Taming the Rogue King

Failure

Ira

Ira closed her eyes and did as Diana instructed her. The prayer went smoothly, and she felt confident. Then came the time to look for the dark viscous substance that she had seen sometime back. She let her mind float within her body but the rocking of the boat distracted her.

The sound of the waves hitting against the ship, a cry of a child from somewhere in another room... "Ira! Please focus within." Diana pleaded.

"Oh! Sorry. Yes." She looked at Diana sheepishly and closed her eyes again. No more overconfidence. She had to do this. There was no other option.

She tried again, calming her mind down and breathing deeply as she moved within her body, trying to feel the "Ether". But the damn thing was nowhere to be seen or felt, nothing again. Her heart sank. Was she destined to fail after discovering her powers?

“It's alright. It takes time. I have practised since my childhood. You are just a novice. Keep practising. The more you exercise the mind, the sooner you will tame it.” Diana encouraged, but Ira felt terrible. She always excelled in her exams but never had she felt this nervous.

This time the stakes were high.

There wasn’t much time. She had to do in minutes what Diana had done in years. The arduous journey that lay ahead scared her and she sat down on the floor to begin the visualisation again.

*****

Sighing in frustration, she got up and moved around the dark room. It had been hours, strike that, three days!f*cking She had been trying to visualise the stupid "Ether"!

But nothing worked. She tried and tried until beads of sweat adorned her forehead and flowed down her temples. Until her strained eyes watered even when they were closed. Her head hurt even in the dark room.

She remembered its feel and presence from the evening she had put the ring on, but no matter how much she tried, it eluded her when she needed practising.

Diana had her Luna duties to accomplish. Children were crying in hunger and parents were fighting in anger. So she left after a few hours, giving precise instructions to Ira. After that Diana visited multiple times, but she couldn't help more than what she already had.

So Ira was left to work on her own. She was exhausted and hungry. All the enthusiasm of a few days back had drained, and she felt lost.

She had passed out many times, whether it was sleep or regular blackouts, she wasn’t sure.

The dark meditation room remained lightless throughout except during the morning hours when the sun rays of the rising sun filtered through the two small portholes at the top of the room.

It was only at this time that she felt some ounce of positivity. Her body ached, her legs and tummy muscles cramped, and her breathing felt shallow. The claustrophobia of the darkness surrounding her was beginning to affect her ability to think.

The last update from Diana had not been very great. All reserves of their food were over and Ennius was going to escort her for the last meal. Remus had decided to throw a party for the entire clan on board.

She had tried reaching out to Sarena multiple times but there was only silence and darkness. She was missing light, happiness and books. The quietude was killing her.

With all her heart and soul she closed her eyes and raised her hands to give it a last try before the last meal. Diana had mentioned that Remus was going to take the final call tonight regarding Ira's future, tonight.

The door to the meditation room opened, and Ennius stood with his hand on the door. She turned around to look at him as he cooed in impeccable Latin, “My fair maiden, my love, let’s go. It's time.”

He did nothing to mask the gleam of lust in his eyes. His olive skin and blue eyes looked enigmatic in the darkroom. Ira’s senses had improved greatly since she had come here, but why the hell was her power shying away from her? He ran his moist tongue over his lips and looked at Ira’s face.

It was as if his wanton thoughts could reach her. The hair at the back of her neck prickled. She shook her head. “No. I need to try this one last time! I cannot fail!"

“It is alright princess. We will figure out something. You don’t have to do this all alone. You look so sick.” Ira could understand every word he spoke. By a wicked twist of fate, even he could understand her English. It never occurred to her to question him about it.

Has he already started learning the language? Is he that serious about marriage? She shuddered at that thought and he rushed into the room, standing close to her within moments.

Resting his warm hands on her shoulders, he responded. “I might not have powers like your mate, for he is a Royal, but I truly love you. Please give me a chance. I know we might die soon, but I will love you and protect you till the last breath in my body! It is a Lycan’s promise to his lady love.”

“You know about Liam?” Ira asked, raising her eyebrows in surprise.

“Yes! Luna told me about him and how he did not value your presence.” His eyes sparkled and alternated between blue and silver.

She looked in awe, knowing what that meant. His Lycan was trying to surface.

He bent down, his eyes softened, and he brushed her lips with his own. She gasped. The sound seemed to ignite his passion and he started ravaging her lips, even as she tried to push him away. But the man was too forceful, too vigorous to respond to her denial. His hands moved down her arms, touching the naked skin of her arms, causing goosebumps.

Her brain turned fuzzy trying to understand what she wanted. Her body responded as she enjoyed the kiss from the sexy Beta. One of his hands had moved up into her hair, behind her head, holding her so she couldn’t move as he plundered her soft lips and his other hand moved down to her lower back, pulling her into his warm, muscular body.

His hardness pressed against her.

She did not want this. Oh! But it felt so good! If Liam did not want her, should she just stay here and be with his seductive brute? She bet he knew his moves.

Suddenly pain shot through her chest. She placed her hands on Ennius’ hot chest and pushed back. The enormous beast of a man flew and hit the door opposite to them while Ira buckled and slid to the floor, holding her chest.

The pain was too much, too intense! Was she going to go into seizures again? Was this her body asking her to go back to Liam? She looked at Ennius.

His face was distorted in pain as he stared at her. She felt horrible to have responded to him and then pushed him away so terribly. But was it really her fault? He hadn’t waited for her, just thought he had some right over her! She wasn't his goddamn slave.

These thoughts were for some other time. She shook her head and put in all her effort into her speech. Every organ inside her body hurt as she tried to form coherent words from her parched throat. “Pleeease… Take me to Remus and Diana.”

Ennius nodded and without a word picked Ira up in his arms like a bride. He held her close to his chest. She closed her eyes. The steady beat of his heart strangely calmed her as he walked in quick strides towards the upper deck.

Once they reached upstairs, she heard a collective gasp.

“What have you done?” It was Diana’s voice. She sounded angry.

Ennius explained, “Nothing that could cause her to collapse. Please, Luna! Do something.”

The pain in her gut continued to increase in severity even as her heart burned furiously. What is happening? Am I dying for betraying my mate?

“Place her on the floor. Let me check.” It was Diana again.

Ira felt her body being placed on the cold floor of the deck. The weather around felt fresh as a chill ran down her spine. She needed a blanket. She could feel the wetness of the sea. The sounds of the sea waves overwhelmed her, the sails flapped in the background, and a seagull shouted somewhere at a distance. Her ears were taking in everything, but she couldn't force her eyes open.

She felt Diana’s tender hand on her forehead. “She is burning with fever. Did she use her magic?”

She heard Ennius’ hesitant voice answer. “Yes. A little. She propelled me away from her by magic.”

"You moron! She has been exhausted, trying to find ways to help us. Why did you have to push her into doing something like this? Step aside, everyone." Diana's voice boomed as she commanded.

Ira heard footsteps as the people on the deck scurried away from them and gave them space.

Slowly, she felt peace and warmth envelop her. The ache in her bones and organs started subsiding. She felt her strength return, and she opened her eyes. Diana stood towering in front of her with a gigantic ball of Ether around them that engulfed them.

It was similar to the travel bubble that James would create, but this one was darker than night. Power flowed through her veins and she knew that this dark ether was giving her the strength.

She gently got up but continued to sit on the wooden floor. She glanced around at the severely malnourished faces of the people around her. Their sunken cheeks and dark brooding eyes showed that this time she was not alone. An entire clan was going to face the consequences of her failure.

*****