What my Heart Desires

Chapter 3

Roman’s POV

I felt her stiffen in my arms. My arms tighten instinctively. Not willing to let her move an inch. Hell, she won’t be leaving my arms for the rest of her life if I can help it. She asks in a deadened voice. “What do you want to know?”

I’ve never heard her so defeated in my life. She sounded like the weight of the entire world was on her shoulders, like she has been to hell and back. To be honest, she probably has. How the f**k could we not know she was alive? Why didn’t she fight her way back to us? Why hide?

A part of my soul died when she was pronounced dead in my arms. I agonized over not being able to protect her. I relive that day, every damn night in my nightmares. Most nights I don’t sleep because I can’t watch her die again. I wait for the breaking point, the moment when my body and mind give up on living. I always wonder why I’m still alive and she’s gone.

I feel myself replaying that horrid day in my head before I can stop myself.

Our mornings and nights together were reserved for what we called “us time”. Drex and I would always linger as much as we could with our mate. Not wanting to leave her side, even though our duties beckoned us.

That morning wasn’t any different. We had recently learned that Drex’s brother Wick was behind the rebellion we’ve been fighting for the past 10 years. We could never figure out how they seemed to know our plans. We’ve been at a stalemate for so long.

There has been a stillness in activity. Like the calm before the storm. Drex and I have been going to his office to discuss battle plans and strategies in anticipation of the big fight. Because we both knew that Wick will want to personally be the one to knock Drex off his throne.

We left Ella shortly after waking, skipping breakfast all together as we had to meet the neighboring kingdoms that have come to offer Drex their alliance.

I knew something had been bothering her since we found out about Wick. Ella has been distant and a bit on edge. I always thought it was from the shock of it all. He was like a brother to me and a good friend to Ella.

Looking back, I wish I had taken the time to make her tell me what was wrong. To sit down and reassure her that everything was going to be okay.

Drex and I give her a quick kiss and we rush out the door. We greeted Lord Herbert and Lord Raymon and went to work. We were in there for what felt like days, when it was only a few hours.

Gong! Gong! Gooonnnggg! They have breached the gate, but how?!

Our heads snap up and we look at each other. Dread sits in the pit of my stomach. No, it’s too soon. We aren’t ready!

“What the hell!”

“Bloody fuckin s**t!”

Drex uses his vampire speed and he disappears through the door. He’s going to make sure Ella is safe and hidden. We couldn’t stomach the idea of sending her away. Drex set up a safe room just off of our suite. Only the three of us knew about it. I want to run after him and see for myself that she is safely tucked away but I knew that I couldn’t.

Drex and I had already decided that with his speed he would get to her the fastest and I was to head to the courtyard, for the battle of our lives.

As I run down the stairs and across the halls, I can already hear our generals barking orders. My five Betas are updating me on their positions as I run.

“Alpha, Gamma team is in position and holding.”

“Alpha, Bravo team is ready to go!”

“Delta team has made contact and holding them back!”

“Echo team is on standby, boss! Ready and willing!”

“Team Foxtrot just joined the fun, Alpha!”

“Get your f*****g heads on straight! This is no laughing matter, you protect the castle at all costs! Do you understand?” I growl out to them.

“Yes, Alpha!” they say together.

“Bravo team head towards the drawbridge and give them reinforcements. Echo meet me in the courtyard.”

“On it.” “You got it.”

Drex runs up beside me long enough to give me a nod and then he’s gone again. I sigh a bit with relief. At least I know our precious Ella is safe and that she has Deb with her. She will protect her with her life.

I let my rage flow through my veins as I shift into my wolf. I feel my bones crack, my skin turns to fur, and my nose elongates into my snout with sharp teeth. Black as night, with amber eyes and the height of a car, I’m a menacing sight to behold.

Rogue Vampires and Werewolves start coming at us at all sides as we burst into the middle of chaos. Dead bodies littered everywhere, the screaming of the dead and dying echo in my ears as I lose myself in the battle.

I’m tearing a vampire’s head from his neck when I see Drex across the battlefield. He’s hacking his way through the horde with his bejeweled longsword. He doesn’t see Wick come up behind him, I let out a deafening snarl as I run toward them. Drex heard me and turned in time to parry and protect his back.

“Hello brother. Did you miss me?” Wick says on a psychotic laugh.

“What is wrong with you Wick? Stop this nonsense! You and I both know that you will never get away with this!” Drex pleads.

Wick looks at Drex with wild hatred in his eyes. “The throne should be mine! I was meant to rule as King! You will not stop me.” He says venomously. Spit flying everywhere as he punctuates each sentence.

A growl rips through my chest as I stalk forward, baring my teeth.

Wick lets out an eerie laugh as he dashes away. Drex and I are on his heels as he leads us into the throne room.

Drex gets to him first and they blur together as their swords crash against each other.

Come on Drex, end this!

A few rogue wolves must have followed us, and I turn to them, wasting no time in mercy. I grab the ashy brown wolf by the neck and shake until I hear the tell-tale snap. I drop him as I feel teeth tear into my shoulder. Damn it!

We grapple for a bit before I get the upper hand and tear out his throat. That’s when I hear it. An ear-piercing scream.

“Nooooooo!”

I turn around, in shock. Ella!

I see her running towards me with such fear in her eyes. It stops me in my tracks. I was so focused on Ella, I didn’t see the vampire hidden in the shadows. Not until it was too late. He had a crossbow aimed at my heart, with silver tipped arrows. Which if they pierced my heart, would kill me instantly.

The world slowed down around me as I watched my sweet, loving Ella through her little body over mine. I felt her body jerk and I smelled her blood. Time started again. Everyone seemed to stop and watch the scene unfold. Their beloved queen had fallen.

I remember shifting instantly so I could hold her in my arms. I remember hearing the most sorrowful and heartbroken sounds come from Drex when he realized what happened. He rushes over to us.

I’m sobbing uncontrollably as he snaps the arrow that is sticking out of her back.

“Ella! Ella! Sweetheart, please don’t go! Why did you do that? Ella!” I blubber. I don’t even care. Our soul mate is dying, I can feel her slipping away.

Drex pushes her hair off her face. He takes her right hand in his and he leans down to press his forehead to hers. “Gabby, baby what did you do?! Why didn’t you stay in the safe room? Everything is going to be fine. You hang in there! You hear me Gabby, just hang on!”

Her voice is barely audible. “I will love you both for all eternity. We will meet again.” She whispers.

Her heart slows, then stops. Ella’s eyes closed as I feel the life leave her body.

Drex gives her a final kiss. His focus snaps to the vampire that killed our mate and who is stupidly still standing there in shock. He never saw it coming, Drex is on him disposes of his life like nothing I’ve every seen before.

Drex doesn’t bother to wipe the tears from his eyes as his lifeless gaze finds his brother. Wick is still staring at Ella, not with sorrow, but with absolute rage. His eyes never leave her body.

“Remember this day brother. I will leave you and your dog to mourn. As a testament to our past. Once she is laid to rest, I will be back to take what is mine.”

Just like that, he is gone. His army vanishing into hills surrounding the castle as if they were never here.

I shake myself out of the memory and back into the present. Ella is really here, in my arms, alive and breathing. But how?

“Everything. I want to know everything.” Says Drex.

I look down at Ella, wanting the same thing. Her answer was not what either of us were expecting.

“I died in your arms.” She paused like she was bracing herself. “I woke up a few days later in my casket. Debra was waiting for me. She got a charm from a witch to make someone look like me. She switched out my body with one of our dead, and with the charm making them look exactly like me, no one was all the wiser. She smuggled me out of the castle.”

We both look at her stunned. Well, s**t.