***NOTES:

WHOO! I'M BACK!

Sorry it took a while guys. You know... Life. Was so busy with work and dealing with personal stuff. Haha. I just turned 25 and had this shitload of quarter life crisis. LOL. It's a real thing. So yeah. Am back and hopefully for good!

Also updated on Radish today. Chapter 25 - In Enemy Territory. Please head over to Radish and buy the chapter if you want to read in advance! Haha. thanks. :)

Btw, am also writing a new book with 2 other writers. Yep, a collab. The title is Not Like The Movies and you can find it on Radish under the username= WeMadeYouReadThis.

Will put the blurb below! :D

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CHAPTER 21 – THE QUEEN'S TERMS

The Vampyr Camp Location Unknown The Realm of Xathos

For a moment there was stunned silence.

And then Gideon broke that by shouting, "What?!"

His eyes held fury and disappointment. At the same time, Dimitrios saw hurt and confusion. He bit back a growl and the instinct to grab Ailara and place her behind him so that Gideon cannot touch her again.

Yes, he saw them dancing last night. Every time Gideon placed his hands on Ailara, Dimitrios wanted to rip out the chains that bound him and run to her. Even thinking about it now left a sour taste in his mouth.

"Gideon—" Ailara's soft voice broke Dimitrios out of his musings. This time, it was him who was furious. Her tone was of regret and shame. With one word, he heard all she wanted to tell the Vampyr.

"Princess, we need to talk," Gideon told her. She moved to follow him but Dimitrios clamped a hand on her arm and pulled her to his side.

"Whatever you wish to tell my mate, you can say it in front of me," he said with ice and venom in his tone.

"Stay out of this, dog," Gideon spat.

"You stay out of this, leech."

From the corner of his eye, Dimitrios saw Ailara move to stand between them. But Helena got there first. Her eyes were wide with amusement as she clapped her hands.

"Oh, wow! A fight between two Alphas! Interesting! Is there food in this camp aside from... err... you know, blood? I do want some snacks while watching this spectacle!"

Dimitrios tensed. He could see Gideon was fuming. Yet it was as if a bucket of ice-cold water was poured at him. He blanched at the queen's words.

"Stay out of this, Queen Helena," Dimitrios snapped.

One elegant eyebrow rose. "Perhaps this discussion can be saved for later and we can discuss alliances?"

Dimitrios looked Gideon straight in his eyes. If this was any Wolfen, he should have backed down and ran with his tail between his legs. But this was not his territory. This was Gideon's.

Gideon broke eye contact first and it was a small victory for Dimitrios. "Let's head to my tent. We'll be comfortable there."

Dimitrios shook his leg which caused the silver shackles to make noise. "How about we enter my tent as I am chained to it."

Gideon gave Dimitrios a look which could make any grown man soil his pants. But he was king. He was the Alpha of the Wolfen. And kings never backed down from any challenge.

For what seemed to be several minutes, which was in fact only seconds, Helena clapped her hands once more.

"So very interesting! Don't you agree, Princess?"

Ailara's lips pursed in a thin line. It was as if her guard was down now and he could read every single thought that was behind those beautiful blue eyes. Right now, she wanted to run as far away from here as possible. Yet she stayed because she knew her duty to her people.

"Hmm... Since we are at an impasse, your call princess," Helena told her.

Ailara cocked her head to the side and looked at Helena. She didn't even spare Gideon or Dimitrios a glance.

"Let's head to Gideon's tent. But unchain Dimitrios for he also needs to participate in this discussion."

"Quite the diplomat! I like it," Helena commented.

Gideon frowned and banged his fist against the wooden column of the tent. "I will not let this Wolfen loose among my people!" he shouted. His fangs were now bared; his muscles taut as though preparing for an attack.

Dimitrios growled and bared his fangs as well. His wolf prowled inside him, agitated. Right now, it felt like his wolf wanted to break out from his skin but the silver chains prevented it. And now it was restless and irritated.

"Then cuff him with a silver bracelet or something," Helena suggested. The corner of Gideon's lips turned up in a sneer.

