A Curse's Price, A King's Mate

December 31st, 2003.

It was a day that will never for forgotten for those living among the ancestral kingdom to be found in the trees. A day that will be forever implanted in the minds of the members of the village, bringing an assortment of reactions.

Far beyond the realm of the human world, to be found deep within the trees of the Black Forest, the kingdom of Vaija resides. A kingdom that had existed in the world for thousands of years, but very few had ever known it existed. For it is the kingdom of the werewolves. Men who can trans morph themselves at will, taking on the beast that lived inside of them, forever apart. This kingdom has been divided into twelve packs, each one governed by the alphas that controlled them and all knelt to the ruling of the Alpha King. The mightiest of the beasts that roamed the woods, the Alpha King ascended above them all, he alone bowed to no one.

Screams broke the night.

A mighty roar came from a distance.

All members of the tiny village jerked to attention at that roar, aware of what its presence there meant. Violently shaking at the thought of the roar echoing through the night everyone ran into their homes and locked the doors. Even while barricaded inside of their dwellings none of them felt truly safe, knowing it wouldn't stop the creature. It never did. All that it would take is a little effort on the animal's part to tear through the door, to bring him inside. It was him. The beast that had haunted their every waking moment. The monster of Black Hills.

The thought had no sooner surfaced through their minds, as if projected by their thoughts alone, when he came into their vision. On the hill that overlooked the small village, an enormous creature stood, from shoulders down nearly feet six in height. The length of his body was nearly twice as long, a pair of massive shoulders and an enormous head, completely covered in black fur. Save for hints of gold and copper. The eyes were the most frightening attribute the animal had, large red orbs that glistened and glowed, like two pools of lava. Those eyes of his were the most frightening thing about him, evidence of his might, the powers coursing through his body.

All the residents of White Ash pack took refuge inside their homes, hidden away in closets or beneath beds. Everyone violently trembling in terror at the animal in their midst, frightened they would be the ones he came for tonight. For there could only be one reason he'd come there tonight, only one thing that brought him to the small sleepy town in the darkness.

"Edgar," the deep voice came.

Silenced stretched the night.

Tsking came from somewhere beyond the homes of the resident, as a man stalked along the streets of the small town. "Edgar," his deep voice came again, though louder this time, clearly on edge that his request had come unanswered. "I'd advise you to come to me Edgar, you are not going to like the outcome if I'm forced to come find you." The man took a deep breath. "I am giving you this one last chance, out of respect for the years of loyalty to the royal family, do not dishonor yourself by hiding."

When it seemed like he would have to go in search of him, a door opened deep from within the village. A moment later a copper headed man stepped out the door of a home and moved towards the man. He dropped to his knees. "My prince," he whispered hoarsely, "What can I do for you?"

Those glowing red eyes focused on the man that had come to stand before him, a wealth of meaning in them. "You've been accused of high treason. For the verdict of guilty the crime holds the toll of death."

"I'd never," he protested.

"I know," the man agreed.

Understanding that neither of them could change the outcome of the night, Edgar dropped his head in resignation. Finding honor in the man's calm acceptance, there was none of the whimpering cries or pleading for mercy. A hand reached out for the thick column of the man's throat, staring deeply into the hazel eyes, his hand twisted. There was the sound of a loud crack of bone, his head twisted into an abnormal angel, Edgar dropped dead on the ground.

"See that Edgar is cared for," he ordered. Then spinning away, disgusted at the sight of the body crumbled on the ground at his feet, he stalked off. In the next moment, the man disappeared into the night, becoming one with the shadows that enveloped him, as he had for years.

"Shane?"

Stalking through the desert corridors of the castle, the lack of servants running amuck obvious, Shane skidded to a halt. Gnashing his teeth at the voice that'd been calling out his name, he continued on his way, taking the steps two at a time. In that moment all he wanted to do was go upstairs to his chamber, clean the filth off his body and pretend like he was somewhere else. Anywhere else really. But of course he never got the chance, the man had made damn sure of that.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" the demand came at him from a distance, as the man speaking turned around the corner of the wall. Less than ten feet away stood a man nearly as tall as him, a set of broad shoulders and a wide chest, deep amber eyes watching him. "I called your name."

