52. The Truth of The Aftermath of War YILEYNA “What do you plan to do from here, my queen?” Someone asked.
| turned to look at the young Alpha who had asked the question.
“We fix our kingdom, make amends within and with our neighbours. There is a lot of work to do... but for tonight, let's bury our dead, mourn our losses, and celebrate our victories.” | said softly, | had felt the link break with many as we fought.
“That sounds like a plan. Spread out, separate our people from the enemy!” Hunter commanded as he kissed Charlene’s forehead. “Take a moment, I'll handle this.” He added to me, and | smiled gratefully at him.
He left us, and | turned to look at Theoden’s remains, only to see Deliana standing over him. Her hair hid her breasts, and she looked as beautiful as ever. But to my hidden disgust, she had his heart in her hand and was devouring it, her eyes glimmering. One foot on his bloody chest as she ate it.
I gulped as she gavea bloody smile, showing off her sharp teeth. That only made a shiver run down my spine.
“He is ok to eat, correct?” She asked as if she was asking if she could have the last fruit in the fruit bowl.
I nodded, trying to smile, but it cout more of a grimace as Charlene gripped my hand. We both turned and left as swiftly as possible without it looking like we were running away.
“She is... beautiful.” Charlene said, shuddering.
“But that was distarbing.” | whispered back, chuckling softly. 1 She giggled as she hugged my arm, and for a moment, | forgot everything. | was pulled back to the two of us running and playing on these very grounds. Back when life was so carefree...
We stepped over rubble, and | made sure to hold her firmly, not wanting her to slip in her condition. | couldn‘t wait for their little bundle of joy to cinto this world.
Rain poured down on us and when | reached the gates to the castle, staring down at the city, | realised it was truly over... Theoden and Arabella were dead. The kingdom was free.
‘Yil-My Queen, we are getting rid of the poisons Theoden had made immediately.’ Raiden’s voice cinto my head.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt‘Yileyna is fine, Raiden, and thank you. That's a good idea. | don‘t want any of that left behind. Destroy it all.
‘Yes, Yileyna.’ “It's truly over.” Charlene said softly as we stared at the skies that were crying with relief, before we turned our attention back to the bodies that covered the ground below.
Theoden had mages on his side, necromancers who had been powerful, and we had lost many...
My smile vanished, replaced with dread when | saw Ryan sitting on the ground not far below, his head hung as a body lay before him. Who was dead? “Charlene.” | said my heart thudding in fear. “That's Ryan... correct?” Her faint smile faded as she turned in the direction | was staring. Her eyes widened and she clamped a hand to her mouth. Not speaking she began running, leavingbehind, her heart was hammering and cto a sudden stop, mere feet away from Ryan who didn’t even look up.
| approached slowly, worry and fear filling me, and my heart sank when my worst fear was confirmed. There on the ground, with his heart ripped out, was none other than Gamma Grayson.
A wail left Charlene’s body as she fell to her knees next to the body of her father. My heart was hurting, tears streamed down my cheek as | dropped to the ground between the siblings and wrapped my arm around them both, trying to comfort them when my own heart was shattering Gamma Grayson had played a vital part in this entire journey. Charlene had just found him, and he had been ripped from her...
Ryan‘s body was stiff, he was simply staring at the body of his father, as | mind-linked someone to carry the body into the castle and to bring Zoe.
It was a few moments before Zoe crunning, tears streaming down her cheeks as she fell to her knees, throwing her arms around him as she cried in agony. The pain of losing your beloved was clear in her wails of anguish and pain.
Just thinking of being in her place made it hard to breathe, and I looked around, moving away. Hunter, | needed Hunter here.
‘If anyone is close to Alpha Hunter, send him to the gates immediately.” | commanded through the link‘Andrea, Gamma Henry, Gamma Grayson is no more. Please cto the palace gates.’ Andrea‘s gasp and the strain in Gamma Henry's voice were obviously.
‘We will be right there.” “Your majesty, you're needed by the city wall.” Someone said behind me, and | nodded at them.
“I'll be there soon.” | replied quietly as they jogged off. | spotted Hunter run over, once | knew Charlene and the family had someone to watch over them, | turned away.
I had a city to erect upon its feet once more, as Queen | had to be strong.
“Could you ask Alpha Romeo if he will have a team go down to the dungeons and have them release the rest of the warriors from the cells? Feed them and get them beds to rest.” | asked, spotting his son Julian, who was in his early twenties, walking over.
“My queen, my father fell in battle.” My breath hitched and | took a few deep breaths, trying to control my emotions. “I'm so sorry.” | whispered.
Alpha Julian shook his head. “He died for his queen, he would be happy. Fear not, | will handle the cells right away. Where do we put the enemy?” He was strong, even though | could tell he was looking for a distraction from his pain. “In the dungeons.” | replied. He nodded and walked away, and | myself headed to the wall. Theon had vanished, but | had heard from someone that he was burning the enemy’s dead... | was tempted to call him through the link to ask if he was ok, but after what happened with Theoden, perhaps he needed stime... He had put up a wall, shuttingout from his turmoil.