"With pleasure," he replied. "I'll take my leave and arrange for this to happen. Let's meet in my tent. My warriors will guide you there, Queen Helena," Gideon added. Then, with a bow, he left.

Ailara moved to follow him. Again, Dimitrios clamped his hand around her arm to stop her but she wrenched away from his grip. She gave him an icy glare before she followed Gideon.

The wolf inside him wanted to follow her. It wanted her close so that it can smell her scent and be assured she was safe. But the chains prevented him from doing so. He just stood there and watched her retreating figure.

☾ - ☾ - ☾ - ☾ - ☾

"Princess, why?" Gideon asked Ailara once they were away from the heart of the camp. With a mere two words, he made her heart stop and all the air leave her lungs.

There was no one here save for one or two warriors who passed by. But they must have noticed Gideon's stiff countenance for they gave him a wide berth. No one would hear their discussion. Now, Ailara knew why Gideon took the longer route to get to his tent. He wanted to talk.

She hung her head in shame and blinked away the tears that threatened. But she found she had no words to convey how sorry she was. She was disappointed at herself for allowing what happened last night.

She wished she could blame the alcohol but that wasn't a good enough reason. Alcohol took away inhibitions. It did not take away her choice. She made that choice and now she had to live with the repercussions.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

The anger fled Gideon's eyes and his features softened. His lips opened but Ailara held up a hand to stop him. "This is all my fault. I am a fool, Gideon."

He shook his head. "You're free now, Ailara. Your choices are your own. You are our princess and whatever you decide to do, we'll stand by it and we'll always have your back."

A single tear flowed down her cheek. "I do not deserve this kindness, Gideon. I don't deserve your loyalty."

"But you have it. It will always be yours."

"I'm so sorry..."

"Don't be. This can still be undone."

Ailara met his gaze for the first time. "What? How?"

"Nothing is permanent."

"Gideon, we are mated in the eyes of the gods. And with the deal that my father made with Dimitrios' mother, it said that once we are of age, we will live together and rule both kingdoms. That time will start when our marriage is consummated."

"But the alliance was broken once, princess. What happened between you and Dimitrios doesn't mean that it's back in place. It was just a night shared, that's all," he replied. There was stubbornness and determination in his gaze now.

This was the Gideon that Ailara knew. He was not one to back down in a fight. He always found a way. This was why, at such a young age, he became General of the Vampyr army.

"I drank his blood, Gideon."

A muscle ticked in his jaw. "It's probably not enough to bond you to him. Don't drink from him further, princess. I offer you mine."

Her eyes widened. "Gideon—"

"Stop. I know you are going to refuse me again," he took a deep breath before he continued, "A man can only take so much rejection."

This time, Ailara heard the pain in his voice. "Gideon... I'm sorry. I know I was betrothed to you once. I wanted to be your wife, actually," she said then laughed at her own admission. "But that wasn't meant to be. My father needed that alliance before. I'm so sorry."

"I know. And I understand that. But we grew up together, princess. We played together as children. I grew up believing that someday you will be mine. I didn't understand that much before because I was only a boy... but the feeling was the same as when they took away the nanny that raised me. She who treated me like I was her own son. Who loved me more than my mother did."

Her heart clenched at his words. She reached out an arm to touch him. He closed his eyes when her skin made contact with his. It was as though her touch soothed him.

"But I accepted my fate. I accepted that it wasn't meant to be. And then the alliance was broken. And I had hope. I did everything I can to find you. I wished that perhaps, this time around you'll be mine... as I am yours."

Ailara wasn't able to stop the sob that tore free from her. Gideon opened his eyes and gathered her closer. "We can still fix this," he told her. But it was as if he was mostly telling himself that rather than her.

And she trusted him. "Alright."

"For now, let's go and see what the Queen wants."

☾ - ☾ - ☾ - ☾ - ☾

Dimitrios stood stiffly and eyed the Vampyr warriors gathered around him. They cast wary glances and flinched every time he moved. It was laughable. If only he was not shackled with silver, he could take each and every one of them down.