"I must've not heard you," Shane lied blatantly, having heard the the man calling him he simply hadn't cared enough to find out what he wanted. He still didn't. Any tender affections he'd felt for him had gone out the window years ago, around the same time he'd seen him as a weapon.

King Anthony skeptically eyed the young man standing before him, seriously doubting the claims that he'd made. Aware that the boy had lied through his teeth, though he kept from commenting on his doubts. "The situation I told you about, Edgar Blake. Has it been handled?"

"Yes," he grunted in response, aware that acting oblivious to his demands wasn't going to help him. If anything the king would only see it as a show of disrespect and lash out in anger to punish him. "Edgar has been handled."

"Good boy."

Shane fought back the urge to roll his eyes in response to his statement, complimented as if he were a dog. Sometimes he wondered if that's how the man really saw him, a dog bent to the whims of his master. A sadistic master at that. When King Anthony stalked off, having received the answers he'd been wanting, he continued on his way. Inside of his private chambers, the cutting off of the outside world, Shane fought the urge to scream. To rant and rave and lash out at the cruel fate that had been thrust upon him, but knew better than submitting to such weakness. It wouldn't change the outcome of his life, as he'd seen proof enough for himself over the years.

Inside the bathroom, he stepped into the shower, beneath the spray of hot water he allowed all the filth and grim to wash clean from his body. If only the death and decay that tainted his soul could've been so easy to be cleansed away too. Those scars were worn deep inside his soul, carried around inside of his heart, as they undoubtedly always wound.

Shane hated his father for that. Hated the monster he'd turned him into, the creature that stalked the night, preying on the innocent. He'd been meant as a sign of peace, evidence of a new beginning, to stand guard for their people. Yet, the people that he was meant to protect, to safeguard from their enemies, are the ones that he continued to torture night after night. It failed to matter that like the rest of them had had no choice, forced to follow the ruling of King Anthony, controlled by the darkness of the alpha voice that haunted him. Shane hated himself for his inability to deny his ruling, becoming the savage monster controlled by the whims of a madman.

And King Anthony was a madman, of that there was no doubt. Shane was sixteen when he'd seen the monster that lurked beneath the crown, the truth of the evil bastard he looked upon. He'd been basking in the glow of receiving his wolf, a long awaited day, and had come to the castle in a lightened mood. The night had been exhausting--it was never easy the first shift following an Awakening--but had been thrilling. Shane had been absolutely overjoyed with his wolf, him and Caspar were the perfect fit, melded together so perfectly.

When he had come inside the castle that night his father had taken no more than one look at him, nodding, "I have a task for you." The task he'd wanted him to handle was to head towards the village, if only to remind the people who had the real power. Shane had adamantly refused to bend to his will, unable to bear the thought of harming these people, his people. It was their job to protect them, not to abuse them. His father didn't seem to care what their purpose in the world was, he was the Alpha King, he demanded absolute obedience. By his people and son. When Shane thought to reject his orders King Anthony used The Voice, one all alphas had, but the Alpha King controlled even them. In the end Shane had become nothing more than a servant to his whims, the monster King Anthony used to strike fear in the hearts of their enemies and to control the people beneath his thumb.

For nearly four years now Shane had been in service of his father's wishes, but vowed one day to escape beneath his clutches. One day he would find the strength to overcome him and then not even the voice would hold him prisoner. Little did he know that day was fast approaching.

****

"Sire, please," a voice cried.

King Anthony gnashed his teeth at the whimpering woman at his feet, having little time for whatever had brought her there. A foot kicked out at the hands clutching onto him, desperate to gain his attention, "I don't have time for these whimperings of yours, woman, I have more important things to do with my time." Like how he was going to stamp out the whispering to be heard, knowing that an uprising was coming. He wasn't nearly as stupid as his people thought him to be, aware that his pack members were talking behind his back, prepared for a mutiny.

