Relief
702 Words
Daisy and Arya rush up beside me, all smiles and enthusiasm. “We have flowers for the new queen,” Daisy says sweetly, her eyes wide and innocent. “Can we please, please, pretty please give these to her?” Arya nods in agreement, batting her eyelashes.
Beta Carter glances at them, his expression serious, but after a moment, he gives them a short nod of approval. “Go ahead.”
With a gleam in their eyes, they dart over to Veronica, their voices laced with compliments. “You’re so beautiful,” Arya gushes, handing her one of the bouquets. Daisy follows, offering her own bouquet with the same glowing admiration.
I watch carefully as Veronica’s eyes start to droop, the magic taking effect. It’s happening.
This is my moment.
Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I address the king, raising my voice enough to catch his attention as Daisy and Arya prepare to catch Veronica’s body. “Your Majesty,” I say, keeping my tone respectful and measured.
The air around me feels suffocating, the weight of dark magic pressing down like a thick fog. My skin prickles under the force of it, but I can’t let that stop me. Not now. I lower my gaze, opening the small box I’ve been holding. “I have a gift for you,” I continue, bowing my head low. “It is a relic I have crafted, specially for your birthday. May I place it on your wrist?”
I don’t dare look at him, knowing that if I meet his gaze, I might fall back into that trance again. Instead, I focus on the bracelet in my hands, feeling the hum of protective magic swirling within it.
The king silently extends his wrist, and I step forward to carefully fasten the gold chain around it. The purple and black gems shimmer under the ballroom lights, their glow subtle but potent. I make sure the clasp is secure before stepping back quickly, retreating to the table without meeting his eyes.
A murmur of commotion rises from the stage.
Suddenly, the king howls in pain, his deep voice reverberating through the room. His growls are guttural, filled with agony, and my heart clenches at the sound. Carter rushes to his side, attempting to comfort him, but the king continues to writhe in pain, the bracelet working against the dark magic still gripping him.
I close my eyes for a moment, focusing on the bracelet’s power. This has to work. I’ve done everything I can. The dark magic begins to lift, and I feel the suffocating heaviness ease, the air becoming lighter with each passing second.
The king’s howls quiet down, replaced by labored breathing. Slowly, I open my eyes and look toward the stage.
There he is, on his hands and knees, gasping for breath. Carter kneels next to him, helping him to stand. The room is silent, the tension still thick but easing with every breath the king takes.
Carter catches my eye and gives me a look of pure relief. I exhale, my own tension releasing as I watch the king’s dark aura dissipate, the magic no longer clinging to him.
Both men turn toward Veronica, who is now completely unconscious, slumped in Daisy and Arya’s arms. She’s still asleep, her energy drained.
The king’s aura shifts, and I feel his alpha power seep into the room. It’s overwhelming, raw, and intense, but unlike before, it’s not suffocating. This is the energy I expected from the king of the lycans—strong, commanding, yet somehow soothing in its purity.
The guests whimper in submission, their heads bowing low as the king’s alpha presence fills the ballroom. My own alpha energy responds to his, rejoicing in the powerful, raw connection. It’s as if his true self is finally free, unburdened by the dark magic that had clouded his being.
The guards move swiftly, chaining the sleeping Veronica without hesitation. They lift her limp body and carry her out of the ballroom, her presence no longer a threat.
The king’s aura fades, and he clears his throat, regaining his composure. The guests remain silent, their eyes fixed on him, awaiting his next move.
- Writer