A few moments later, Queen Helena entered. She was flanked by four witches. She sat and two of her witches stood behind her. One of them guarded the entrance of the tent. Their entrance was followed by Gideon and Ailara.

Dimitrios' breath caught in his throat as he noticed her red, swollen eyes. He growled as she approached and the warriors around him flinched again.

"Did he hurt you?" he rasped.

Ailara's eyes widened and he saw the confusion in them before understanding dawned. She shook her head and sat opposite Helena. He moved to sit behind her but Gideon arrived there first.

"Now that everyone's present, a little recap? So we have already established that in return for my help, Dimitrios will grant me back the parcel of land that was given to his people by my grandmother."

"Agreed," Dimitrios replied.

"What else?" Helena prompted.

Dimitrios growled again. The greed of the Wiccan queen knew no bounds.

"That land is sizeable. It has a large lake and several hundre acres of forest This particular piece of land is very important to my people and yet I am giving it back to you as a token of good faith. It also has a small mountain where precious gems and metals can be found. I think this is already a more than generous compensation, Queen Helena."

The Queen raised an elegant eyebrow. She took a while to inspect her nails before she spoke again. "I decide if the bargain is fit, Wolfen King. The way I see it... without my help, you won't have your army. Without your army, there is no Wolfen strength and prowess in battle that you boast about. Without my help, you are nothing." The words she spoke were filled with venom.

Dimitrios gritted his teeth. "Name your price."

"I want protection for my people. I need that strength that you boast of. I can't have the Cerran snatching my people and further diminishing our numbers and our powers."

Dimitrious pounded his fist on the table. It shook so hard that even Ailara and Gideon jumped. "Our numbers are also dwindling, Helena! I cannot afford to give you a large portion of my army and leave my territory unprotected!"

Her eyes flared and he could see flames dancing behind them. Several sparks also flew from the tips of her fingers. "You presume to bargain with me again, Wolfen King." This time, there was a hint of threat behind her words.

"Then give us some of your witches. A few of your most talented. My warriors will protect them with their lives. In return, they can lend some of their magic and ward some of our towns and holdings so that the Cerran cannot attack. This way, I can send some of my warriors to your kingdom for added protection and we will be able to cover both territories."

The Queen inclined her head to the side. He could see her brain working as she thought about his proposal.

"Most interesting," she said. She looked at Gideon and Ailara before she spoke again. "But what's my guarantee that when I wake your warriors you will uphold your end of the bargain?"

A muscle ticked in his jaw. "You have my word, Helena. The word of a king."

Helena threw back her head and laughed. "Times like these... A king's word doesn't stand for anything. Look at Heilen. He is a king as well in case you forgot."

Dimitrios stood up. Immediately, the Vampyr crowded around him and pushed him down the table. He elbowed them and gave them a look that dared them to touch him again.

"Do not liken me to Heilen, Helena," he spat.

"You have hunted the Vampyr, have you not? You are a cruel king just like him."

"Because they broke the alliance and killed my people!" he roared. He saw Ailara flinch and immediately, he wanted to take his words back. But why would he? What he said was true. If it hurt Ailara, then it was no one else's fault but hers.

"The Vampyrs are my allies, Dimitrios," Helena told him.

"What more do you want from me, Helena?! We could seal this deal in blood! A true alliance."

Once more, Helena threw back her head and laughed. The sound grted at his already frayed nerves.

"The use of blood is only for the Vampyrs, Dimitrios. Anything you sign with your Wolfen blood is just a blood-spattered piece of paper. It holds no magic and no sway over you." Helena's gaze went to Gideon and Ailara. She took a deep breath before she continued. "The Vampyr, on the other hand, it binds them. Their magic is in their blood. An example is King Fallon's treaty with me. Now that he is dead, the magic in our treaty lives on through his blood that is coursing in Princess Ailara's veins. This is why we are still allies. This is how I know they will uphold their end of the bargain."