"My king," the woman again sought to gain the attention of the king, desperate to get him to listen to her claims. "These are not the whimperings of a madwoman. The Blood Moon pack are defying the laws of our people, the laws that you have set forth. Their witches are not only dabbling in the dark arts which is forbidden, and are performing vey potent blood magic. Their witches are performing inhumane magical experiments on children, lycans, even humans, it doesn't matter to them. If something isn't done to put a stop to them now, then I fear their actions will doom us all."

"Alpha?" Nicklaus, King Anthony's right-hand man and Beta stepped out of the shadows, eyeing the man on the throne. "I do not mean to overstep my bounds, but if Margret is right then it would be unwise to allow this to go unchecked."

Shane walked into the castle covered in the ilk of his most recent hunt, intent on cleaning the filth from his body. He'd been bypassing the galleria he'd transformed into his throne room, when he overheard the conversation. Blood Moon was dabbling into the Dark Arts, were they? Blood magic at that. He shuddered in revulsion at the thought of what the pack could be getting up to. He'd always been deeply affected by the art side of magic, though it was for entirely different reasons. Being born of the sacred Tremonti Bloodline he could sense the dark magics, that always managed to get under his skin. Hurriedly heading to his bedroom chambers he cleaned off the mess from his hunt, then changed into a new set of clothes.

By the time he made his way back downstairs, it was to see that both the woman and his beta were gone. Noticing his father busy pouring over whatever documents that'd gained his attention, Shane sneaked out of the castle. Preferably before Anthony became aware of his presence, demanding further atrocities to be enacted by him. Goddess, he hoped not. Already so much blood and death were soaked into his hands, the horror of sightless eyes would forever haunt him. Thankfully that wasn't an issue that he'd have to worry about, Shane slipping out of the castle unnoticed. For once.

Deep in the trees of the Black Hills forest, far beyond the boundaries of Viaja castle and White Ash pack. He stepped out of a cluster of trees to stand in the center of an open field, surrounded by an assortment of flowers. A garden that would rival even that of the Botanical gardens, as there were roses and daisies and marigolds, and even some flowers that hadn't existed in centuries. Shane basked in the glow of the magic that shimmered through the air, that soaked in the ground at his feet. White Magic was the most overwhelming, intense and potent experience a person could experience, an aphrodisiac unseen in the world.

Then positioned dead center of the magical garden that he'd come to this evening was a quaint little cottage. Fashioned out of logs from the very trees that surrounded it, overgrown with moist moss and ivy. The top of the roof was coated in thin branches, leaves and twigs held together by strings of twine. It gave a rustic feel to the place that most others simply lacked, a beauty very few had the pleasure of witnessing. Shane was completely overtaken by the simplicity and peace to be found in this place, that always soothed his nerves.

"What brings you here?" a voice asked.

Offering a gentle smile to the woman that stood on the porch of the cabin, Shane bent down to plant a kiss on her cheek. "Oh, I would think that someone like you, with the powers at the tip of your fingers, would already know."

"Shane Mathias Blackwood!" She reprimanded me much like the mother he'd lost long ago, though she didn't look a day over twenty-five. "You know better than that."

That he did. He knew better than most how the powers of the fates worked, especially when it came to her. Not to say that she didn't have the powers to peer into his future, she simply elected him the privacy and respect not to. Shane tipped his head, "I thank you for the consideration. I don't necessarily want anyone swimming around in my destiny, even though I know you do from time to time.

She grimaced in guilt. "What brings you here?"

Stepping through the door of the small cabin she'd transformed into her home, Shane considered her for a long moment. "Delilah, I need you to do something you may not be entirely comfortable with. I need you to peer into the actions of a pack."

Delilah froze. "What pack?"

"Blood Moon," he told her.

