Aloura, a journey of the Dimensions Book 1

Panthers in the distance

My horse galloped forward, her hooves pounding against the shimmering surface of the ocean. I held the reins with white-knuckled intensity, a mix of excitement and sheer terror coursing through my veins. It’s not every day you find yourself riding on water like it’s a solid road, but somehow, that’s exactly what was happening. As we surged into the bay, it hit me—the water was obeying my will, creating a path for our escape. A crazy thought sprouted in my mind while powering through the salty air; it actually worked!

I pulled back on the reins, slowing her to a trot as I glanced over my shoulder. The pack of wolves lingered at the shore, hesitating and testing the water's edge like a bunch of confused puppies. They seemed to evaluate their options, but there was no way they could follow us now.

Suddenly, out of the trees, a half dozen massive black panthers emerged, their sleek bodies gliding toward the wolves. I gasped, my heart racing with a mix of horror and fascination as the panthers tore through the unsuspecting wolves with a savage determination. One moment they were normal beasts, and the next, they were titans of power.

As I watched, the largest of the panthers began to shimmer like a mirage, twisting and morphing before my very eyes. I gasped, my heart stalling as I realized the impossible was happening. Where the mighty panther had stood, my husband, King Ryker, now towered, blood smeared across his golden skin. Oh. My. God.

What in the hell was going on? He just turned from a giant predator into my husband. My jaw fell open, and I struggled to process this insane turn of events.

“Aloura!” Ryker called from the shore, his deep voice cutting through the chaos. “You can come back. It’s safe, wife.”

How safe was it? Just a minute ago, he was a giant, bloodthirsty cat! My horse huffed impatiently under me. “Seriously?” I muttered to myself. I had thought I’d married the butcher king, the war general; now, I found out he was also a shapeshifter, and me? I could apparently make water do whatever I wanted.

Andromeda’s words echoed in my mind—‘You were born with a well of power inside you.’ Holy crap! It was true, all of it. I could feel the proof of my powers thrumming beneath me, the water obediently holding us aloft. I needed to speak to Andromeda. Like, yesterday.

With that thought in mind, I turned my horse and trotted back towards the shore. As I approached, I couldn’t help but notice the panthers had settled on the grass like massive, lazy house cats, lounging in the sunshine.

“Come, wife,” Ryker beckoned again, his voice rich with authority.

“If you think you’re getting up on this horse covered in blood, you’re mistaken,” I shot back, a smirk threatening to break through my anxiety. I could tell he wanted to touch me; those fingers of his were flicked nervously, a raw need radiating from him.

He growled, and I felt a thrill run down my spine. “It’s just blood. Now, come here,” he demanded, his eyes intense.

I smirked for a beat, then reached for that same sense I had used to command the water. This time, I imagined a massive wave rising up and crashing over him. And just like that, the water surged, drenching him in a cool spray.

“WIFE!” he roared, his voice a mix of disbelief and fury.

I trotted up beside him, plastering an innocent smile on my face like the world’s worst actress. “Yes, husband darling?” I chirped brightly.

He narrowed his eyes, and in a flash, he lunged, pulling me off my horse, his arms surrounding me in a cage of warmth and strength. He sniffed me like I was some sort of calming potion, those large hands working their magic on me, soothing my anxiety.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, his voice softening slightly.

“No, I’m fine as far as I can tell,” I replied, trying to project confidence even though my heart was still racing.

“Good. But I think there’s something we need to talk about,” he said, glancing at the mass of panthers lounging nearby. One by one they rose, fading into the shadows of the trees, giving us a modicum of privacy.

I turned back to Ryker, "Your damn right we need to talk, YOU just turned into a GIANT black panther."

Ryker's brow furrowed, "Of course i did. My people are panther shifters. That's common knowledge," Rykers tone was serious, "what isn't common knowledge is that the Princess of Amoridia heir to Ashdown inherited her mother's talents."

I had zero response for this, the truth sounded absurd. The fact that Lacy hadn't ran screaming was a shock in itself.

Ryker’s brow furrowed deeper. “Aloura, you’ve been tested. You showed zero affinity for magic. When did that change?”

“I don’t know!” I sighed heavily. “Just now, I guess?”

He scoffed, crossing his arms.

“So, you’re saying that only just this moment you learned you had magic and somehow controlled it like an expert?” His skepticism was palpable.

Feeling a mix of annoyance and honesty, I took a deep breath. “Technically, I learned I had magic the night you walked me to my room. But I didn’t believe it until now! I just willed it to happen because I was terrified!”

His eyes searched my face, skepticism melding with something softer.

“Look,” I pressed, feeling the need to be absolutely clear and honest, he was after all my husband. “Before two days ago, I wasn’t living in this world. I’m serious. I was apparently swapped with my doppelganger in a parallel dimension. Twice, once at birth and once the morning we met.The other me had zero magic—no powers, nothing! And yes, that world didn’t have men turning into giant cats. So, cut me a break here if I was a little clueless about how things work.”

“Are you jesting? Do you think I’m a fool?” he snarled, frustration curling his lips.

“Do you think I’m a liar?” I shot back, the anger stinging like fire in my chest.

“You expect me to believe you’re just some other person, oblivious to this world? You knew your father, your way around the castle, you knew someone was in your room even! Were you setting me up, tricking me into marrying you?” His eyes glowed, swirling with raw emotion.

Each of his harsh accusations felt like a knife twisting in my heart. His rage made me feel small and foolish. Had this all been a mistake? Was I nothing more than a pawn in his game for power? My throat tightened as tears burned the corners of my eyes.

I turned away, searching for my horse, still patiently waiting. I needed a way out, a way to escape this storm of emotions. Lacy had trusted me, and now here I was, screaming for my freedom from both this world and the man who had sworn his love.

In a flash, I swung up onto my horse, gripping the pommel and pulling on the reins. With a kick, we raced into the bay, charging across the water, leaving chaos and confusion behind.

Dress be damned! This whole damn world be damned! I thought as I sped away, the ache in my chest growing heavier with each stride. I felt a mixture of fury and pain, tears streaming down my cheeks as I took flight from everything—Ryker, Andromeda, this magical world I barely understood.

I corresponded with my old life; my friends and the mundane routines I once found dull. Yet here I was, facing these insane realities, destined to navigate a world full of mysteries and powers that churned inside me—like a volcano waiting to erupt.