The Night I Chose My Enemy

The guest list

Kaelira’s POV

“Uncle no!” I screamed as I sat up straight, covered in sweat. “Nightmare… nightmare…” I mumbled repeatedly to myself.

My body sprang up in bed, my hands flew to my side, searching for the wound I felt should be there—and the sound came out of me before I was even aware of what I was doing. My fingers were on smooth, unbroken skin, and I gasped, looking down at myself in confusion.

“No,” I whispered, pushing again, as if the wound could be just under the surface. “No, that's not it, I felt it, I felt the blade.”

I darted my eyes around ,my breath quickened, my heart pounding. Gradually the familiar form of my room became clear to me—the same curtains, the same carved wardrobe in the corner, the same soft morning light through my window. It was like it was on the day of my wedding.

“This is not right," I said out loud, my voice trembling. “This was not—I died, I felt my death.”

Again, I pressed my hand to my chest, my heart pounding beneath it, very much alive.

As I tried to decipher the situation, the room fell silent.

Not quiet—still. Gently waving curtains froze as the morning breeze died down. The dust particles from the sun were floating in the air. The noise of my own breathing seemed to fade off.

I barely whispered what, when the silence suddenly fell as though I was falling into a windy tunnel.

At the foot of my bed a woman came to me.

I did not know of her coming. She was just there, as if she had been there all along, her form ghostly and shimmering, her face utterly featureless, nothing to see, nothing to focus on, and yet I was sure she was looking right at me.

I scrambled backwards up my bed. "Who are you?"

“It wasn't a dream,” she said, "what you experienced was real..." There was no special tone in her voice, it was serene like it was making me shiver. “You died the instant you came to know the truth of your parents and your uncle, Kaelira Ashthorn.”

My hands were shaking. "That's not possible."

“It's the truth,” she said matter-of-factly. “You have been given something you will never get again – a second chance – a last chance to change the destiny that was robbed from you.”

I repeated myself, "A second chance.”

The woman went on to say, "This is not going to happen again. This is a day that will be final, whatever you do with it and the following days will be final.”

I watched her and couldn't get a grip on something. "Why me? Why do you tell me this?”

She didn't respond to that question. “This day is not going to be enough for you to just run away and hide, Kaelira; if you do, your uncle will find you, and he'll destroy all those around you again, the same way he did before. You have to tell the truth before he does. You have to find someone stronger than him… and play his game against him.”

“How can I do that?” My voice cracked. “He is the Alpha, everyone is in his trust. Everyone believes—"

The woman, however, was giving way, and her ghostly figure was disappearing into the light in the room.

I reached out to her, but my hand was useless, "Wait," I said. “Wait, please, tell me how… who is stronger than my uncle!”

She was gone.

A second time the curtains shook. The dust began to slowly drift through the sunlight. I heard the servants out there preparing the grounds, just as I heard the first time this day occurred, somewhere out there.

I sat in silence for a long moment—my hands to my chest, my mind racing through all that I now remembered—the ceremony, the carriage, the forest, my uncle opening Caedric's throat, his words over both of our bodies.

There was no evidence or witness found again.

I placed my hands on my eyes. I whispered to myself, "Think. Kaelira, "Think, think, don't do it again. Who is stronger than Vaelor?”

I could not just say no to the ceremony. Vaelor had control of the council, the guards, and almost everyone in the Ashthorn Pack. If I ran and if I accused him without proof, he will make me silent before anyone believes me. I wanted more than this. I needed somebody strong enough to oppose me, somebody powerful enough that Vaelor would be too stupid to attack me openly.

I recalled all those who had been there the first time, Alpha Renwick from the eastern border, the members of council, minor pack leaders who had to do what I told them because of my uncle. None of them would go to any lengths to defend me.

Except one.

Draeven Nightbane.

I recalled Wren mentioning my name that morning, heard the tremulous excitement in her voice, the fearless Nightbane Pack leader, my uncle's chief adversary, and a man strong enough that even Vaelor couldn't ignore him without risk of retaliation.

Draeven would only make it harder for Vaelor to go through with whatever plans he had in place, even if he didn't say anything, even if he just walked there. I immediately brought out a paper and ink… as I started writing down words even I could not understand …but i desperately hoped Draeven would understand without too many questions.

It was not much. That was something, though.

I had to get up from my bed, and I hurried to the door and opened it quietly and rang down the hall. "Nessa."

Soon, my dearest maid came, and her face was instantly saddened to see me. “My lady, you don't look well. Are you unwell?"

I said, ‘I'm fine. Nessa, I need you to do something for me, quietly, before the morning preparations are made.”

“Sure," she replied as she entered and shut the door.

I said, "The guests list for tonight's ceremony. I need to update it. And don’t tell my uncle about it, don't tell the event organizers who report to my uncle.”

Nessa's brow furrowed. "My lady, the guest list was finalized weeks ago. And you know how it is… your uncle isn’t one that likes surprises.”

I said, “I know how dangerous it is.”

“This was an insult he couldn't take,” Nessa pressed. "Or worse, a challenge to his authority. My lady, please, give it a thought before—“

I said “I have thought about it”, and there was no doubt in my voice, she looked at me intently and fell silent.

“Who do you want to add", she asked slowly.

I looked into her eyes, calmed my own breath.

“Alpha Draeven Nightbane.” I said. “And make sure you give him this.” I said as I pressed the neatly folded paper in her hand.