I shouldn’t have called her na, alongside her title. I should have said ’my Queen’ but that would only alert her that sothing was up. I always called her by her na and title.
Hopefully, she wouldn’t decide to go berserk on tonight and kill off. Hopefully she wouldn’t notice that I was powerless. Hopefully she wouldn’t notice my false bravado.
"Don’t you think your prideful gestures are getting out of hand? And I am not talking about your rude way of addressing ..." The Queen started, coming to stand beside , eyes on the starless sky.
Well, at least there wasn’t a goblet or full moon tonight to point toward the warning of the strange witch. I believed I would survive. I wouldn’t be dying tonight.
"I am talking about walking around the forbidden forest, with no guard, not even with your friends, or your foster parents. Do you think you are invincible?" she turned to with narrowed eyes. "Are you invincible?"
I raised my left brow. "Are you being serious now? And see the pot calling the kettle black. Aren’t you in the forest by this ti, without the palace guards?"
That shut her up, but only for a second.
"We are not the sa, and you know that." She sighed, already used to my sharp witty cobacks. Our daily training had made sure of that, coupled with the fact that I have never made the damn thing easy for her considering what had happened during the contest periods.
The only reason why the community elders had allowed the training to go on was because they believed she was grooming to take over when the ti ca for her to step down.
Other than that, they would have rioted; they had even sent Duke packing from his position on the school’s board. I heard from Sinclair that he would be sent out of the community for so training, after the lycan’s party or thereabout.
"Dora, do you believe in fate and destiny... stuff like that?"
A random question. I wondered why she was asking , why was she trying to keep the conversation going; we didn’t really talk much.
Shouldn’t she be sending on my way, so that she can continue her get-together with the lycan king? I could still perceive his weird scent.
"I don’t know," I finally answered when she took a break from staring at the sky and looked at . "But I believe in shaping my destiny myself. Accepting fate..."
A pause, where I ruminated on my next words. "It’s like being a coward, lazy to do sothing about yourself."
A soft chuckle escaped from the Queen’s lips, she shook her head. "You really are smart for a rude girl."
"There is no law stating that rude girls can’t be smart."
"Yeah yeah..." She sang, chuckling.
I was bewildered, watching her watch the sky, a serene countenance overtaking the always serious one. Was this so kind of truce? Could she be so lonely that she now found interesting enough to converse with?
"But you are right." She interrupted my line of thought. "Accepting whatever fate gives us is a lifestyle of a coward. I learnt that a long ti ago."
"So, why did you ask then?" I bit out, hands folded across my chest, forming defiance; when all I wanted to do was to excuse myself, and not wonder what had caused her to learn such a lesson.
It took almost dying to learn mine. What did it take her?
She shrugged anwhile. "Just curious. Picking around your brain seed fun at the mont."
I barked a sarcastic laugh, and pointed down the path I was on. "You should take off your barriers. I need to get back to the bonfire."
Her smile disappeared imdiately.
What? How couldn’t she have known? The smoke... I turned, but there was no smoke.
Right. I thought. Everyone must have gone ho. It was quite surprising that they did so, without wondering where I had gone. Or had they?
"What bonfire? I can’t see anything. Start talking..."
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her to buzz off, but no need stressing my limits.
"You should ask your children. They were the organizers, with the triplets. They dragged from my ho at midnight. I strolled off when things started getting boring..." I paused and looked into the distance.
"But seeing as there isn’t any smoke, my guess is that they have disbanded the gathering. I must have spent a lot of ti out, without knowing."
Sighing dramatically, I reverted my attention to the Queen. "I have to go. My parents will soon be waking up. I don’t think they would find it funny if they discovered that your children had taken from my ho when they should be asleep."
That seed to make the decision for her. "You can go." Right at the sa ti that the barrier lifted up.
I hid a smile. She must really be taking her probation seriously.
"Good. Take care, Queen Aliana. And send my regards to the Alpha Brekan, who I am sure is hiding in the bushes."
I laughed when she let out a weary sigh; and the bushes moved; and out ca a sheepishly smiling Alpha.
"Dora... you never cease to amaze ..."
I didn’t bother with words. I rather gave a mock bow, and walked away from them, toward the area that had been used for the bonfire.
True to my guess, the place was empty. Everyone had retired ho.
Well, good. I thought, heading ho. No unnecessary questions and talks from the clique.
But I had rejoiced too soon because when I stepped out of the bushes onto the pathway, there was Adam waiting for , reclining on a lone tree, which seed, as I looked at it now, to be heralding and welcoming visitors into the forbidden forest.
"So, you finally ca out..." he started, standing erect, hands folded across his chest, eyes staring at intently.
I ignored him, and started on the path that would lead ho. I wasn’t in the mood for Adam and his shenanigans. The brat had dared use for play. Haa! I would show him. His brothers too.
"Dora, I am sorry."
I flung away his hand from my arm. I wasn’t surprised by his speed, but I was surprised at the audacity. I really must have given him so allowance to think us being friends ant being play partners or whatever.
"Don’t touch , rabid dog!"
He shrunk as if I had slapped him.
"Stay away from . Keep to yourself from henceforth. We are no longer friends."
He didn’t make a move or say a word as I started down the path again. The insult must have really gotten to him. Not that I was concerned.
Without much incident, I got ho safe and sound. I even got into the compound, without any hitch. I checked my watch. A few minutes past five a.m. Laura should be up and about.
Stealthily, I walked toward my side of the cluster of huts, letting out a sigh of relief when I stopped by my door.
Wow. I mused, gently pushing my door open. The room was clear of anyone. Oh, great!
I shut my door and slumped into my bed with my shoes on, hands behind my head, eyes to the ceiling. Sleep first, and then food later. That way, I wouldn’t raise any suspicions.
I smiled at a plan well ford and shut my eyes to sleep. I had rejoiced too long, again, however.
"Where are you coming from, Maya?"
My eyes snapped open imdiately; it was my whole family standing by the edge of my bed. What?! How the hell had I missed out on their presence?!
I looked with startled eyes from little curious Diana to an angry Laura, then to a disappointed Peter.
"I am sorry," I muttered, head drooping in guilt and apology. But that wasn’t enough to buy the much-needed sleep.
"Answer your mother’s question, Maya."
Seems I will be expending more energy. Sorry, El.
"A bonfire." I replied, sighing tiredly. "Can we talk about this in the morning? I am so tired and worn out..."
"Young lady, it’s already morning!" Peter pointed out, unable to keep the annoyance off his voice. "I didn’t take you for one that would abuse privileges."
"I am sorry. They showed up at my door, and I had no choice but to follow them."
"Them? Who?" Laura asked, her anger fading sowhat. Curiosity taking center seat.
Sorry, Queen Aliana. I will be putting that nail into the coffin.
"The Queen’s children. The triplets too, and a couple of others."
"And were you tied, legs and hands, and carried away with them?" Laura questioned gently. Too gently for comfort.
"No," I murmured, still looking down.
"Well then, lady, you should have said no. You had a choice," Peter concluded, with a sigh.
"You are grounded." He stated the next second with finality.
"What!" I shouted, head lifting sharply. Grounded? Was that even a term here?
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