Chapter 18: Chapter 18

ANNA

I wake up, hearing a commotion outside. I am alone in the cave.

~What is going on? I must have fallen asleep.~

Rising to my feet, I fix my clothes and go out.

The storm has passed, and the day is bright and sunny. Roland and Amethyst are doing something I can’t quite figure out. Lev is lying on the ground watching them.

“Morning, again.” I sit on the grass next to Lev. He flashes me a smile.

“So what’s going on there?” I ask, pointing over to Amethyst and Roland.

“He is trying to help her enhance her powers. She’s very strong, just needs to practice a bit. We have no idea how long the ogres held her prisoner and how long she’s been without her powers. Those chains made her weak.”

He lets out a sigh, rubs his hands over his face. “To think what they could have done to you and to her.”

Roland shouts something in Russian and kicks a stone lying on the ground. He is losing it, and poor Amethyst is shaking under his demanding voice.

“Again!” he snaps at her.

I narrow my eyes.

“Anna, don’t.” Lev gives me a warning look

~No way I’m gonna sit here and watch my poor friend getting bullied.~

I stand up.

“Hey, don’t shout at her!”

Amethyst turns around to face me. She looks tired and there are even tears in her eyes.

I can feel my blood boiling.

I storm over to Roland. Amethyst shakes her head as I pass her but I ignore her.

~How dare he talk to my friend like that?~

Roland’s back is turned to me. I tap him on the shoulder, and he turns around.

“Why are you shouting at her?”

He clenches his jaw and stares at me.

~Oh, honey, you don’t scare me.~

I keep my gaze on his, waiting for my answer.

“I’m teaching her,” he says through clenched teeth.

I look at him in disbelief.

“Bullshit! You’re bullying her. Look at her, she’s exhausted!”

He looks over to Amethyst, who stands there, shocked.

“If she wants to be stronger and better she needs proper training,” he says as he moves his gaze back to me.

“And you think shouting at people is ‘proper’ training?” I smirk at him and fold my arms over my chest.

“If that will get them to do better, then yes.” He returns my smirk, daring me to say one more word.

“You are being an asshole! We are done here.”

I look over to Amethyst, who nods her head and walks over to Lev. I turn around to walk away, but Roland grabs my elbow.

“I will decide when we are done, not you!” he snaps in his demanding, alpha voice.

Amethyst freezes in her tracks.

I rip my elbow out of his grip.

“You are not the boss of me and will not tell me what and what not to do!” I take a step closer toward him, narrowing my eyes.

He gives me an amused look and smirks. “Is that so?”

There is a flush of relaxation in the air, and Amethyst slowly starts to walk away.

“Yes. You have no authority over me.”

He places his hands on my waist and pulls me into him. My whole body relaxes under his touch.

“You were saying?” he whispers in my ear.

I take in a sharp breath.

~He knows what he’s doing to me.~

He plants a soft kiss in the crook of my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

“You are mine.”

I push away from him and shake my head.

“I’m not yours.”

He flashes me a devilish grin. “I love a challenge,” he says in a low voice.

I go over to where the others are waiting, with Roland following me. I can feel his gaze on me, but I ignore him.

~He is so annoying, thinking I will fall at his feet and worship him. Ha, the joke’s on him. I don’t bow to anyone.~

***

We start our journey once again. Over the next few days, Amethyst practices as we walk, with Roland at her side giving her tips.

One morning, I’ve had enough.

“Lev, when will Zalton come out to play?” I ask, and flash him a huge smile.

He starts to laugh at me. “Why?”

I place my hand on his shoulder. “Oh, you know why.”

“Oh, Anna, you’re killing me.”

I chuckle at my friend and look over my shoulder at Roland, who is deep in conversation with Amethyst.

“Please, just for a little while? My feet are killing me.”

Lev stops and turns to Roland, who gives him a small nod. Lev’s whole face lights up, and he runs to the woods only to return in his wolf form.

I smile brightly at the giant wolf in front of me as he wags his tail and rolls on the ground like a puppy. Roland and Amethyst start to laugh at us. Zalton bows before me and I feel Roland’s hands on my waist helping me up.

We race off with Roland and Amethyst hot on our heels. We make up a lot of time traveling like this.

~I don’t know why we have to walk. This is much faster.~

Later, when we take a break, Roland helps me to get off.

“Wow, that was fun. Why can’t we travel like that the whole time?” I pouted.

Roland laughs at me and shakes his head.

“Because if we are spotted in our wolf forms in the fae kingdom, they’ll see it as a threat and probably try to kill us.”

“Okay, that’s a good point. So we are in the fae kingdom now?” I look at the beautiful sight in front of me. There are a lot of mountains and we can see a huge city.

It is breathtaking. Rivers are flowing downward, but what really catches my attention are the cascading waterfalls.

~It’s magical.~

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Roland stands next to me, taking in the view.

“Mesmerizing.” I smile sweetly at him, and he flashes me a soft smile.

“The fae kingdom is the most beautiful of all the kingdoms. I think it is because of all the rivers and mountains. Come, let’s go say hi.”

He holds out his hand to me and leads me down the cliff. Amethyst and Lev are already waiting for us.

“Thanks for the lift,” I say to the werewolf.

Lev smiles at me. “My pleasure.”

