you are the queen." reluctantly avaly placed the book back on the shelf and followed the group out to find Michael. they all knew what needed to be done. Avaly wished she didn't have to do it. her stomach hurt from the anticipation of the rejection. she knew it would bring her to her knees. she had heard of other shifters who had died from rejection. she took a deep breath in. she knew her dragon was strong and they would survive. they had to for her people. her new found people. she hadn't even realized they had all stopped.

Zara had her hand up in the air to stop them from advancing. she stood before a group of men. warriors. they parted showing Leif bound in silver beaten and bruised. he was being held down by two warriors. he was on his knees his head slumped down. zaras heart stood still. not a sound was being made. Vlad stood in front of Avaly protecting her as Zara's eyes never left Leif. he was hurt. blood was coming from his mouth and his breathing was shallow. she knew the silver was preventing him from healing like he should. she had to resist the urge to run to him and rip the silver from his body but she knew better. then they would both be in the arms of the enemy and right now that wouldn't help with their plan. the two warriors let Leif drop to the ground as his body fell to the floor with a loud thump. he barely moved. Zara felt the pain in her stomach. her heart tightening in agony. there was nothing she could do. they heard clapping as someone walked from behind another warrior. the figure walked forward from the shadows laughing sadistically as he clapped. "BRAVO! you managed to get into the castle and you killed my brother. no doubt you have figured out who was the real threat in all of this." prince Michael stood before them smiling like he just won a prize. they were the prize and power was his ultimate goal. "do tell how much did it hurt to find out that I was the one who was taking over and Jonathan was just my puppet?"

Zara stood her ground not showing any emotion. she knew emotions had no place in battle and she needed to stay strong even though every part of her wanted to scream and save her mate. "well we decided it would be a good idea to stroll on in and give you a big hug and congratulate you on your win. it's not every day a sadistic prince wants more power." Zara paused a moment reaching her hand behind her signaling for avaly to come forward. "oh wait. lately there has been a lot of that so never mind. not very original after all. I guess we aren't impressed with you."

prince Michael snarled as his anger took him over. he played right into zaras hands. his anger made him distracted. Avaly came forward swiftly and before Michael could even respond she started yelling as loud as she could for everyone to hear. "I avaly queen of the shifters hereby reject you prince Michael as my fated mate!" They all watched as his face contorted into pain and he fell to the ground.

Michael looked up screaming out to avaly. "take it back! you are mine! I will be king!" avaly didn't even flinch. she was drawing on the power and strength her dragon provided her. she refused to look weak or cry. Michael was now on the ground writhing in pain as he screamed out. warriors were rushing to his side trying to help him but there was nothing they could do.

"NOW!" yelled Zara. Zara, avaly and Flinn shifted into their forms lurching forward while Michael laid weekend and crying on the ground. warriors shifted around them in a counter attack coming at them trying to stop them from getting to Michael who could not move. Zara let her wolf take over as she sat in the back of her mind watching as her wolf tore through a dragons soft underbelly blood spilling out all over her and the castle floor. ice was being spewed at other shifters as they all fought. trying to get to Michael was not going to be easy with just three of them. the dragons were strong and Zara knew her group was growing exhausted mentally and physically. she wasn't even sure how avaly was able to fight after the rejection. she admired her in that moment. not only did she fight against her fated mate but she fought while knowing her world was shattered by it. she fought for her people even through the tragedy. Avaly was already making a great queen. she saw more warriors fill the room still in their human forms coming at them. Zara ripped through as many as she could her wolf tearing them apart the floor slippery with their blood. she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder and looked down. there a knife stuck in her shoulder as she involuntarily shifted back to human. "you fuckers like to use a lot of silver. cowards!" can someone get to Michael? its now or never! we need to end this!"

from the corner of her eye she saw a figure moving from the shadows. out of nowhere it came running towards Michael still crying on the ground as he rocked back and forth. Zara knew the pain was intense with rejection. she had seen it before bringing stronger men than Michael down and killing them. they needed to finish him off right away before he could recover from his intense pain. Zara was punched in the face by one of the warriors still in human form. she fell to the ground and as he advanced on her she kicked out her leg sweeping it under him knocking him off his feet. she jumped up and pounced on him punching him until there was no more movement in him then moving to the next. there were so many of them. they just kept coming. then she heard it. it sounded like a battle cry at first a screeching rang out deafening everyone in the room. Alana lunged towards Michael and plunged a knife into his soft fleshy throat. blood poured out of his wound as she retracted the knife from his body only to plunge it now into his heart.

the room went silent as his garggled noises began to fade. the warriors stopped fighting and everyone stood at a stand still watching Alana stand, blood all over her clothes and body. she didn't even notice how it coated her. there was one last noise from Michael then the room was filled with silence. the warriors immediately got down on one knee bowing to Alana who they now considered the queen of the shifters. she took her arm and wiped the blood from her face only successfully smearing it more. "I am not your queen! the only rightful queen is Queen Avaly of the ice shifters! I fight for my Queen!" Alana bowed towards Avaly who stood there still in shock at the site that lay before her. the warriors shifted now bowing to their rightful queen. Zara turned and grabbed Avaly's hand helping her move forward as they were now surrounded by warriors who bowed.

"I am queen Avaly. twin sister of princess Scarlett soon to be queen on Earth. together we will rule both in ithica and Earth and bring peace and serenity to both lands. we will restore the balance these monsters took and give our people prosperity once again." Zara was already at Leifs side trying to remove the silver to allow his wolf to heal. a warrior came beside her unlocking the chains that he was bound in. Zara looked up at Avaly. she stood proud and confident. Zara knew she was going to make an amazing Queen.

Leif started to stir. his body was weak but his wolf was healing him slowly. Zara knew it would take time. warriors began cleaning the mess and bringing them all clothes to hide their bodies. blood was everywhere and the smell of the metallic liquid filled the air. vlad and Finn helped hoist Leif up and bring him to a spare bedroom so he could recover with more comfort as Alana, avaly and Zara stayed behind helping organize the clean up. their bodies were spent. exhaustion took over. Zara stood and came beside avalay and Alana. " we need some rest. Alana will you stay in Avaly place while she goes and meets her sister and parents? they want to see you so badly Avaly. will you come and meet them?"

it felt like minutes were passing as Avaly stared blankly around her. everything was flooding in causing her brain to go into over drive. shock. she was in shock. it was all overwhelming and this was the first time since this journey began that she was able to process what was going on and what had happened. "yes. I want to meet my family."