The Greatest Thing To Fear Is..... Kindness
1826 Words
[Roanna’s pov]
“Remember to take the medicine two times a day, and eat a healthy meal. And after the third test, we will give you permission for insemination.”
Creepier words have never been said. That was two days ago, after the preparation for my first test. I scooped up water in both my hands, splashing it against my face. I exhaled, the exhaustion was starting to pile up within me. The mental exhaustion, I have no problem physically. I’ve been getting routine meals, and taking the medicine. Just two days and I’m ready to give up on everything. Exhaling softly, I made my way out of the bathroom.
I don’t see Zane at all, mostly because he doesn’t live in Soleria. He lives at the heart of his draconia, with his brothers, nephew and niece, and his best friend/sister-in-law.
I’m all alone here. And the loneliness is different from the one I always felt when I was with my family. With them, it’s like I’m isolated but they’re still around. So technically, I’m not alone. They need me for something.
This is the first time I’ve been on my own, sure bound by a contract where I agree to have a child for an alpha to save their lives... it doesn’t count as freedom. But it is. A little bit. And I don’t know what to do with myself. The medicine makes me sick. I can’t imagine being an omega, being someone whom the alphas and betas either adore or pick on. Technically the weakest form for a wolf.
Aspen isn’t one, she’s a beta but I’d say she’s still more submissive than I am.
I kept walking, and the eyes of the guards made me feel self-conscious, what were they thinking of me? Which led to anger wanting to rise up but I quenched it. There are a million Solerians, maybe more, they’d kill me before Zane even knows about it. And I doubt he would care. He’d probably find another woman.
I still don’t understand what my family was thinking. First, my father angers some dragon shifters, gets us captured and then they plot to leave me here. I thought they needed me.
Protecting them, and keeping them happy even when it hurt me was my life’s purpose.
I don’t know what to do with myself.
I stopped by two transparent doors and walked through them. They led out to an open balcony. There’s no way anyone can find beauty in soleria. It’s a mess of fire, dragons flying around, explosions, and fighting. Like it is chaos 24/7.
Leaning my hands up against the railing, and stared harder at what was happening all around. I could find something interesting about the fiery hues of draconia. Not beautiful, interesting. There was the aura of anger, danger, and constant adrenaline. It was almost intoxicating to see how this was normal here.
A guard bumped into another while walking, and rather than trying to get an apology the guard just attacked him. No one batted an eye. The gardeners, the pet walkers, the other guards around the palace. No one batted a single eye.
This was their normal and they loved it. It was interesting, as I’d said.
“It’s strange isn’t it?” I heard a female voice speak. Flinching, I whipped around and saw Aspen. My eyebrows met at the center. She was a queen, mixing both races. The conquerors and the people they conquered. I bet she never had to deal with s**t like this.
Backstabbing family and having to make a deal you didn’t want to.
She was dressed in a long white dress with icy crystals decorating most of it. A long train led to the back of the dress. Her crown was bigger than what most queens had, and the jewelry on her fingers was placed to accentuate her wedding ring. Said ring looked like it had been carved in the forest by a one-eyed ogre.
Her makeup was light to compliment her features. Her eyes, smooth cheekbones, and white hair. She was what people dreamed to be. Unnaturally stunning. With her was her son, the little jerk who ratted me out. He had a smile on his face.
“Roanna?”
I snapped out of my glare, the kid was annoying me by just being there.
“What? Did my dear ole hubby send you to check on me?”
She chuckled. “He actually told me not to come.”
“So why did you?”
“I figured you needed someone to talk to. I know how weird it can be to be alone in draconia.”
I scoffed. “Right? I’m sure it’s so lonely being married to one of the kings. Must be a tragedy to be beloved by everyone in the kingdom and seen as an icon.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “You think this happened just like that? I don’t blame you. You strike me as someone who makes assumptions without getting their facts straight.”
“Are you saying that I’m wrong?”
“I’m saying you’re not the only one who had hell. I want to help.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“Liar.” we both shot our eyes towards her son who had casually called me a liar.
“I don’t like that kid.”
“Why because he stopped you from tricking Zane?”
