The Beta Witch Princess

Chapter Four

Flashback Continued

"Hypatia, let's go. Paxton and Jeremy are holding the castle grounds and grand entryway," he mind-linked me. So we tore out of the King's chambers as quickly as we could. Ellina was riding upon the King's wolf Hunter's back, clinging to his white fur. He was one of the most powerful white wolves in the Kingdom. Whoever has moved against him is in for a rude awaking.

I really had not expected to be as quick on my feet in wolf form. I had seen newly shifted wolves that would stumble around uncoordinated. But I was keeping up with my brother. Pixie was the most graceful wolf. I had never thought that it would be so freeing to be in wolf form. If we were not under siege, I would have loved to run through the surrounding forest. Assholes!

We descended staircase after staircase to reach the grand entryway as thick smoke traveled upward and throughout the castle. It was so thick we all harshly choked on it.

"Hypa, when the hell did you get a wolf? I thought mother said you weren't going even to get one?" my brother asked.

"I don't know, brother?! Pixie awakened me," I told him. My uncertainty and confusion

"Don't worry, Hypa, we will figure it out once this is over." He told me.

"Hypatia, are you going to stay in wolf form? You have never fought in that form before," asked Ellina?

Pixie, are we going to be okay if we stay in wolf form?

Once we make it down to the main hall, you will need to shift back. You will know when you need me, Princess!

"I'm going to shift back. Pixie said I would know when I need her again!" I mind-linked them.

"Ellina, you stay with Hypatia." my brother spoke to his Queen!

"No, brother. She shall stay with you. I do not need her protection; I am supposed to protect you both. Do you hear me, Ellina?" I said through the mind-link.

"Yes, Princess," she said without hesitation.

My brother had no idea what my training had entailed. At thirteen, I have already fought in multiple battles. Although I had not ascended into the role of Beta Witch just yet, I fought alongside my mother and some of the strongest witches within the Witch Queen's court. My power had already surpassed many witches, including my mother, the Witch Queen herself, and her daughter Amelia, my best friend.

"Your Majesty, you know I love and respect you. But that will not be happening. Ellina is to stay with you! Fate seems to have plans of its own." I told them.

"I will be fine, brother," I told him as a growl ripped through and echoed within the staircase. Pixie and I just rolled our eyes. I know he was worried, but Pixie's determination was feeding my optimism. I knew the battle was going to be brutal, but we would make it out okay.

"We need to let father and mother know what has come to pass, brother," I said, changing the subject.

"Marco has already left to alert them, sister. It will not take him long to reach them". Marcus said.

Marco was one of the youngest Elders and council member, my father's best friends, and a highly respected advisor. He was now my brother's advisor. So he would know exactly where they were in the Faye realm.

"Paxton said they breached the grounds beyond the main gates! Their numbers are well over 500 rouges. It seems they waited to move when many of our forces were moved to the northeastern border of the Kingdom yesterday. It's going to take them a minute to meet up with Angelica and Sophie so that they can teleport our forces back to the castle," he told us.

Angelica and Sophie were two of the strongest coven witch warriors who found their mates within the royal pack. Since their mates were royal warriors, they always went with them on assignment. Hanging back slightly just in case they were needed by the warriors or back at the castle.

"Pixie, we're almost there. How am I supposed to shift back?" I asked urgently, realizing I had no idea how to begin the process.

"You are going to picture your human form and will begin to shift," she told me.

The silence to this point indicated that the rouges had not breached the castle at that point. But as we entered the grand hall, snarls and the clashing of teeth ripped through the silence. All I could smell was blood and the stench of rouges. Pixie's snout wrinkled as I shifted back to my human form as we came off the last step. OF Course! I am naked as the day I was born! My cheeks are flaming red. Uhh!

"Hypatia, put something on," my brother mind-linked me.

I glared at him as I brought my right hand to my left shoulder and swiped it across my body to the right. My warrior gear materialized. I wore a thick, black, and teal reinforced long-sleeved bodysuit that went up to my neck like a turtle neck and lined with silver and iron. I am immune to both silver and iron, so my mother had advised me to make sure that my suit included both within the material. It was basically skin-tight armor. I also wore knee-high combat boots and carried two large sliver and iron forged swords on my back. The black and purple crown encrusted with teal stones I wore daily also materialized.

I did not wear tiaras. I had made it a point not to wear one because it did not fit my personality. Instead, I moved my hand across my head to willed my hair into a tight braid that made wind around the crown lacing into it, making it fit snuggly on the top of my head. If a wolf gets ahold of your braid during battle, it could be disastrous. Sparing with the twins from a very young age had taught me to make necessary adjustments not to let a werewolf opponent get the upper hand.

Hunter was staring at me. My brother has never seen me in my battle attire.

This attire was actually standard for the Witch Queens court. She exploited the fact that she was flanked by other royals and powerful ones at that.

"You're really going to wear a crown," he asked, raising his eyebrow.

I disregarded his question. It was none of his business.

"Do you have a plan, my King, or are we just going to wing this," I asked him as I walked towards the castle entry doors. Paxton and Jeremy were right outside the entry doors on the steps into the castle in human form, mind-linking head warriors on the battlefield. They were going to hold the castle. So many of our top warrior's wolves and witches alike were surrounded the castle walls below. They were going to hold the castle.

As I approached them, Paxton and Jeremy were wearing tattered shorts and, of course, nothing else. Their hard rock muscular bodies were glistening with sweat and littered with bites and scratches that were still healing. They had been out on the chaos before pulling back some of our defenses upon finding out the exact number of rouges swarming the castle grounds as they breached the main gate.