Her Forever

Willa’s POV

I didn’t know true fear until today. As Orion leaped into the air, I held my breath fearing that if I let go, I would fall to the ground. It was an irrational thought but what other control did I have? Orion was acting like a whole other being; my sweet and gentle mate had become a possessive man with wings of fury.

“Orion!” I squealed as he continued to rise into the sky. From what I gathered, we were heading Northwest, away from the sea into a land I had never been to before. Orion looked down at me and smiled gently. All his fury had washed away and kissed me gently on the forehead.

“I’m taking you on our date, it’s over-do,” he rasped, trying to keep his calm. He must have read my aura that I was completely petrified not just being in the air but with his change of behavior. I kept silent, watching over the land below me. The scenery and topography change so quickly in Bergarian. You could be standing seaside and when you go 20 miles inland you could be in the valley of the mountains.

No matter what part of the land we were in Bergarian was stunning. From the flowy trees to the mystical lakes all the way down to the dark forests to the South. The land was magical and in some ways deadly. I didn’t know the extent of the danger of Bergarian but I’m sure it was more deadly than that of Earth. If the supernatural beings were strong, who knows what wild animals to look out for here.

Orion gripped me a bit tighter as he began to descend halfway up the foothills of the mountains. Luscious trees canopied the forest floor so no one from towering heights could take a peek. One tree stood out among the rest with a small cabin in its branches. From the outside, it looked worn down and nothing to be worth exploring but Orion landed on its porch that stuck out on a large limb.

The planks of wood were unbalanced where the tree had taken over and moss started growing on the sides of the small treehouse. “You aren’t going to chop me up in little pieces now that I am alone, are you?” I joked lightly as I nudged his arm. Orion slid his arm around my waist and planted a k**s on my lips.

Silent treatment, nice.

Orion opened the rickety door only to be met with a burst of light coming from the room. The room was in sharp comparison to the house outside, it was pristine. The walls were painted white, there was a skylight above us so one could easily look at the stars. A large mattress with many different blankets and fabrics with colors I’ve never seen before all laid to perfection. Pinks, purples, blues, and greens it was done so one would think you stumbled into a gypsies hideaway.

A small chandelier hung at two corners of the room and candles lit throughout. “Orion,” I whispered in surprise while touching the small pieces of furniture. How could this all fit in here, the whole treehouse looked like a shack on the outside.

“It’s a cloaking spell. I had a friend cast it so no one would ever find this place.” Orion stepped in and led me to the large bed on the floor. He pulled me to his lap and peppered k****s on my neck. “It’s a place I used to hide as a child, before my father,” Orion looked away and stared out the large windows that overlooked the valley. “Before he became blind to Onyx’s devious ways.”

I used my fingers to tickle his chin as he looked back into my eyes. “There is a lot about me you don’t know, Willa and I wanted to explain that to you today. I want you to get to know me as I have gotten to know you.”

Sibille’s POV

I continued to sit on the most uncomfortable bed of my existence. I should be used to it; I’ve been here several times when I got on Orion’s nerves, damn king doesn’t know what he’s missing. Letting out a huff, I stood up to pace the floor, it has been five days since he’s locked me down here.

Five days, even after I gave up my father, who knows where he could be. Actually, I do know. He’s down past the dungeons and into the torture rooms. He’s been there before but never on the receiving end, always the one giving.

Molly is sobbing across the hall, Molly had become a good chess piece in all this, finally hammering in the nail that I needed to get my way. My father trained me for this mess, he just expected that I would do it for him, the pot-bellied fool.

I love my mother; I do but power was more important. Once I get the power I wanted from Orion after the bonding I would go back to her, she might not like what I’ve done but I’ll keep her safe. Even if it means sacrificing innocent lives for it.

“Molly, I’m sorry,” I pleaded to her. “I just had to save my mother; you know how cruel my father is!” I let a few tears drip down my cheeks, milking this for all it’s worth. Maybe I could use Molly again, right now I’m not sure how, but it is always good to have a backup.

