Lyra's POV
The weight of fear pulled my eyelids shut as I inhaled what was supposed to be the last scent I would ever be privileged to inhale before harsh hands dragged me across the multitude like a lamb for sacrifice. In that moment, I had doubt.
Doubt that all my years of being a dutiful servant to my goddess had been useless. I colonized packs, and I led armies to march in her name against infidels. I served the temples and her speakers. I, Lyra was a faithful servant and I—
"Miss Lisha, you are summoned."
My heart dropped as my hands balled into a fist. I let myself ease into reality, even though it weighed on every part of me. It might be my end. I would be foolish to think I would win. But if the goddess wanted this, then so be it.
They parted ways, leaving a gap between like gates, and I saw a clear path ahead. Everyone noticed their presence, as it was harder to miss a mountain than miss them. But the people were curious to know why the highest form of guards had been assigned to summon me.
I, too, was curious why me of all persons?
But in my moment of mental fuckery, I thought of Alisha, whose name I had stolen, and the peace I ruined the moment I brought her out with me.
I convinced her. She shouldn't be executed for my sins; she might have been charmed by them, their jewelry, expensive gifts, and charm, but she doesn't deserve death by their hands. I knew I was going to meet the lord. I knew Draziel was waiting. He was on the other side, stone-hearted, waiting to slay me for disobedience.
I gulped the awful lump bubbling in my throat as I walked further, I will plead for her. If only they would let me see her, I hope they haven't killed her yet. had killed a handful of people myself, death hasn't been foreign to me…
"Here." One of them said, the vibration in his voice broke the barrier holding the ball of tears welling at the brim of my eye as tears tracked down my cheeks. I followed the path led by the guards, hands held firmly before me.
The absence of a wolf was awful, after so many years of having a wolf, I forgot the emptiness that presented itself in every wolf shifter when they didn't have their wolf yet. I haven't felt this much. abandonment since I was a babe.
Lannister knew this. He knew how confident and loved I had grown since we got our wolves. I could remember it as though it was just minutes away. Both of us on our 16th birthday; our father had prepared a full court to reveal the Alphas wolf. And when the clock hit 12, the transformation began.
He had gotten his wolf first, and our mother doted over him. I remember him being lifted up and praised by Mummy dearest as I crumbled in pain, my bones cracking and twisting at odd angles. I remembered everyone calling the attention of the healer to ease my pain but her, who wouldn't care if I died in the process. I remembered the blackout I had for days, and when I woke up, Mom was dead.
Word had it I killed her. I also knew she hated me so much that she tried to attack me the moment she saw my wolf. She was threatened; my wolf came with more superiority than Lannister.
To her I was nothing but a monster. I always was till death did us part.
Lannister should have killed me instead; since he hated me so much, he should have fought me like the alpha he so desperately wanted to be, to hold my neck and watch my life fade, but he did not instead he came to me with a smile.
"This way."
I turned, and another heavy blurring ball fell heavily on my cheeks. I sniffed a little hard, aiming to appear before Lord Draziel with a less pitiful look, it was already bad I was here.
I was led through a gate north of the path I had initially been kept in. Unlike every compartment, which had at least one worker perambulating back and forth performing a task, this place was void of everyone but three of us walking down.
A vast space showed after we walked further through the glass gates, covered in plush green grass and little stains of red weed peeking upward. It didn't look like a prison or a place where a guillotine was supposed to be situated.
I didn't hear the chuckles of Alisha or at least a groan of anyone in pain, it was simply empty with a chair and a table as its only occupants.
My fear was replaced by confusion, and I stared at the lone chair, my mind crossed every firm thought. Maybe it was Drazel who called me here to confirm I was a wolf. No, he called me here to confirm that night in his room, he must have found out only wolves could mate with a dragon, and there was no way I was human. He came to test if I truly was human.
Goodness knows how long I stared, but by the time I turned back, I was alone, and the gate was closed.
"What? No. No." I sprinted back toward the entrance to find it locked. I was locked in here. Why?
"Open the gates!" I yelled at the top of my lungs and pulled the bars even though I knew my strength was only a smidge of what it used to be, without a wolf, I was as weak as a human and as defenseless as one too.
"Open the gates." The only response gotten was the echoes of my voice and the sound of my heart palpitation as I staggered back. He locked me here why?
The fear was back again. My legs grew heavy, and I fell to the floor. Pulling my knees up to my chest, I let my head rest on them while my tears fell freely. I hated the maltreatment, the silence. The fear of being uncertain—what would the next move be?
He wanted me to lose my mind that was it. He wanted the loneliness to kill me. Damn the goddess. Damn the sun god. Damn every god or goddess who sat on their throne watching this injustice. I didn't ask to be mated to that freak.
I didn't ask for this, and they gave it to me. The rage bubbling down my gut had me kicking the solid floor close to the gate. Lord Draziel was a coward. He should face me like a lord.
Pathetic Dragon Lord. He should come look me in the eye and face the object of his destruction. Face me!!
I stood to my feet. Pulling the smooth bars of the glass gate, I slammed my head into it, my world took a slow spin, but I slammed right back in again.
That fucker wanted me dead! Then so be it. I slammed my head harder! Harder till all I saw when I opened my eyes was stains of blood.
I slammed my head one last time, and every part of my being screamed to stop. I slammed harder till my hands wrapped loosely around the bars and nothing before me could be seen clearly.
Maybe it was death. Maybe… hopefully it was, but my insides felt the sudden presence of harsh heat, and the soothing flicker of warmth that came brought tears down my eyes as darkness eluded me, my fingers unraveled from the bar, and my legs gave way as my back fell back.
I was falling to my death, or maybe not, as the last thing my mind registered was my body falling into sweet warmth.