by J Rose
“This is more than what you think it is Archer. Look around you. We are finally going to take what’s ours. What the kingdom of Cray should have always had. And what better way to do it than to kill the heirs to the throne of Archer.”
“She’ll be better off with me anyway. I’ll tell her what it was like to see the life leave your miserable eyes,” Cray hisses out. I can see him coming ready to attack, to hand the final blow. My body has gone numb at this point and I can’t move. No matter how much I will it to do so. It can’t.
*Bump Ba-Bump Bump*
I can hear the rate of my heart slowing but there’s nothing more I can do. Part of me knows that she would be better off without me. By now I hope Spencer has gotten her out of here. Spencer will take care of her for me maybe he’ll send her away to a place where Lyric can be happy.
“Parker!” I can hear her calling me my eyes drift to her. Though I am tired I can see the fear and the concern in her eyes. Not only for her safety. But for me.
“Lyric.” It’s like a wave of energy hits me. Maybe it’s her calling my name. Something she’d never done before. Maybe it’s the fact that I needed to survive at the moment not just for me and my people, but for her. Whatever it is I find my footing and I attack back mustering up what little strength I have left just before Maxwell is ready to deliver the final blow. My hit sends him flying across the opposite end and he falls unconscious. I want to kill him. I want to end this ridiculous fight that’s broken out for centuries. But I know retaliation would come from his father if I were to kill him and then more bloodshed than necessary would no doubt ensue.
*Whoosh*
Hearing the large crash, I can see Spencer collide on to a large building my heart races when I see Lyric on the floor. I want to run to her as I see her struggling to get up from the blow. While three large nova bobcats start to hiss. I can see it in their eyes and I know their Kingdom of Cray. Not only do I see the anger but the large brand letter C on their right shoulder blade as they hiss at Spencer ready to attack him. A rough feral growl is heard and someone leaps over me. The large wolf collides onto Cray, who'd gotten himself up and had tried to attack me while my back was to him. Turning to look I can see my father in his Nova form hissing and growling at Maxwell. I’d only ever seen him in this form a few times in my life. Once when I was a child and he'd carry Spencer and I on his back. Another, when our troops were killed in a Cray attack. My father stood tall in his nova form. His wolf larger than both Spencer and I. His eyes though old, were sharp. His strength though not the same as when he was young, was still something to fear.
“I’d rethink attacking here. Go home!” My father growls out to Maxwell.
“I came here for my mate and I intend to leave with her,” Maxwell growled out.
“Go home before my troops arrive if you don’t leave now then I will not be responsible for your death,” My father called out calmly.
“Then both your sons shall die Thomas,” Someone hisses out and I can see a much larger hyena than Maxwell walking towards us before he stands next to Maxwell. His eyes are calm much like my own father although the blood red eyes show a calm evil I had never seen before.
“Charles. I suggest you and your son leave my kingdom. You have nothing to do here unless you want to start a war,” My father says to him.
“We simply came for what is his,” King Charles says to my father.
“You come to take what is not yours once again,” My father snaps.
“Son. Go get Lyric,” My father says calmly. Maxwell hisses angrily. His eyes move menacingly between my father and I. Even so, he retreats when dozens of Nova wolves hiss his way having arrived just as my father had warned.
“Go,” My father tells me, his tone is calm but the urgency in his voice is clear. ‘This was dangerous.’ I could feel my heart beat erratically with worry and I knew I could only calm once I had Lyric in my arms. As fast as I ran it felt like I could not get to her fast enough.
I could see Spencer already back to his human form breathing heavily blood was running down his leg. With my brother hurt Crystal was at his side trying to help him up with the help of our Nova guard, Oliver. Crystal herself is has a few scratches and though Spencer asks if she’s alright she ignores his questions as she fusses over him in tears. On the floor a few feet away there is a large bobcat lying dead. The other two bobcats are surrounded by five Nova wolves who hiss at them and make them retreat. Though their eyes blaze with hate and anger they don’t attack, knowing it is a battle they will lose. Then there is Lyric.
Two Nova wolves are surrounding her protecting her while she lies on the ground
unconscious. Bowing and moving aside once they see me I take her in my arms and I can hear
Maxwell hiss from far away.
“Prince Parker,” One of the Nova wolves calls out.
“The council will be here any minute. They authorized the attack!” He says and all I can do is turn to look at my father who is making his way toward us. Behind him, Cray and his father who are surrounded by Nova troops follow us. The Nova Males of Archer upon seeing my father, their king, joined the Nova officers howling and growling out at the Crays. The message clear to them, we were in control.
“This is treason! How could the council allow the Kingdom of Archer to be invaded,” I say to my father angrily.
“The council was created as neutral ground! Have they taken sides!”
“We allowed King Charles and his son to enter because they said Maxwell’s mate was here. We allowed three of their guards to come for their protection,” The Lion says calmly.
“We asked that they keep the peace,"
“Look around you! They’ve come for war!”
“A war that we will win,” Maxwell hisses out.
“Enough!” Both my father and his yell out firmly to both of us.
