Fighting Heather

Leia – POV

"I don't believe so, Queen Heather," a voice from the crowd challenged. A woman with brown hair and onyx eyes fixed her gaze on me. "This lady has brought forth a legitimate concern. I'm not pleased with how Queen Heather has ruled. She's stripped many privileges from common witches and those higher up."

"You're the only one siding with Luna Leia," Queen Heather retorted, her eyes flashing dangerously at the defiant woman.

"I stand with her too, Queen Heather," another woman voiced. Slowly, more hands were raised in agreement. Queen Heather looked visibly shaken as the crowd expressed their dissent.

"Kill them all!" she ordered, but the guards remained unmoved.

"Didn't you hear me?" Queen Heather shrieked at the guards, but they stood their ground.

"I apologize, Your Majesty," one guard began, "but when those in power, including the high-ranking witches, revolt against you, we cannot obey your commands." Heather's fury was palpable. She rose into the air, powered by her magic, and her hands sparked with lightning magic, aiming at the rebels and the other witches.

"Damn it. Remove the handcuffs from the rebel group!" I commanded. They quickly obeyed, recognizing my temporary authority. I conjured a magic barrier to shield everyone from Heather's lightning magic attacks. But as she saw me interfering, her rage intensified. She unleashed an even more potent magic, which I knew would break my barrier. As expected, when her magic ball struck, the barrier shattered.

"Everyone, get out of here!" I shouted, reestablishing the barrier to buy time for people to escape. The other witches and I could fend off some attacks, but only some were equipped with lightning magic. Direct hits could severely injure or kill, so I maintained a defensive barrier. But again, Heather's assault broke through, injuring several witches.

"We can't get close enough to her up there," Jess observed, joining me.

"Why don't we use a telekinesis amulet? That way, Leia can rise and take her on," Venia suggested.

"You're brilliant," Dina exclaimed. "Look what I've got: the Flying Dragon amulet." With a gesture, she summoned the golden amulet into her hand.

As Heather's next barrage shattered our barrier, I swiftly took the amulet from Dina, securing it around my neck. It glowed brightly, lifting me into the air to meet Heather. Seeing me approach, she backed off, launching a new wave of attacks in my direction.

“You shouldn't have come here,” Heather growled, her eyes filled with a dangerous glint. “You've destroyed me!” Her words were like poison, dripping with malice. With a swift motion, she unleashed her light magic. Even with the amulet's magic, I struggled to adjust to its power. It was new, and I wasn't quick enough to dodge her attack. A sharp pain surged through me as her spell hit its mark.

Heather closed the distance between us in a heartbeat, her fist poising for a strike. Reacting quickly, I intercepted her blow, stopping her arm in mid-air. Using my free hand, I delivered a powerful punch to her jaw. She was sent flying backwards, a clear indication of the impact's force.

My defensive stance didn't last long. Heather, consumed by fury over the loss of her power, bombarded me relentlessly. Her magic flared, vibrant and deadly. The fire she summoned wasn't ordinary—it was killer magic, born from deep hatred and intent to harm. Before she could gain the upper hand, I retaliated with dark magic, landing a blow on her just as another of her light magic spells seared my shoulder.

Changing tactics, I went on the offensive. However, a burst of her light magic struck my shoulder, causing me to wince in pain. Despite this setback, I managed to deal significant damage. With a precise blow, I hit Heather in the stomach. As her strength waned, she began to defend rather than attack. I, too, landed, scanning the area for my Rebel group, Jennifer, Susan, and my mates.

“Leia,” Xavier rushed to my side, his face etched with concern. I felt the healing warmth of his magic as he began to mend my injured shoulder, where the bone gruesomely protruded. Beside us, Kai's anger was palpable. With a determined look, he unleashed his dark fire magic upon Heather. She had no time to react. The black flames enveloped her, drawing a pained moan from her lips.

"Kai, don't kill her. She needs to face justice for murdering witches. We can't just take the law into our own hands," I urged. Kai lost in his anger, didn't seem to hear me. "Kai!" Pain suddenly lanced through me, drawing a pained moan from my lips. In my distress, Kai's head snapped in my direction.

