Ava, it's time
Ava’s POV
Gwen and I have been inseparable since the day we met. She healed a part of me that I hadn’t even realized was still wounded, the inner child from both of my lifetimes. Gwen is the sweetest person I’ve ever encountered.
She hasn’t told me much about her past or why she was sold to the palace, but I haven’t pried. I didn’t want to upset her, especially without knowing the details. Instead, she’s shown me parts of the palace she’s explored, and I’m grateful for the company.
We couldn’t leave the palace grounds, being non-nobles meant we were considered the king’s property. The trainees, some of whom were nobles and royalty from other kingdoms, were free to come and go. But not us.
I couldn’t help feeling hurt. I wanted to explore the kingdom and sight see, to see more of this world Gwen had described so vividly. She had told me wonderful tales and In return, I shared what little I knew about my own world, though my knowledge was limited, I wish I knew more. Back home, I was never allowed to leave the pack’s territory, not even to attend school or go around Montana. I didn’t even have a cellphone.
I shoved the memories away, refusing to drown in my sorrows again. I, Ava Jackson, will have my revenge on the Moonstone Pack, and they’ll never see it coming.
I kept swinging my sword at the straw man, just like I’d been doing for the past two weeks. I didn’t ask Gemma why, I just followed her instructions. The trainees in the Lycanthropes were a mix of beings,witches, centaurs, wolves, hybrids, faeries, and magicians. I even heard a rumor that Raphael ruled over vampires, though they were few and rarely seen.
The best part? I was finally allowed to use the palace library, one of my favorite places. But Raphael still hadn’t returned. I didn’t even know if he was still in the kingdom. And whenever I asked, Gemma remained tight-lipped.
“Look what we have here,” a sarcastic voice interrupted my thoughts. Goddess, I hate that voice. Jocelyn and her crew had been tormenting Gwen, calling her fat and comparing her to a pig.
“What do you want, Jocelyn?” I asked sharply, my patience already worn thin. I had plans with Gwen and didn’t have time for her madness.
“Where’s the pigsty? I can’t find her anywhere,” Jocelyn mocked, her words dripping with cruelty. Laughter erupted from her entourage.
I kept my cool. I wouldn’t let someone like her get under my skin.
“The only pigsty I see is you,” I shot back coldly, covering my nose dramatically as if to block a foul smell. I could see the flush of anger rise on Jocelyn’s face, her pale skin turning red. This was about to escalate, and I knew it.
She raised her hand to slap me, but I caught her wrist mid-air, stopping her cold. Jocelyn, the daughter of a powerful warlock, towered over me with her height and strength. Warlocks were known for their formidable magic and ruthlessness, and Jocelyn was no different. Her family’s influence was far-reaching, and her father sat on the king’s council.
“Don’t be stupid,” I warned, pushing her hand away, causing her to stumble back. One of her friends caught her before she could fall. I stood firm, making it clear I wasn’t afraid.
“You’ll regret this,” she said coldly, her eyes narrowed with fury. “I promise you.” With that, she stormed off, her mean crew following behind like shadows.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm within me.
“We did well,” Maya whispered in my mind. Yeah, I knew we did.
I unwrapped the cloth from my hands and I turned to drop the wooden sword in the shed. The maids nearby were whispering, but I could hear every word.
“Who does she think she is?”
“I can’t believe she challenged Jocelyn.”
“Her life is over.”
“Maybe she’s proud because she sleeps in the king’s room.”
“Right. But doesn’t she realize the king’s been avoiding her? Why else would he be staying in another room?”
I dropped the sword louder than necessary, cutting off their whispers. Shock flashed across their faces, but I said nothing and walked away toward the dining hall reserved for trainees. This part of the palace, where we trained and ate, was separate from the main palace grounds.
The Lycans had their own quarters where non-noble trainees slept. I wished I could be among them, but Raphael had ordered Gemma to ensure I didn’t stay in their camp. I had visited the lodging area to meet Gwen, but I wasn’t allowed to sleep there.
“Hi,” a timid voice called from behind.
I turned to see Gwen, her round face lit up with a shy smile. Her almond-colored eyes were soft and sweet, her curly black hair gently blowing in the breeze.
“Hi, Gwen,” I replied, grinning widely. I knew my smile was big enough to show all my teeth, but I didn’t care. She made me that happy.
She returned my smile and linked her arm with mine as we walked toward the dining hall together. I could feel the stares on us, and soon enough, the snarky comments began to fill the air. The others didn’t even bother lowering their voices.
Gwen tensed beside me, and I instinctively tightened my grip on her arm, trying to shield her from their words.
To distract her, I brought up a conversation I’d planned to save for later.
“Gwen, how did your training go?” I asked, trying to sound lighthearted. She had a way of making me feel protective, like a mama bear, even though we’d only just met.
Her face brightened immediately. That’s my Gwen, little things could cheer her up.
“Oh, it was fine,” she said in her usual chatty tone. “I can summon a bit of fire and water now.”
Wow, that was impressive. Gwen was a magician, though she hadn’t known it when she first arrived at the palace. She’d accidentally summoned fire when a guard tried to molest her. She would’ve been punished if Gemma hadn’t stepped in and recruited her for training.
We were almost at the dining hall when something felt off. The air around me grew colder, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched, no, hunted. I glanced over my shoulder but saw nothing unusual. Still, the sensation persisted, gnawing at the back of my mind.
Then, just as we reached the entrance, a voice echoed in my head, deep, chilling, and unmistakable.
"Ava… it’s time."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