Her normal soft tanned skin immediately went ashen, Delilah grabbed the back of a nearby chair for support. Her legs weakened by the emotional burden she'd suffered, Delilah slowly lowered down in the seat. "This is about Blood Moon." Her voice removed when she spoke, hands shook in the center of her lap, clearly unsettled by what she'd learned. "You want to know if they're using Dark Magic?"

Leaning back in the chair opposite of her, Shane had little doubt of what would be the outcome. Her reaction was proof enough. The parlor of her skin, the violent shaking of her body, none of it bode well for the answers he sought. "So the lady was right? Blood Moon is working dark magic."

"Among other things," Delilah grunted in agreement, shuddering at the thought of everything she'd foreseen in her visions. Information she would've imparted on him from the beginning, but for her own reasons had held it back. "Their witch Narissa is deep-seated in the dark arts, especially blood magic."

He shuddered. "What is her aim?"

Delilah vehemently shook her head. "I'm sorry my prince. My visions have been very enlightening in the past, but I'm afraid that this time not even I can foresee what the witch is up to."

"You're the strongest witch to grace our kingdoms," Shane thought to remind the woman, in case this piece of information had escaped her knowledge. "Unparrelled powers never seen before in anyone in the kingdom. How on earth can not even you foresee what the woman is up to?"

Delilah dropped her head, dejection weighing down her shoulder. "This revelation only further increases my worry of what the woman could be up to, that not even I can foresee her intents. Whatever she's brewing, I fear it could be our undoing."

"What have you seen?" he asked instead.

"Not very much," she was forced to admit. "I've been keeping a close eye on the witch and pack ever since I sensed the magic brewing, but most of what they're doing is cloaked from my powers. I do not she's working some very serious dark and blood magic. It has something to do with children, I keep seeing the faces of so many different young ones. Werewolf, lycan, witch, human, it's all the same to her. She's doing something to them, something evil and dark, but for what purpose I don't have a clue. Whatever she could be up to, I'm frightened that none of us will be strong enough."

Hating to see the fear brightening those hazel eyes of hers, Shane climbed from his seat and went to wrap her in his arms. He offered what little comfort he could in those moments, showing her a tenderness none ever saw. "Don't worry Delilah, this will be put to an end. By my own hands if necessary."

"Be careful," she warned him.

"I will," he promised.

Shane sat across from his father later that evening, while the two of them shared the evening meal. Though having food with the man was the last thing he wanted to do, his presence would be demanded. Besides, it gave him the opportunity to have a talk with him. He was still struggling with how to bring up the subject, concerning his fears of the Blood Moon pack's actions. It wouldn't be easy. The last thing Shane wanted was for his father to believe that he'd overstepped his place and growing angry. It never ended well when that happened.

Only the need for a conversation wasn't necessary. Nicklaus burst into the room with a flurry of movement, dropping to his knees before the man. "I am sorry my King, I know you wish to have these dinners with Prince Shane uninterrupted, but I fear this cannot hold on."

"What?" he growled.

"It's Blood Moon," the king's beta rushed on before he was given a chance to say more, too determined to complete what had brought him there. "Margret was speaking the truth with her tale. It seems that Blood Moon's pack is indeed practicing Black Magic and Blood Magic as we speak. Whatever they're up to has something to do with these children, hundreds of kids have been kidnapped."

"So?" he drawled carelessly.

Nick shot up. "Sire, you cannot mean..."

A beefy fist slammed down on the table, eyes glowed on the man. "I am your king, it is not your place to question my authority, simply to adhere to the orders that I've given you. It was neither your place or right to investigate the happenings of the pack, that will surely cause unrest if the Alpha feels threatened."

"The children?" he began.

"As good as dead," King Anthony spoke.

From where he sat in the seat directly across from his father, Shane listened to what the man had to say. Horrified at the knowledge that his beta had provided him proof of Blood Moon's transgressions, but had no intentions of intervening. In fact, the man was downright pissed off that his beta had even taken the time to check into it, all for the sake of his demandable peace. It was the last straw. The final atrocity committed by the spineless, coward that had taken over the shell that'd once been his father. An unforgivable crime that neither he or Caspar could accept, unwilling to stand by for a second longer while he continued his reign of terror.

