I put on my trousers and a white blouse, tucking it in and straightening all the creases. I don’t know why I was getting ready like this. It just felt like the right thing to do, given that I was going to attend a high-class meeting.
Tying my hair into a tight pony, I wore the locket left by mom. It was a typical heart-shaped locket with images of Daniel and Emma inside.
Closing my eyes, I clenched it close to my chest. With this locket, I hoped to infuse the values and virtues that my parents believed in. It would give me strength whenever I felt like running away.
The door creaked open momentarily before closing again. My lips lifted in a smile as I turned around, “Cassius, are you….” The rest of the words froze in my mouth and my smile faded when I saw Stella standing in front of me.
Narrowing my eyes, I moved closer to her. “You knew all about my past, didn’t you? That is why you gave me the potion.” My fingers clenched into tight fists. “You knew that I would have no choice but to ask the witches for support once I had regained my memories.”
“Miraya, it is not like what you think. Please give me a chance to explain.”
I snorted and shook my head. “I don’t think there is anything left to explain. You want to use me just like Andres and Alpha Azarel? You are no better than them.”
She drew closer and grasped my arms. “I swear that is not the case, Miraya. I do not want you to support the witches. In fact, I don’t want you to become a pawn in this game.”
My lips curved in a wry smile. “You must have the perfect solution for that, right?”
“MIraya….” Her eyes brimmed with desperation. “I know can never earn your trust again, but I don’t want to see you suffer. Can you at least listen to my suggestion?”
With a sigh of resignation, I snapped, “You have five minutes.”
“Once you pledge loyalty to someone at the Triple Concord, you will be bound by their rules. The only way to retain your freedom is to not support anyone at all. You have to remain neutral. Say that you would like to stay independent.”
Her suggestion was exactly what I had in mind too. “I have this feeling that none of them will be pleased with my decision.”
“That is true. They might even try to use force or blackmail.”
A gasp left my lips and my eyes darted to the door. “They could hurt Cassius too.”
“They could. That is why you shouldn’t take Cassius along.” She pulled out a ring and handed it to me. “If things go awry, twist the figurine of the serpent. It will teleport you to a pre-destined location. I will be waiting for you with Cassius. If you are okay with it, we can escape together.”
“Doesn’t that mean we will always have to be on the run?”
Her lips pressed in a thin line and her expression turned somber, “That is right, all three of us will have to be on the run but I think that is better than being held captive. As far as we are free, we can find a way to get the better of Triple Concord.”
I fidgeted with the locket, as my mind reeled with conflicting thoughts. I wanted to trust her, but my experiences had made me highly suspicious of everything.
“There is nothing in it for me, Miraya. I just want to atone for abandoning you earlier.”
I raised my head to look into her eyes. “Why did you choose to leave me, Stella?”
“I…”
“My decision will depend on your answer. So, please be honest with me.”
“I had to leave, Miraya. Miss Esther, the leader of our coven, wanted me to step back. She… umm…”
“She what?”
“She wanted Andres to complete the initiation process, believing that it will unlock your powers.” She hung her head, “I am sorry, Miraya. I couldn’t go against her.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and raised my eyebrow. “Aren’t you going against her now by helping me like this?”
“I am not. She instructed me to stay away from you until you were turned. She didn’t tell me what I should do next. So, technically, I am not going against her orders. Moreover, the coven chosen to attend this convention is not ours. Miss Esther won’t benefit, even if this meeting goes successfully.”
So that is why Stella was here. Her coven lost the chance to gain control over me. So, the leader of her coven must have sent her here to befriend me. Anyway, this arrangement suited me. I didn’t want to put Cassius at risk by taking him along.
Instructing her to take Cassius away from the packhouse, I made my way to the court hall where all the arrangements for the meeting were made.
The hall looked magnificent with lush blue carpets, floral drapes, and blinds. The chandeliers had been changed, new paintings were hung. Showpieces were set up in an exquisite display, giving the hall a vintage and rich look.
“Miraya, you are here,” Alpha Azarel rushed over to greet me with a sweet smile. Looking over my shoulder, he questioned, “Cassius didn’t come along?”
“No matter what we say, Cassius is a human. He was feeling very nervous about being in the presence of the vampire king. So, I asked him to stay in his room. I hope you don’t mind.”
He seemed pleased by the fact that vampires rattled Cassius. It turned out to be a good idea to use vampires as an excuse for Cassius’s absence.
He held out his hand. “Let me escort you to your seat.”
My fingers clenched into tight fists reflexively. It took a conscious effort to stop myself from punching his face instead of holding his hands.
Gulping the lump that had formed in my throat, I placed my hand in his. He led me to the head of the table. My eyes widened as he pulled it out for me. “Shouldn’t that chair belong to the vampire king?”
“Not exactly. The chair at the head of the table is reserved for the most important person attending the meeting. Nobody is more important than you are today. You are the one who holds the thread of our destinies.”
