Lily
The moment I opened the spellbook, my breath caught. The first time I flipped through its pages, they had been blank…smooth, untouched parchment that mocked me with its silence. But now… now, the ink had bled into existence, curling into elegant symbols and ancient scripts. The letters shimmered faintly, alive, shifting between languages I didn't recognize and words I somehow understood.
My fingers trembled as I traced the first line. A thrill surged through me, excitement bubbling just beneath my skin. It worked. The book had accepted me.
I barely realized I was holding my breath. My eyes darted over the text, devouring every word. Tests. Lessons. Spells. Power hidden in ink and whispers. A grin tugged at my lips. The room faded around me; all that mattered was the knowledge now laid bare before me, waiting to be claimed. I had been right to wait, to trust the process. This wasn't just a book…it was a doorway. And I was finally stepping through.
Exhaling shakily, I pressed my hands flat against the pages. "Let's begin."
The first test. Speak to the wind. Let it hear you. Let it answer you. Closing my eyes, I drew in a long, deep breath, feeling the still air settle around me. I whispered, soft and steady. "Come to me, carry my words, whisper secrets unknown."
At first…nothing. Silence. But I didn't waver. I kept my breath calm, mind focused. Then, a breeze. Impossibly soft, it brushed against my cheek. My eyes snapped open. A thrill rushed through me. It worked.
Carefully, I marked the page where I stopped, closed the book, and rose to my feet. I stretched, then walked to the window, admiring the fading sunlight. I couldn't afford to remain locked away. Not yet. Not while others still watched. So, I acted normal.
I left my chambers and strolled through the courtyard, offering soft smiles and idle conversation. When summoned, I attended to the king, healing warriors with my small bag of herbs and salves. But each night, I returned to the book. I whispered to the wind again, learning its voice. I practiced holding flames without burning myself. I traced symbols in the air, forcing them to flicker, even for a moment.
Small steps. Quiet victories. I was growing stronger. And no one suspected a thing.
***
The first time I caught Maris watching me, I let it go. The second time, my curiosity grew. By the third, I was sure…Zeena had sent her little shadow.
Maris was always nearby. Pretending to sweep. Arranging herbs. Walking the same path. She thought she was subtle. She wasn't. Tonight was no different. I sat on a stone bench with Sara, laughing softly in the breeze. Out of the corner of my eye, Maris hovered near the pillars with a broom that never touched the ground. Sara noticed too. She smirked. "That girl is always watching you. It's getting creepy."
I chuckled, twirling a strand of hair around my finger. "Let her watch. Her mistress sent her, no doubt."
"What does Zeena hope to find?" Sara scoffed.
I leaned back lazily, lips curling. "Oh, I don't know. But the little girl will get obsessed with me soon enough."
Sara blinked. "Obsessed?"
I said nothing. Just tapped my fingers against my knee, letting the silence speak for me. "You're up to something," she said, half-laughing.
I shrugged, letting my eyes gleam with quiet mischief. Let Maris watch. Let her wonder. She'd learn soon enough what happens when you spy on a witch too closely.
Elis' POV
From the high balcony of my chamber, I stood still, hands resting on the cold stone railing. The breeze was cool, brushing against my face, but I barely felt it. My eyes were fixed on her. Lily.
She was laughing with Sara again, head tilted just so, the sunlight kissing her cheek. Her smile tugged at something deep in my chest. Something I didn't want to name. There was something different about her now. Something... more. A subtle shift in how she carried herself. The tilt of her chin. The sharpness in her gaze. She moved with purpose and grace. Almost like she didn't quite belong to this world anymore. And her hair was lighter now. The golden strands shimmered with the dying light. It wasn't dark anymore. Just lighter and transformed.
Tika stirred within me, restless and agitated. "She is changing," the wolf growled. "She is becoming something more." I gritted my teeth. I knew. I had known since the night she stood before me and laid bare my curse with nothing but soft words and fierce eyes. But I didn't know what she was becoming. Would she still be mine once the change was complete? Would she still see me? Then, as though drawn by my thoughts, she lifted her head.Her eyes found mine.I froze. She knew I was watching. And in that moment, for the first time in my life, I felt something I could not control. Not fear. Not desire. Something worse. Powerless. As she looked away with a smile I couldn't read, I knew. She was no longer the girl I met.,She was becoming the storm. And I, Alpha King or not was not ready for it.