"He dies tonight!" Caspar seethed in rage from where he emerged from the shadows of his mind, just as angry by what happened.

"He does," he agreed in the silence of his mind. As Shane lifted his head his eyes were glowing red, evidence of the beast hidden in the shadows of his mind. His voice was dark, animalistic, "Get out!"

"My prince," Nick began.

"GO!" the roar came, but it was not Shane's voice that'd spoken. It belonged to the animal that was banked deep inside of his soul, the monster that his people feared. The monster his father would learn to fear.

Nicklaus found himself climbing from his feet and stumbling out of the room, unable to deny the order given to him. It wasn't the need to adhere to the orders of the Crowned Prince, nor fear of repercussions. It was the voice. The Alpha Voice. Standing outside of the doors of the dining hall, desperately panting for breath, Nicklaus understood what had happened. There was a new change of command tonight, one that not even King Anthony could forestall happening.

Turning those blood red eyes on the man that had taken the place of the father he'd once loved, he didn't even hesitate. Launching himself in attack, both he and Casper of a single mind, neither of them balking at what needed to be done. Those in the castle heard the screams of terror that came from the dining hall, the desperate pleas, but no one dared to offer their aid. Sometime later Shane emerged from the dining room, a cold expression on his face, vibrating energy. "Time to go." No one dared to question the blood that soaked his hands and chest, nor the claw marks on his arms. He stopped a maid on the way out. "My father needs to be taken care of."

"Yes, my..." the maid frowned, "My king."

Having no care for the shock all of them must surely face at the change of power, Shane took out the back door.

Just as had been instructed of her the maid--Lou-Ann--went into the dining hall where King Anthony awaited her. She could not withhold the scream that surfaced when she found the king, or what remained of him. It was a horrifying sight unlike anything she'd ever witnessed before, that would leave her scarred for years to come.

"I see," Nicklaus gaped in astonishment when he entered the room upon hearing her scream. "It would seem that we have a new king tonight."

Of that, there was no doubt.

"That we do," she agreed. There was no denying there had been a change of power within the walls of Vaija; their one-time prince had made sure of that. Lou-Ann could only hope that he'd do better than his father, that he wouldn't allow the darkness in his blood to destroy them all.

Shane was nearing the edge of the forests that surrounded his home when he heard the scream in the distance. The sound of that horrifying cry of fright assured him that the maid had followed through on his orders. Right at that moment the maid and Nicklaus were bearing witness to the scene that awaited them inside, that would show them how much their world was about to change. Good. And high time too. Vaija was in need of a new king, just as White Ash needed a better Alpha. It was something that had been a long time in the coming, as he should've done when he'd turned eighteen.

Delilah had even suggested that he break free of the chains his father had placed him under, to fight for his crown. Instructing him that he was the Crowned Prince, a bearer of the Tremonti bloodline, he was different from the rest of them. He could fight his father, fight the allure of the alpha voice. That Shane was not meant to be cowed down or subjected to the whims of a madman. Father or not, he was too great to be yet another slave.

Of course, Shane had continued to hold himself back from following through on her wishes. Not because he couldn't, but out of fear. Fear for his people, fear of the monster he'd become. Frightened that like his father before him, he'd become the sadistic lunatic hell-bent on bloodshed and mayhem. Shane hadn't wanted to become the monster that his father was, fearing that the weight of the crown would surely do that.

Yet, just like Delilah had warned him would be the outcome, he'd finally reached his limit and not even his fear could hold him back. Tonight had proven that. It was just too much for him to bear, a crime he couldn’t allow to go unpunished.

Less than a mile into the woods that he'd known since infancy he shed the clothes that he wore, leaving the remains on the ground. Bare feet were still running across the ground when he felt the shift taking place, hearing the cracking of his bones. Then in the space of a couple of moments, the shift was complete, coming faster with each new change.

