Chapter 88
POV: King Hades Pierce
“Are they all done with the preparations?” He darkly asked his younger brother as he entered the meeting room.
Arlan and Shimuel followed him into the room. All of their gazes were directed towards Prince Raven who was grinning like a madman with his chess board in front of him.
“They are already in place. Don’t worry, as what Tamika said, we will just need to do something in that specific thing.” Raven seriously stated as he moved the white queen piece on the board towards where the black king piece was.
“Great. Then, we are good to go.” King Hades smirked wickedly as he stood up and nodded at everyone.
Prince Raven viciously smiled.
“Checkmate.” He sinisterly whispered before he stood up and followed him.
Arlan and Shimuel silently followed behind them with their dark auras like his and Raven’s.
“Uhm, one more thing, Your Majesty.” Arlan politely called him with firmness and seriousness were dripping from his voice.
“The Mindsor Clan had already sworn their allegiance to us after you had renounced their treachery.” Arlan plainly informed him as the corner of his lips rose.
“Good. They deserved it, though. They had proven their innocence and helped us with this. Now, let us not dwell on these things and move on with our own plan. Let’s go.” He ruthlessly stated as he led his way out of the palace where every pack was getting ready for his very own surprise for the enemies.
***
POV: Lamina Darkwood
“My lady!” Merelos loudly yelled as he went into her room without any consent.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Merelos?” She angrily spat at the poor beta as she gave him a deadly glare.
But the unfortunate beta’s worried and panicked expression didn’t change a bit. Her forehead creased as she waited for him to talk.
She gritted her teeth when Merelos couldn’t even continue his words. He was trembling so badly as he was looking at the door and then towards her back to the door and then at her again.
Lamina grunted in pure annoyance.
“What?!” She vociferously shouted at him.
Merelos flinched from where he was standing before he swallowed hard trying to hide his own fear.
“Uhm, m-my lady…” He couldn’t help but stammer.
“Let the dipsh*t out of you, Merelos, or I will make sure that you will never speak again.” She irately warned him.
“The K-King’s men… m-my lady. T-They are getting nearer h-here…” Merelos shakenly informed her.
“What the f*ck! Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?!” She viciously cursed him before she ran towards where the laboratory was.
Before she could even turn towards the hallway, a loud banging sound suddenly interrupted her. The wolves were growling so loudly. She could feel the intensifying darkened aura around every corner to where she was.
Lamina gritted her teeth as she continued to find her husband, Aeron, and Leah.
“Mother!” Leah was concerned and called out to her from behind.
She turned around to look at her daughter.
“What is happening?!” Leah restlessly inquired as she looked around panic was laced in her pale face.
“Have you seen your father and brother?” She firmly asked, but Leah just shook her head.
Lamina clenched her jaw as she continued cursing in her head.
“They must be in the laboratory.” She suddenly told her.
They were just about to go there when Elder Courdamus suddenly appeared in front of them.
“Luna Lamina, we are under attack!” Elder Courdamus loudly told them.
Lamina clenched her both fists as she pursed her lips.
“I know! Ask everyone to protect our place, especially the laboratory! Let the rogues out of their cages. Leah, you must find your father and brother. I need to meet our allies. This is war!” She furiously commanded, which they instantly obliged.
Leah swallowed hard as she instantly followed her mother’s commands.
Everyone was in chaos, but she wouldn’t let anyone ruin her plans. Not now that her dreams were already getting close to her reach.
“F*ck it!” She furiously whispered as she cursed all the members of the royal blood inside her head.
***
POV: Queen Tamara Pierce
Meanwhile, Tamara was in the Throne Room with Shanaia. She was very worried about what might be happening with Hades and the rest of their alliances.
She had been walking back and forth for more than thirty minutes now. Shanaia had already refrained her from doing that because it would just stress her and that was not a good thing for her baby.
But she just couldn’t stop herself.
“What do you think is happening to them now?” She blabbered restlessly under her breath.
Shanaia just gave her a blank stare before checking the sharp blade of her katana while sitting calmly on the dark forest green single couch.
She grunted in both frustration and annoyance.
“You should practice how to remain calm, Your Highness for you and your baby.” Shanaia suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
She let out a deep sigh as she held her stomach.
“I can’t stop worrying. This is something dangerous.” She exclaimed.
Shanaia slightly shook her head as if she was disappointed or something.
“Everyday is a battle, Your Highness. And battle equals uncertainty and danger. You should be more trustful to the King. Trust him that he will stay well and alive. Trust him that he will not do anything to get hurt because he knows that you will get more worried. Because trust is also important in winning this war, Your Highness.” Shanaia seriously stated.
