(Adrnia)

When they took away Aziel, the tiny hope I had been clinging to almost vanished. He had become like a son to me, filling in the void Rigel’s absence had left inside me. They must have killed him just to get back at Amaia and break me completely.

They changed my cell, reduced the food ration, and tried to take away the last of the sanity I was left with.

I don’t know how much time went by. Head against the hard floor, I closed my eyes. The pain in my chest was unbearable.

Every fibre of my existence missed Rigel. What did they even do to him? Was he killed in the attack or did they take him away and torture him too?

My mind played back the moments I gave birth to my sons. Because of complications, the crone ordered a C-section. I don’t know who operated. It had to be one of the royal physicians. When I came to my senses, the body of a dead child was shown to me. He was blue with his eyes closed.

"Sorry, your firstborn was stillborn." Her personal maid told me. She was also a midwife.

I remember holding him and crying my eyes out. I still named him Saiph as I had planned and he was buried with full royal protocol.

Orion had been heartbroken to see our firstborn not survive.

I could sense Rigel felt the absence of his twin. They had shared the womb for nine months.

Irrespective, Rigel was a happy child. He grew up caring for his stepbrothers. There was no jealousy between them and I always taught him patience and care.

My memories were usually hazy, at times I remembered things other times I would be completely lost and unaware of my actions. But some incidents stuck with me and I jotted them down. The gaps in my memories showed I was being controlled and then I learnt the truth about her and what she had done to me.

The way she compelled me to sleep with Hathial while I was still mated to Orion.

The helplessness I felt, the fights I tried to have but she threatened my child.

No matter what I tried I couldn’t tell the truth to anyone. She had me under a curse. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The shame and fear weakened me, it had a toll on my body and health. Like a coward I never got him tested or told Orion of my fears that Rigel wasn’t his son.

I used my magic and kept Rigel’s vampire gene suppressed. If my fears were true and he was Hathial’s son, his vampire half would be extremely powerful and he would possess Hathial’s shadow magic.

The earlier he acquires his vampiric abilities, the harder it will be to control.

Her personal maid took three years off. In that time, she only came to the palace randomly to check up on her queen and to help her give birth to Alnilam.

When she returned full-time, she brought with her a baby boy, the age of my Rigel. He had such an intelligent pair of blue eyes but a sad demeanour. Wisdom I could sense in this child, the wisdom I had hardly witnessed in a kid his age.

"He is my son. I named him Saiph after the son you lost," she told me and emotions erupted in my heart seeing the child.

Intrinsically, it reminded me of how Saiph would have looked had he been alive.

She began leaving him with the hag.

"He is going to be my personal guard. I am going to train him from the beginning so he knows how to act like one," she told Orion, her fingers slowly massaging the child’s hair.

"Isn’t he too young for that? He must grow up with his mother and not be burdened with such a task at this tender age," I said, unable to hold myself back.

"Come now, Adrnia. That’s just an excuse, Rigel and Alnilam will have someone to play with," she had answered with a giggle putting on that innocent act she always did.

"The child will have a better life at the palace anyway," Orion answered, giving his opinion on the topic and hence Saiph began his life with us.

The calmness he possessed reminded me of my childhood. He gave Rigel and Alnilam company but he was also made to carry out tasks heavier and way out of his league.

Then I begin to see him with bruises. I tried to protect him but her overwhelming powers rendered me mentally and physically drained.

Saiph grew up and matured before his time.

Her vileness didn’t even spare her kids and she ended up hurting Mintaka just to blame the Faes. She would have killed him if I hadn’t stepped in and taken him away.

The madness that resided under her skin sprouted out on random occasions and no one was spared. Even her beloved children felt the brunt of her rage and hatred.

I had to use every ounce of my powers to heal Mintaka and charm a necklace for his protection to keep his body intact.

So many moments, so many random memories overcrowded my brain. A flood of memories was coming back to me.

A scent I had never felt in my life. The scent of calmness and tranquillity. The scent of true love flitted towards me, filling my nostrils, followed by a voice so pristine so immaculate.

"Adrnia!" His mellow voice soothed every aching bone in my body. My head lifted, only to find Hathial standing outside my cell.

The very blood in his veins is singing to me, calling me. I see a hollow around him as if he is an angel coming to my rescue.

Am I dreaming?

"Hathial," I whimper, raising my hand towards him.

His shadows destroy every obstacle between us and he has me in his arms, plastered to his heaving chest in no time.

"You came for me," I speak hoarsely, unable to believe he is here.

"My mate..., my love, this time I am not letting you go." His assuring arms hold me as I faint, knowing I no longer have to be strong.

He has me now. My real mate has me.