“It’s alright, he’s the one that imprisoned him, not you. You are just trying to protect your own b***d,” she whimpered again and rolled over in the bed. Internally laughing, I go and sit back down only to hear the large dungeon door slam. You couldn’t hear much movement, but you can certainly tell it was a strong presence, one that I have come to known since Orion makes him deal with me.

“Annan!” I cried. “Please, let me go see my mother, I must check if she is alright!” Annan gave me a side glance and ticked his jaw in my direction. “His highness is out for the day; I’ll have more information for you tomorrow.” He walks past me as the bottom of his cloak touched the dirtied stairs as he reaches Molly’s cell.

The key made a loud clack as the door was unlocked which in returned let out a long whine as the door opened. “Let’s go, Molly.” Annan turned and didn’t wait for her to follow. The three red-headed freaks nodded to her sorrowfully as she walked out behind Annan.

“What are you going to do to her?!” I cried. “She’s innocent! She was just trying to protect her mate!” I gripped the bars and leaned my face as close as I could to get a better look. Where exactly were they taking her? She betrayed them, surely, she wasn’t getting out this soon.

“She’s got information, just as you did with us, Sibille,” Fionn spoke while he eyed me warily. “Oh, that’s good then!” I chirped “What kind of information?” Fionn let out a sigh and continued walking.

“That’s what we are going to find out,” he responded annoyed. Molly can’t speak too much, she took a Faithful Tonic to Onyx, any secrets she has with him would never come to the surface so at least part of the plan where Willa would be killed would still be in place. Luckily for me, I was nowhere near my father during the exchange.

“Good luck, Molly!” I cheered for her as her head was still low.

“She doesn’t need luck, she’ll have the antidote,” Brenden jeered as he nudged Fionn with his elbow. “Yer a damn i***t, did ya know that?” Fionn silenced him as I watched them walk out the dungeon door.

My heart spiked, so they did know she took a Faithful Tonic. s**t.

“You’re worried,” I heard a low voice at the back of a nearby cell. I didn’t even know anyone else was still down here. “Question is, what are you worried about?” Footsteps came closer to the cell that was three doors down adjacent from me.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Willa’s ex-best friend,” her voice was heavy as she paused. “So, what is it? Afraid for what they will find out or afraid for Molly? Because if anyone knows about fake sympathy, it’s me, and honey, you aren’t that great of an actress you think you are.” I could almost imagine the fake eye-rolling from the smelly mutt.

I gritted my teeth, wanting to spit in her face. I could trick my aura to radiate innocents, but she doesn’t think I can act. How dare she talk to me that way, the stupid dog. “Why do you care?” I hissed back.

“Because, if you are worried about some plan being exposed or have plans to ruin the star-crossed lovers, I want in, and I can help.” The woman tried to grip the bars, but it instantly burned her hands causing her to hiss.

“Why should I trust you? You were a close friend,” I questioned.

“Because I’m tired of being ignored. Growing up with her was a pain in my a*s, ‘Willa this and that, she’s so strong. She lost her parents, look how great she turned out..’” The annoyance in her voice began to grow louder, almost a yell.

“My own parents thought of her more of a daughter than me! Then I invite her to my mating ceremony so I could be the center of attention for once and she comes to be mated to the freaking Fae King! How unfair is that!?” She whined as she punched her cell wall. Alright, a motive to hate her. I could work with this. She’s got the muscle I needed.

“Alright, say if I trust you. What are you willing to do and what do you want?”

“Anything, take her away from her mate and make her disappear. We can throw her back on Earth or give her to the rogue vampires, I don’t care.” The voice was filled with malice and disgust. I crossed my arms across my chest as I fiddled with my lips with my fingertips. I’m running out of options and fast. Molly’s mate will only stay underneath the spell for so long, he is probably coming out of it as we speak. I’m going to lose the muscle that we needed to trap Orion in a bonding marriage to me.