I know he loves to run free in his wolf form.

The fae city is surrounded by a huge wall. There is a bridge to cross the river, leading to the gates. There are soldiers standing guard on the wall.

We enter the city. There is a marketplace and lots of people with pointy ears and long hair. We head up to a beautiful big castle, which has four towers, with flowering vines growing on the walls.

Two guards are standing outside, guarding the entrance. They give us one look and bow their heads as we pass them.

Roland strolls in like he owns the place, full of confidence and authority. I can’t help but smile.

The castle is breathtaking inside. The style is Greek, decorated in beautiful colors, and huge. We can hear our footsteps echo.

At the top of the staircase stands a very attractive elfish man with long silver hair and bright green eyes, and a huge smile on his beautiful, strong face that would melt any girl’s heart.

“King Keijo.” Roland smiles at his old friend. It looks like he is flying down the stairs as he comes to greet Roland.

“Good to see you, Roland.” Keijo shakes his hand and turns his gaze to me.

“And who might you be?” He takes my hand and places a soft kiss on my knuckles.

“These are my friends, Annabeth and Amethyst. Lev, you know.” Roland smiles as he introduces us.

“Welcome to my kingdom. My wife, Queen Nagli, will join us shortly. Come, let me show you to your rooms.”

The king leads us upstairs. He tells us a little bit about his kingdom and then he starts a conversation with Roland in a language that I don’t understand.

He opens a door to a huge room with an en suite bathroom, and I feel my jaw drop to the floor. The room is as big as my apartment. The bed is huge, and the room is decorated with flowers and golden statues.

“Annabeth, this will be your room.” I flash him a huge smile and step in.

“Amethyst?” I frown at her, and she gives me a soft smile.

“She’ll be just next door,” the king says, and pulls the doors shut.

I dive onto the bed, giggling like a schoolgirl. This place is otherworldly. It smells like lavender and has a warm welcoming feeling. The bed feels like I’m floating on a cloud.

I leap up and sprint to the bathroom.

~Holy shit, it’s huge.~

The shower is big enough to fit ten people easily, and the bathtub looks like a jacuzzi.

“Bath time!”

I open up the taps and let the tub fill, throwing in some bubble bath that fills the room with a spring blossom aroma.

When it’s ready, I strip down my clothes and slide into the bath. I let out a soft sigh and close my eyes as the warmth of the water surrounds me. It feels glorious.

After a while, I start to scrub off the dirt and scrub myself clean.

~I could stay in this bath forever.~

I hear a knock. I quickly rinse out my hair, grab the bathrobe, and go open the door.

A beautiful woman stands outside. She has hair as white as snow and eyes as blue as the ocean, sun-kissed skin, a petite build, and a smile that lights the sky.

“Hello. I’m Queen Nagli.”

I smile sweetly at her. “Annabeth. Please come in.” I step aside so she can enter.

“No need. I’m just welcoming all my guests. Apologies that I couldn’t greet you when you arrived, but I’m here to invite you and your friends to our ball tonight.”

~A ball sounds great~.

“Um, I don’t own a dress.”

She flashes me a gorgeous smile.

“I’ll send you my best seamstress. She can make you a beautiful gown and one for your friend as well.” She looks over to one of her lady’s maids to fetch her.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

She nods her head and glides off.

I shut the door behind me and fall on my bed. A ball, with royalty and beautiful dresses, mouth-watering food, music, it’s going to be great. I can feel my body bubbling in excitement.

I fall asleep on my cloud-like bed.

***

A knock on the door pulls me from my slumber.

“Come in.” I sit up on the bed as an elderly woman enters the room. Four younger women follow her in, carrying fabric and pushing a huge wooden trunk.

“Come, come, sweetie, we need to make you a dress for the ball. My name is Viessa, and I’m the royal seamstress.”

I leap up from the bed and go over to her. The four girls start to take my measurements, while Viessa checks the materials against my skin.

“Oh, we have a winner.” She pulls out a royal blue silk material. “This brings out your beautiful blue eyes.”

She pulls out another piece of lace material with small diamonds on it. “Oh, we will make you a gorgeous dress with this.” She starts cutting and measuring.

The door swings open and Amethyst enters the room.

“Let’s get ready for the ball!” She sounds excited. I start with my hair while she applies some makeup to her face.

I decide to wear my hair loose, falling off my one shoulder, and apply some light makeup with some silver glitter eyeshadow.

My dress is soon done and it looks amazing. It is an off-shoulder, mermaid dress, and it fits me like a second skin. Viessa even worked in some lace at the bottom of the dress, giving it a more fairytale-like look.

“I feel like a princess,” I say as I check myself in the mirror.

“Oh, honey, you look beautiful.” Amethyst’s dress is a black, one-shoulder, shining sequined affair with a high slit, full-length. She looks stunning.

I pull on the silver high heels Viessa gave me and we head to the door, giggling in excitement.

Roland and Lev are waiting in the hall, dressed in black tuxedos.

~Holy shit, they look good.~

Roland looks straight at me, scanning me with a devouring look in his eyes.

“Evening, ladies,” he says as we approach them. He offers me his arm. I hook in, smiling sweetly at him, and Amethyst takes Lev’s arm as we make our way to the ballroom.