"I'm so sorry, Leia. It's a major injury," Xavier whispered.

"Let me see," Jennifer said, stepping forward. Kai stood close, his fury abated, leaving Heather unconscious.

"Jess, tie her up," I instructed. Jessica quickly secured Heather with the restraints that had bound us earlier. Security guards promptly took the subdued witch away, and a high-ranking officer approached me.

"Luna Leia, with Queen Heather dethroned, you will serve as temporary queen until a suitable candidate is found," the security chief announced.

"I'm aware," I murmured as the pain in my wound dulled.

"We need to get her to the castle. She requires rest," Jennifer stated.

Before I could protest, Xavier scooped me into his arms. Kai kept pace beside us. Once inside the castle, I was gently laid in a bed.

"You always rush headfirst into danger without thinking of us," Kai remarked, trying to sound stern, but his pout gave away his true feelings.

"I'm sorry, Honey," I whispered, giving him an impromptu nickname. Kai's eyebrows shot up in surprise before he smirked, looking as irresistible as ever. Xavier, feigning jealousy, cleared his throat to gain my attention.

"You gave him a nickname. What about me?" he teased.

"You, Xavier, are my sweetheart," I replied. The brilliant smile that graced his face could only be described as breathtaking.

"Both of you, stop with those seductive smiles," I teased, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "I'm in no condition for intimate activities right now." My attempt at humour made all of us laugh, though the movement sent pain through my still-raw wound.

"You need to rest, Queen Leia," Kai winked. "When you're healed, we promise to give you all the attention and pleasure you desire." His words turned my cheeks a bright shade of red.

Xavier, ever the tease, added, "It'll be one unforgettable experience if you're up for it."

A smirk played on my lips. "I'll make sure to heal quickly, given how tempting that sounds. But first, I'd like a moment with the Rebels and Jennifer."

Both men took their leave, each planting a soft kiss on my forehead. As they left, Jess and Jennifer walked in. Noticing the absence of two familiar faces, I asked, "Where are Dina and Venia?"

"They're dealing with the aftermath of Heather's rampage. Some witches were injured by her magic," Jennifer explained.

"Jennifer, how do I select the right candidate for the throne? I want to ensure that the power goes to a worthy individual and not someone simply hungry for power," I stated, my brow furrowed with concern.

Jennifer responded, "Given that no one from Veronica's family remains to assume the throne, I've identified a few high-ranking witches as potential candidates. You'll need to evaluate and test them. The one who proves herself worthy will then ascend to the throne."

"I want you to include your name, Jess's, Venia's, and Dina's on that list. That's an order." Jennifer looked taken aback by my sudden request, but she nodded in agreement. Once she left to initiate the selection process, my eyes met Jess's.

"Thank you for returning for us," Jess whispered. "I was afraid you'd abandon us."

"Honestly, that was the initial plan," I admitted. "But when Jennifer informed me about the danger my mates and pack members will face if war breaks out, I knew I had to intervene."

Jess sarcastically remarked, "I appreciate the candid confession that you didn't return solely for our sake."

"I believe in honesty," I said. "Though I was skeptical about your plans, they had higher stakes than I realized."

"I understand, and I'm not holding it against you. What matters is that you helped us and protected Witch Land from greater peril. I hope you'll choose a deserving witch as the next queen," Jess expressed.

"The responsibility to select the right person feels overwhelming," I admitted.

"Trust your instincts. They've always led you right. Just as Queen Veronica once did, I'm confident you'll find someone who will rule justly," Jess said before departing.

Lying in bed, I felt the weight of exhaustion. The morning sun streamed through the window, painting the sky with its golden hue. As my eyelids grew heavy, a soft voice called, "Leia." I strained to identify the source but drifted back to sleep.

"Leia," the voice came again. My eyes felt impossibly heavy, and everything felt dreamlike.

"Who's calling me?" I murmured.