The Lycan King's Princes

In the Mist

--- POV Tobias ---

Emilia squealed happily as Seth and I walked through the crafts store behind her. She was so excited that she grabbed every type of paint material in sight. I couldn’t help but grin when her hands were completely full with too many items. I know she was a creative one, but I never knew she really got into painting. I guess it happened after we left for school. “Seth.” I said, tilting my glance to him.

“Yeah, I got it.” He ran back to the front of the store and came back in the nick of time with a giant cart.

I gently grabbed the items from her hands and dropped them in the basket. She leaned around me and smiled. “Thanks Seth.” She said before turning to me. “T-thanks Tobias.” She whispered.

I grinned and realized a simple thank you from my mate is enough to make my body crave her. I took a deep breath. This is going to suck. Maybe I shouldn't be this patient. “Not a problem. I want you to be comfortable here until we leave.” I said, repressing my internal turmoil.

“Yeah, and from the looks of our work schedule, it might not be when we think.” I glanced over at Seth and he held up his phone, revealing all the meetings rescheduled to a month after graduation.

“Virtual calls will be fine for those. I’m not extending our time here.” He perked up and fist bumped the air while Em giggled lightly and scurried off to the sketch pads.

“Yes!” Seth called. I rolled my eyes and continued to follow Em around the store.

Once we finally made it back to the apartment, I wanted to spend some time alone with Emilia, but she was already gone into the kitchen before I could even put her bags down. I furrowed my brows. “She’s not avoiding you.” Seth said, rubbing his ear.

I shot my glare in his direction. “What?”

“You might be covering up your concern, but Adir is screaming in our heads.” Seth continued, plopping himself on the couch. "Like...really loudly."

D*mn that animal. “So?”

“So, go talk to her.” He said, waiving me off while he flipped through the sports channels.

I scoffed and walked off to the kitchen. “Em?” I asked, looking around the room.

She peeked her head around the fridge door curiously. “Yes?”

I cleared my throat and grabbed the Scotch. “Nothing.” I glanced her way and she furrowed her brow before walking up to me.

"Oh, I thought we were past this." She said with a bit of a pout.

I smirked and nodded. "I know we are. Sorry, Em. Not too sure what to chat about at the moment." I confessed before pouring myself a drink. I pressed the crystal glass to my lips and took a swig while I watched her slowly walk up to me.

"So this is what hell feels like?" Adir scoffed.

"It's not easy for me either." I countered.

Once she made it a few inches away from my chest, she grazed her finger on my wrist. However, her eyes immediately rolled back and she fell towards the floor and I immediately caught her as my glass shattered on the floor. “Emilia?!” In that moment, my world crumbled. “Emilia?!”

---POV Emilia---

Fog was all I felt. I don’t know if I could hear something but it felt like I was suffocating as I stood in an unusual abyss. “Natalia?!” I called, hoping to hear my dragon. Nothing. I took a deep breath and called out again with the same result.

Nothing.

I closed my eyes and I could feel myself freaking out until I landed, hard, on a patch of grass. I gasped and scurried up to my feet. “Natalia!” I called, but again, I heard nothing. I looked around me and realized I was in the woods somewhere, but nowhere had I been before. It seemed to be a small village. It was cute, but something about it was off.

I slowly walked around expecting to find someone outside, but there was nothing. I tried the doors leading into small huts but not one budged. I huffed irritably until one burst open on its own. A girl around my age, maybe slightly younger, came running from the small place. “Felicity!” A shrilled voice shouted after her.

She gasped and continued to run as the tears fell from her face. I felt my hand slowly graze my face before I darted after her. What was going on? “Hey! Wait up.” She didn’t even flinch. I was almost as if…as if she couldn’t hear me, but the lashings on her back made my throat dry and my skin crawl. What happened to her?! “Wait!” I shouted. She needs help! If I call myself a healer, I should try harder to make contact with her. I need to help her!

She kept running. “Felicity Alcot! Get back here you sniveling excuse for a dark aura!”

I looked behind us, careful not to slip, when I saw a wretched looking elder running after her. She was barely keeping up but the girl didn’t care to assist, she was pushing herself to run away faster. “No! I will never come back! Never!” She shouted and the ground started to rumble as a c***k of lightning shot out of the sky and a shrill scream followed after.

Now that stopped the girl dead in her tracks. She gasped and turned on her heels. As did I. What we saw was something out of a horror film. A singed skeleton about a hundred feet away from here where the old woman once was. I turned back to the girl in shock. “What did you do?” I asked her as I wondered if I should be running after her. Does she deserve healing? Maybe she was a prisoner? It had to be the only explanation. But...the problem still stands, she had to have done something. No...that doesn't matter, she's still injured.

The girl took a deep breath and bit her lip as the tears continued to fall. She tilted her head towards the floor. She still didn't hear me. “I don’t want to be a monster.” She whispered before racing off into the trees and disappearing through a barrier. It vibrated and set off alarms and I realized where I was. I've read about these places before in school. I…I was in a dark witches’ bungalow.

I started to shake as many young and old wickens busted out of their homes and squealed at the night sky. This was not good. “But…how did I –” Before I could even finish my sentence, I was lurched forward and I fell hard once again, but this time it was warm.

I hummed and snuggled into its comfort. It didn’t hurt when my body made contact this time. It was really peaceful, and it smelled like my favorite treat, salted caramel and chocolate. I slowly opened my eyes to see a frantic-looking Tobias holding me tightly just above the kitchen floor. “Em…oh thank the goddess.” He said, exasperated, but there was something funny about him. I was so groggy I couldn't put my finger on it.

I stared at him beyond confused. “Toby?” I whispered and he flinched at his nickname, then relaxed.

“Yes, it’s me Em. What happened?” He asked, pulling me into his lap.

I snuggled into him and shrugged. “I wish I knew, but I saw someone. I was teleported somewhere, and it hurt like hell.” I said with a voice I didn’t recognize. It was torn and raspy.

“I’m just glad you are okay. We are going to need to bring in the big guns though. You just touched me and collapsed. I don’t think that’s supposed to happen.” Tobias said, trying to lighten the mood, I think.

“I just got off the phone with mom, she is going to bring Uncle Selvin and Aunt Ty over.” Seth said as he walked up to us, while Tobias rested against the fridge.

“My dad?” I asked. “Why him?”

“Well, he is the Origin dragon, maybe there is something wrong there and Tylyn is the Origin of the Fae. That and he sounded pissed on the other end. I think they were in the middle of a meeting so he overheard. If there is something wrong with you that your dad can’t find, then Tylyn definitely will.” Seth added.

I nodded slowly and Tobias slowly rubbed my arm softly. “When are they getting here?” He asked.

“They are going to use a portal. Auntie said it would take too long to fly and she needs to be seen now just in case there is magical residue she can locate.” Seth concluded.

“Good.” He said softly and kissed my forehead. “Rest now love, they will be here soon. I'll...I'll fix this.”

“Mhm.” I hummed before closing my eyes. “Natalia…do you know what that was?” I asked, praying she would respond.

“Too powerful…I couldn’t see anything and I couldn’t help with anything…so…so tired.” She whispered groggily.

“It’s okay Nat. We will figure this out.” I called out, just as sluggish as her.

“Sleep now, Em. Too tired.” She said again, and I fell back into my quiet consciousness.