Bloom: The Kingdom of Archer Series: Book I

by J Rose

  “Spencer!” Crystals’ voice called out before the bobcats attacked Spencer all at once and then nothing. The world had gone dark and I was no longer conscious of anything else. Even though I tried to fight for lucidity I could only feel myself slip in and out of consciousness.

  #

  Soft. I was floating on soft and warm. Trying to open my eyes that seemed so heavy my head rolled to the side. I could see Spencer being helped up by Crystal and someone else I could not recognize. Spencer was injured and struggling to stay up on one leg while the other seemed to be cut open and bleeding.

  “You can’t keep her with you! She’s mine!” I heard that voice again say, and though I wanted to escape it, my body felt heavy even if I was being carried by someone.

  “I will not hand her to you! She is my mate!” Disoriented I once again moved my heavy head to look up at the person carrying me. His chest was bare and had large bleeding gashes, his forehead was bleeding and his eyes were fierce and angry. But I wasn’t afraid of him.

  “Parker,” I weakly called out, before he looked down at me, his hazel eyes were filled with worry and then… nothing.

  #

  It’s pitch dark again. The room is cold. My body, weak and frail, is covered in bruises. I know what this is. I know where I am. I can hear heavy footsteps making their way toward me. Though I can’t see him, I can hear him. This isn’t a dream or even a nightmare. I’ve been here. Lived it. Survived it by a twist of faith that could only be summed up by one person. Parker Archer.

  I can see my father now at the bottom of the steps and his eyes are void of any emotion. Nothing in his eyes say that he’s living, that he feels, or that he is human at all. It’s the same every single time. With a single blink of an eye, he’s holding a lit match in his hand. The gallon of gasoline is now empty and spread around me while I cower away in fear..

  “We’re both dying today,” He says, his voice empty and dead before he drops the match igniting the surrounding flames. They grow so fast and angrily and they surround me making it unable for me to escape no matter how much I want to run. He’s standing there but this time it’s different.

  When the walls begin to concave and the fire reaches my right shoulder burning my flesh and I scream he laughs. That’s when I realize it’s no longer my father but him. I can’t see his face all I can see are his bloodthirsty red eyes looking at me. His eyes dance with amusement and I know he was enjoying watching the terror in my eyes.

  “He’s not coming to save you. Not this time,” He tells me.

  “Parker! Parker! Somebody help me!” I cry out in fear only to make him begin to laugh.

  “Parker! Parker!” I scream out again.

  “Parker! Parker!” He mimics before laughing twistedly and I know he’s out of his mind. A look of twisted glee and enjoyment is clear in his eyes while he smiles.

  “He’s never going to come save you. Not again,” He says, shifting into a hyena once more.

  “You’re mine!”

  #

  Gasping I sit up only to collide with someone’s chest while they hug me tightly.

  “It’s okay. You’re safe,” He whispered gently.

  “Parker,” I think to myself, feeling relief if only for a second. My head hurts and I feel dizzy, my heart rate increases and drums in my ears loudly. I don’t realize I’m shaking until Parker’s hold on me tightens and he makes soft shushing noises trying to calm me down.

  “You’re okay. I promise,” He says again. Looking up at him there are so many emotions that flicker in his eyes before he lets go of me. Though his reassurance alone should have calmed me, there’s a sense of unease that increases when Parker let’s go.

  “I’m sorry. I just,” He begins before he looks down at the ground and sighs.

  “Are you okay?” He asks me, looking back up at me.

  “You hit your head. But you’re fine. The doctor said you have a concussion,” He explained. His words only bring everything flooding back. The attack. Crystal, Spencer.

  “They’re okay,” Parker says to me.

  “Spencer fought all three of them with everything he had and killed one of them. He’s hurt, but he’s recovering right now,” Parker explained. Looking back at him I could see the cut above his forehead already mended. His left arm was in a sling though when he looks at me he simply offers a smile.

  “Novas heal faster but Spencer’s leg was severely injured so it’ll take a few days, no more than a week,” Parker explains.

  “I just dislocated my shoulder but by tomorrow it should be healed,” He adds.

  “Crystal,” I want to ask, though her name is the only thing that manages to leave my lips, my voice comes out strained.

  “When Spencer was attacked, she was thrown off him too, but she has some minor scratches and bruises nothing to worry about. She’s taking care of Spencer,” Parker assured.

  *Howl*

  Tensing I looked up at Parker while growls and howls begin to sound off across the entire mansion like sirens. Hearing a knock on the door I felt my body tremble. Parker immediately turns to the door before it opens. There is not fear in his eyes, nor is he cautious. Even so, he seems to unconsciously move his body in front of my own protectively.

  “Son. I’ve set up the guards they will not let anyone or anything past our gates,” King Thomas spoke as he entered the room. Briefly his eyes flickered toward me before turning to look back at Parker.

  “They will guard her with their lives,” King Thomas says before leaving the room. Somehow the kind King that had done so much for me and had spoken kind wise words to me seemed different. His eyes seemed pitiful, afraid, unsure, but most of all concerned.

