My eyes snapped open, confusion and annoyance engulfed me. I was dreaming that I'm a wolf running through the wood. My body was heated. It was dark. I panicked. My heart palpitated in dread. My mother's crying face faded in the back of my mind. A chill ran down my spine when I felt the rest of things faded. It seemed like a memory to me. But I knew everything was real that I had gone through from a few last weeks.
My gaze was drifting around to find the source of light. I thought to call for someone but I clamped them immediately. It could be dangerous. I hadn't forgotten waking up in a castle. Next moment, I was betrothed.
I slithered my fingers through my hair and it came out easily. I snorted. They should be tangled.
My heart thundered hearing a sudden loud creaking of a heavy door. I cringed and my gaze shifted over to the door. My eyes squeezed tight against the bright light. My arm jerked up blocking the blinding white light.
I tried to hear something. But nothing caught my attention. Abruptly, the place was lightened up.
"Finally, you're awake." His voice was slow and deep. I could never forget that accent which pulled me in.
"Aragon?" I asked. My voice was rough and weak. I cleared my throat. I felt my throat was perched.
"It won't hurt you, Queen."
Gradually, I lowered my arm, gulping. My eyes were still closed. I opened them. He was smiling down at me. He was looking like a king from the ancient bestseller book with an expensive silky shirt, white trousers and a silky cloak, the border was studded with gems and a thick Ruby's necklace around his neck.
"You look stunning." My brows shot up. But I recalled her words in my mind, "Shouldn't I wake up in the Dark Realm?" I asked.
His smile deepened, "Thank you, you didn't find me horrible." He paused. Shouldn't he say more?
"And? It doesn't look like your place." My eyes darted around. The walls seemed to be covered with yellow soil. The ceiling, floor and walls were of the same colour. The colour of fertile soil. The door was of iron. The place was very neat and clean. I wouldn't call it a room as it looked like an enormous hall with everything you might need in a house.
"It's very well my place." His smile didn't waver.
"You're not telling me everything." I was sounding sad. I still don't remember anything. I was cursed. If I was reborn. I didn't remember anything from my past life. I should remember everything. That was the breaking curse going to provide me.
"Can you feel something else?" He asked, looking down at me.
The single bed in the centre of the hall was very comfortable and clean. I could smell lavender in the air.
I felt myself. I was feeling stronger though my physical look was the same. But I couldn't be sure until I saw myself. My wolf surged up in my chest. My eyes widened, feeling her strength. I could feel her alive and her power seemed too much to me. My big eyes lifted to his smiling face, "My wolf! My curse?"
"There is no curse. Yes, you can feel your wolf," He confirmed. "Though, you can't shift." He added immediately.
That was my last concern. I shot on my feet, "Where am I, Aragon?" I stared into his eyes. Though, Daniel, Carlos, Alex and Jasper had forbidden me to do this sort of stupidity. It shocked me when his red eyes couldn't hypnotise me. I reared back in shock. The back of my knees hit the bed.
"Dark realm." He replied.
My eyes widened further. I reached for our bond. Instead, I felt a sharp jab of pain in my chest. My hands shot to my chest, my knees gave up, I slumped down. My back against the bed, "What's happening? I can't feel him." Tears blinded my eyes. Confusion muddled my brain. I stared at him in horror.
He laid a hand on my shoulder. In a blink, my body was perceiving no pain, "Calm down." He said.
"My mate," My wolf wanted to take control of my head and body. But his touch on my shoulder was doing magic on us.
"Don't try to reach your bond." He shook his head, denying me.
My pulse quickened in dread. "Why?" Suddenly, I was very angry. My wolf was ready to tear him apart.
I felt power surging through his body to me. His power was calming my wolf.
"Only Dastien can do this." My pupils widened in terror.
"I'm bonded to your mate. I can only help. But I can't help it if she gets out of control. The moment you'll step out of this door, you'll be killed." He said.
My wolf clawed at me to get herself free, to take the reins of us.
'No, I wanna reach him while still alive. We have to hear him.'
Instead of answering me, once again I felt her power. She was so strong.
"Your power won't help you if you don't know what's laying ahead of your path." Aragon said.
I closed my eyes, started to take deep breaths. I needed to use my head.
'Bullshit,' My wolf snapped.