Bastard! I had never seen a greater hypocrite than him. Smiling at him sweetly, I picked up a goblet of water to avoid his gaze. His forced attempt at being chivalrous was driving me insane.
When the clock struck twelve, the vampire King and a woman dressed in a black robe entered through the door at the same time. They bowed to each other and walked up to the table, sitting on either side.
Alpha Azarel made no attempt to greet them. He sat opposite me and stated, “Let us get straight to the point. Miraya has already agreed to be an official member of my pack. This meeting is just for the sake of formality.”
The vampire King turned to face me. “Did you really agree to be a member of his pack, Miraya?”
I clenched the fabric of my trousers with sweaty palms and exhaled forcefully. “I did say that I will consider his offer.”
The woman’s eyes lit up. “That means you haven’t given any commitment.”
“No, I thought it would be more appropriate to announce my decision in front of the Triple Concord.”
Alpha Azarel must have sensed something amiss with my tone. The color drained from his face and his eyes narrowed. His eyes drifted in the direction of my bedroom and he stated, “You should think carefully before making a decision.”
“Azarel!” the vampire king’s voice boomed. “Don’t try to threaten her!”
“When did I threaten her? I was just advising her to be cautious.”
“How can we believe that, Alpha Azrael? She stayed with you for an entire month. You know all her weaknesses.” She held her hands, one on top of the other, palms facing toward each other. A small orb of red light formed between them. “If you try to threaten her, I won’t spare you.”
“Enough!” The Lycan King’s voice boomed in the room as he sauntered inside. “We are not here to fight each other. We have gathered here to listen to Miraya’s decision.”
Startled, I glanced in his direction. His lips curved in a small smile and he patted the Jade token hanging from his belt. My eyes widened. That was the same token he had given me.
Azarel, the vampire king, and even the woman stood up in respect as he walked over. They bowed low and greeted him in unison, “Your highness.”
The Lycan walked to the head of the table and patted my shoulder. “You shouldn’t be forced to serve as a puppet just because you are born with rare magical blood. This is your life and you should have the freedom to lead it the way you want.”
Wrapping his arm around my shoulders, he stated in a firm voice, “Just tell us what you want, Miraya. I will make sure that it is granted.”
I clenched the figurine of the serpent on my ring and drew in a deep breath, “I don’t want to be associated with anyone, your highness; not the witches, nor the vampires, and neither the werewolves. I just want to spend my life quietly with Cassius.”
“It is decided then,” A sigh left his lips and his hand slid down my shoulder. “Since Miraya Robinson wishes to lead her life alone, I, Edon Lowel, the leader of The Triple Concord, grant her an independent status.” His discerning gaze wandered over all of them and he warned, “None of you are allowed to interfere in her life anymore.”
“You can’t possibly do that, My King!” Alpha Azrael cried out, smacking the table hard. “You can’t grant her an independent status.”
“Azarel is right. You can’t deprive us of the chance to acquire more power.”
“Yes, your highness. Even if you want to grant her independent status, you should let us experiment….”
The Lycan King raised his hand and snapped, “That is enough! Any word you speak after this will be considered an act of rebellion! Speak only if you are willing to bear the consequences.”
The woman clad in the black robe was the first to bow and leave. The vampire king and Alpha Azarel followed reluctantly.
“If they cause any trouble, you can come to me anytime. My Palace will be always open for you.” The Lycan King said kindly before leaving.
A sigh of relief left my lips, and I slumped into the chair. Damn! That was intense. Resting my elbows on the table, I massaged my forehead. God knows what would have happened if the Lycan King hadn’t appeared on time.
“Why did you do that, Miraya?” Alpha Azarel’s voice sounded from the doorway. This time, his voice was cold and held a tinge of fury. “I treated you so well and YOU!”
My fingers clenched into tight fists. I faked a smile in an attempt to diffuse the tension. If we could part ways on a positive note, he wouldn’t bother me in the future.
“I don’t see why you are angry, Alpha Azarel. Haven’t you always encouraged me to stay independent?”
His eyes turned bloodshot and his nostrils flared. “BITCH! I am done being nice to you!” ‘
Before I got the chance to react, he grabbed my hair, and Bang! Slammed my head against the table. A scream left my lips as my forehead split and blood trickled down. “I should have kept you in a cage, shuddering with fear! Then you wouldn’t have dared to speak in front of the Concord.”
The tip of my heart trembled. Alpha Azarel had decided to take off his mask. It was impertinent to get Cassius to safety as soon as possible.
With a soft groan, I got to my feet and pushed him away, kicking him hard on his shin.
He bowled over with shock and fell face down on the floor. He was quick to get up and the glare he shot at me held so much vengeance that it made my insides shudder with fear.
Drawing in a deep breath, I twisted the serpent figurine on the ring. If this didn’t work, I was probably not getting out of here alive.