The Dragon Sea

"Are you certain that's her?" The assassin, who had just stabbed Danica's heart twisting his spear to ensure it reached the ground, turned to his henchmen, who continued to hold her down as a pool of blood spread beneath their victim. My stomach churned at seeing my best friend struggling in their grip. All I could see were her shaking legs as they restrained her, not giving her even the slightest chance of survival. "She fits the description and has the flame mark on the neck next to her ear. What more proof do you need besides that?" The only woman in the group finally let go of Nica as she stopped struggling, a long spear protruding from her chest. They all stood up, watching the life slip from her eyes. A sob tore through my lungs, but Rafael held me firmly in place, covering my mouth with his palm. "Dany, please," he mind-linked me. "If you go there now, we are all as good as dead. Don't let her death be in vain." Death… My wonderful, beautiful friend who was like a sister to me, just died, and there was nothing I could do about it. I was utterly useless, even as they stabbed her a second time, and a third. Danica's legs stopped moving, and even though I knew what it meant, part of me still hoped she was simply pretending to make them leave. Miracles happen, sometimes… Oh, dear, she is not suffering anymore. The beast inside me tried to console me, but I shut her down, not wishing to hear another word. "Then I guess our job here is done." One of the murderers, a young albeit handsome man with dark skin and piercing blue eyes, placed his foot on Danica's belly and casually removed the spear from her now lifeless body. I felt bile rising in my throat. I've seen so many monsters in my life, but these three… They were so cruel… No rogues could compare. Nica never hurt a single soul in her life. She was just a teen. This was a school full of children… Why did they do this to us? Why did they attack us and burn everything? What did all these poor pups do to deserve death? "The Prince should be happy. Now, no one will stand in his way to the throne," the strange woman declared with a merciless laugh. Gods, I despised her. I longed to end her, to rip her to shreds right then and there! "We need to burn her," the one with long hair, cascading down his shoulders said, brushing his fingers through his golden locks as if he was an underwear model and not a cold-blooded killer. He had done that at least five times in the few minutes we had been watching them. "There should be no trace of her left. Then we’ll kill a few more and leave. Got it?" "Fine." One of his companions extended his hand towards Nica. A malevolent glow danced in his amber eyes as he summoned his power, sending a wave of fire straight at her body. The air shimmered with the intensity of heat, distorting the view, but I could still make out their figures. I shuddered uncontrollably as I realised they were not going to leave any remains of my friends to bury. They wouldn't even grant them that dignity. Rafael's grip tightened as he rocked me gently, his voice echoing in my mind, "Don't look, Dany. Please, don't look." But I continued to look. I could not take my eyes off their cruel and unapologetic faces, which were now forever burned into my memory. Finally, I relented, burying my face into my cousin's chest. I didn't want to see anymore. I couldn't bear it any longer. Mostly, because I knew it was all my fault… *** "Looks like we've got the far end of the border again," Danica groaned as we checked the new schedule on the school notice board. We were in our senior year at the Moonrise Academy for Shifters, which meant weekly patrols of the surrounding territory to ensure there were no rogues and no rule breakers on or near the premises. Most students had to help patrol the school grounds, but Nica and I— we were special. The headmistress "loved" us so much, that we were sent to patrol outside the premises, every single time, where from time to time there were actual rogues. This responsibility should have been shouldered by the school's adults rather than its students. However, Mrs. Levington informed us, in our first year at the Royal Moonrise Academy, that our absence would scarcely be noticed if we died. I guess she has stuck to that thought for five years. "Are you really surprised?" I rolled my eyes. "If I was, I wouldn't have prepared us some snacks yesterday," Nica giggled. "That's my girl!" I patted her shoulder. "You two should complain about it, you know." Luomei, the most powerful witch in the school, appeared out of nowhere as always. Two years younger than me, she always had an entourage of followers behind her who obeyed her every word. Luckily, she did not use this influence to bully others, but I could count how many times we had spoken during the past five years on the fingers of one hand. Although, I strongly suspected that nothing escaped her watchful eye. Definitely not our mistreatment by the headmistress. She was far too observant for that. "We'll be fine," Danica shrugged, and I knew what thoughts were running through her mind now. She