Tamara didn’t know that Shanaia had this profound way of thinking. It was the first time she had heard her talk about her own point of view, and she must say that she was totally impressed by how she could express her own thoughts.
“What else can I say but that you’re right. I must trust my husband that he will surpass everything. Besides, it isn’t as if this is the real attack that we had, right?” She finally replied.
Shanaia nodded her head in agreement.
“Yes, Your Grace. I’m glad that you can give your full trust to the King now. Besides, they already know what they need to do. The attack is just a mere ploy to hide our real motive.” Shanaia instantly agreed.
Tamara suddenly felt at ease with Shanaia. She didn’t know why, but she could trust her. It’s an odd thing, given that she wasn’t that trustful of anyone whom she had just met. Especially for the past few days, that she had experienced a lot of emotional turmoil the taste of betrayal and pain.
But with Shanaia and Tamika, she strangely felt at ease like they were her own sisters.
She suddenly thought of Shahara. She missed her sister so much. She knew that deep within her heart, she was hoping that she was still by her side. Maybe, they were both so worried by now. But regardless of how apprehensive they were, they had each other’s back.
“Are you okay, Your Grace?” Shanaia suddenly asked pulling her out of her own reverie.
Her dark brown almond-shaped eyes turned towards Shanaia, who had this curious gaze.
“Huh?” She bewilderedly said.
“I am asking if you are okay, Your Grace.” Shanaia patiently repeated.
Tamara simply nodded her head and gave her a small smile.
“Yeah.” She croaked.
She suddenly felt a lump in her throat. Thinking about Shahara now, was truly a painful thing to reminisce, but a great memory to revisit, either.
“I just suddenly remembered someone. I terribly missed her, most especially at times like this.” She emotionally stated.
“Someone?” Shanaia curiously asked.
She nodded her head once again and stared at her dark reddish almond-shaped eyes.
“I suddenly remembered my sister. You might probably have heard about her already. I missed my sister, Shahara. If she is still with us, she must be worried sick by now, too.” Tamara smilingly said.
Tamara’s forehead creased as she saw Shanaia’s eyes were already blank. She didn’t know what her emotions truly were because half of her face was still covered with a black cloth a mask.
“How about you, Shanaia? Can I ask you something?” She inquired all of a sudden.
Her eyes never again flickered into any emotions just blank and cold. A typical expression of Shanaia and Tamika too mysterious and indecipherable.
“About what, Your Grace?” Shanaia retorted back.
“Uhm, well, I am just quite curious, but if you are not comfortable telling me, I’ll respect that.” Tamara suddenly felt like it was not good to ask whatever her curious thoughts were.
“What is it?” Shanaia coldly inquired like she was some sort of bored or something.
Tamara let out a deep sigh.
“Well, I am just curious about you, Shanaia. Who are you and why are you covering your face?” She inquisitively asked.
Then, she instantly shook her head as if she was taking back her own words.
“But if you are not comfortable then-”
“I am just a no one, Your Grace. And I want to end it like that.” She icily replied.
“Oh, I see.” Tamara unconsciously commented.
Shanaia let out a breathy sigh.
“Let’s just say that I want to fulfill my promise to someone. And as to why I am helping you, it isn’t because of my own volition but an act of gratitude to Tamika, who just saved my life. I owe her my life, and this is what she wanted to do, so I’ll help her like how she helped me.” Shanaia seriously continued.
Tamara sweetly smiled at her.
“You, two, are really close, huh?” She smilingly commented.
“Well, not really. We are cats and dogs most of the time. We, even fight for petty things. But Tamika is also like a friend and a sister to me. Just don’t tell her about it because she might tease me again.” She seriously added.
Tamara chuckled.
“Uhm, h-how about your mask? Why is your face covered?” She asked nosily.
Shanaia let out a deep sigh as she leaned her back against the single couch where she was sitting.
“I… I don’t typically-”
But before she could even finish her sentence, a loud banging sound suddenly interrupted them. Both of them instantly directed their eyes towards who caused the loud banging sound of the open door.
“I… I need to talk to you.” Her voice was low and a bit shaky.
She and Shanaia looked at each other before they stood up to meet her.
“What is happening?” Shanaia curiously inquired.
Tamika shook her head, as if she was becoming more stressed and problematic with each passing second.
“Hey…” Shanaia once again called her.
“I can’t… I c-can’t see it anymore.” She unsteadily said.
Her eyes bulged and her heart suddenly beat so loudly inside her chest.
“W-What? W-What are you saying, Tamika?” Tamara fearfully inquired.
She was afraid that what she was thinking right now was right.
“I can’t foresee the future… I can’t see it.” She finally told them, and her hope suddenly crushed down in front of her own eyes.
“N-No…” Tamara weakly uttered.