Amara's POV

I was utterly disgusted with myself.

So disgusted with myself of losing control to the magic that bound me...magic that influenced bloodthirsty for anything and anyone...

Causing death to both a knight and a queen with her unborn even if she was a terrible queen...she was yet to be a mother to a child she may or may not have wanted.

"Aren't you going to ask me to put you down?" Ian retorted after a long way of silence from me.

"Do whatever you want. I don't care."

By the way the trees seemed unlike Aster's wildlife I could tell he had dragged me back to his homeland.

"What happened to your high spirits? I could have sworn the last time I saw you...you were so much more alive than now...even though you had killed that shifter the last time. It seems every time I find you...you seem to be killing someone."

He dropped me without warning causing me to land on my butt with a grunt.

"So why'd you kill the queen? And who ever that other guy was." He shrugged as if he had no care in the world...as if I didn't just kill two people in cold blood.

"You were watching the whole time?"

"Seemed like you were handling things just fine Princess of Aster."

"You knew?"

"For a little while yes. And now my promise to you has ended. Now I am still curious...why kill them?"

"I didn't want to kill William...it just happened. I begged for that spell she put on me to stop...it did in its own way and instead aimed for its caster."

"William seemed like he liked you." Curiosity peaked in his voice.

Blush crept on my face but sorrow soon swept it away.

"He was just a friend."

"Seems all the guys you kill are just friends."

I knew my face met his with the way his hand guided my head toward him with my eyes shut as I sat...still on the ground.

"Go ahead, mock me in my misery I don't care anymore. My blood stained hands as the new Queen holds no good news to me...if anything I've cursed the throne...I'm a murderer. I'm-"

The moment following...warmth hit my lips...something soft is all I felt...the birds singing in the forest...the gentle breeze hitting me as I inhaled the smell of pine needles and outside air.

My eyes opened instantly to see what the softness was...my mind went blank when I pieced the puzzle pieces together.

He had kissed me.

"You're a beautiful murderer."

I rubbed my lips with my hand, turning around to walk it off.

How could he take advantage of me like that?!

I felt the air shift, gripping my magical sword I matched up to Ian who had tried to strike me from behind.

What a deceitful man.

"You kiss me and now you're trying to kill me!"

"You're quite amusing."

I wanted to kill him.

"Why you-"

I gave him a heavy blow over and over until I couldn't feel my arms, dodging him every other strike I gave him.

One of his strikes hit my side, bruising me almost immediately but I gave no way to letting him win.

Trying my best not to limp I lunged at him, acting as though I was doing to hit him directly and instead got him by the side.

I had to be unpredictable with him or I'd lose.

He glared at me as he almost couldn't stand.

"Kneel." I said, his dark eyes as cold as ever.

"And why would I kneel to a pathetic princess such as yourself who can't even get over the fact that she killed a few people. Own it. You killed them so what. Move on. You did what you had to. Same as me."

"You are honestly the most unsympathetic man I've ever met. And I am nothing like you." I made him kneel as he met not my gaze that lay on him like a snake ready to kill.

I pushed on his wound from his upper thigh with my heel making sure it hurt as much as I could, causing he to keep back a yell or two.

"Tell me...did you really think you could toy with me and get away with it. I despise men like you."

"Well that's a bummer, I'm quite the dashing man once you get to know m—-arghhhh!"

I dug my heel further into the wound that was opening.

"I won't be the Queen of Aster that's looked down on by anyone, especially not you!"

"Good, I look forward to seeing more of this side to you. It's attractive. You're the first woman to ever challenge me."

"And I'll make sure to be the last. That is my promise to you. My truth. I'll kill you."

———

After a few more days of traveling I had no idea where we were at this point.

"You lost Princess?" His voice spooked a shiver down my spine as if we had truly been alone he'd take the chance to kill me if it wasn't for me restraining his hands, tapped with magic that kept him from shifting.

A type of rope I picked up on my way to my blood mother.

I slapped him across the face.

I will not be afraid of this man ever again.

No one for that matter.

Not even the Eastern Empire.

"She's got a bite now."