I wanted to roll my eyes, 'We don't know this place. Aragon is here. A king. There must be a reason.' I told her.
She settled down at the back of my head. I opened my eyes and nodded at him. I asked him the most important thing, " Why can't I feel him?"
"Now we can talk." He smirked, removing his hand, "Not only your mate but also the one who cursed you is here."
"The one who is responsible for my mother's condition too?" I asked with anger.
He nodded his head, "You need to eat, you would like to bathe and most importantly." He brought his palm between us and unfurled it, revealing a Firestone cocktail ring, "You have to put it on."
"What is this?" I asked. He should tell me everything instead of offering me a welcome gift to the Dark Realm.
"It would allow you to wander in the Dark realm without getting recognized." He said.
I snorted, "No one knows me here. "
His smirked confused me more, "Please eat something. You need comida to keep your wolf in control. You can't let them know who you are." He said walking over to the door.
"His mate?" I asked.
"Not only that... you're more than his mate." His answer confused me. I opened my mouth but the creaking of the door stopped me.
Dastien never said anything. Aragon was also playing mysterious. Shouldn't I open my eyes if it was some kind of dream? I dug my nails in my palms as hard as I could. There was only pain. My wolf was also sad. She wanted to reach her mate.
'We can't just wander around when we don't know the whole story. The person is out there who cursed us. Whoever he or she is. He/She doesn't want Dastien to be our mate. '
'She! I would kill her.' I felt her possession for her mate.
I rolled my eyes at my wolf. Aragon cleared his throat. My eyes shot at him. My wolf growled at him. Clearly, not liking his advice to not reach for my mate. "Tap trice on the door and.." He gestured at the ring with his long index finger. "Don't forget this. It's going to be your oxygen cylinder in an airless environment." He said walking toward of the door.
"Shouldn't you tell me everything?" I demanded before he could leave me alone with my seething wolf and a bucket full of questions.
"Your memories would take time to restore." He said.
"It's not the only reason to keep me here. Who cursed me?" I asked. There are rumours that she was Dastien's mother. I heard Sap saying it confidently.
"Yes, if you die, you can't be reborn. Dastien would lose his temper. He would destroy everything. No one would be alive then."
"Why would his mother want this?" I wasn't certain. I wanted him to correct me if I was wrong.
"You'll get the answer with your memories back."
"I need to see him." I didn't mention his name. He has to answer me. He can't ddisappear and pretend that I don't exist.
"Have patience, Queen." I heard the loud creak. My wolf got on the back of my head, I could feel her sadness.
"Sorry, buddy. You have to stay there until we solve this mystery." I told her, getting on my feet. I shuffled toward the door he gestured.
My jaw dropped to the ground. What was this place? It was extravagant. There was a swimming pool. The air was filled with lavender, patchouli oils, cinnamon, and some herbs I couldn't recognize.
I forwarded my steps. On the granite counter, dusky white towels were placed and next to it was a silky green dress. I ran my fingers on it. I felt the fabric alive beneath my skin. I yanked my hand away immediately.
A soft laugh caught my attention. In the doorway, a girl near my younger sister's age was standing, looking at me with amusement in her eyes. "I never thought I would see the princess yanking her hand away from her favourite colour."
Princess! Not queen? My share price dropped, I guess. She was the only one who had called me princess. "Who are you?" I asked.
She bowed her head. " You can call me Jolly, Queen." She was still smiling.
Queen! Not princess! Her tongue isn't corporating with her.
"Are you here to mock me?" I asked her. My wolf growled at her. 'I'm handling the situation, buddy. Don't scare the poor girl.' I told my wolf. She growled at her and settled down again. This thing is new but I like it.
"Please, accept my apology. I didn't mean to offend you. I'm here to help you." Her face whitened.
This place was strange and big. I wouldn't mind getting help but getting naked in front of a stranger, I wasn't going to do that. "Is this thing really alive?" I asked, looking at the gown.
"No, Queen. It's your power." She said.
"Do I have powers like Dastien? Power of fire?" I asked her. If she was talking about my powers, she would definitely have known me or perhaps she would have heard about me.
"That too. We shouldn't get late." She turned her back to me. "I'll turn to you when you get in the pool." She said.
"Thank you." I let out a sigh of relief for showing understanding toward me. I was still not used to this.