  It was quiet for what felt like hours. Parker did not say a thing though he looked pensive and I couldn’t bring myself to say anything either. After what felt like days of silence he finally spoke.

  “Lyric. When we were ambushed in the shop. Could you hear me in your head? Could you understand me?” Parker asked quietly. His question confused me. I didn’t understand why he was asking me this. But somehow his words brought me back to the attack.

  “Are you okay?... Lyric?” He called out bringing me out of my train of thought.

  “I. Yes,” I whispered looking down. He was then silent again for a really long time as he looked down at his hands. I could tell he wanted to say something more but he would shake his head from time to time and I wondered if I had done something wrong. Was it normal to hear him when he was in his Nova form? His eyes met mine again and there was something in them when he looked at me that I could not understand. But the way he was looking at me made me feel uneasy. Not afraid, but nervous, making my heart tighten just a bit.

  “Then. What about him?” Parker asked, his voice softer than before.

  “Him? Who was he talking about?” I wondered

  “The Hyena. Could you also hear him?” Parker asked.

  “Found you.” Remembering his voice was like being hit by a bullet to the head. His voice brought terror to me once more and it seemed like Parker knew it as well though he seemed to want to confirm it. Reaching for my hand he then looked at me.

  “Lyric? Could you hear him too?” He asked again. I didn’t know how to answer. Part of me wanted to lie to him. Afraid of what he would do to me. But I knew Parker would see through it. He could always see past my lies. I knew I had no other choice but to tell him the truth.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  My words echoed out through the silent room like a loud blast before everything was once again calm. Parker didn’t say anything again but instead looked down. Slowly he let go of my hand and stood there for a really long time. What was wrong with me? Had I done something that was so despicable by Nova law? So many questions ran through my head but I

  was not sure what it was that was happening.

  “What about Spencer? Could you hear him?” Parker asked abruptly, his voice sounding hopeful, and I didn’t understand why that was.

  �
��No,” I answered before his expression changes once more. He laughs dryly shaking his head and I wonder why but before I can say anything he looks back up at me.

  “Do you know who he is? The Hyena? Have you ever seen him before?” Parker asks.

  “No,” I tell him. Even so, I know there was only one hyena family in the entire world.

  “His name is Maxwell Cray,” Parker confirms. Even so, the name immediately sounds alarms off in my head.

  Maxwell Cray. Like Parker, Maxwell Cray was a Prince. Heir to the Kingdom of Cray. If you live in the Kingdom of Archer, you know of the Kingdom of Cray. The Kingdom is ruled by Tyranny the people starve, there is illness, so much suffering, discrimination. Generation by generation not one king from the Kingdom of Cray has ever lead their people with anything other than selfishness and evil. Centuries ago and generation by generation there has been a rivalry between The Kingdom of Archer and the Kingdom of Cray. A fight between good and evil that had so far been kept even. A rivalry carried down from King to King, Prince to Prince. Father to son and so on and so forth. A rivalry that I knew Parker would inherit. A rivalry he would one day pass down to his children and his children would pass on to theirs. It was a vicious never ending cycle that would always continue. It was why the council had been created.

  The council had been created long ago by the first king of Archer. It was formed and made by the original Nova’s consisting of twelve people. The first to carry the Nova gene and pass it on. Lineage counted and therefore they were thought to be the most honorable and neutral beings. Though the original Nova’s had passed hundreds of thousands of years ago and more Nova animal species had risen. Nobility counted and a position was passed down. I thought of my friend Andrew son of a council member. Andrew was someone who would one day be part of the council for his lineage.

  When the first Nova’s walked this earth one was chosen to rule. A fair king, the first Nova wolf to walk the earth. His name was King Alexander Archer. He was the wisest, the fairest of the Novas. Of course, there was also Lazarus Cray. The first Nova Hyena. He was selfish, arrogant and had always been jealous of King Alexander. Refusing to be beneath him he demanded to be king himself. If not, he’d take what he wanted with blood. Lazarus Cray was able to gather new Nova’s that arose later gathering troops for his side. Causing bloodshed, destruction, and pain for King Alexander’s people. So many years would go on like this. Neither side was willing to yield. That was until King Alexander realized there was nothing to gain from this war. By then, there had been too many lives lost.... too much pain....and so much anger. The council begged Lazarus to stop the war with the king. Their words were void to the power-hungry hyena. King Alexander, who had by then met his soulmate Catherine and fathered a child, Noel, agreed to give Lazarus the power he wanted in exchange for peace.

  King Alexander was a passive King, thinking only of his son. This war was not a war he had ever wanted his son to inherit. Therefore, he agreed with Lazarus and would give up his throne. The council begged him not to, knowing very well that Lazarus’s tyrannical rule would lead to the demise of all people and Nova’s alike. King Alexander confirmed this after Catherine, his wife, was almost killed by Lazarus in an attempt to gain full power when King Alexander refused to give his kingdom up. With no choice and for the sake of his people and his family King Thomas made a deal with Lazarus in exchange for peace. He would make Lazarus a King.

  “There will be no more war. You and your people can take half of the earth. My people will stay with me and you may take yours,” King Alexander had said.