I hate him. He was way too dark and twisted for me.

Way too dark.

So dark he was rubbing off on me and I needed him gone.

"I'm here for Marcella."

Two foxes showed themselves before Ian and I.

"I'm here to see Marcella. My blood mother."

They both bowed their heads.

"She is here." One fox spoke.

"Yes, she awaits you." The other piped in.

"We'll guide."

"Yes, we'll guide."

———

They led me and Ian to a tent designed in simple tapestry and muted colors that kept their camp hidden from others.

Her tent held the sign of the fox with a crown above its head with two small foxes playing about.

I could only guess that was Dahlia and Tulip.

Once I entered the tent Marcella was sat up by one of the foxes who turned into their human form.

"Lily did a number on me it seems...even with her clone. Her finally act before the curtains fell on her...it seems I underestimated her...I dare say, too much."

"I killed her... I killed her and her unborn."

Her eyes widened.

"Well it is war after all. There is no sunshine and roses in such places. You've done well. But are you alright? Must've not been easy."

I looked at her in disbelief.

"Have I done well? With such blood on my hands...with this crazy killer at my side...everything is backwards!"

"Amara..." She tried to reach out to me and I let her.

"You're doing the best you can."

"I'm not." Tears ran from my eyes.

"You are." A rough voice appeared, Alastair...my real father appeared all bandaged up but more mobile than Marcella was.

"As someone who's been by you most of the way...you've grown very much..Stronger than before. And no ruler has clean hands. At least it's not impossible but it's nearly impossible to do. So don't beat yourself up young one. Your mother is right, you've done very well." He patted my head as if I was twelve years old again.

It warmed something inside of me...memories I had long forgotten.

When it was just him and me, sparing...teaching me defense as well as offense.

"Like me your daughter is damaged." Ian muttered.

Alastair glared at Ian who had a smirk glued to his face.

"Who's this mangled up boy?"

"Ian Xa. Assigned to take me to the Eastern Empire...they tend to marry me off to their prince. It was Lily's idea."

Marcella rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Of course she'd play that petty card. Well seems we have a bit more work to do. I've been meaning to speak with them anyways...those easterners need to know where their land lies. Putting their ideals and bare feet on Aster's lands is just insulting."

Ian scoffed causing Marcella to rise from her chair.

Grabbing the collar of his black shirt she glared into him as if to read him.

"You're a shifter. A wolf."

"I am."

"Why are you not with us? Besides Seth being a trader for his own benefit...why you? What's your goal."

For the first time since meeting Ian, I never once saw the look he gave now...full of confidence gone as if he didn't know how to answer her.

"My goal? To take her to the King, collect my reward. To be done with this foolish quest."

"I could give you five times what they offered. Ten if necessary. As the Queen of Shifters I'd give you all that you desire. You only need to pled your loyalty and fealty to me."

"My desire.. if that be your daughter? What then?"

"That'd be up to her. Not me. I do not pawn my children off so shamelessly as the previous Queen of Aster had. Not that they were hers to pawn off anyway."

I piped in as my anger turned hot. "You desire me not, why ask such a thing?"

He looked at me. Just me.

"I never said I didn't desire you. You're dangerous but also a rare beauty amongst the unlit stars."

I dragged him out of the tent away from my mother and father's ears.

"Are you utterly insane?!"

"To save you from the eastern empire...say that you were already engaged before the Prince requested for you. And that you'd be Queen so even then you wouldn't really need me. Perhaps I am insane."

"So you're asking me to use you?"

"If you must. You're intriguing enough for me to do so."

"Intriguing enough." My patience snapped like a twig.

I held him by the collar even rougher than my mother had.

"I will not be played with. Know that much Ian Xa. Do not play games you can't afford to play."

"I only play the game at your heart now. The Queen of Shifters has found me, my true Queen...as a shifter I cannot deny her of how powerful she is...in that I respect her proposition and will choose to follow."

"Why?"

"Why? You ask? Well because...like I said you interest me..." His lips grazed mine as I held back my head for him to move away, shoving him to the ground.

"Stop while you're ahead. Or I'll kill you where you stand dog."