“There was a purpose to coming here. And that wolf is holding her in his arms,” Charles Cray says. My heart clenches and my grip on Lyric tightens while everyone’s eyes land on her.
“Lyric. What do you want with her?” Crystal asks her voice afraid.
“Lyric,” Maxwell said and my instincts take over causing me to growl at him at the way he calls her name out.
“When you said you merely wanted to bring back Maxwell’s soulmate you forgot to mention who she was exactly,” The Lion called out.
“Must have slipped my mind,” Charles Cray said nonchalantly
“She is my mate. Not his,” I say angrily only to have Maxwell smirk.
“Funny thing about that isn’t it,” He begins before he is handed a file by his father.
“She happens to be my soulmate as well,” He says before handing it to the two councilmen who have now taken their human form.
“That’s not possible. It’s a trick,” Crystal says.
“But it isn’t,” Maxwell says, his eyes expressing pleasure at the situation.
“Is it councilmen?” He asks before everyone turns to them including me. My heart beats fast in my chest and my grip on Lyric tightens just a bit more.
“I’m afraid not,” The Lion says, his eyes shifting to Lyric with pity.
“That can’t be possible,” I say to him.
“You heard him Archer. Now hand her to me now,” Maxwell says angrily.
“I’m not going to do that Cray,” I snap back at him.
“Enough!” The eagle says.
“Samuel, Daniel. How will we fix this?” My father asked.
“Certainly not by war,” The Lion said.
“Then what do you suggest Councilmen Green. That they share that woman,” King Charles hisses out. His tone already speaking for him as to what he feels for Lyric, disdain.
“She belongs to one of them only and that is my son,” King Charles said to them.
“Enough,” The eagle called out calmly.
“We must speak with the rest of the council. In a few days’ time, both sides will meet in front of the council where we shall give you
our deliverance. We expect a call from you, King Thomas, though we give you no more than a week,” Councilmen Green spoke, his lion roar daring anyone to object.
“And for the time being what do you suggest councilmen?” King Charles asks through gritted teeth.
“You can’t keep her with you! She’s mine!” Maxwell snaps angrily and I know he’s ready to fight for this if he has to but so will I.
“I will not hand her to you! She is my mate!” I growl out though my instincts tell me to shift into Nova form the only thing stopping me is Lyric who is still in my arms. I want to tell him that he’s never going to see her. He is never going to touch her, much less have her but her voice interrupts the tension, cutting through it like a knife.
“Parker,” She calls out, her voice weak while I turn to look at her. Her eyes are calm and I can see the confusion in them as well. When her eyes meet my own something flickers in them just before she faints in my arms again. I know she’s not afraid of me, at least not at this moment in time.
“She’s staying with me,” I tell them, knowing well that I have to protect her. Turning to Cray who is fuming with rage I speak
“You can do what you want Cray. She’s staying with me.”
“I won’t let you have her,” Maxwell says his voice low and filled with malice.
“I know. I’ll be ready then,” I say before turning to my father.
“We’re leaving,” I say before I walk away with Lyric in my arms.
#
There is silence in the living room. Spencer is struggling to sit up while Crystal is next to him keeping him steady. My father is standing by the fireplace, a pensive look in his eyes. All of us have now been tended to by a Nova Doctor. My arm is in a sling but it doesn’t bother me as much as it should. My mind has somehow numbed this pain and only allowed me to focus on this situation. It’s unbelievable, incomprehensible and terrifying. I have never heard of a double mating before. How was that possible? How could someone be linked to two people? How could Lyric have two soulmates? Thinking about her made me want to go to her. She was currently upstairs in our room asleep. The last thing I wanted was to cause more distress to this already overwhelming situation between us.
“King Thomas,” Oliver called out, breaking the silence in the room.
“I’ve called our Nova troops. They’ll be ready soon my lord,” Oliver said.
“See to it that they are. For the time being, you are in charge of them.”
“Yes Sire,” Oliver responded back to my father before leaving the room once more.
“I don’t understand it,” Crystal spoke.
“How can Lyric have two soulmates? Is that even possible?” She questioned.
“In all my years… I’ve never heard of anything like it,” My father spoke turning to look at me and I could see it in his eyes. Pity.
“She can’t stay with both of you. Mating doesn’t work that way,” My father spoke.
“I’ve already called the council to confirm our leave. We should be ready by tomorrow and arrive in three days’ time if we hurry,” My father spoke
“How is this possible? Not only does she have two soulmates but they’re both on opposite sides. This is going to cause a war regardless of what the council decides,” Spencer spoke up and deep down I knew it too. Everyone did. If one of us had her, it would mean the other didn’t. I knew if Lyric was allowed to stay with me Maxwell would start a war that would cause chaos and bloodshed.
“What if they take her Parker?” Crystal asked, fear clear in her voice.
“She already didn’t want this and now Maxwell.” Hearing her own words Crystal stopped speaking, but I knew she was right. Lyric didn’t want me. Had she chosen I knew it would have never been me.
“Parker that’s not what I meant.”
“I know. But you’re right,” I say to her.
“She deserves better. Better than me and much better than Cray.”
