Page 3 of The Aurora Marelup Complete Saga Omnibus

“Priestess… has it begun?” The beautiful, young Elven woman stands there, several strands of her pink hair covering her eyes.

“Yes, my dear, it has.” I finish writing on a scroll and hand it to Laurel.

“Take this directly to Oberon and then return.” I stare down at the scroll as it leaves my hand. “I gave the unsuspecting mother the herbs mixed in with the blood magic I used. She will produce a hybrid at the cost of her own life.” I try to show no remorse over my role in this event.

Laurel takes the scroll and holds it close to her chest. “I will deliver it straight away. Oberon will be most pleased with you.” A quick bow of her head, and she is gone in a wisp of glimmering light.

“What have I done?” I lower my head into my hands; regret almost instantly begins to sink in. My stomach is in knots, knowing full well the magnitude of what I have done. Basically, I have assisted in assassinating the last pureblood Marelup. I’ll be responsible for bringing an abomination into this world.

Later today, those two wicked daughters of Grigore will begin to learn blood magic. Tonight, poor Anca will be bound to four males undeserving of her. The last of a noble bloodline shall forever be tainted.

I standoff to the side, watching the gala in full swing as dignitaries from all around begin to gather to watch Anca accept her mates. On the other hand, Anca sits upon her throne with a blank expression on her face, devoid of any emotion. The king is off speaking to Grigore before the presentation begins. Vladimir, Josef, and Jacob all approach the throne heading directly towards Anca. Her dead eyes lock with Vladimir.

Languidly she rises from her throne and moves to stand before him. Anca is easily five inches shorter than Vladimir and has to crane her neck to look up at him. They stand there, staring at each other for several minutes. There’s zeroemotion betrayed on Anca’s face. A sigh escapes her lips before she leans her neck off to the side. Submission to Vladimir is given without contention, and quickly he moves and bites her shoulder, sinking his canines in deep. My stomach churns with bile watching this mockery of a mating ceremony taking place. No pain or pleasure registers on Anca’s face as she stares off over the crowd with dead eyes. Vladimir releases her shoulder and grips her neck to bring her mouth to his shoulder. Several attempts are made before Anca bites his shoulder in return. Cheers go up throughout the hall. Boldly, Vladimir moves to the king’s throne and sits down. He’s already assuming the mantle of king.

Anca is just a shell of herself as she sits upon her throne. She watches the party with unseeing eyes. The leader of the Great Bear Clan, Mikhail, arrives; Vladimir stands and greets him. With Mikhail is Dimitri Kovac, now assigned to be the queen’s personal guard. Dimitri doesn’t look thrilled with how Anca is acting. His eyes narrow, studying her closely. Vladimir motions to Anca, and she stands only to move sluggishly to Vladimir’s side. Vladimir passes Anca to Mikhail as if she holds no value to him. Her dead eyes look up to Mikhail, and Vladimir issues the order to submit once Dimitri has walked away. Gradually Anca tilts her head to the side and exposes her throat to Mikhail. He hesitates for a moment, then sinks his canines deep into her flesh. Anca shows no reaction to his bite, except a single tear that rolls down her cheek. Mikhail withdraws his canines and then presses Anca’s mouth to his shoulder. Several seconds pass before Anca bites Mikhail’s shoulder; she holds on for only a few moments before she heads back to her throne.

Even drugged, Anca’s depression becomes evident. She’s now bound to two males unworthy of her. The doors to the grand ballroom blow open, and with it the temperature begins to drop swiftly. Anca’s head remains lowered as she stares at her wineglass, barely able to keep her thoughts straight. Frost on her glass catches her attention, and it’s the first time this entire gala that her wolf has stirred. Gradually she raises her head, and sees the beautiful man standing before her. I’m finally excited for her. This time, she appears to have some semblance of control over herself. His eyes churn like liquid mercury around his Dragon slits. His hair is as white as freshly fallen snow, and his skin is as smooth as fine china. Anca moves for the first time tonight of her own volition.

Without warning, her Lycan forces her shift and raises its head to howl her summoning call. All the Lycans within the great hall break free of their human bonds at her call, my own beast included. All eight feet of heavily-muscled Lycan stalks forward, toward the beautiful man.

“Mine,” her wolf says through the pack bond, and that is all Anca needs to hear.

Quickly her beast strikes, sinking her canines deep within the unknown male’s shoulder. I watch Anca react to his fingers threading through her rough fur in soothing circles. Carefully she withdraws her canines and licks his wounds clean. Her pure-silver orbs stare down at his draconic eyes, while the beautiful man removes his cloak and wraps it around her beast's shoulders.

Anca shifts back to her human form quickly and stares up at the hunk of a man. His shoulders are broad and heavily muscled. He gently kisses Anca’s forehead, then nuzzles her cheek and she willingly moves her head to the side. He finds an unmarked spot close to her throat and bites her. Anca wraps her hand around the back of the man’s neck, holding his head to her shoulder. For the first time tonight, I see that Anca is actually smiling; this man's powerful blood has erased whatever spell she was under before. He gently cleans his bite and looks Anca in the eyes. “My name is Nicodeamus Tepish, of the Ice Dragon court, firstbornprince. You, my beautiful, fierce Anca, are my mate. I will love you forever and a day.” He reaches down and lifts her hand to his lips, and kisses her knuckles.