couldn't say no, and neither could I. This was why we were so close and understood each other better than anyone. Everybody already thought that we were weak and useless. If we wanted a future in the world of shifters, any future for that matter, we had to prove them all wrong. Complaining that patrolling was hard for us would not get us anywhere. "Stupid," Luomei hummed, not sparing us another glance. "It will be too late to complain if you die out there.." She turned on her heels, the pleated black and red academy uniform skirt she wore following her movement. Luo was considered one of the most beautiful girls here, with her porcelain skin and shiny black hair that reflected the sunlight. Her cheeks and lips always had the perfect shade of rosy pink, which was clearly natural, and her cat-like amber eyes seemed to see right through you. Her mother, a famous and powerful witch, Salome Gray, often worked with our Lycan King and Queen, so I had known her since childhood, even if we were never the best of friends. She was younger than me, but watching how she wielded the power given by the gods and her popularity at the academy, I grew to respect her. "I can call my father—" Rafael interrupted my train of thought and only now did I notice that he and his girlfriend Amber were standing next to us. "You do know that it's not okay, right?" Danica lowered her gaze to hide the crimson blush on her cheeks. My royal cousin, the future Lycan King of our Kingdom, had that effect on her and he was probably the only one who never noticed it. But Amber wasn't that blind. "Oh, come on, Raf, I am sure it's not that bad. This prepares them for the future, after all, a wolfless Omega and a—" she paused to purposefully omit naming my species, "— and your - cousin will have to survive in the world of shifters and Changed Ones. If you solve all their problems for them, what are they going to do when they face actual real danger? The school guards are always nearby. I am sure." I wish it was true, but it wasn't. "It's still not right," Rafael exhaled sharply, the way he did when he was about to lose his patience. This was the game she was good at though, her hand already sliding up his chest to distract him. Their marriage was as good as a done deal, her father having spent years trying to arrange it, and Amber did not disappoint becoming Raf's girlfriend during their second year here. He was absolutely smitten, and everyone was certain they were mates. Just one year left until we would find out for sure, but I was dreading the possibility it was true. "Dany's parents are the King and Queen’s Betas after all," she practically purred, reminding him of who my parents were. "I am sure that if she truly hated this task, she would have informed them herself and the problem would have perished. Right, Dany?" She slowly moved her gaze to meet mine and although I knew she was manipulating both me and Raf, involving my parents in this was the last thing that I wanted. I had brought them enough shame as it was. "Sure," I pretended to search for something in my leather backpack. "Nica and I enjoy these outings. We are the only ones who can leave the school grounds and taste freedom. Even if it’s just once a week." "How many rogues do you think are stupid enough to come here?" Amber tilted her head slightly as she absentmindedly twirled a lock of her short honey-blonde hair between her fingers, something that always drew my cousin to her. Even now, Raf's eyes flashed golden as he watched her. Actually, we had fought three rogues in the past four months alone, but who was counting? In a way, Amber was right. It was good training. Nica learned how to play the victim and use her weakness as an advantage, I learned to kill and not cry afterwards. A win is a win. "Dany, are you sure?" Rafael brought his attention back to me, and I offered him my brightest smile. There were two people in this world who I knew I could always count on. One was Nica, my chosen sister, who was almost my identical twin and Rafael was the other. I knew his secrets, he knew mine; both of us were ready to die protecting them. Well, actually, a lot of people knew my secrets, but Rafael stood by me even on my darkest days, and I learned that this was what mattered the most. "Raf, you are the sweetest!" Amber exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his neck and stepping in front of us, effectively cutting us off. With a determined glint in her eyes she pulled him closer crashing her lips into his, momentarily startling him. Unfortunately it was short lived as his wolf instinct kicked in fast, and his hands were quickly all over her, roaming her back and waist with fervent abandon. Yuck! I couldn't help but avert my eyes, feeling a pang of discomfort at the sight. "Let's go." I grabbed Nica's hand, aware that she was on the verge of tears. This was our routine. When times got tough, we acted like we required something from one another and guided the other away to maintain some dignity and privacy. "She is so, mean!" Danica spat as we turned towards the exit. It was time to start today's