“What are you going to do if they decide to give her to him?” Crystal asks and for a second the question lingers in the air. Everyone waits for my answer but I don’t have to think much of it because I made my decision the second I realized it was a possibility.
“If they decide that she stays with him and she doesn’t want that. Then I’ll do whatever it takes to get her back to me,” I tell them.
“But if she wants to be with him. Then. I have to let her go,” I say to them.
“Parker,” Spencer begins but I shake my head and ignore whatever it is he wants to say.
“I’m going to go check on her,” I tell them before heading upstairs to her room.
#
Lyric is sound asleep, lying peacefully on the bed. Her posture is relaxed and her breaths are even. Walking over to her bedside I can’t help but stare at her beauty.
“I guess you really don’t want to be around me do you?” I say to her taking her hand. Pressing a kiss to her knuckles I sigh.
“If you don’t want to be with me, you can say it. I’ll stay away from you. But don’t go with him,” I whisper to her.
“Even if you don’t want to be with me. I think I can deal with that. A lot better than you being with him,” I say to her.
“Please don’t choose him,” I whisper.
“I thought I’d get a chance to make it up to you... Maybe redeem myself in your eyes in some sort of way. Maybe I need to realize that I never will. But I don’t want you to get hurt. Not again. Not by me, Cray, or anyone else,” I tell her.
“If you want, I could send you away again. Anywhere you want. As far away from me as you like. Just don’t go with him. He’ll hurt you.” Though I know she can’t hear me these are the words I want to tell her. I know she’d never let me near her had she been awake, still. I want to keep her safe from any more harm or pain, and Maxwell Cray was going to hurt her.
There was not one thing about Maxwell Cray that told me he loved her. Maybe it was just them or Nova Hyenas in general. Wolves in our Kingdom were common. There were lions, bears, bobcats, eagles the list goes on of the Novas that existed in our Kingdom. What set my father, Spencer, and I apart from other Nova wolves was simply in strength and size. We were stronger than any other Nova wolf and much larger. The same applied for the Crays. When it came to mating every single Nova’s instinct was to love their soulmate. But the Cray’s treated their mates like objects. They were simply to bear children, and that was it.
There had been rumors about the queen of Cray Jade, Maxwell’s mother. She had given birth to Maxwell, and the kingdom had not seen her since then. There were rumors that the King had killed her and there was no doubt in my mind that Cray had done so. If he had no compassion for his mate, then what hope could Lyric possibly have with Maxwell who was just like his father?
“I won’t let him hurt you,” I whispered to her, reaching to caress her cheek. Looking at her lips I found myself unable to stop. Pressing a soft kiss to her lips I felt her stir slightly before she settled once more, her breathing evening out once again. When her hand gripped mine, I panicked thinking she’d woken up, but her grip slowly loosens again as she slept peacefully.
#
It’s the middle of the night when I hear her call out to me. I was not asleep nor could I have been with what had occurred a few hours ago with Cray. I’d spent my night looking out the bedroom window, watching the dozens of Nova guards surrounding our castle. All to protect her.
“Parker,” She muttered out.
“Parker,” She called out again while I made my way toward her bedside once more.
“Somebody. Help me,” Lyric continued to say though her voice remained just above a whisper.
“Parker,” She continued to call out, and I realized she was having a nightmare. Going to her bedside I tried to calm her reaching to caress her cheek gently in order to offer some comfort to her.
“It’s okay. I’m right here. Nothing is going to happen to you I promise,” I tried to reassure her.
“Parker.”
/> “Parker,” Lyric continues to call out her breathing erratic. Picking her up from the bed slightly I try to shake her awake gently.
“Lyric,” I call out to her only for her to gasp opening her eyes. She doesn’t seem to realize it’s me because for a second she looks relieved and hugs me. Her soft body was pressed against mine while she shook in fear. Closing my eyes, I wrap my arms around her tightly. Trying to offer as much comfort as she’ll let me.
“It’s okay. You’re safe,” I reassure her gently.
“You’re okay. I promise,” I tell her. Though it takes a few seconds, she seems to calm down before she turns to look at me. The hold that she’s not aware she has on me begins to loosen. Her arms slowly lay limp at her side and I know she wants me to let go of her now.
“I’m sorry. I just.”
“Are you okay?” I finally ask not knowing what to say to her. Confusion floods her eyes before I realize she might still be a bit unsure of what happened.
“You hit your head. But you’re fine. The doctor said you have a concussion,” I explain to her.
For a moment, she’s quiet before panic flashes on her face.
“Spencer. Crystal,” She mutters out, fear and concern clearly written on her face, though she doesn’t seem to realize she’s spoken out loud.
“They’re okay,” I assure her.
“Spencer fought all three of them with everything he had and killed one of them. He’s hurt, but he’s recovering right now. Novas heal faster but Spencer’s leg was severely injured so it’ll take a few days no more than a week,” I explained to her.
She doesn’t say anything but I can see relief in her eyes knowing Spencer is okay. She then looks up at me and her eyes land on the sling across my shoulder before looking back up at me with concern. Concern that I had never seen in her eyes, at least not toward me. If only for a moment, I allow myself to rejoice in that sensation that causes my heart to thump wildly.
