CORONATION

ROSA'S POV

"Are you fine?" Ryan asked me for the hundredth time today.

"Ryan!" I whisper-yelled. "I am fine. We are in the middle of something here." I reminded him, as he seemed to be easily forgetting that.

It was late in the evening already, and we had just finished the first stage of the coronation ceremony. The next stage was the procession of the ice relics, by the Honourable families.

It was also a reminder that the MacQuoids had failed to produce a new custodian, and the power as head family may be conferred upon the Kennedys tonight.

Quite sad.

"Are you scared, love?" Ryan suddenly asked, and I frowned slightly.

"Why would I be?"

"Wielding the ice sword."

"Oh...." I let out a chuckle, hoping I didn't sound nervous. I was supposed to wield the ice sword and absorb its energy, as Luna of the coldmoon pack soon. I learned Ryan had done that as well, at his own coronation. "Should I be?"

"It isn't so easy, but I'm sure you'd be able to handle it." He encouraged, gently patting my back.

He was about looking away, when his eyes landed on me again, a look of amusement in them.

"Is it just me, or does your pendant change colours?"

The moment he said that, my eyes fell on the crystal ball hanging from my neck.

"I guess it's just you, Ryan." I released a chuckle, realizing he was just pranking me.

"Oh...?" He whispered, looking quite confused.

"It's time for the procession of the ice relics." One of the council chiefs announced, and everyone stood to their feet. In a single file, all high officials made their way down the podium, standing in a horizontal straight line.

Ryan and I stood side by side in the center, directly facing the entrance of the hall.

"It's time." Ryan whispered to me, and I nodded.

The next minute, the Power Custodian of the Craig family walked in through the entrance of the hall, her lips moving so quickly as she chanted some things I doubt anyone in the hall could hear. Whispers suddenly began to fill the hall, and that was when I noticed the long file of big transparent glass boxes, moving alongside her from behind.

When I said 'moving', I meant 'Moving'.

These boxes containing different kinds of ice relics, were literally suspended in the air, following her behind as they defied the law of gravity.

Interesting.

As soon as she got to the high officials, she came to a stop, the relics halting alongside her.

"Alpha, Luna." She bowed. "I, Demetria Craig, presents to you, the 29 ice relics that the Craig Clan possesses." She turned back, gesturing towards the glasses. "We have the mocking bird," She pointed to the first glass containing the rock hard statue of a grey coloured bird. "the water of illusion," She continued, pointing at the next glass, which had a sculpted looking brown bowl, with some liquid inside it. Okayyy...

It took a while for the Craig's custodian to finish up with the display and procession, before eventually exiting through a different entrance.

At the end of her procession, I had learned that all these dead looking ice relics could actually be brought to life, when infused with energy from the power custodian.

Wow.

Up next, the Kennedy's power custodian came forward. They had a little more number of relics than the Craigs. 34 in total.

After the procession of the Kennedys, the main people who owned the night eventually showed up!

Judge me for being petty, but it cannot be helped. I love them so much!

The MacQuoids.

Hazel MacQuoid gracefully walked down the aisle in her long white dress, her black hair falling to her waist. She looked so ethereal.

Her dress looked identical to mine, and it made me subconsciously giggle like a child.

'Seriously?', Ryan's voice filtered through our mindlink, and I chuckled. I could see the smile on his face.

'We're twinning, Ryan!', I shot back, making him release a chuckle as well. 'So sad they would no longer be in custody of these 111 relics after today'. I continued.

'Sad indeed', He concurred.

Hazel drew closer, and I grew more excited to see what kind of relics they possessed.

All so suddenly, it felt like the world tilted beneath me. What the hell?!

"What just happened?" Ryan did a quick scan around us, holding me by the arm. I was relieved to know that I wasn't the only one who felt that.

"Are you fine?" He asked.

The entire hall seemed to be just as shaken, as quaky sounds began resonating within the earth, shaking the ground to its core.

I could also see that Hazel had halted her procession midway, probably wondering what was happening as well.

More yells erupted within the crowd, as the glass boxes containing the ice relics in Hazel's possession, began to shake furiously. Like they were about breaking out.

"No no no! This isn't good." Ryan yelled in apparent worry. "These relics could be dangerous! Evacuate the people from the hall. Now!!" His voice boomed, sending shivers down my spine.

The guards all began running around in obedience to his orders, just as some of the pack members were already scampering away.

"Rosa," Ryan turned to me, holding my shoulders. "You have to leave now....." He suddenly trailed off, his eyes fixed on my chest as a frown appeared on his face.

My eyes followed his instantly, and my mouth literally hung open in shock. What was happening to my crystal?! It kept changing colours!

"Goddess." Ryan whispered, his eyes falling on the crystal. "I knew what I saw."

"I don't know what's going on?" I cried in confusion. One more powerful quake reverberated underneath our feet, and Ryan's eyes widened in fear.

"You need to leave here now. Austin, take her." He ordered a guard whom I hadn't realized had gotten to us.

"What about you?" I asked, also realizing all the high officials were still present.

"I am Alpha."

"And I'm Luna!" I shot back in a defying tone

"Rosa, please." He begged, his eyes going soft. "I'll be just fine. But I wouldn't be alright, until I'm sure that you're fine."

'You both', His voice filtered through our mindlink, and my shoulders slumped in defeat. He was right. Our baby's safety was important too.

I looked at Hazel who had her face lifted upwards, and her arms stretched out, as she chanted some spells. Dean and the other MacQuoids made their way to her, looking so confused, worried, and..... scared. That sight broke my heart.

What exactly was happening to the MacQuoids? Knowing they had ultimately lost their position to the Kennedys, was enough humiliation. Why did this have to happen now?

"Rosa, please leave." Came Ryan's voice again, and I turned to leave with the guard.

Just as I turned, I felt the most painful tremor hit my chest.

"Aarrrggghhh!!" I yelled out in pain, almost falling to the ground. I was lucky enough that Austin was just behind me. My hand flung to my chest in crucial pains, as Austin supported me back to a standing position.

"Rosa!!" I heard Ryan's frightened voice, as he rushed over to me.

But more than anything else, I could feel the crystal ball seriously vibrating against my chest. What was going on?

"What the hell is up with this pendant?!" He yelled in annoyance.

"Take it off her!" Audrey rushed in. "I knew a gift from that man could be no good."

"What man?" Ryan asked her, obviously lost.

"Would explain later. I just need to get it off her neck." Audrey replied. As she tried to take the crystal off my neck, she hastily pulled her hand away like it had hurt her.

Meanwhile, I was blinded by an extremely bright light being released from my crystal ball.

At this point, the quakes had stopped, but the ice relics had not stopped displaying.

Immediately, I began to feel dizzy.

"Let. Her. Go.!!!" A voice resonated in echoes, across the rowdy hall, and all my pains seemed to intensify. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who heard that.

My heart felt like it was about to burst out soon, and my ears felt so heavy, I thought my ear drums might burst. My eyes basically felt dead, as the blinding lights from the crystal shone into them.

"Come forth!!!" The voice resounded again, and I heard a loud blast as glasses shattered. I knew one of the ice relics had eventually broken out.

After that, it all went blank.