  “Not just my people. Half of this earth. I want half of these Novas. My Kingdom will be equal to yours. Or I will take what I deserve by force.” Lazarus demanded. With no other choice. Not wanting more Nova families to die, King Alexander Agreed.

  “The council will remain neutral. They will be intermediates and will be above both of us to prevent war,” King Alexander said. Though unsatisfied yet at the same time pleased to have taken some power from the King, Lazarus agreed to King Alexander’s request.

  A few years would go by though there was peace, King Alexander was vigilant. And not without good cause. Lazarus Cray now king of his own kingdom and with a mate and a son of his own, wanted more power. He was never happy with just half of the world he wanted to be the only king. With power in mind, he sent troops to attack. King Alexander was ready and Lazarus’s men came back defeated further enraging Lazarus. He vowed never to give up and to one day have the Kingdom of Archer end.

  Lazarus would spend his entire life fighting a useless war. Eventually, the next Cray king in line took Lazarus’s place his name was Edgar Cray, and he too would fight over Archer. Noel, son of Alexander Archer, inherited Archer from his father and ruled in the same fashion. There was no big war only small fights, incidents such as resources taken away, random acts of kills in different cities of Archer. Yet nothing could be done as far as the Council went. Not without an all-out war breaking out.

  “Lyric,” Parker spoke gently, pulling me out of my own thoughts once more.

  “Do you know why you could hear me in your mind even though I was in my Nova form?” He asked gently. Shaking my head, he looked at me and once again took my hand. This time, however, his grip was not gentle, but strong. He was not hurting me but I felt his grip on my hand a lot more than before.

  “Only our soulmates can understand us. Even if other Nova’s can understand each other their soulmates can only hear them. No other woman, human, will ever understand us unless they’re linked to us,” He explained. Hearing those words leave his lips brought a strange sensation at the pit of my stomach that I could not understand. I was confused by my own reaction and I knew fear was not what I felt at this moment. Though it was hard to comprehend I realized two things. One. I was the only human woman that would ever hear Parker Archer and understand him when he was in his Nova Wolf form... and two. How was it possible to understand Maxwell Cray as well? Somehow Parker must have seen the confusion in my eyes because his next words answered my question. Though I would have preferred he not answer it. Ever.

  “I don’t understand it. I’ve never heard of it, neither has my father. We didn’t know it was possible. I. You. I don’t know how to say this," He begins his eyes looking directly at me, the grip he had on my hand tightening just a bit more.

  “Lyric. Maxwell is also your soulmate.”

  #

  (Parker)

  There was nothing more to describe what was happening other than utter chaos. The people of my kingdom ran and screamed. Nova citizens were fighting off whatever creature had come in order to defend what was theirs and who they loved. It was instinct to protect those we loved. My own fear and instinct to protect my mate caused my own transformation into my Nova wolf form.

  “Found you,” Cray’s words had been clear. He was after her. My soulmate. My Lyric. I didn’t know his reasons or if this was retribution for centuries of war but I knew only one thing. I would give my life to protect my love or die trying. Turning to Spencer, who had also shifted into his Nova wolf form, I spoke.

  “Spencer! Take Lyric and Crystal out of here!”

  “No Parker! I’m not leaving you to handle this alone! We can take him,” Spencer said, anger and determination clear in his eyes. Though I knew he wanted to help, right now my mate was the most important thing in the world to me. Her safety mattered more than my life. I could see Cray’s anger increase at my words and he had not stopped hissing with rage. I knew we would fight, and I knew one of us would die here and I wasn’t planning on it being me.

  “Now! Spencer!” I yelled at him. Looking at Lyric I could see the terror in her eyes. The way she was looking at me brought me back to that fire. I’d promised myself I would never allow her to feel this way again, that I’d make her forget it. But now, she was afraid again, and I knew I needed to stop it.

  “You’ll be fine. I promise,” I try to reassure her, but when a loud screeching banshee-like sound is heard I can s
ee her terror increase.

  “You’re not taking her anywhere she’s mine!” Cray sneers out, leaping forward to attack.

  There’s was no time to think, no time to do anything but attack. My instincts go into overdrive telling me to protect what’s mine, to protect what I love most. Jumping in the air as Cray does the same my paw collides with his face striking at him first before he falls hissing. Behind me, I can see Crystal already on Spencer’s back helping Lyric on to him before they take off.

  “You think that you can keep her from me,” Cray hisses out, standing up on his four paws and shaking away the hit.

  “She belongs to me, Archer, even if I have to kill your people and burn your kingdom to ashes I will get her,” Cray says.

  We circle around each other ready to attack. I can feel my heart slow with the tense atmosphere. His eyes are filled with rage and hate, not only for me but for my mate. I can see it in his eyes, he wants to break her.

  “You are never going to touch her. She’s my mate,” I growl out.

  “She’s mine too,” He says, leaping up and striking me with his paw. I can feel him sink his teeth into my neck and though I’m in pain, his words have confused me. Though I fight back I’m thrown into the building wall while a large pillar falls on me. My shoulder throbs and my ribs are sure to be cracked. I hiss in pain and Cray laughs.