Chapter 163

Chapter 163
Ximena

“Ah,” I let out an audible sigh, staring into thin air. “That was…” I muttered softly.

“Amazing, right?” Carmine chimed.

“Yea…” I replied with a smile, turning my back on him.

“Aw… don't tell me you're shy now,” he said with a smirk on his face.

“What? No!!” I replied sternly.

“Well… yeah, sure. But your skin says otherwise,” he added, making me stare at my skin as it illuminated in bright blue moon colors glowing in the dark.

“Oh shit, why does my body keep failing me?” I whined in frustration.

“Because it's responding to its rightful owner… I'm so glad I'm your mate and the first guy who ever touched you,” he said, placing his hands lightly on my shoulders.

“Me too,” I replied with a smile.

“I know,” he blurted out.

“What?” I exclaimed in shock. “How do you know?” I retorted.

“Come on now, Ximena, remember when I got inside your dad back at the pack when you wanted to save ma’am Lia?” he began.

“Yes… what about that?” I replied with creased brows.

“I saw the bucket list you gave to Ruby,” he announced, making me close my eyes in embarrassment as realization hit me. “Remember what your number ten on the list was, right?” He asked, placing a light kiss on my skin.

“Of course I do…” I said, slamming my hands against my face.

“You said, and I quote; ‘have sex with the Lycan king Carmine,’” he replied.

“You really don't have to remind me; I know what I wrote.” I fired at him.

“Do you, now?” he asked.

“Whatever,” I said, getting out of bed as I proceeded to put my clothes back on, making him let out a light chuckle as he did the same.

Soon we were done, so we headed out trying to put up a face like nothing happened, but apparently Carmine couldn't hide his excitement as he crossed his hands over my shoulders, grinning from ear to ear. The minute we got out, a loud scream of excitement and rejoicing filled the air as everyone began dancing in happiness, screaming in witches' language - may the goddess be praised, may the goddess be praised, making me hide my face in embarrassment as I didn't even need to say a word; they'd already known that the deed had already been done.

Carmine wrapped his hands around me, letting out a light laugh as he patted my head lightly. “Okay, I may not understand what they are chanting now, but whatever it is, I know it definitely has something to do with what just happened back there, which I'm excited about,” he said, pausing for a while… “but come on now, you really don't have to be shy about it now,” he added.

“You’re really not helping, Carmine,” I spat at him, hitting him lightly on his chest, making him choke on his breath as he chuckled softly.

“I see you both had a really great time in there,” Rogan’s voice echoed in my ears, making me turn my gaze in his direction.

“Shut up, Rogan,” I sneered at him.

“Okay… okay, tigress,” he replied, playfully raising his hands up in surrender. “Well, that’s not why I'm here, though,” he said… “allow me to introduce my mate, Carly - Carly, this is Ximena and her mate, Carmine, our king and queen,” he said with a smile, pointing to the lady who stood beside him with a smile.

“Greetings, your majesties,” she said in witch language, bowing her head lightly in respect. “It's my pleasure to meet you both up close,” she added.

“Greetings…” I replied with a smile.

“Isn't she beautiful?” Rogan said with a smirk on his face.

“Well… she sure is,” I replied.

“So, Carly, Rogan says you're a warrior,” Carmine asked, his voice firm and strong.

“Yes, my king, a trained one,” she replied.

“I knew you didn't believe me, but check this out: she hung Aruka and her minions, just at the exact spot with her abilities,” Rogan said, pointing to Aruka, who hung beautifully like a chandelier above the amazing decorations in the castle field, pleading for mercy.

“Hmm… I guess she can stay there for a while until I figure out what to do with her. Thanks, Carly,” I said with a smile.

“My pleasure,” she replied.

“Come on, guys, what are you all doing here? The party is almost starting,” Aunt Ava said, approaching us with a mouth filled with snacks. “Carly, Rogan, come here…” she added, calling them over.

Just then, an elderly witch lady walked up to me with a smile plastered on her face as she took my hands in hers… “Thank you, my child, for saving Sylphrena. Now I can die in peace,” she said with a gritty voice, but I just stared at her, not knowing what to say.

“My queen, it's time,” another voice announced beside me, making me move my gaze in its direction as I stared at a middle-aged lady holding a crown and Aruka’s staff, but I just gave her a light nod, taking my hands off the old lady as I followed her while Carmine trailed behind me.

She led me inside the castle to the beautiful throne seated at its center while the others came in with smiles on their faces as they began to sing a song… Just then, I darted my eyes through the crowd trying to look for my mom, as she was supposed to be with me right now, as I barely understood what was going on, but I just decided to play along.

The minute the music stopped, the lady with the crown turned in my direction, muttering some words before placing the crown on my head, making the whole crowd go crazy in excitement. Just as she was about to give me the staff, I stopped her, asking her to destroy it, knowing my powers didn't or would ever come from that.

I stepped out of the podium with a worried expression on my face as I walked through the crowd amidst bows from everyone. Carmine noticed this as he rushed towards me.

"You don't look happy; you've just been made queen of witches…” he said.

“I can't be happy right now if I don't see my mom, Carmine. I can't find her,” I fired at him.

“Come on now, Ximena, I'm sure she's around here somewhere just exploring. You know it's been a really long time since she last came home,” he replied.

“I know, Carmine, but this is so unlike her. My mom wouldn't miss my crowning for anything in the world; it's something she’d always looked forward to,” I explained.

“Alright then, where do you think she can be?” he asked, making me pause to give him a stern look that said ‘if I knew, would I be searching for her?’

“Okay, fine. My bad, wrong question,” he said. “How about you try picking her scent with your powers and see where she is? Your senses seem to be more effective now,” he said.

“Good idea,” I replied.

I closed my eyes as I focused my senses, searching through the crowd and the castle until I finally picked her scent. “She's in the second hallway,” I blurted out, rushing back inside as we went up the stairs to look for her.

When we got there, we met her lying weakly on the floor, fighting for her life. “MOM!!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. “Ma'am Lia!!” Carmine added as we both rushed towards her.

I picked her up, placing her head on my lap with tears in my eyes. “Mom, what happened to you?” I asked amidst tears, taking off the crown from my head.

“Ximena, my child,” she called out softly with a smile on her face. “You don't have to cry over me now; I've fulfilled my mission here. I have to go meet your father now,” she said through ragged breaths.

“What… What are you talking about, Mom?” I fired at her.

“I saw you go in there and have the sx of your dreams, Ximena. I know how you've always wanted your first time to be just like the same room you cleaned back then when Ruby and Damien had their first at the pack. I had them do it exactly as you would like,” she said with a light chuckle, “and now, I've just watched you be crowned queen of Sylphrena. I feel fulfilled,” she added.

“No… no, Mom, I can't lose you for a second time,” I sneered, clutching my hands tightly to her shirt.

“Ximena?” Rogan’s voice echoed in my ears.

“WHAT?!!!” I snarled at him with fury in my eyes.

“I believe you need to hear this; it's from the spy we sent to Carmine’s pack,” he announced.

“Already? What news does she have?” Carmine chimed.

“Good day, your majesties. I'm just returning from the Dark Moon pack and I must say things aren't looking too good over there,” a young girl dressed in warrior clothing said, her voice matter of fact.