Embers In The North
22

The wind whistled past them as they rode at breakneck speed, their Shadowbeasts galloping with thunderous rhythms. Hooves and claws pounded against the ground with every powerful stride, creating a symphony of raw, untamed energy.

Reyna’s eyes flickered to the imposing mountain ridge in the distance. The momentum of their Shadowbeasts sent vibrations through the ground, and she worried about the potential risk of triggering an avalanche in the narrow canals leading out of the open terrain.

Since the Berserker Fleets were no longer an issue, they didn’t have to go through the ice mountain. Reyna peeked over her shoulder at them; their Shadowbeasts’ ability to stay behind Ator impressed her.

Roth was eager to continue their conversation, mind linking to get her to slow down, but Reyna wasn’t ready to get into that just yet. She was still reeling from witnessing Roth’s use of his Alpha command to compel Seth into giving his oath.

To think that an Alpha could be commanded in such a manner. She had severely underestimated Roth’s authority, and now she had to reevaluate everything.

The sun hung high in the sky, marking it barely a couple of hours past noon. They were already beyond the Caderian border, with just half an hour to go before they reached the conclave of neutrality.

As she slowed to allow the others to catch up, Reyna’s thoughts drifted to Seth’s hidden agenda for visiting the conclave. She was still in the dark about it, and this turn of events played right into whatever devious plans he had in mind. The temporary ceasefire, she suspected, wasn’t just because of the oath. Seth had a different game in play.

Reyna pulled the reins, bringing Ator around to watch their approach. Apart from her own Shadowbeast, she’d never seen others that left her so awestruck. Yet Roth’s, Seth’s, and Decker’s were unique, much like hers. It had to be because of their ranks.

Decker asked, “Why are we stopping?”

“We must proceed carefully past Giehl Mountain. The vibrations from our approach could trigger an avalanche.” Reyna informed them.

As Roth, Gareth, and Quinn closed in, he dismounted from his Reaper. Roth dispatched his Reaper and those gorgeous mismatched eyes fell on her. Memories of him took her on an erotic beetle ride and she struggled for a steady gaze! With trembling hands, she swallowed, tucking hair behind her ear.

“Seth will lead the way. He knows the terrain,” Roth instructed, removing his gloves. “Reyna, join me in the runner, we must have words.”

Without waiting for a response, he stepped into his private runner. The command was clear, and Reyna knew exactly what he meant to discuss. As Seth led the way, she dismounted Ator and sent her Shadowbeast off. Her gaze met Decker’s, and their conversation rushed back to her mind. He didn’t linger on her, turning instead to follow Seth leaving Reyna to wonder what sort of male he was. He was so impossible to read.

Reyna joined Roth in the runner. The warmth inside was a stark contrast to the cold outside; it had to be the warmest runner she’d been in. As she settled on the couch opposite him, she watched him remove his gloves and cloak. Looking at her, he unwound the scarf from around his neck.

He let out a breath as if he had been holding it in for a long time, and then he spoke.

“I don’t mean to pry but-”

“You won’t let this go, will you?” Reyna interjected and Roth smiled. “I owed you an explanation. After that, well, very immature display, I felt it best to leave. I didn’t want to continue undermining you, forcing your hand, or causing further animosity between you and Decker. It was the perfect excuse, really. Bandos had already given me the mission to reach the conclave. So while you decided to head back for him, grateful as I am, I needed to see this through.”

“I would have thought your argument would be that we had an understanding and you owed me an explanation for that,” Roth mused, a faint grin tugging at the corners of his lips. He ran his fingers through his hair, releasing a low sigh of relief, indicating that the cold was finally starting to seep away.

“We both know whatever this is, it goes beyond our understanding.” She paused and then said. “It even extends beyond our status.”

It had always seemed ridiculous to her to believe fated mates existed. She thought it was silly to think that a person could have only one true mate and that if they didn’t replace that person, they could be alone forever or settle for another. By the gods, she didn’t need a seer to confirm what she already knew deep within. From the moment they met, there was an undeniable connection, one that was far beyond the physical - a bond that could only come from fated mates.

It made her wonder what she had been thinking when she rejected him, but she was worried that he was so collected and accepting of it.

“Last I checked, there was no ‘us,’ nor will there ever be,” Roth said with a nonchalant shrug. “You want something I cannot give you for obvious reasons… besides, I rarely open myself up to people who once rejected me.”

