Chapter 23

Avalina woke up with a moan. Where was she and why did she smell gasoline and oil? Cracking open an eye painfully she realized she was underneath a car. What the everloving hell? Wait, she was getting ready to fight off Titans in her wolf form with Ajax. Now she was human, somehow clothed, Ajax was nowhere to be found and she was taking a nap under a random vehicle. She was completely confused. 'Ajax... where are you??' she practically screamed to him.

'I'm ok. Get to Mythos. You aren't far. Go! They're taking me through a portal.....' Ajax replied as fast as he could before he was just gone to her.

“Shit! Shit! SHIT!” She yelled out as she extracted herself from under the vehicle. “Ok Mythos. Get to Mythos. You can get help from there, Lina.” Seeing a group of people nearby she ran up and asked, “Do you know where the club Mythos is? I'm lost and I'm supposed to meet friends there.”

“It's close. Just make a right at that intersection with the light and it's about a mile down the road,” a girl answered with a smile.

“Thank you! Thank you so very much!” Lina exclaimed as she took off at a jog. After a short while, Mythos was right where the girl said it was. Speeding up, Avalina ran up to Sam, who was in his normal position at the door. With a look of desperation on her face she exclaimed breathlessly, “I need to see Theanna!”

Sam raised an eyebrow at her. “My Queen isn't here. She's very busy.”

“But you can take me to her.”

“Why would I do that?” Sam asked her with raised eyebrows.

Just then Liam came outside to talk to Sam, a look of surprise filled his face at the sight of Avalina. “What’s going on here?”

“This cub is demanding an audience with Theanna.”

“She’s not here.”

“I HAVE to see her! The Titans have taken Ajax!” she cried out. With a deep breath she added, “I think... there were Daemoni working for them. I smelled a hint of sulfur.”

“Well, why didn’t you say that?” Sam asked with a roll of his eyes. Pulling out his cell he called his Prince, “My Prince, the cub Avalina is at Mythos. She needs to see our Queen. It involves Ajax and the Daemoni working for the Titans.”

As Damian listened to Sam he looked at Theanna who was in discussion with the other Princes about which realms needed further protections. She was still healing but needed to give the appearance that all was well. “Remain there to watch over Mythos. I'll send Lazerin to bring the cub here.”

“Yes, my Prince,” Sam replied before hanging up. “Lazerin will be here shortly,” he told the cub.

Damian sent a message to Lazerin, his most trusted Lieutenant, before turning his attention back to Theanna. “My Princes, don’t fear. We'll make sure you have what you need. In the meantime, return to your realms and make ready your legions. Any further signs of either the Titans or those that serve them send word to me immediately,” Theanna instructed.

“Yes, My Queen. May I say how refreshing it is to have leadership that actually cares about the realms and listens to us,” Belial charmed as he bowed to her.

Theanna smiled charmingly as she replied, “Thank you, Belial.” She watched as they vanished from her throne room. With a roll of her eyes she said to Damian, “He is such a kiss-ass.”

Damian chuckled. “He is indeed, but he’s very loyal. Samyael called. The cub Avalina needs to see you, it's about Ajax and the Rogue Daemoni. I’ve sent Lazerin to retrieve her.”

Theanna nodded with a sigh as she walked over to him. “Any further word from Hezin?”

“Not yet. You need to eat and rest,” Damian commented worriedly as he gently pulled her into his arms, careful of where her injuries still remained.

Tucking her head under his chin, she nestled close to him and closed her eyes. “I need this more.”

Hugging her close, he smiled. He then led them to the dining area as he said, “Let’s eat and then we can deal with the cub.”

“This being High Queen and Mate is hard work for both of us,” Theanna lamented tiredly.

“Yes, but you’re a fantastic Queen whom I adore. I’ve never seen the Realms so willing to work together during times of strife! The Princes respect you and more legions swear allegiance by blood oath every day.”

“That has a lot to do with you! You know you really should have a better title than Daemoni Prince of Ikisat, Mate to the High Queen.”

“I don’t need a better title. I like being known as your mate.”

Theanna sat at the table thinking as their food was being served. Turning to the palace Head-Mistress, Amelia, Theanna asked her, “Amelia... I think Damian deserves a better title than just Mate to the High Queen. What do you think?”

Amelia, an older woman who took her job of serving the High Queen very seriously, paused as she suggested, “I agree. He works very hard for the realms and his Queen. How about High Prince of the Dark Realms or Prince Consort to the High Queen?”

“Oooo I like both of those! Good suggestions, Amelia! Thank you! What do you think, Lazerin?” Theanna asked before taking a bite of her food as Lazerin and Avalina appeared.

“I like High Prince, my Queen,” Lazerin replied with a smile as Damian rolled his eyes at them.

“So do I! Join us, Lazerin.”

“I beg your pardon, my Queen, but I cannot. I must return to my duties in Ikisat.”

“Of course! Thank you for your unfailing loyalty!”