Enormous paws stomping against the ground of the hard earth, his beast raced through the trees, racing towards Blood Moon pack territory. He didn't even bother calling upon the aid of his men, deciding this would be something that he handled on his own. His first act as Alpha, as the new king.

It didn't take him long to arrive ar their borders. Shaking his head as the sensation of dark magic washed over him, far more potent than he'd ever experienced before. Assuring him that this wasn't a recent occurrence, this was magic that had been used for years, maybe even decades. It clung to the air around him, soaked in the ground at his feet.

Snarling at the thought of what had been allowed to happen, what his father's mindless craze had allowed. No more. "It ends tonight," Caspar snarled savagely, repelled in disgust at the realization of what had been going on inside of their kingdom.

"All of them die," Shane promised. He meant exactly that. Jumping off the ledge of the wilderness his paws landed on the earth below, immediately lunging into attack.

One by one he killed everyone that came within his path, none of them were spared from the bloodthirsty monster. Every single member of the Blood Moon Pack was tainted with the blood that stained the ground. Shane could feel the death and decay that came off of them in droves, where even the light repelled from them as if disgusted. This was all the proof that he needed to assure him of their guilt in the matter of what had happened.

All of them were to blame.

All of them were monsters.

All of them would die for their crimes.

Members of the blood moon pack fled towards the distance. Screaming at the sight of the creature that'd come within their vision tonight. None of them were ignorant of the one that had come in their path tonight, stories of him had become legendary.

So many people had fled to the far winds of the pack, in the hopes that they would be the one lucky enough to be spared. It wouldn't do them any good. All of them had committed the most heinous, cruel and evil acts, and all of them would suffer the consequences of their actions. All of those present would bear the brunt of the punishment. Shane refused to allow any of them to escape judgment at his hands.

One by one the beast went after any that came within his reach, using sharp fangs to hold them immobile while his claws tore their bodies apart.

Each one screamed.

Each one died at his hands.

Every scream of horror or plea for mercy or forgiveness went completely unanswered by him. He didn't care how much they screamed and begged him for their lives. It didn't matter the tremors that shook their bodies or the tears that stained down their faces. These people were responsible for the vile acts that had been committed tonight, their darkness forever scarred the land beneath his feet.

The moon was nearing its highest peak in the sky when Shane stalked through the small village. Though tonight he’d come to see that pack was much larger than he'd originally believed it to be. Blood Moon pack had been reported to barely be more than a couple hundred people, where in fact it was nearly a thousand.

Further proof the pack had been up to no good, having been concealing the vast numbers of their people. Shane didn't know what purpose the alpha had for concealing this knowledge, nor did he particularly care. Their plan ended this night, he'd made damn sure of that. Blood red eyes glowed on the corpses that littered the ground at his feet, most of them torn to shreds, while others were mauled beyond repair.

Shane found himself standing near a cottage on the north end of the pack, this being the home of the pack's witch. His eyes focused on the woman that laid pressed up to the side of the house, as if trying to escape his special brand of justice. It wouldn't save her. He had her scent from the moment he'd stepped foot in the territory and none of her running would've saved her from his wrath. He was confident the witch was aware of this fact, as she laid there, panting in breath, resignation weighted her down.

He bared his teeth, "Ready to die, bitch?"

Her cold black eyes glanced around to bear witness to the annihilation of her entire pack, their blood forever tainting the land. Rather than the fear he'd expected to find there a broad smile spread across the witch's face, "You think you've won King Shane the monster of Shayde, when you've only ensured your own defeat. Upon the grace of the Blood Moon you shall forever live haunted by the evil you've enacted on this night, the night of your crowning. You will be plagued by the darkness and shadows and death that you committed, then in the year of the next Blood Moon my vengeance will rise and those you've wronged will drag your soul straight to hell."

His head shot towards the moon looming overhead, to see the red stain that covered it. Witnessing as it reached its highest peak in the sky, as if forewarning what was to come. The curse that the evil bitch had heaped atop his head for what he’d done.

NO! Caspar warned.

