The Sovereign Heir (Book 1)

I grab Nolan’s hand and orb out near the cave the priest’s kept the female Lycan prisoner. We were over 100 miles away from the mountain. Nolan wobbles a bit, getting his bearings. “Breathe, babe, it will pass.” With my eyes closed I concentrate on the residual energy surrounding us. Everything appears just as it was then, this time I could see the priest with the baby snapping his neck and walking south of here. I blindly follow, stopping exactly over the grave. “This area feels diseased, Laina. Corrupted and diseased.” This energy makes my skin crawl, sending shivers down my spine.

“Should we look for something to dig?”

“No need, I can get him out. There are layers of limestone that has built up over the centuries. I’ll have to break through another way.” I place my hands over the soil. The ground begins to vibrate and cracking under my palm as it turns white-blue. A hollow space remains. I raise Liza’s son from his prison, still bundled.

Looking at him, I can see what would have been. Tears left my eyes for this tragedy and the life that was taken from him. Nolan pulls me into him, “Shh, I know what you’re thinking. This won’t be our children’s fate. I will die first before I let that happen.” I turn in his arms, placing my head on his chest. “Let’s bring her boy home, now they can rest in peace.”

We orb back to Liza; her younger son is kneeling next to her. “Jason, its time. I will stay with your mother till the end.” He looks shocked that I know his name when he never gave it. “You haven’t told me your name; it is a gift I have. Please, lead your pack out. My uncle with lead you through a portal. I made a promise to protect you.” Liza used the last of her strength to speak to her son, “Go, I will always be with you here in your heart. It is time for you to live and lead.” Jason kisses his mother on the cheek. He held back the tears as much as he could before walking out. I place her son in her arms. “I will give you a parting gift.” I took Liza into the life her son was robbed of. Her happiness watching him grow. She looks at ease with a smile adorning her face. It didn’t take long as she let out her last breath.

I wrap her in the blanket laid over her and carry her in my arms. “They will be here soon, take them to the realm. I will be along shortly.” Nolan reluctantly opens a portal, knitting his brows, “I don’t want to leave you here, I know you can handle yourself. I just don’t like it.”

It is eating him up to leave me and took everything in him not to. “Go, I will be with you soon. Trust me.” Nolan kisses me like his life depended on it before stepping through. Navigating the tunnels to the entrance, I waited for them to come and they wasted no time. “They are gone, you are a bit too late. But I’m here, come get some you bunch of bitches!”

I run through the network of tunnels until I am in the Luna’s quarters, they come funneling in like I expected. They start attacking a projection of me injuring each other. I slam my fists into the walls of the tunnel collapsing them as I walk out. Rock began to crumble burying them alive. Each section in this network they are in, I collapse. I orb out to the opening of the entrance, “Signa sua fata.” Lightning struck fusing the internal tunnels shut. “May you all forever be trapped in the prison you forced them to suffer all these centuries.”

I am an emotional shit storm. Not just seeing but feeling everything Liza had gone through. Her child robbed of life; a beautiful life filled with his own children. I arrive in the realm, Nolan and Marcus waiting for me by the grove; they both let out a breath when they spot me. “This part is over for now, please send for Jason. He should be present for them to be laid to rest.” I scoop up the bundle from Nolan very gently. He places his hand to the left side of my neck, “Laina, please don’t let this get to you anymore than it already has. Do not let it overtake you, you are in control.“ Nolan kisses my forehead, sending tingles throughout my body.

Jason clears his throat bearing his neck to us, “Please don’t, we might be royalty but we are just like anyone else. Here to bring your family peace and to guide you as your packs Alpha.” Jason comes closer with his arms outstretched, taking his mother and brother from my arms. “Thank you, Princess Elaina and Prince Nolan.” I lead the way to the area designated for our honored fallen, the soil had already been removed. The burial casket ready for Liza to be placed in it.

Jason closes them in, I lower them into the ground and move the dirt back in place. We left him to have some privacy. “Love, I don’t like how you’re feeling right now.” I didn’t like how I was feeling right now either. ”I need to cleanse at the tree, I haven’t in quite some time. I’m overdue.” We held hands walking toward the Tree of Life.

Elder Olivia places robes and towels for us to use. “Elaina, Prince Nolan, please remove your gauntlets as well. I will have them cleansed and returned to you.” That is very odd of her, but there was no deception in her request. I hand over our gauntlets to her without protest. Our clothes came off once she turns her back. Olivia waited until we are submerged before retrieving our clothing. I dunk my head, submerging myself attempting to wash this bullshit away.

Nolan raises me up crushing me to his chest sending tingles everywhere. “Better, love?” I let out a deep breath, “Yes, much better.” We get out of the lagoon drying ourselves and putting on our robes. Olivia returns with our clothing and our gauntlets. “Thank you, Olivia. Please let Jason know we will be back soon; for now please help them settle in.” She bows, “Yes, Elaina. They are in good hands.”

“Let’s go home, there is nothing else we can do here for now.”

Before I realize it, I orb us home instead of using a portal. I’ve never done that before; we were always told attempting to orb in and out was forbidden. Also impossible without almost killing yourself. But here we stood unharmed and very much alive.