I watch Vladimir standing off to the side, fuming while watching the event transpire. Anca’s shift marks her true mate's arrival, thus lowering his chances of fathering the first child with her. Suspiciously, he gathers those closest to him and begins to plot what to do next to secure his place on the throne. The representative from the Dire Wolves arrives tomorrow evening. All he has to do is drug Anca again and get her to accept the last fool to arrive. Her heat is due to start any day now, so in theory all he has to do is make sure he’s the only one able to produce an heir.

CHAPTER 3

Dimitri

NIGHT OF THE WOLF CELEBRATION

Moldavia,Romania

November 30, 1791

Festivities are underway within the Lycan castle. Wolves and other shifters from surrounding clans are gathered for the celebrations. Queen Anca sits upon her gold and crimson dais, hand resting on her heavily pregnant belly. Her dark crimson gown hugs her generously. Within her womb is the heir to the Lycan Empire. Her gunmetal-gray eyes follow her mates’ movements throughout the hall as they mingle with the various creatures gathered. I notice the mild contractions had begun almost a half-hour ago. It was still too soon to alert anyone to the impending birth. This child would be the first one born in about one hundred years. How fitting that the pup chose tonight to make its appearance.

I am a local Great Bear Shifter, tasked with the protection of the Queen and Heir. My hazel eyes lock onto the Queen’s hands and her stomach; something has changed. My eyes churn, turning golden as my bear rises to the surface. Quickly I cut through the crowd and arrive at her side.

“My Queen, is it time?” I tilt my head to the side, eyes focused and muscles tensed, ready to spring into action. The Queen slowly turns her head to face me.

“Soon, my friend. Send Andre to gather the Elder Dame to my chambers. We will follow shortly.” Anca’s voice is strained as she tries to remain composed, watching the gala. I turn slowly and lock eyes with Andre; a simple short nod of the head sends him off to do his Queen’s bidding. I then watch for the Queen’s mates to look towards the dais; one by one, they are given the signal—only the Alpha King, Vladimir, approaches.

“Is it time, my love?” he speaks reverently to his mate. His tone, however, doesn’t convey the affection his words suggest. He offers her his hand and helps her stand up. Anca nods her head slightly. Carefully and slowly, she stands. Vladimir and I flank her as we escort her to the birthing chambers. Several stops are made as the contractions increased in power. Poised and proper to a fault, Anca refuses to show pain or weakness. She clenches her jaw and lightly growls through the pain. Her eyes bleed to the liquid mercury of her she-wolf, both of them anxious to meet their pup. Once within the chambers, the Elder Dame leads her to the bed and prepares her for the birthing. Vladimir paces the rooms anxiously, waiting for the arrival of his firstborn child. I move and take my post just outside of the chamber, but remain close enough if I need to get back quickly. The Queen’s agonizing screams during labor makes even my big bear cringe. The tones she hits sounds like she is being murdered within her chambers.

A sudden pounding on the door startles me, making me turn and rip the door open. In the hallway, I find the Queen’s second mate, Mikhail. His face and clothes are covered in blackened blood. “The Strigoi are attacking; we must evacuate Anca and the pup, now!” As soon as his statement leaves his bloody lips,I whip my head around, looking back towards the birthing chambers. Anca’s blood-curdling screams pierce the night.

“I’ll see to it myself, M’lord. Send Andre. Worst case scenario, he can fly off with the pup while we move your mate.” I hope my words are what Mikhail wanted to hear. A swift nod was all he gave before he retreats and takes off running down the hallway. I double bolt and barricade the door before running to update my charges. Andre’s Golden Eagle sits on the windowsill before dropping into the room to join the evacuation.

Anca screams and thrashes on the bed with each contraction. Unable to shift, she grips onto the sheets for dear life. The Elder Dame keeps passing different herb mixtures to Anca, but nothing is helping. Without warning, the sheets start staining red with blood. Way too blood much for it to be from labor alone. The Elder Dame draws back the drenched sheet to find tiny white talons ripping through Anca’s flesh. Anca screams, her voice growing horse from effort. Nicodeamus’s dragon calls back to her in the distance.

Several moments pass, and the partially-shifted little baby has clawed its way free of her mother’s womb. The blood-drenched, hairless Lycan pup paws at the flesh of its mother as it drags itself free of her womb. Vladimir orders for his daughter to be cleaned immediately and tended to. He shows no concern for the Queen as she lies dying, bleeding out in her own bed. Her dying words whispered, begging for her Seraphina to be protected. I watch Anca as the life drains from her body, desperately wanting to save her but not sure how to. The internal damage to Anca’s body is too significant. The Queen expires silently, her lifeless gray eyes looking in the direction of her daughter. I turn, watching the Alpha pace back and forth next to the bed. Vlad is deep in thought as the Elder Dame slowly covers Anca’s lifeless body, as he gently rocks the tiny package in his arms, humming softly.

The Elder Dame brings forth the family crest—the blackened brand that all Marelup descendants were marked with. Andre and I stand shoulder to shoulder, watching the little bundle get marked. A shrill scream comes from the pup as the silver burns her flesh. The sounds of battle drift to us as the fight draws ever closer to the birthing chambers. Swords clashing, and the shrieks of the Strigoi draw closer. His back suddenly straightens, and his presence becomes commanding. “Take my daughter, Aurora! Please, protect her with your lives!”

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