63. A Lost Connection

Sixteen years ago...

High up in the mountains, where not even the mighty packs would go, an ancient kingdom could be seen hidden among the snow. The buildings appeared to be made out of crystal and diamonds, sparkling in the glow of the moon. The tops of the homes steepled in the sky, where a jewel sat upon the tips that twinkled like the bright stars.

In the far distance, sitting atop a sloping hill that overlooked the rest of the kingdom, the mightiest of them sat. A castle stretched out far in both directions, built of the same crystal and diamonds, interwoven with shimmering silver. The tips of the castle spired high up into the overlapping sky, seeming to meet the heavens. And if a person looked just right, when the sun and moon met in the sky, between the two spires, a crest glittered.

This was the land of Kashmera.

Home of the Cerulean.

Land of the blue wolf.

It was here in this sacred place that no one else dared to tread, that their people had sought asylum all those many years ago. When Queen Sefara had spirited their people away, to escape the packs that sought to use them. To use their skills and magic. And it was here these ancient beings had hidden, cloistered by the snow, allowing their people to grow and prosper.

Princess Delphine sat upon the balcony of her private chambers, her eyes gazed out into the distance. A smile tinkled the corner of her lips as she saw her people emerging from their homes. There was so much happiness on their faces, the young wolves hopeful for the future, the children laughing. It was a scene that warmed the cockles of her heart, a testament to the right choices that were made for them. If it hadn't been for the sacrifices of her family, none of this would've ever been possible for them.

If only, she thought. If only she could endure the same happiness and excitement that echoed in the hearts of her people. If only Delphine could've looked towards the future with the same level of excitement and anticipation. Life would've been so much better, so much happier. She wouldn't be standing there forced to hide her own sadness, to quiet the tears burning her eyes.

"Princess," a voice spoke.

Quieting the sadness threatening to explode from her chest, she pasted on the fake smile she'd become accustomed to. Twirling around only when she'd managed to hide the truth of her feelings, Delphine eyed the man. "What is it, Amar?"

Amar Lolan, her right-hand man. He'd served the kingdom well as the Beta, having served the royal family since his awakening. Though at one time it'd been another he worked for, that had changed five years ago. He bowed towards the princess. "I think we found her?"

"Danu?" she gasped.

Could it be?

Had he really found her?

After all these years?

Amar lifted up his head when the princess had spoken, smiling brightly at the woman who led their people. "I felt a vibration to the south, unlike anything that I've ever felt before. There was kinship in the bond."

Her heart swelled with excitement for the first time in five years, knowing what it could mean. Their people weren't only bound to their mates but also their people, a collective connection the pack could never understand. "I have to find her, Amar. Lead in my stead until my return."

He bowed. "Yes, Your Highness."

Moving back towards the balcony Princess Delphine launched herself over the railing, plummeting a hundred feet below. Dropping into a perfect crouch on the ground below, she immediately took off to the wilderness. Beyond the boundaries of her home, she moved in the direction he spoke, also able to feel the vibrations to the South. A sense of longing welled up inside of her then, her heart leaping at the thought of what it could mean.

Danu.

Her beloved sister.

It'd nearly been six years since the day Danu had left the protection of the kingdom for a run. That was the last anyone had seen of her. For it was during that day when enemies had grown too close, having whisked the woman away. No one ever really knew what happened, other than the scents found when they tracked down her last whereabouts. For the last six years, Delphine and her men had scoured the woods, but have yet been successful.

This was the first sign of her presence in the last six years, the chance that her beloved sister was alive. Delphine ran as fast as her feet would allow her to, taking her ever near the one the vibrations came from. Excitement built up inside of her, praying with all of her might that this time she wasn't wrong. That this time she found her sweet and loving Danu alive, and well, able to bring her back home. To their people.

Her confusion mounted when the vibrations took her to the edge of the human territory. To a small little town hidden among the snow-capped mountains, to a house on the edge of town. A frown marred her brow at the thought of her being in this place, the humans their people avoided. Before Delphine could voice her thoughts aloud she watched as a young couple came out of the house. A woman with wheat-colored hair and grey eyes was laughing, as she bounced a child in her arms. A child scrambling to get down.

That child, she thought. She felt, familiar.

As the child was placed on her feet, a little girl she realized, she ran through the swaying grass. From where she concealed herself in the shadows of the wilderness, Delphine watched the girl. She could not miss the shimmering blue hair that flowed around her, nor the bright eyes. Her heart clenched at the sight of this baby, who looked like so many children in her home. Nor could she deny the vibrations emanating from the girl, a stronger connection than all those before her.

It told her story.

Oh my goddess, she gasped.

"Protect her," her wolf Lila spoke, "She's our cub."

Yes, she thought, this was their cub.

Danu's cub.

The first female in so many years.

"I will protect her," she vowed.

The End.

****

Author's NOTE:

Hello Readers, I want to thank you so much for traveling along on this journey of mine, as Shane/Shayde and Danika were brought together in this unbelievable adventure. I know it’s been a long journey, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved writing it. I know there’s been ups and downs along the way, but I promise you the journey will be well worth it in the end. Please stay tuned for the second installment of this book series, A Curse’s Price, A Mate’s Vow. Where you again will be able to reunite with Shane/Shayde and Danika as they face the trials that are to be faced with them. You won’t want to miss it. As I work on the beginning chapters of this story, feel free to write any comments or suggestions you might have. Please add them to the Dear Reader section, as I will be checking it daily. What would you like to happen? Is there something the book is missing? A plot twist you think would be awesome for this series? Leave your ideas in the comments section and I will see what I can do to add it into the storyline of my book. I look forward to seeing the ideas you could have for this story, hoping to bring the fantasy of this world to life. Also, as if right now this series is a Trilogy. Though I’m hoping to bring many more ideas to this series, that will leave you all coming back for more. Again thank you so much for reading A Curse’s Price, A King’s Mate.

Upcoming Titles

A Curse’s Price, A Mate's Vow.

A Curse’s Price, A King’s Revenge.