Chapter 29
Mason’s Pov: Part one
I woke up hearing my mate’s thoughts about last night, she is embarrassed about how bold she was. I tightened my embrace pulling her head to my chest. Her pulse matched mine instantly, she wanted to kiss me. I decided to fulfill her request by kissing her. I kissed her till we both were gasping for breath.
I opened my eyes taking in the sight of her crimson cheeks first thing in the morning, we gazed at each other in comfortable silence still pressed together in embrace not wanting to move apart. Eventually, our staring session came to an end and we took turns getting showered and dressed.
Aria was thinking about discussing the clues about her parent's location. She wanted to tell everyone that she had felt their presence in the special dungeons. She wanted to find them as soon as possible.
“Don’t worry we will find them Aria. You shouldn’t stress yourself we will find a solution together. I told her trying to ease her.”
“I will try not to stress Mason, but we do need to find my parents soon. All the soldiers will get back to work today and I fear that they may try to attack us tonight itself. I don’t want people to get hurt unnecessarily if the war starts. The nearest way to the special dungeons will be too risky to take as we won’t know what to expect when we get inside. I am feeling too confused at the moment. She told me truthfully.”
“Aria, I know that you are worried about people. Our soldiers are ready, they will keep the werewolf soldiers at bay. In the meantime, we need to plan how to find your parents. We won’t be using the way to the special dungeons, your uncle might have set traps for you there. I think you will probably feel their presence better in the shifter’s territory. We will be with you as well so we can try together. I assured her.”
We finished our talk and went ahead to have some breakfast with everyone. After we were done we gathered in dad’s study to discuss the current situation and her parent’s rescue. Dad told us that the werewolf soldiers would be attacking our kingdom tonight. All the preparations for battle were done and soldiers were not to use the silver weapons or fatally injure the werewolf soldiers.
Ethan was going to stay behind in case of an emergency. It was decided Blair, Prince Caleb, granny, Aria, and I was going to be the team that was going to search for King Arnold and his Luna. We had to get to the shifter’s territory by flying and I was the only one who could fly in our group. I will have to teach Aria how to fly to go there.
Aria was already in panic as to how everything will take place. We went ahead to our room to get changed. We were going to meet everyone in the hallway before departing for the mission. All of them were worried about Aria but, she had firmed her resolve to find them.
“We have a problem, I told them trying to divert Aria from her critical thinking.”
“What problem do we have now, Aria inquired.”
“I need to teach you to fly first, we have to fly to the shifter territory. We can’t go there using teleportation. I told her.”
“Oh no! What will we do now? She asked me her voice laced with worry.”
Aria was in a panic about the situation. I mind-linked her to calm herself telling her that I will teach her.
“Let’s go, I beckoned her.”
I took her to the rooftop and asked her to transform into her vampire side. As she transformed I instructed her to try to stretch and flap her wings. I transformed myself taking her hand and flying a bit as soon as she flapped her wings. I taught her how to use her wings to keep her balance. She followed my steps and was able to fly but, she was still anxious thinking if she will be able to fly to the shifter’s territory.
We went back to where our team and parents were waiting for us and got ready to go. I held hands with granny and Prince Caleb while holding Aria’s hand with another she held onto Blair’s. We bid our goodbyes and flew to the shifter’s territory.
As soon as we got there we were taken to the Alpha who was waiting for us in his office. I entered the office room followed by others.
“We are here Alpha Carson, sorry for the delay. I said addressing the Alphas.”
“You are finally here Mason, it’s okay if you are late. Let’s move forward, I have a map of the forbidden places ready for you. The sooner you go there the better, the places get more dangerous in the evening.”
“I will ask my Luna to open the barrier so you all could get inside the forbidden places. He informed us.”
“Alpha, can I ask why are those places blacklisted by you? I asked him.”
“Yes, you can, these places are forbidden because Strigois are roaming around the forest. They drain the victims of blood and are deadly creatures. They can change into an animal, hide their presence, and have heightened speed and strength. You will be facing them once you enter. He explained to us.”
Aria was getting anxious about the situation we were in and worried about her friends.
“Is there a way to kill or stop them? I asked Alpha Carson”.
“There is a way to kill those strigoi, they can be beheaded or staked through the heart. You will be needing a silver stake and weapons to fight them. Alpha told us.”
“We haven’t got any weapons with us, will you provide the weapons to us? I asked him.”
“I am willing to provide the weapons, I have already prepared them for you. I will call the guards to bring the weapons inside. Alpha informed us while calling his guards.”
As soon as the weapons arrived we strapped them to us getting ready for the fight. The weapons consisted of a set of swords and a silver stake. Luna had already arrived at the office to help us. We followed Alpha and his Luna at one end of the territory. Only Luna of this kingdom is blessed with the power to create and open the barrier.
Alpha informed us that where the barrier was opening there will be fewer strigoi but we have to be extra careful going to that place. We were not going to be power bound there. Aria was told to mind-link Luna when we will be done with our search.
Aria was firming her resolve to go there, we prepared ourselves to enter the barrier passing through the wall-like structure. Once we were inside it closed. It was a dense forest we could hear the sound of crickets even though it was still morning. I mind-linked everyone to stay together.
We were walking cautiously when we came across two strigoi we held our weapons getting ready to attack. I staked one in the heart while Aria beheaded the other one as they came closer. There were more coming at us. Aria warned reminding us of their abilities. The darker the area more strigoi were present.
We faced the basic ones first, but as we were going deeper they were getting tough to be dealt with. We even came across some who can hide their presence and turn into an animal. We were halfway through this forest and Aria was still unable to sense her parents. It was almost evening now.
Aria was trying to concentrate in midst of the fight while we covered up for her. She could feel her parents in the cave-like structure nearby. She told us that it might be the place we were in search of. I suggested to her that we should go and check it out.
As we were nearing the structure the was an increase in the number of strigoi we were dealing with. The place seemed to be guarded by them. The strigoi we were facing at the moment had all the abilities Alpha Carson had mentioned. I was dealing with the ones who could turn into birds as Aria and others faced the other ones.
The ones who could turn into insects were giving us trouble injuring ourselves. Aria was complaining about the little ones when we heard Blair’s scream one strigoi had caught her and tried to drink her blood he was holding her arms stopping the movement. Aria and In rushed to her and I threw the strigoi off, Blair staking his heart killing him on spot.
We didn’t have time as Blair’s blood attracted a lot of them. The strigoi didn’t leave a chance to claw at us. As we neared the cave structure groups of strigoi attacked each person breaking our unity. In the midst of that, the battle between our kingdoms was about to start.