The Gold Queen (Prequel)

***Karina***`

“You’re all mine, Karina Cortez… and I am all yours,” he murmurs, taking my lips once more.

A kaleidoscope of butterflies flutters in my belly as I replay those words in my head.

I had done everything in my power to push him away, to be alone. It was easier to fuel my anger that way. And yet as I lay beneath him, I could not bring myself to pull away from his lips. I liked his taste. I liked the way his fingers played with my hair as he pushed his tongue in my mouth. I liked the way he looked at me, with just pure kindness. He was so gentle even as his tongue explored me.

Emiliano had been the only light in my life since mom and Penelope left but I was just so angry all the time. I couldn’t feel anything but anger. It consumed me, eating away at me until all that was left were the ashes of my existence. I welcomed anger. It was the only thing that reminded me that I was still alive, still breathing.

But now… his lips, Emi’s sweet lips caressing my own, were the reason that my heart kept beating, pounding with vigor against the walls of my chest.

“W-what do you mean I’m yours?” I whimper, hoping he meant what I thought he meant.

He k****s the tip of my nose, his finger caressing the side of my cheek.

“You are so beautiful,” he replies, his chocolate eyes making me feel warmth on this cold winter’s day. “I must thank Moon Goddess for gifting me such a beautiful mate.”

My heart is caught in my throat as I hang on to his every word. I was not such a lucky person to have him for a mate. This had to be a mistake. Moon Goddess made a mistake

My worry seems to translate onto my face and he tucks some hair behind my ear as he pecks my lips with a tiny k**s.

“You’re too young to feel it yet,” he sighs. “But I feel it. I feel it every time I touch you. Every time I breathe in your scent. There’s no mistake. You are mine, only mine.”

I didn’t know if I believed him, my brain all muddled as his finger travels down my jaw to the side of my neck. My skin fills with goosebumps at his touch, my body shivering underneath him.

“My wolf says I can’t mark you yet,” he says as he leans down to my ear, his hot breath caressing my skin. “He says it’s too dangerous for you.”

He wanted to mark me?

His eyes fill with worry as he wipes away the drops now streaming down my cheeks.

Memories of that wretched day in the woods come flooding back, reminding me of my father’s betrayal and the things I had to do to stay alive because of what he did..

I stare back at Emi’s warm eyes, pure and unadulterated love pouring towards me, when a sudden shame consumes me.

Would he still look at me this way if he knew the truth of that day?

The thought sends my body into a frenzy, the room suddenly feeling so much smaller and my chest beginning to tighten as I desperately gasp for air. My arms and legs push and kick at him, my growing panic screaming at me to run away. Emiliano climbs off of me, lifting me up into a sitting position and kneeling before me on the ground. He cups my face, my hands gripping his wrist as he instructs me to inhale and exhale slowly.

My pounding heart starts to relax when I feel the calm energy of his power wash over me, soothing the anger and the shame that I felt.

“I’m right here, baby,” he murmurs as he stares into my eyes. “I’m not going anywhere. No matter how hard you push me away.”

He looks so sure of what he’s saying, I almost believe him. But I couldn’t. I didn’t even feel the bond, how could I know this was not all a mistake? That he wouldn’t run for the hills if he knew what I did?

Emi doesn’t give me much time to dwell on my thoughts as he picks me up and lays me on the bed, climbing in and pulling me to his chest. I want to relax and just lay in his arms but the doubts circling my brain keep my anxious mind reeling.

I’ve never been one to run and I was certainly not about to start now.

“Emi…?” I whisper, swallowing hard to get some moisture in my dry throat.

He hums his acknowledgment and I take a few seconds to collect my thoughts, playing with the collar of his shirt.

“Emi…. The night in the woods…” I pause for a moment, biting my l*p to keep it from trembling.

My heart was pounding and he squeezes me for comfort.

“Thanks to his drinking,” I continue, pushing past the tears blurring my vision. “My father owes a lot of people a lot of money…”

Emi’s body stiffens, but I push onwards, knowing if I stopped, I would never get this off my chest.

“He had a debt…” I whimper, ashamed about what I was about to say. “And he offered me as a settlement..”

Emi’s body shivers with rage, his nostril flaring with every breath he takes. A low snarl rumbles through his chest and he tightens his grip on me.

“I swear I’ll kill him!” He growls, his wolf fighting to reach the surface as he eyes flicker between brown and turquoise. “I’ll kill every son of a b***h who dared lay a hand on you!”

I cup his face in my hands, forcing him to look at me.

“Hey, look at me Emi, look at me,” I coo, hoping my voice will bring Emi back to the surface. “Breathe, Emi. Just breathe. They didn’t hurt me.”

His eyes fill with bewilderment, both he and his wolf trying to understand.

“W-what what do you mean?” He ask.

