Forbidden Forest

The Negotiation

Nyx's POV

My husband Erebus and I had arrived in the west village two days ago, tensions were high in the air. We need to have this peace treaty signed in order to have all the supernatural species safe from the Hunters. If a war breaks out between our two villages, the barrier will fall, and we will all be in danger. I’m writing down what I will negotiate with. There will be more crop trades, mates will be able to reside in either village, cross warrior training will be allowed; I’m not sure what else I can offer. The main point is to prevent the barrier from falling and I need to make that clear.

“ Your Highness,” the guard of the west village says, “The King is ready to see you.”

I nodded my head and followed him to the council chamber. The doors open and we walk in, the peace treaty in my hand. I lay it out on the table and the King reads the terms.

“This is not enough,” he states.

“What else do you want me to offer?” I asked. “There is nothing else valuable that I have.”

“You’re daughter, Princess Celeste.”

King Erebus steps forward, angry at the request. The four villages know that Princess Celeste was killed by the Hunters when she was just a child. “How dare you make a request like that! We both know that you know she was killed fifteen years ago by the Hunters.”

“Well, her body never turned up,” he stated nonchalantly.

“How do you expect it to turn up?” Erebus growls at him, his beast wanting to rip his throat out. “The Hunters would never let us have her remains, they just wanted to use her body as bait.”

“And you never bit the line,” the West King says. “I’m surprised the mighty purebred lycan is scared of the Hunters.”

I step in front of my husband before he does some real damage. I look at the western village King and my purple eyes start to glow. “Enough!” The power of my voice quiets the arrogant King and his skin pales. “You will not speak of my daughter, the point of this treaty is to prevent the barrier from falling. You may feel that you are of the stronger communities, but don’t forget the weaker ones that are around us.” The West King’s eyes fall, he knows that I am right. So, I continue, “We need this treaty so we can protect the ones who need us most. Whatever disagreements we have had in the past need to stay in the past. This is for our species as a whole. My husband and I know we can take the Hunters, but we are thinking of those who cannot.”

The West King nodded his head in acknowledgment, “You are right, Queen Nyx, I apologize. My words were harsh and uncalled for. I agree to the terms, the peace treaty is now effective immediately.” He signs the peace treaty, then hands me the treaty for me and my husband to sign. Once the treaty is signed, the West King frames it and hangs it in the council chambers for everyone to see the agreement.

Suddenly, I had an overwhelming feeling in my chest. I don’t know how to describe it. I look over at Erebus and I know he feels it too. Someone has entered our village, and somehow I have a connection to them.

“Your highness,” King Erebus says to the West King, “we must retire and head to our village to spread the news of the arrangement. We will send over our head warrior, and cross training will begin immediately.”

Erebus then takes my hand and we travel back to our guest chambers. Once we are inside, he looks at me and says, “There’s someone new to the village, they hold great power, I can feel it.”

“But, Erebus,” I said, “Who could it be? We haven’t had a new member in years, and none of them had this kind of effect on us. We never even felt their presence until they were brought forth to us.”

“I don’t know my queen,” Erebus tells me, “But, we need to leave, our village could be in danger. Who knows what this person can do? We aren’t there to protect anyone. Mary can’t do it, not in her condition. She is too weak; we can’t chance the barrier falling, then this treaty will be for nothing.”

I nodded my head, “Then we must leave tonight.” Erebus calls for our servant to gather our things and put them in the car. About an hour later, we said goodbye and expressed our gratitude and then we were on our way. Who is in my village? I thought to myself, as we drove off. I hope we don’t come home to another threat. Mary barely survived the last attack.

Mary's POV

It was mid-afternoon when the crow came to my window holding a rolled piece of paper. I took the message and the crow flew away. I unraveled it and read its contents: High Priestess Mary, you have been summoned to the castle to discuss the new presence in our village. Come immediately. I sighed, I don’t have the energy for this, but I don’t really have a choice.

Celeste is already awake, and is writing in her journal. She has been quiet the past two days. I don’t think she liked the stunt I pulled when she started to ask too many questions. I walked up the loft stairs and told her to get ready. She doesn’t look at me but nods. I walk back down the stairs and get myself ready as well.

When Celeste was ready, she came out in black leggings and an oversized white t-shirt. I notice her ocean blue eyes glowing, but I don’t say anything. The effects of her upcoming birthday are showing early. I don’t find the outfit appropriate for when she meets her parents, but I’m not about to wait for the guards to bust down my door either. They are very worried about my health, as it hasn’t been well. With this summoning, I have a feeling they are going to see Celeste as a threat and not as their daughter, although I have a feeling Erebus will know right away. Nyx, on the other hand, will probably fight it tooth and nail; she’s too afraid to feel that pain again.