Now that it was over... it felt surreal, and despite the fire that still burned in places, the bodies that littered the city grounds and the lasting effect this would leave on us were heavy in my mind.
| knew that when dawn came, it would be a new start. A new reign, where equality, justice, and compassion prevailed.
| reached the wall, seeing the damage and the huge fire that Ariella was trying to put out. It was beginning to spread despite the rain and her powers. Flames created by magic...
| raised my own hands, my aura raging around me. Readying myself to put the fire out. “Queen Yileyna.” here, his eyebrow raised as he | turned to see none other than the sea emperor stan looked at the area around him.
“Your Majesty.” | bowed to him, and he raised his hand.
“A royal does not bow to a royal. | have cto heal those who are injured. Since you retrieved the pearl it's only fair...” He frowned, looking at Ariella, who was smiling seductively at several warriors who were clearly admiring her. 1 He sighed and looked back at me, my heart skipped a beat as | looked at his trident, wondering what the extent of its abilities was. Gamma Grayson'‘s body flashed in my mind and | looked up at the Emperor sharply. “Can the...” | trailed off when Queseidon shook his head slowly, a knowing look in his eyes. “None can cure death.” He said quietly. “I understand.” | whispered.
| tried to smile and nodded gently, not knowing what else to say...
RAIDEN It was almost four in the morning when things were finally in sorder. | had ended up throwing sof the Silver Storm members who had succumbed to Theoden into the cells. With due trial, their fate would be decided.
The fires were put out, the bodies moved and separated. Yileyna didn’t rest, she had spent hours putting out fires, and even resurrecting walls of ice to hold certain things in place.
Gamma Grayson's death had shaken me, and Ryan‘s emotionless front still played on my mind. His body had been moved to their quarters, so the family were able to mourn in privacy.
Charlene was as distraught as Zoe, and Hunter's concern was valid. She was pregnant, and it was taking a toll on her. Thea and Andrea had been by their side whilst Gamma Henry and Alpha Hunter had to carry on helping around the city.
Theon had stuck to the outskirts of the wall, burning the bodies of the dead enemies whilst separating our people. | had seen him staring at his dad’s remains at one point, before he had shoved them in a sack, taking them to the bonfire of the dead.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmWe also had to house the Alphas who had been drugged at the banquet, and those who simply stayed behind, wanting to know what Yileyna planned next. The entire city had ctogether. | The people had prepared food and drinks as well as helped take care of the injured. The healers had started healing those they could, until Emperor Queseidon had shown up and healed those who were mortally wounded.
The Nagas and Sirens had left after a discussion with Yileyna. | couldn‘t help but worry about her. When | told her to rest, she would simply brushoff, saying she had a lot to do.
| now sat down, an omega had broughtcoffee and | welcomed it, as | rested my head against the stone wall behinddrinking it.
The sound of footsteps madeturn, to see Thea walking toward me. She looked tired, yet her eyes held the fire that they always did, showing the strength that she had.
“Hey.” She murmured as she wrapped her arms around my neck. She was about to sit besidewhen | placed my cup down and pulled her onto my thigh. Inhaling her scent. Goddess, she smelt so good. “Hey.” | responded, my gaze falling to her lips.
I hadn‘t kissed her yet... not on those plump lips of hers, and the very urge was threatening to take over.
She rested her head on my shoulder and sighed. | stroked her thigh, resting my head on top of hers.
“Many died, Raiden... The guards of the silver storm that had been let out during the fight, a few were killed as they were too weak... Alpha Romeo.... he's passed too.” My eyes widened in surprise. Alpha Romeo had helped us a lot... “Hunter's Beta... Ailema died too. She was trying to protect the orphanage from one of the necromancers who was destroying all in his wake, and she was murdered.” 1 | closed my eyes, feeling her pain as I tightened my arms around her. “We lost many...” | murmured.
She tilted her head up, her nose brushing my chin before she reached up and cupped my jaw.
“Life is so short, isn‘t it?” She whispered.
| swallowed, trying to control myself, because with her in my lap... Was it wrong that | wanted to take her away and do far more to her than | could out here? “No one can escape death, but that's why we need to live life to the fullest.” | looked into her amber orbs. Her heart was racing as she nodded slowly in agreement, but | knew there was more... She wanted to say something. “What is it?” | asked, smiling slightly.
“I just told you that life is short... Yet you still make no attempt to kiss me.” | let out a chuckle, wrapping my arms around her slender body tightly.
“That's one way to makekiss you.” | whispered seductively. “But I'm not sure if | start kissing you, that I will ever stop.” She sat up slowly from where she had been leaning on me, and turned in my lap until her legs were on either side, straddling me. Her core was pressing right against the bulge in my pants as she locked her arms around my neck.
“Then don't stop.” She whispered. 1 My eyes flashed, and all the self-restraint | had worked so hard on broke free. | ran my hand up her waist before letting go of it and cupping her face.
Her scent and touch soothed my mind, and pleasure rushed south as | claimed her lips in a delicious kiss, one that almost felt like my body hummed along to. A soft sigh escaped her, and her arms tightened around my neck as she pressed her body firmly against mine, deepening the kiss.
It was perfect, sweet as honey, soft as silk, and far more pleasurable than | could have imagined This was the taste I'd never get enough of. A taste | would always relish and crave.
Because she was mine.