The Time I Tripped into a Curse and got two Mates

Chapter 34

The dining hall was an imposing space that was adorned with vaulted ceilings with intricate murals that continued the depiction of Lycan history. A massive chandelier hung overhead and cast a warm glow on the long dinner table. This room made me feel incredibly small and I hoped that there was a more intimate dining area we could use in the future.

The King and Queen were already seated, but rose to greet Malcolm and me as we neared the table. The King was a regal figure who had silver-streaked hair and piercing golden eyes and as he stood, he gave me a courteous nod. The Queen was a vision of beauty who had sharp features that were softened by faint smile lines.

A few moments after we approached the table, Malva and Ivan entered the room. Ivan approached me first and lifted my hand to his lips to kiss it. Then Malva gave me a reassuring hug. The Queen left her position behind her chair to come to greet me personally. Her smile beamed brighter the closer she got to me.

“It is so wonderful to meet you, Evelette.” She began, her voice carrying the same warmth as her smile. “We hoped they would meet their mate at the ball. I’m glad they were convinced to attend at the last minute.” Then she gestured to the table with a graceful sweep of her hand. “Please, sit.”

We all took our seats at the table. The King and Queen sat at either end of the table, their positions reinforcing their dominance, while I found myself between Ivan and Malcolm. Malva, ever the graceful presence, took her place across from me as her eyes offered silent support.

“It’s so wonderful to meet you as well, Queen Nerissa.” I said as soon as I settled into my seat. “I haven't seen much of the castle, but what I have seen is breathtaking.”

“How kind of you to say,” the Queen replied, her smile genuine. “I do hope you explore the grounds as much as you like. This is your home now.” Her words were a balm to my nerves, yet they also carried a weight of expectation. “And let me formally introduce you to King Cadron.”

“It’s an absolute pleasure to meet you, King Cadron.” I said as I directed a beaming smile towards him.

“Likewise, Evelette,” he said warmly. “My boys can’t seem to stop talking about you since coming home. I look forward to getting to know you.”

I inclined my head to both the King and Queen as the first course was served. The servants moved with precision as they placed the plates in front of us, and light conversation flowed around the table as we ate. It was a mix of trivial matters and light-hearted banter that slowly eased the tension I felt. Malcolm and Ivan spoke of trivial matters such as training regimens, upcoming events, and the latest news from the neighboring territories. I wanted to contribute more to the conversation, but I found myself hesitant and only offered the occasional word of affirmation.

As the second course was served, I noticed the Queen’s gaze lingering on my arm, where faint bruises were still visible from when Rina had pushed me out of the car. When I brushed my hair from my forehead, I heard her audibly gasp when she saw the scrapes there.

“My dear,” she began, voice laced with concern, “I couldn’t help but notice your injuries. What happened?”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat as I felt her eyes bore into me. “I had a run in with an…unfriendly person.” I replied cautiously. “Usually I wouldn’t have gotten hurt, but I was rather stunned to be pushed out of a moving car.

King Cadron’s brow furrowed in concern. “I’m sorry, did you just say that you were pushed out of a moving car? Why on earth would someone do that?”

I let out a rough puff of air. “Well, Rina and I …haven’t seen eye to eye in a very long time. But don’t worry, I’m not in the habit of being banged and bruised up, I promise.” I said with a forced laugh, as I hoped to downplay the situation.

“Evelette is an accomplished warrior.” Ivan chimed in with pride gleaming in his eyes. “She actually went toe to toe with me for a while.”

The King looked at me with surprise. “Is that so? Ivan is our best fighter here in the Lycan Kingdom. You must be a decent fighter.”

The Queen, however, raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, her expression more scrutinizing than impressed. “What an interesting skill to have. Are there not qualified men from your pack that can be warriors?”

I looked at her as I was momentarily taken aback by the question. “Yes, there are plenty of men who are warriors.” I replied as I tried to gauge where this line of questioning was leading.

“Then why in the Great Moon Goddess’s name would you choose to train as a warrior?” She asked incredulously.

I stammered for a moment as I searched for the right words. I didn’t want to offend the Queen, but I also didn’t want to act as if I was ashamed of my skills. “I trained as a warrior because I wanted to.” I said carefully as I held her gaze.

“Well,” she said as her tone softened just a fraction, “it’s a good thing all that is behind you now. You’re going to be part of the royal family and will have warriors to fight for you. Your strength will be needed elsewhere, I’m sure.”

Instinctively, I started to lower my gaze, but I stopped myself and forced my eyes to meet hers again. “I don’t want to stop training.” I said firmly. “And I’m sure I’ll have access to much better fighters to train me here, to which I am most grateful.”

Queen Nerissa licked her lips as she considered my words. “I suppose you can see if you have spare time in between your other duties.” she said, tone clipped, as she took a sip of wine.

I wanted to say more to defend my right to continue training, but Ivan put his hand on my thigh in silent warning. Annoyance flared up within me, but I bit my lip to stop my retort. Soon after, the dessert course was revealed and we all ate in an awkward silence.