We left the cottage and I had her get two of my horses, Freya and Athena. Once we are saddled up, we head to the village. It’s about a five-mile distance. As we ride toward the village, I notice Adrian is following us in his wolf form. It was hard for him to keep his distance from Celeste as he had identified her as his mate. I’m not sure she is aware of it, since I had her powers suppressed until she turned eighteen. I shot him a glare. He shouldn’t be this close. I don’t need Celeste to freak out again or ask questions. He notices and he blends himself into the trees.

About an hour later, we arrived at the village, and we trotted up to the castle gate. The guards took the horses, giving Celeste a hard stare, then looking at me for confirmation that she was allowed. I nod my head and they lift the iron gates, allowing us to enter. We walked through the front doors where a guardian was waiting for me. He didn’t realize I had company.

“She cannot enter, the queen has requested you and only you,” he says gruffly.

“She is allowed as she is the reason I have been summoned,” I stated, looking at him with narrowed eyes.

His eyes go wide in shock, fearful even, “She has been labeled as a great threat. We must take her to the dungeons immediately to await questioning.” He grabs Celeste with such force that she cries out in pain.

“Unhand her immediately,” Erebus shouts, appearing out of nowhere.

“But, Your Highness,” the Guardian started, but Erebus cut him off, his eyes darkened with rage,

“Unhand my daughter immediately!” He booms. The Guardian lets go of Celeste and scurries off, afraid of what the king might do if he stayed any longer.

“Wait,” Celeste said. “Daughter?” Her hand was rubbing her arm where the Guardian had grabbed her.

Erebus’ eyes softened and he ran towards her before she could realize what was happening. He wrapped his arms around her in a big hug and stroked her hair. “My little princess,” he sobbed. “We thought you were dead!”

Celeste’s eyes are wide in shock, but her body relaxes in her father’s hold. She never felt love in her life from that god-awful man that kidnapped her. I’m surprised that she relaxed so easily after what she has gone through, but it must be the parental wolf bond between them. Her body had no choice but to feel relaxed by his touch.

Erebus is still holding Celeste when Nyx walks in. She is not happy. In fact, she is furious, which I had expected. “What are you doing, Erebus! You don’t even know who she is! She is dangerous!” She walks closer to her husband and she overhears what he is saying. She shrieks, which startles both Erebus and Celeste. “That is not my daughter! How dare you! How dare you come in here and pretend to be our daughter! You should be ashamed!”

Celeste's eyes filled up with tears, shock evident on her features. She covers her mouth with her hand and turns to leave through the castle doors.

“Nyx,” I shouted, “Calm your emotions immediately! I have the proof you need. Clearly, Erebus already felt the parental wolf bond with her!”

I pulled out Celeste’s wooden box and grabbed Celeste’s hand, forcing her to stand by me. I took the pendant out of the box and put it around Celeste’s neck. Almost immediately, both Nyx’s pendant and Celeste’s glowed a soft red, confirming that Celeste was biologically hers. Nyx’s eyes are still hard as she leaves the room. I knew she would be stubborn.

“Erebus, why don’t you take Celeste to the garden while I talk to my sister.” I asked him. “And keep Adrian away from her.”

“Why would..” he starts, but I give him a knowing look and his eyes harden in understanding.

When they both leave and go to the park, I head to Nyx’s office. I open her door and she is hunched over her desk with her head in her hands. I looked at her with sadness. I knew I knew it would be hard, but she shouldn’t have treated her daughter that way.

“I know what you are going to say,” she says before I can speak. She lifts her head up, sadness in her eyes. “What am I going to do, Mary? We just had this peace treaty signed and this will start a war between the two of us. You can’t handle that right now.”

I looked at her confused, “What are you talking about?”

“The West King wanted Celeste as a part of the agreement. We told him that she was dead. Before now, Erebus and I both thought she was. This will seem like a lie to them, and he will come after her.”

“Well, he shouldn’t have expected you to just give up your child like that regardless. I mean this isn’t the 1600s.” Nyx snorts, making me laugh. “You should really go out there, you know.”

“I know,” she said, her head falling back into her hands. “I was awful. I just don’t know what to do.”

“You and Erebus will figure it out,” I say and she nods. “Now, go out there and see your daughter, she has a lot of questions, only ones the both of you can answer. Also, just a warning, her eyes were glowing earlier today. She still has four days before her birthday, that shouldn’t be happening.” Nyx nods her head, then gets up and heads to the garden.