Lunging forward at the knowledge of what she'd done, his teeth closed over the slender column of her throat. Shane took sublime satisfaction as her blood began oozing out of the wounds in her neck, pouring down the front of her body. He stood back to watch as the last shed of light faded out of the woman, finding satisfaction that her evilness would not spread further than it had.

Confident that he'd eradicated Blood Moon's evil from the world, he razed the entire town down to the ground. Then spinning away from the horrific evidence of the first act of king he'd committed, Shane returned home.

"What happened?"

Emerging from the shadows of the trees Shane stared at the woman that had been waiting for him there. It was none other than Delilah, the Powerful Grave witch that had been under the servitude of his father. Not that it was entirely by her own choice, but all lye within a promise she'd made years ago. His mother had been her best friend and had always promised to look out for her son, no matter what. It was for that reason alone that she suffered through the cruelty and abuse of King Anthony. Why she’d remained in this place, forced to do his bidding, rather than seeking escape? All so she could be there for the young man her friend brought into the world.

"There's no need for you to worry," Shane smiled warmly at the woman that had always been near and dear to his heart, the only connection to his mother. He'd still been a young boy when his mother had passed from the earth, thanks to one of his father's many enemies. "King Anthony won't hurt anyone again."

Her expression remained flat, no smile surfaced at the confession the man made. Delilah stared him down, a thoughtful expression. "It's not your father that I am worried about. Shane, please tell me, what happened?"

He shrugged, "I took care of it."

"She cursed you!" she gasped aloud. There was no need for him to tell her the truth of what had happened. Able to sense the waves of magic that rippled off of him, the darkness that consumed him.

"She tried to anyways," he finally confessed the truth, aware that was what had really bought her out here tonight. "Have no worries, Delilah, the bitch is dead. Her powers and any spell she worked are long since gone from this world."

"Their not," she denied.

He was stunned, "What do you mean?" Oh goddess, was there a chance it’d all been for nothing? That it hadn’t mattered if the witch was dead.

Her fingers raked through her auburn tresses, deeply unsettled by the knowledge of what had happened. She confessed the truth. "Narissa channeled the power of the Blood Moon in order to cast the final spell that cursed you. Powerful blood magic like that, not even death can bring it to an end.”

Shane was assailed by the horror of what had been done to him. When she’d spoken her curse he hadn’t been phased by it, believing it’d all been for naught. Everyone in the magical world knew the moment a witch died, then so did the magic she worked. Shane had never considered that this time he was wrong. This time not even death would save him.

What did she say?"

"Death," he gasped. "She cursed me to death."

"How long?" Aware she needed to be made aware of what had happened, Shane repeated the same words that the witch uttered to him. The words that would forever seal the fate of the man, that would condemn him to the same death he’d offered to so many others tonight. "Don't worry Shane, I will ensure that you are protected."

With those same assurances, Delilah fled to her cabin hidden within the trees, headed straight to her sanctum. Inside of the room that was coated from the magic she'd performed over the centuries, she channeled the power of the Blood Moon. It was magic she’d never performed before, but it couldn’t be helped. It was the only hope that she had of saving him, saving all of them.

The powers thrummed through her with a strength she'd never imagined possible, she cast her own spell. A reversal spell. The only hope that she had was to save the life of the man she'd loved so dearly. "For seventeen years he too shall know the pain that has been promised unto him," Delilah promised to the moon, choosing her words very carefully. "Until seventeen years' time, he too shall meet his destined mate, finding redemption in her arms and united as one death will not claim his soul, but rather he shall be born anew."

Reciting the words that would break the curse the witch had placed on him, Delilah dropped to her knees. She reverently prayed that this spell alone would be enough. That her words could spare the life of their young king.

Please, goddess, keep him safe.

Protect our king.

Though she could feel the power of the spell coursing through her veins, the essence of the magic thrumming in the air. Delilah simply didn’t know if it alone would be enough to save him. All of their hopes now rested on the shoulders of a girl, unaware of how desperately their king needed her.