I bit my lip, arguing with her was pointless. From where we’d met in my dreams or a place that merged all our dreams, it seemed like she could pull out my hypocrisy. I won’t be stupid enough to say something to her. She’ll call me out on it.
I know I’m not a good person, I’ve dug my hands in the dirt just to keep the people who abandoned me safe and alive. And it didn’t matter to me at the time, and it still doesn’t matter now. My body and mind are conditioned to keep them safe.
I can’t turn it off, believe me. If I could, I would have killed them off.
I eyed Aspen’s son and bent to my knees.
“You’re so smart, what do you think I should do?”
“Befriend my mother, it’s the only chance you have of surviving.”
I blinked. “You think I’ll die without your mother’s help?”
“I can practically guarantee it.”
I stood straight, still eyeing him strangely. I’ve never met a hybrid in my life, I can even say that they’re very rare. We don’t mix. No one does. Interspecies mixing is like a fancy thing to add to your bucket list.
He strikes me as someone to worry about. But he said it with a straightforward look, he could guarantee my death. Does he know something I don’t?
It’s obvious. No one has ever heard of changing their home designation and surviving!! A voice yells in my head.
I doubt that’s what this kid is talking about. Because how would befriending Aspen help me with that? I don’t even know what to make of her. She’s nice. She seems nice, I mean. I don’t know if she actually is.
Trusting people is risky. She is a fellow descendant... in some ways, I expect us to have each other's backs but she married the enemy.
Again, hypocrisy.
I sighed, I can’t decide.
“She’ll do it.” The young prince says, then he turns and stepping out from the shadows is the third brother. Long hair, icy eyes, and venom in the calmest coolest way possible radiates from the expression on his face.
Malek Valtero. He picked his nephew up, cuddling the kid close.
“Malek, didn’t I tell you to stay downstairs?”
“I remember telling you to bite me.” he snips but she laughs. Turning her analytic gaze from me to him.
“And I recall actually biting you.”
This gets the hardness in his face to leave, something close to fondness fills his expression. I would think they were flirting if I hadn’t seen how she looked at his brother. Like someone drunk on feelings. Yech.
“Go and get the box, please. So we can leave.” he places the prince back on his feet, and Aspen ushers the young boy away. Leaving me and the ice king alone.
“I don’t know what you’re planning, I don’t care if Aspen wants to show you a shred of kindness if this procedure doesn’t kill you... know that I will. I will abduct you, put you in a cellar, and make you watch as I peel the skin off them then I will kill you last. You are nothing, you are less than the servants who beg at my feet. You came from nothing, and you will end as nothing.”
I pressed up closer against the railing like I was trying to escape him. As an alpha my natural reflex wanted to challenge him, but imagine how dumb that would be. Challenging the king of the species that claimed half of the world.
I think not.
I stayed tight-lipped as he spoke.
“Do you understand me? It was stupid of you to think that you could play a king. There are three of us. I am not forgiving. I won’t let you get away with this, so you better beg your goddess that you die before I get the chance to teach you a lesson about being a self-righteous thief.” he straightened, and I swallowed. Nodding. The Ice King was a good nickname for him. Zane’s anger had been frightening, but Malek’s anger was quiet.
“Aspen is a part of my family. Whether or not she’s a descendant, doesn’t give you the right to speak to her badly. And-” he laughs a little. “Glare at my nephew again, and it’ll be the last thing you do with your eyes.”
He turned around in time like he’d heard Aspen coming.
“Uncle Malek, we found the box and cookies. But don’t tell Uncle Zane.”
“Never. It’s our secret,” he held the young prince’s hands and led him out of my line of sight.
Aspen looked at me for a minute. “I genuinely want to be your friend, so think about it. But also keep in mind that the next time you try to play Zane, I will hurt you. And I promise, I’ll make your past pain feel like nothing.” then she smiled politely and walked away.
I stared at the space she’d been standing. I’ll give her this, she definitely knows how to lay a threat.
I’m in this place, everyone is my enemy. I tried to trick the favorite king, which means I’m enemy number one.
This is going to be the worst experience of my life. I can already see it.
- Writer