Theanna smiled as Lazerin bowed before vanishing. Turning her attention back to Damian she stated, “This isn’t over, Dnirya. We will revisit this.”

Damian simply ignored her as he turned a charming smile to Avalina and asked, “How may we help you, young one?”

Avalina stood before Theanna and Damian as they ate their meal. In many ways they appeared so normal, but being in the High Queen’s Palace in the center of the Dark Realms made her nervous on an instinctual level. She found herself struggling to keep her wolf at bay.

With a strained smile planted on her face she began, “My Queen, Prince Damian, Ajax is in desperate need of your help. He once told me you saved him and his brother. I pray you'll help him once again. Titans captured the both of us but Ajax made it so that I was able to escape. The Titans had Daemoni working for them. We were leaving the compound...” at Theanna’s nodding and lack of worried reaction she paused in confusion.

“Dnirya, have we heard from Hezin on their progress yet?”

“Not long before the cub came for a visit. He stated all was going as planned. Ajax was no worse for wear and he was making sure to keep him well. He also stated they were moving them again and he would be in touch as soon as they'd arrived.”

Theanna smiled and nodded. “Good, good!”

“M-my... Queen...” Avalina stuttered, confused.

“Sit, cub, join us for a meal,” Damian instructed with a gentle smile. As Avalina slowly sat in one of the empty chairs he explained, “We were hoping for this, Ajax was hoping for this. Hezin is loyal to us and has possessed Ajax to relay information back to us so that we can finally end this mess with the Titans and we can rescue all of the Lycans that were taken.”

“Wait... Ajax wanted to be taken? He did it on purpose???” Avalina exclaimed angrily.

“It was his idea. He wanted to make sure we won this battle. You're to remain here with us. Filtairn is already aware that you're here and soon Sophia, your sister, will be joining us as well. Don’t worry, you're unable to wolf- out here,” Theanna smiled gently.

“How can you stop it?” Avalina asked.

“I can do a great many things. Now you'll not be allowed to leave the palace. Your soul is too pure to be safe anywhere but here,” Theanna warned.

“What will happen to my soul if I leave the palace?” Avalina asked nervously.

“The stories of the Dark Realms aren’t just stories, cub. Were your soul to become tainted you'd become lost here and not even the High Queen would be able to save you,” Damian explained, his eyes glowing in warning.

“In other words, just don’t,” Avalina replied.

“Exactly. After we finish here, Amelia will show you to your room. You should know, every creature in my palace is Daemoni, and while they do tend to appear as human as that is my preferred appearance, I don't require it of them. They won't hurt you but please don’t be rude and scream in fear should you see someone in their Daemoni form.”

“I've never seen a Daemoni in their true form,” Avalina admitted as she looked back and forth between Damian and Theanna. As she watched, Damian transformed into a powerful red Daemoni with claws that looked as if they could carve her to pieces bit by bit. His wings were magnificent and large. It was his fearsome face and eyes that seemed to devour her very soul that made her gulp nervously. “Oh. I see,” she whispered.

After returning to his human form, Damian stated plainly with a smile. “And now you’ve seen one.”

“All Daemoni are unique in their look just like humans, mine is more ‘make you pee yourself’ terrifying while Damian’s is super sexy Daemoni prince,” Theanna explained with a smile to her mate.

As Avalina watched, Theanna transformed into the High Queen Daemoness. The only aspect that remained the same was the color of her hair. Long, ridged deep purple horns curled around her head and hair. Her skin turned black and swirled with her power, seemingly absorbing the light around her. Her claws were long and deadly, the table sizzling as she tapped it.

Her eyes turned solid blood red and glowed as they seemed to bore into her very soul, laying bare all her fears for her to play with. It was her face though, that Avalina would never forget and would feed her very nightmares. Her beautiful elegant face became distorted and fearsome as the skin seemed to peel away exposing her elongated sharp teeth.

Damian chuckled as Avalina paled and looked as if she would faint at any moment as all she could do was gasp. “My amazing mate is more deadly than any Daemoni. She alone gravely injured a Titan General during their last attack. Her abilities and prowess along with brains and beauty are why so many of the Dark Realm’s legions are not only loyal but have sworn to serve her by blood oath. Stay in the palace and no harm will come to you.”

Theanna returned to her normal, human state with a smile as she continued to eat her meal. “We won’t allow any harm to come to you or your sister. That is the oath I have personally sworn to Ajax. You may not have known each other long and the idea of fated mates for Lycans may be something only true in books but Ajax already cares deeply for you. He's always been a shining light of joy for me especially when I needed it. My only plea is that if you don't share his feelings let him know. He deserves someone that deeply loves him.”

“I... I do have feelings for him, but I’m scared,” Lina muttered softly.

“We know about fear. Fear nearly prevented me from being with the one person who loves me completely. Don’t let it stop you from finding what you deserve. Ajax is a good man. Listen to your heart and know that it’s safe with him,” Damian stated as he looked at his mate.

“I promise to think on your words,” Avalina replied softly as she thought about Ajax.