“I take it I’m not the only one who’s rejected you then?” Reyna raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued about who else might have had the guts to turn down the Alpha.

Roth chuckled softly. “You’re the only one who can, Reyna.”

“If I’m the only one, then I am the precedent and you cannot take that stance with me; you know that,” she said, moving to sit beside him. “But we can discuss that later. We need to talk about Seth.”

Roth turned to her, his proximity now catching her off guard. His scent, those piercing eyes, engulfed her and she swallowed a gasp as her pulse pounded in her ears.

“Actually, Seth can wait,” he murmured, his hand replaceing its way into her hair, drawing her closer until their lips met in a tender, unexpected kiss.

She melted into his arms, feeling the world disappear in the background as his lips moved over hers, sending her into a delirium of pleasure. With one effortless move, he lifted her into a straddle and she surrendered, as his hands roamed her body. They stayed like that for a while, lost in the kiss until she felt him grow hard beneath her and she moaned in pleasure. He reached up and cupped her breast; she moaned louder, as he gently squeezed it, her breathing coming in short, desperate gasps.

“Take it off,” he growled, tugging on her Fang suit’s zipper.

She whimpered in response, no longer able to deny her yearning as she fumbled with the zipper, finally managing to open it. With a sigh, she slipped her hands off and pushed the suit down to her waist. He caressed her bare skin with a delighted glint in his eyes. While she tried to figure out why he wanted her now and why she wasn’t even resisting his thumb brushed over her nipple and she gasped again, arching her back and pushing into his hand. His warmth spread through her as his thumb traced circles around her nipple then he pinched it gently.

She pulled away from him, her eyes still closed as she gasped for air. He leaned in and kissed her neck, his hand still massaging her breast. She reached down and traced his jawline with her fingers, her eyes slipping open to replace him watching her.

“You should be with me, Reyna. You know this,” he told her.

“Do I?”

“The same way you can read my feelings, I can feel yours,” he said, kissing her jaw and tracing his kisses down her neck to her collarbone.

She remained silent as his words sank in. She knew the truth of what he said, but it wasn’t the issue that bothered her. Opening up and allowing herself to be vulnerable was something she wasn’t accustomed to. The thing was, she has always kept her emotions in check and wasn’t sure if she was ready to be completely open with him. Not yet, not until she trusted him.

“You burn for me like I do for you. Why did you reject me? To exert some sort of power?” he asked, his lips brushing against hers.

Power? She almost scoffed in his face. He was the one with the power yet he chose not to use it with her.

She pulled away, looking him in the eyes. “No, that’s not it. I rejected you because I don’t share. If you’re to be my mate, there’ll be only me.”

“And the discord that’ll follow the dismantling of my harem?” he asked.

“But is that really the reason?” she challenged. “Why can’t you call me your mate?”

“You know why.” He pulled her back so he was right in her face again.

She pulled away again and shook her head. “No, I don’t. Tell me.” He took a deep breath and looked away.

“Reyna, listen well. As a Luna, any Alpha may claim you as a mate - be it me, Decker, or Seth. We’re drawn to you, enamoured by you too. Although you may feel drawn to me, likely a result of the solstice, understand it’s not solely me. To declare you as my mate requires absolute trust that, when the time comes, you’ll choose me in return. And that, my dear, is not the case.” He exhaled heavily.

“You’ve mentioned knowing my feelings,” Reyna began, starting to pull up her Fang suit, but he stopped her. “Roth, we must resolve this before anything else. Release me.”

He complied, allowing her to rearrange her suit before rejoining him on the couch.

“Well then? If you can sense my emotions, you know my heart belongs to you alone and no other.”

He blinked rapidly, a look of almost disbelief in his eyes, which puzzled her. Didn’t he already understand?

“What?” he asked, turning to meet her gaze.

“What do you mean? I wouldn’t act like this with you if I didn’t… if I wasn’t fond of you,” Reyna said, her gestures sweeping broadly as she spoke.

“I never thought you’d admit that,” he confessed.

“Nor did I. But I must stop running from things - emotions, defeat, everything. To be fearless is to embrace vulnerability and accept whatever fate brings. So, yes. I believe you should say it, Roth. I know you are my mate and no one else. I was reluctant to voice it before, but I’m grateful I did.”

