Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings (by jessica hall) novel Chapter 77

~Regan~

The witches continue their chant, their voices gaining momentum and power. The storm above us is growing more violent with each passing moment.

As my brothers join me, their teeth sinking into Zirah's flesh, we share the same grim realization that our attempts to save her are only fastening her demise. The pain in her eyes is unbearable, as she gasps, and I can feel my heart shattering into pieces as I watch her suffer.

The witches' chants continue, their voices blending together to create a symphony of power and defiance that reverberates through the air. The storm above us is fierce. Lightning cracks through the sky like a whip, illuminating the scene below in stark, terrifying detail.

My brothers and I fight with everything we have to free Zirah from her chains but our attempts don’t work and our strength is waning. Our bodies are succumbing to the poison coursing through our veins and the pain of burning is becoming all-consuming. We're running out of time, and my desperation grows more frantic with each passing second.

The witches' chants reach a crescendo, their voices ringing with the finality of a death I'm willing to endure at her side. I can feel the power in the air, the storm above us raging with a ferocity that mirrors my anguish when Zirah looks at me, tears in her eyes. As her eyes meet mine one last time, a look of determination and defiance shining through the pain, I realize who I am looking at... I am staring into the eyes of Litha.

She screams. It's like a shock wave when she blasts us back with insurmountable power.

“No!” I choke as the air leaves my lungs and I find myself staring up at the stormy sky. Sitting up, I gasp as I watch flames engulf her when a woman steps out of the crowd. Her hands glow like beacons in the night as she walks toward Zirah, burning in flames. Her graying hair flew freely in the wind like a veil behind her, her eyes burning with a ferocity that matches the flames.

"And from the flames, an Oracle is born. The last female Lycan. Your true queen." she screams.

As the final words of the chant echo through the night, I feel a sudden surge of energy. The air crackles with magic and power. The storm above us reaches its peak, the winds howling and the rain pelting down like it has opened up the floodgates to hell. And in that moment, as Zirah's body is consumed by the flames, I know exactly who I am looking at.

It's with startling clarity that tortures my soul do I realize I am looking at the true Queen of the High Kingdom. I'm looking at Litha's daughter—our mate.

Blue flames encase her, so hot the ground heats, and steam rises off the ground as the flames seem to reach through to the clouds and all hell breaks loose.

Charisse, her grandmother, a woman I haven’t seen since the day I helped her escape utters a chant and speaks in a voice that resonates with ancient power.

“A queen of virtues that ring true, but make no mistake, she no longer bows to you.” The witch's chants grow louder when she finishes it, and I watch in horror at what I’m witnessing.

"In the face of sacrifice, the truth of destiny shall reveal itself," Charisse screams to the sky as she raises her arms, and a smile graces her lips just before a bolt of lightning strikes her down. Darkness consumes everyone—the only light emanates from the burning blue flames that flicker in the distance and then are consumed by the rain.

The storm dissipates, and the moon shines with an intensity I’ve never before witnessed, casting its silvery glow upon the scene below.

Everyone's eyes are drawn to the pillar, now reduced to flaming rubble and white ash that resembles snow. I choke; she is gone. We killed her. We killed our only chance, killed our mate. Zeke wails, and I see Gnash, Hunter, and Shadow howl in anguish as they lay on their stomachs, and my soul feels like it's cracking as I hang my head and sob. Time seems to stop around me and the silence is deafening when murmurs break out, making me lift my head.

From the ashes, Zirah emerges, her naked form illuminated by the runes glowing like beacons in the night. I gasp at the sight of her. There's an ethereal aura surrounding her as she steps forward. Glowing like the blue flames that I thought killed her and I take her in, my eyes scanning her body and the runes that lace her skin.

The Eye Rune sits below her throat, tattooed into her flesh. Then next, the Star Rune on her sternum. Just below it, the Waves Rune; the Air Rune is below that, Fire and Earth next before—the Moon Rune which sits just above her navel. The Sun Rune lay just underneath her belly button glowing brightly, and lastly, on her pubic bone—the Rings Rune, which I can't seem to take my eyes off, knowing its significance. Interlocking rings symbolize connection, unity, and partnership. We thought she was an unwanted mate, but now I realize we are.

Whispers and gasps fill the air, the gathered crowd is awestruck by the sight of their true queen.

My father's shock is palpable as she stands before us, her dark hair cascading down her back. Her skin untouched by the flames that had engulfed her moments before. She looks like a goddess, her beauty radiating from within. Her eyes burn with intensity, her face a mask of fury, and I can almost feel the power emanating from her body. Her posture is regal, as if she has been born and made from the very flames that awoke her.