When everyone was just about finished with their pie, the King cleared his throat, the sound drawing all attention to him. “Evelette,” he began, gravely, “there is something we must discuss with you. It’s a matter of great importance, and I wouldn’t bring it up right now if it weren’t necessary.”

I looked up at him as my heart pounded in my chest. “Of course.” I replied, “Does it have to do with my duties as a mate to the princes?”

King Cadron smiled humorlessly, “In a manner of speaking, yes.”

Malcolm and Ivan both reached out and took my hands in theirs. Their grips were firm and felt almost desperate. I instantly knew this must be more serious than I had anticipated. Ivan’s hand tightened even further as he looked at me and his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and fear.

“Evelette,” he said, voice solemn, “it’s something that affects us all, something that only you can help with.”

Malcolm, who was usually so light-hearted, wore a serious expression as well. “It’s about a curse that was placed on us before we were born.”

My breath hitched. “A curse? You mean the rumors about the royal family being cursed are true?”

Queen Nerissa leaned forward, her expression grave and her earlier warmth was replaced by cold, hard truth. “Yes. The curse was placed by a powerful witch who felt wronged by the King and me. It’s a curse that will come to fruition soon unless it’s broken. And the prophecy…well, it speaks of you.”

“Me?” I whispered as my voice trembled.

Malva, who had remained silent until now, spoke gently. “Yes, Evelette. The prophecy spoke of a woman who would be fated to our family. She’d have the strength and heart to break the curse. And we believe that woman is you.”

The room seemed to close in around me as I struggled to process the weight of their words. My entire world tilted as I considered what they were saying and a heavy shroud settled around me. A curse? A prophecy? And I was somehow supposed to break it? I looked around the table and met the eyes of everyone present. “So what’s the curse?” I asked, my voice barely audible.

Ivan’s gaze locked onto mine, and I could see a storm of emotions swirling within his golden eyes. His voice was steady, though, and carried the weight of the truth he was about to reveal. “Basically, any child born to the Lycan royal family is cursed.”

He paused, and his jaw tightened as he forced himself to continue. “Our eldest sister…she was the first to suffer the curse. She was cursed with death before she even took her first breath, and she was still born. Malcolm and I…we were cursed to destroy each other.”

His words hung in the air like a dark cloud, and I could feel the gravity of what he was saying settling over the room. My eyes drifted to Malva and Ivan’s voice softened as he turned to his sister. The pain in his expression was unmistakable. “And Malva…she was–”

“I was cursed to never have a fated mate and never be able to have children.” Malva finished, her tone devoid of emotion.

Malcolm faced me and continued. “No one knew the details of the curse until it was given to our mother in the form of a dream soon after she became pregnant.”

The Queen, who had been silently observing, nodded her head. “Yes, but despite the despair that the dream brought us, we found hope because, when I found out I was pregnant with the twins, I was able to create a loophole.”

“A loophole?” I asked. “How could you do that? Lycans don’t have that kind of magic, do they?”

The Queen’s eyes sparkled with pride as she leaned forward again. “Well, I’m not a Lycan, Evelette. My people are witches.” She said. “When our first child was born, we were devastated to discover that the curse would have a higher likelihood of taking our children before they were born.”

She took a deep breath, her gaze distant as if she were reliving the memories. “So when I found out I was pregnant again, I knew I just couldn’t let the curse claim my unborn child again. I used the power of the full moon to ask the Moon Goddess for help…to see if there was any way to protect my child.”

The room seemed to hold its breath as she continued, her voice filled with reverence. “The Moon Goddess answered my plea and she split the soul of my unborn child, creating two lives when there once was one. But it wasn’t just a simple split. She also took a small piece from each of their souls and placed it with their fated mate. The hidden part of the soul was meant to shield them from the curse, to prevent them from destroying each other.”

Her gaze darkened as she reached the crux of the issue. “But as the years have passed, the curse has slowly grown stronger, and the protection weaker. The older they get, the closer they come to falling into the curse’s grasp.”

My mind whirled as I tried to process the magnitude of what she was saying. “How…how can I break it?”

The King and Queen exchanged a look before the Queen answered. “When the reality of my efforts to protect my children set in, I knew it wasn’t enough. The curse still loomed over us, and I feared for their lives everyday. So I asked the Moon Goddess for a way to rid my family of the curse forever.”

She paused as her eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent chills down my spine. “The Goddess came to me in another dream and revealed a prophecy. The prophecy is vague, but it speaks of trials, sacrifice, and love. I understand it won’t be easy for you, but you must have the strength to save them.”

Her words were like a heavy stone that dropped into a still pond. So I looked at her questioningly. “Trials? What are the trials?”

The Queen sighed softly and a trace of helplessness shrouded her otherwise composed demeanor. “That, I don’t know. The prophecy didn’t reveal the specifics. But now that Ivan and Malcolm have found you, I believe the Moon Goddess will come to you with answers. You must be prepared, Evelette. Whatever the trials are, they will not be easy.”