patrol. "She ALWAYS kisses him when I am around, as if there is no better time to do it!" "She does it on purpose and you know it." I pulled her against my side giving her a little hug as we kept walking. We needed to reach our post in less than an hour, which would require me to shift and carry her on my back. "She is probably jealous of you." "Yeah, right!" Nica snorted sarcastically loud. "An Alpha's daughter with a strong wolf, is jealous of me a wolfless orphan omega. I am a cliché from all those books you read, Dany. Nothing more." "Hey, I will not take any criticism of my books!" I giggled. "These stories help me survive, and you know it." "Of course I do," she admitted. "That's why you will find your birthday gift particularly amazing this year." "Really?" My lips stretched into the broadest grin. Nica knew my taste in books and never disappointed. "Really." She gave me a wink, but her expression quickly turned sour again, highlighting her freckles. I adored her freckles and felt a bit envious that I didn't have any. We could easily be mistaken for sisters, both sporting long ginger hair and blue eyes. My complexion was a bit darker compared to her pale, freckled skin. While my hair was curly, hers was a straighter and had a slightly more reddish hue. Yet, despite these differences, we could still pass as siblings. "Ugh," she groaned. "I simply hate Amber!" "Look," I stopped and made her lock eyes with me. "You need to realise that there is a reason she is all over Rafael each time you are in the picture. " "Yes, there is a reason," Nica agreed, nodding. "She is a b***h, that's the reason." "That's just one of them," I giggled. "The other is— she senses something that no one else does. Something between you and Raf that no one else sees. She is not throwing herself at him in front of me if you are not around. This show is just for you." "Anyway, let's change the subject." Nica shook her head, letting out a heavy sigh. "Thanks for trying to console me, but we both know it's not true. There can never be anything between Rafael and me." "Not true!" I argued, slightly aggrieved at her pessimistic attitude. "Come one, Dany," she rolled her eyes. "An Alpha like him would never look at a girl like me, weak and plain!" "Excuse me?" I arched a brow at her. "Plain? Considering how alike we look, I take that as an insult. We are not plain! We are fiery goddesses, and an Alpha like Rafael would be lucky to have us!" This time, she didn't smile back at me. "You know what I mean. No wolf, no Alpha mate. I probably won’t have a mate at all!" I still remembered the day when we expected her to shift but nothing happened. Although it was still better than my first shift… "Let's go on patrol." She quickly changed the subject. "Eager to risk your life?" "Eager to return and show the middle finger to everyone who wishes to see us dead," my friend retorted. "Besides, every time we return, my chances to be accepted in a pack increase. I need to find a place in a pack, Dany. Any place, any pack." "We already have a place!" I argued, but she only sighed in return. "No, Dany, you have a place, and they all hate you there. You know it and I know it." Nica offered a gentle smile as she cut my soul into ribbons. "But there is no place for me there. Maybe, only maybe as a maid, but I want to be more than that." "You are more than that! Rafael will never let you go and will assume the crown soon!" I tried to reassure her. "I wish I could be as confident in this plan as you are," Danica said with a sad smile, but considering my rank, I cannot risk it, I need a plan B." Maybe we should follow her example? My fox whispered in my mind, and I shut my eyes as tightly as I could, chasing it away. Why bother? I groaned. Thanks to you, no pack other than my own would ever accept me. Even then they’d only do it out of pity. Lisa returned to the deepest part of my mind and a wave of guilt washed over me. Maybe I was harsh, but it, indeed, was her fault… Author's Note: This story is about Danielle, Roxy and Dean's daughter from The Perfect Luna, raised by Maya and Reid. That's a new generation, but you will see all your favourite characters. Rafael is Riannon's son, Cali is Savannah's daighter and Luomei is Salome's daughter. You can find all the latest news about upcoming books on my Face.book. group, Marissa Gilbert's Reading Circle, where I also share visuals for my books. This book is already updating on In.k.itt reading ap.p. The Divine Wolves: Book 1: The Perfect Luna Book 2: The Luna Trials Book 3: The Alpha God's Luna Book 4: His Shadow Luna Book 5: The Forgotten Bond TBA: Naya's Story (a novella) Rafael's Story Callista's Story (Savvy and Kai's daughter) All dates will be announced in due time, and the placeholders are published in no particular order. You are free to express which book you would like to read first, and I will take this into consideration. The covers are temporary, and I will change them when I am close to starting each story. So, what do you think? Are we excited to give Roxy's spawn a chance? Or shall her bloodline burn in hell for eternity?