Roth gazed at her in silence, the only sound was the Snow Beatles’ runners creaking. Outside, the others were conspicuously quiet, leaving her to wonder if they were eavesdropping.

“What did Decker want earlier?” Roth inquired.

It took him quite some time to broach the subject. She expected him to ask about it immediately after they got in the runner.

“Does that matter?”

“Yes,” Roth murmured, his touch gentle against her cheek. “Share it with me.”

“You’re already aware of it,” she shrugged. “He apologized for provoking me, then proceeded to scold me for my recklessness once more, insisting that I owed him an apology.”

“That was the extent of it?”

“Not entirely. He proposed that I become his mate. I suppose he now knows my strength and desires a mate of my calibre.”

Roth chuckled. “Let me assure you, that’s not his true intent. Any male who encounters you would be enchanted, Reyna. You’re a formidable Fang and a timeless beauty. Your allure is a force of nature, difficult to resist,” he declared. “You possess an extraordinary ability that sets you apart, and he’s eager to harness it.” Roth paused, then added, “He seeks to exploit you for his own ends; to split the territories and become Alpha of Alphas. It’s up to you to decide whether you’ll let him.”

As he called her a timeless beauty, she scarcely heard anything else, a giddy feeling coursing through her veins - a mixture of liking and loathing. Though what he said about Decker held truth, the same applied to Roth and Seth. They all vied for her with their hidden agendas, shrouded in an impenetrable darkness within their minds that she couldn’t reach.

“Tell me about the prophecy that supposedly foretells my role in Aupheadia’s downfall,” Reyna requested, sensing the sharp inhale he took as he withdrew his hand from her face. “That bad?”

“It’s not what you think, truly. A hybrid Luna signifies the coexistence of Alphas from all Alpha bloodlines across the territories. It would spell chaos and conflict, as each Alpha vies for the Luna’s favour. You are bound to the Alphas, Reyna. I’m certain you felt it in the cave, when you linked with Decker and me to share warmth. While you may believe you’ve made your choice for me as your mate, once we reach the conclave and you complete your training, you will comprehend the weight of this decision.”

“How does that lead to the kingdom’s destruction?” she mused.

“Your Ember,” he answered softly. “The Elders were unequivocal in stating that the fall of Aupheadia would be imminent the day Embers ignited in the North.”

Did that mean she was destined to set Aupheadia ablaze? That was preposterous. Reyna resolved to wait until she could confront these Elders directly and seek answers. Nothing she’d heard thus far added up.

“You were about to tell me something about Seth?” His voice snapped her back to the present, and she turned her gaze back to him.

“Why is this prophecy a secret to everyone else?” she deflected, avoiding his question for now.

“The Elders only disclosed it to those with access to the conclave. You’re likely aware that only Alphas and Lunas have that privilege. No one else can enter. The enchantment around the conclave ensures that,” Roth explained.

“That still doesn’t make sense.” She frowned. “So Seth can enter the conclave?”

“Yes, he can. Why do you ask?” Roth sat up as he asked.

“He needed me to get him into the conclave. Almost as if he didn’t know he could enter,” Reyna mused. Was it possible Seth lacked knowledge about his own capabilities because, unlike Roth and Decker, he didn’t grow up with the Elders?

“Did he tell you why he needed to enter?” Roth asked.

“No, and I couldn’t glean the reason from his thoughts. It’s shrouded in a darkness I cannot penetrate,” she admitted, squinting at Roth. “Both you and Decker bear that same enigmatic shadow. A secret so deep, it eludes everyone.”

Roth looked away, his face unreadable. He remained silent for several minutes, then finally spoke. “That secret is kept for a reason. It’s better left alone. And besides, I’m not the one you should be concerned about.” He met her gaze once more. “If Seth has ill intentions within the conclave, it spells doom for the entire kingdom.”

Reyna took a deep breath. “But he must enter because I exist?” Roth nodded. “Perhaps it’s not me who will destroy Aupheadia. Maybe it’s Seth, and I’m merely the means to grant him access.”

She saw Roth’s eyes narrow as if he grasped the gravity of her words. Just as he was about to respond, the runner lurched, as though it had been jolted free from the Snow Beatles. Roth growled, swiftly grabbing his scarf and cloak.

“We must move. There’s an avalanche approaching,” he declared, kicking the door open.