"And what do they give you, may I ask?" he snarled.

"The elixir of immortality," Helena replied. For a moment, Dimitrios was stunned speechless.

When a Vampyr's blood is willingly given, it slows down aging and could heal any wound faster than the blink of an eye. It also makes a Wiccan's magic much stronger.

"I don't have anything else to give you, Helena. The Cerran attacks have crippled my people as well," Dimitrios told her. He hated admitting defeat. But this particular negotiations sounded like a lost cause.

But he won't give up. He will find another way for his warriors and his people.

"Am I asking for anything more, Dimitrios? I asked only for a parcel of land and protection. You seem to be in an entirely different conversation. My last question to you was how would I know that you'd uphold your end of the bargain?"

Dimitrios sat and gave the queen his deadliest glare. "I dislike games, Helena. Get to the point," he commanded.

"Very well, then. This is my proposition and I think it would benefit all parties involved. You say you are mated to the princess? Prove it. Marry her. Crown her queen. Do the coming of age ceremony that should have been done years ago wherein you will start to live together and rule both kingdoms. "

"No!" Gideon roared. "I will not stand for—" He did not get to finish the rest of his words for the queen waved her hand and silenced him. His lips moved but not a single sound came out.

Seeing this should have given him satisfaction. But he was too stunned by what Helena was saying.

"Make it know to all that the alliance is back in place. By her blood coursing through yours through the blood exchange, you will be bound by your promises to me. Do this, Dimitros and the Wiccan will be proud to stand beside the two kingdoms, the Wolfen and the Vampyr, as allies."

"No!" This time it was Ailara who shouted. "There must be another way! I will not agree to this!"

It was as if a rope of thorns wrapped around his heart at her words. But as always, he gritted his teeth and endured.

"Why do you disagree, princess?" Helena asked Ailara.

"I just earned my freedom. I will not be a prisoner again," she spat. The thorns around his heart tightened further.

"But a princess' duty is to her people, no? They come above all else. Even above matters of the heart," she replied. She gave a pointed look towards Gideon and Dimitrios understood that look. Helena was telling Ailara to give up her love and whatever her plans were with Gideon and put the needs of her people above hers.

"Dimitrios will never find his true mate if we do this," Ailara replied, her voice a mere whisper.

Helena opened her mouth to speak but Dimitrios raised his hand and stopped her.

"The heart of a king is filled with the needs of his people. It does not have room for petty emotions like love and need. The heart of a king does not beat for his mate, not even for himself. It belongs to no one else but his people."

Ailara flinched at his words. He ignored her. He could see her eyes filling up with tears. He wanted to run to her and comfort her just like his wolf wanted him to do. But he couldn't. He resisted the urge with everything he had.

He needed to be stronger now.

As he said, the heart of a king does not feel emotions. And if they were to be married and get along, they needed to set things straight right away so that no one gets hurt.

"I will do this, Helena. I will do this for my people. Arrange the ceremony as soon as possible," he commanded.

"Perfect," Queen Helena replied with a triumphant smile.



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Not Like The Movies

When Zoe Harper met Nash Wilder at the set of her very first sitcom, sparks flew. She was just starting out as an actress and he was someone behind-the-scenes. They became the best of friends and eventually fell in love. They vowed to pursue their dreams together and make a name for themselves in the industry. They believed they got it all figured out.

Until Hollywood got in the way.

Six years later, their names are amongst the biggest stars in Hollywood. His career is steadily rising and hers has gone into the stratosphere. All these years they managed to steer clear from each other.

But fate had other plans.

Cast for their first movie team-up, they are forced to face their off-the-charts chemistry and the bittersweet memories of their secret past. The attraction between them is undeniable. But should they trust each other again and aim for that perfect movie ending? Or will they learn that love is not like the movies at all?

***Collab story by @AerithSage, @Fallenbabybubu, and @Seeyara!***

Radish Username = WeMadeYouReadThis

Note: Please do read this story guys! I'm sure you'll love it. It's hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. More chapters on Radish! :)



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