This she-wolf might be some help after all. “What’s your name?”

“Violet,” she mumbled.

“Hmm, then I think I will have something for you to do then.”

Annan’s POV

“Molly, are you sure you want to do this?” The after-effects of the Faithful Tonic antidote was going to be brutal. She wouldn’t be able to shift into a full size for at least a week or two which will cause difficulty in her mate claiming her.

I had Brenden go out this morning after Orion had left to find her mate. He was in a make-shift cell at Onyx and Sibille’s home. Silver chains had scarred his wrists and there were gashes along his torso. Black veins were across his body like a tangled web as his body continued to breathe harshly, his heartbeat was erratic and his eyes were black with red pupils. All of this pointed to one thing, black magic and the overuse of it on his body. If he wasn’t a warrior and just an omega he would have died days ago. He was in rough shape and reversing the spell would be difficult but there were signs he was coming out of it. This Alanso, the name I had come to known, was no longer present, just the empty shell.

“Mate, mate,” he m****d as we kept him in a portable ironed cage we had in one of the private guest rooms. He had spent enough time in a dungeon, and it was obvious he wasn’t of sound mind when he tried to take Willa. Molly had stayed in her large form for too long once she reached the guest room, ready to tell us everything we needed to know but she did it for him.

I could see the desperate look in her eyes as she rounded the corner. A sickening sob from her lips came from her as she rushed towards him. Brenden grabbed her arm a bit too harshly for my liking, holding her back. “He’s still under the spell, Molly. You need to wait. The alchemist is in the other room working on it.” She nodded her head solemnly as we sat her down in the chair.

“Are ye ready?” Eamon stood holding the sickening green concoction. “Yes, of course,” she nodded and downed it all in one go. That was something I loved about her; she was ballsy. Once the last drop touched her lips, she dropped the glass that shattered to pieces, her hand immediately went to her throat as her body spasmed. Her wings shortened immediately as well as the rest of her body resulting in her original height of just 12 inches. She sputtered a bit and sat up, most of her magic was gone and will result in her inability to grow or fly.

“I’m alright,” she sat up in the cushioned chair. Alanso stared at her with hurt in his eyes. “I’m alright,” she waved at him as the faint hint of a smile played on his face.

“Are you ready for this, I’m only saying it once. I need to help him,” she cried. “I’ve been without him too long already.” Eamon nodded as he stepped away and I stood forward, ready to listen to the explanation.

“Alanso came to the palace gates a day after Willa arrived. There was a bag in his hand and a note, I’m not sure what it was for or where it went. We immediately knew we were mates and we embraced each other, and he wanted to take and mark me right then. I was trying to take him into the palace to complete the bond until Onyx saw me and stopped us, and beckoned me to follow him back to his house. That it was urgent in matters of the king. I was still undercover to watch him, so I went willingly, along with Alanso because he wouldn’t leave my side,” she blushed.

“Alanso didn’t know the threat that we were walking into but there was no way to warn him, I swear baby!” She looked to Alanso who nodded his head. “There was a witch there, I didn’t catch her name but she cast a spell and he was immediately transported to the basement, and I was grabbed forced to take the tonic. All he had to do was say, ‘in this to you I entrust,’ and then I couldn’t repeat anything he told me to do. However, the i***t didn’t tell me I couldn’t say I had a Faithful Tonic given to me, that was the only reason why you know.”

Fionn snickered in the corner, “dumb f**k.” His brothers laughed in agreement as Molly continued

“With the help of the witch he could watch all my moves through a mirror so I couldn’t tell you all anything. If I didn’t comply, they would hurt Alanso. They had plans to kill her with Alanso and blame it on him and the Moon Kingdom.” Molly laid down on the seat, her eyes were heavy. “I’m so sorry Annan. I didn’t want to hurt anyone, especially you,” tears sprouted from her eyes.

“It’s alright, Molly. I understand,” I go to pet her tiny head until I hear the bars of the cell shaking violently while the hinges start to break.

“MINE!”