“They didn’t hurt me, Emi,” I sigh. “They didn’t hurt me because I killed them all before they could,” I add, shuddering at the memory of Tanya going feral when those sick bastards tried to touch me.

They met a gruesome end, Tanya shredding them to ribbons of mutilated wolf with ease. But it wasn’t their deaths that made me sick to my stomach. No, it was the fact that my own father would sell me to settle a debt that made my skin crawl.

What kind of father does that?

To add insult to injury, I still loved my father. He was all I had left of my family. I was sick, disgusting, tainted. How could Moon Goddess possibly choose me to be Emiliano’s mate?

“I don’t even matter to my own father and yet I still love him,” I whimper, burying my face in his chest in shame. “How sick is that?”

“You’re a warrior,” he murmurs, rubbing my back as I weep into his shirt. “So incredibly strong and powerful.”

I pull back and blink hard at him. How could he still want me when my only family didn’t?

He smiles, tucking a hair behind my ear and pecking my lips.

“You are exactly how Moon Goddess designed you for me,” he says, confident in his every word. I’m about to protest when he adds, “There is no mistake, Kari. Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes.”

He buries his face in my neck, trailing k****s down my collar bone before wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling back to look at me. “Don’t push me away, Kari. Let me take care of you, protect you, love you. I know what I feel about you. I know you are my mate. Please, let me in.”

I felt so safe by his side. I couldn’t even remember the last time I felt this safe anymore. How could I push him away when he was the glue that held the shattered pieces of me together?

“Okay, Emi,” I nod, curling up to his chest, letting his heart pound against my ears. “Okay.”

———

***Unknown POV***

A dark aura overcame the cave the further down we travelled.

“We must be close,” my sister whispers, her vigilant eyes scanning the darkness.

It was in the blackness of the cave that I could see the faint glow of the Ruby of Truth nestled in the rock up ahead.

I remain calm in my excitement. This cave was full of traps to protect the Ruby and one wrong move could get us both killed.

We follow the careful instructions of the map we stole not too long ago from a clan of Vampires.

As it turns out, the stupid blade we had sought for so long was of little use to us. We would need the b***d of the Ivory Twins to activate its sinful power and we had no intention of letting those two be born.

So we needed a second plan and the Ruby of Truth would be one to guide us.

After evading the traps, the Ruby was just within reach. I wrap my fingers around the beautiful gem and pull it from its rocky throne, a loud crack echoing off the cave walls.

“Give me the staff,” I instruct my sister and she does as she’s told.

I fix the Ruby on the staff and a red wave of light emanates off the gem. A shapeless figure emerges from the gem, floating just a few feet above us.

“I am the Ruby, seer of all truths,” the Shapeless being says. “I have seen what has been and know all that shall be. Ask your question and I shall answer, but remember, you have but one. Choose carefully.”

I steal a glance at my sister. We had both chosen our question before we came seeking the Ruby.

“Who can awaken the Army of the Ivory Court?” I ask.

The Oracle voice echos off the wall.

“Sun of Silver, Not of gold,

Every fourth, they will grow old.

From their mind, their power wreaks

They’re the Savior that you seek…”

Another f*****g riddle! It was hard enough deciphering the first one to get the sword, now this?

I’m about to protest when the Oracle continues.

“Look to the Kingdom of the Gold Sun. There, you shall find the child who bears the power to awaken the Ivory court army. But be warned, should this child arrive with the leap, the Ivory Twins will soon follow.”

Kingdom of the Gold Sun? Leap?

We had heard that the Fated Pair reigned over a kingdom with such a name somewhere in México. Could this Savior child be from there too? But what could the leap mean?

My sister clears her throat, my question had been asked and answered, even if I didn’t like the mystery with which I was delivered.

“What is your question?” The Oracle asks.

“Weakness. What is the weakness of the Children of the Moon and Sun?” She replies.

“The Lily of flames and the Queen of the night. In combination, these two herbs will render the Gold and Silver wolves powerless,” the Oracle says. “Your questions have been asked, the truth you seek, found. The rest is up to you.”

A strong gust of wind plows through the cave as the being disappears back into the Ruby.

My sister and I glance at each other.

“Seer of all truths my a*s!” She huffs. “Several night blooming flowers have that name!” she adds with a growl, knocking over the staff and cussing at the jewel.

“Perhaps,” I shrug, bending over to pick up the gem. “But it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out which is which. Besides, you know seers and oracles only speak in rhymes and riddles. We just have to be smart.”

She rolls her eyes in frustration.

I cup her face violently in my hands and smirk. “Now, now, little sister,” I hiss, tapping her cheek. “We just have to find a way, now don’t we? So enough with the moping. We’re headed for México,” I smirk. “It’s time we paid the Fated Pair a visit.”