70. The Truth of The Mate Bond

Reya frowned, still scrutinizing the picture in the sky. Anyone who knew Reya knew that her dragon was not as close in size to the Golden dragons. Something was wrong, something was awfully wrong...

*’I gave you two mates for a reason. Why have you been repelling your heat?’ A low voice hissed into her ears amidst the chants of the crowds.

Reya turned immediately, certain that someone was behind her only to find nothing but wind and space.

“Are you alright?” Prince Aidan frowned, noticing her worried gaze.

“Y-yes,” she blinked.

“I was so sure I heard a voice speaking-“

*’I gave you two mates to procreate. There will be more white dragons from you or the breed will fade. Do you understand your task?’* The voice pressed forward, the intrusion into her head giving her a headache.

“Please who is-“

But Reya never got to ask who it was. She was doubling over and pressing herself into the table.

Her vision had completely clouded, her stomach was churning and every single muscle in her entire body ached.

She pressed a hand to her stomach, tears forcing their ways into her eyes as it ached.

Images of The Twin Princes swirled through her vision, both of them smiling viciously.

She tumbled forward into them and her clothes were ripped away in an instant, leaving her bare for the princes.

Reya had to blink viciously to realize it was just a weird vision. But when she was fully conscious again, she noticed that the drama had shifted.

The Lord of The Sea’s trident was pressed to his brother’s throat while The First Prince’s sword was pressed to his brother’s head.

Their faces were contorting with animalistic rage, fangs baring viciously at one another.

“Take your hand off her,” Aidan’s voice was a sharp inhumane growl.

“I should be saying that to you. Remove your hand from her and I will not have to wipe the floor with your body. There’s a lot of pleasure one can gain from that,”

It was then that she realized she was oddly sandwiched between both men, their hands gripping her waist and attempting to pull her close. Another sharp pain to her womb had her crying out.

*’Reya!’* The Queen’s voice cried out in her head.

*’What is happening? Why are they about to slice their throats?’*

*’H-heat. I’m on heat,’*

And that was the last thing she said before she collapsed.

***********

Pain.

Pines and fierce needles pricked her entire body until she wanted to jump to her feet and scream in pain but she could not move, could not breathe.

“It’s not normal,” an unfamiliar voice was saying.

“Nobody passes out when they are on heat. Something is wrong here,”

Reya blinked repeatedly, struggling to gain some vision.

Asides the immense pain flowing through her veins, she could feel the walls trembling around her, ferocious growls and roars resounding from outside.

“Oh will those two keep it down? This is not the end of the world!” The Queen’s voice snapped.

Reya parted her lips to say something but nothing came out.

Only blood.

She turned over on the bed and coughed, tears rolling down her eyes.

What was wrong with her? Why would her heat hurt her so much?

It felt as though her body was impaled by nails and a hand was clawing inside her throat. She wanted it to stop but with every passing moment, it just got worse.

*’Aneira, why-‘*

Reya could not even complete her sentence. Her dragon was the reason behind the echoing screams in her head. Blinding light hovered over her body to alleviate the pain but no matter what, it was still unbearable.

“If I did not know any better, I would say you are the reason behind this poor girl’s suffering,” an elderly voice was low and disapproving in the corner.

“I am not, Dowager Queen,” The Queen sighed.

Her voice sounded weak, tired, sad.

“My son Armani stole something from the red dragons. It made them so angry they tried to chase them down and hold them captive. They knew that once I found out about how deep and dark their magic ran, they would most likely lose their position as Clan Alphas,”

“What did my little Poseidon steal?” Dowager Queen Jocelyn asked.

“It is something like a voodoo. They had... had Reya’s hair, a few of her nails and...” The Queen trailed off, disgust evident in her mannerisms.

“They took her hymen. Whoever she lost her virginity to took the sheets and handed it over the Alphas. But something makes me think it is the Alpha’s heir that did everything himself,” her voice sounded sorrowful.

“All this while, I had been suspecting her for dark magic. She’s so innocent. Those people are demons! Each and every last of them and they would have killed her if she did not stay in the castle for the selection. They warped her memory, they used dark magic on her and now that I am trying to undo it, it’s trying to kill her. Which means that this has been going on for a very long time- most likely when she was still a child,”

“And what could they have been using all of that dark magic for? Everyone knows that white dragons will turn black if they have dark magic circulating through their veins,”

“They used it to fake a mate bond. I am guessing it never worked. Something is awfully special with her dragon and I believe that her dragon has been repelling the magic for a while now. I had thought that the magic was to trap my sons but it was for from it. They were trying to fake a mate bond with someone else... The Alpha’s heir, Castiel,”

A long, painful moan left Reya’s lips as she listened, tears of pain running down her eyes.

Just how far down could their betrayal run? How long would they keep hurting her?

The Queen had pressed something into her that alleviated the pain but it was still horrible, still unlivable.

Castiel had been the one to fake the bond? It made sense, considering how she had been so attracted to him. And he betrayed her trust... All the defense from his other siblings, all the gifts and adoration he showered her- he only did it because he was trying to fake a mate bond with her. And how did they warp her memory?

Castiel had always wanted her to be his Luna. He always wanted to have her under his thumb, praising him and loving him. But her dragon was not compatible with him. Aneira never liked Castiel. Now it all made sense. What were her parents thinking when they abandoned her by the borders of these evil people?

“I’m so sorry love,” a voice whispered in her ear, cooing softly.

“The dark magic between Castiel and you had to be undone. Not all of it is gone but it will take some time. Now it explains why your heat was taking so long to manifest. It would have kept on dragging but because of the fake bond between yourself and Castiel, it would have never fully formed. Your memories of the past are going to return to you. You will have to see it, no matter what,”

*’I don’t want it,’* she cried out in her head because her throat could not work.

But her consciousness was slipping away from her and despite her struggle, her vision was growing bleak.

**************

*Seven years ago. Glasgow, Scotland,*

*This was horrible.*

*My ankle was swollen and there was a nasty gash on my forehead but despite all of that, I zipped through the forest as fast as I could, cradling my bleeding arm that had been ripped apart by Castiel’s dragon.*

*It was the fourth mating season since I had turn Eighteen. In other words, this would be the fourth season where I would have to avoid Castiel’s advances. They say the mating season brings out the worst in men and over the years, I watched it happen to Castiel.*

*After rejecting him the first year, he understood. But after every passing season, his appetites grew worse and his beast was putting everyone on edge. I wanted my own mate. I wanted to be with the one that the gods had fated me to but Castiel went ahead and declared he wants me as the Clan’s Luna. It would never matter if I refused. If Castiel placed his claim on me and decided to take me against my will, no one would speak up in my favor.*

*This is why I am running through fallen leaves, through mud and through branches. Castiel’s dragon was going feral with the need to have me and he had injured me in a blind fit of rage. My dragon will not come forth, try hard as I may to confront her. Now I run through the forest with severe wounds that refuse to heal. Castiel’s dragon is giving me chase, combing the entire Red dragon capital for me. If he finds me...*

*The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth that even the pouring rain will not wash out. I cannot let Castiel catch me. If he does, I cannot imagine the hell that waits for me at home.*

*Wiping my stinging eyes from the tears that plague them, I press forward. I have to run away from here. The forest is empty, desolate, dark. I cannot hear the chirping of birds or spot squirrels. It feels as though they know a predator is in their home and they want to hide.*

*A loud growl echoes through the forest and chills run down my spine, knowing that Castiel is near. Where do I hide? Where do I hide?*

*I spot a large heap of dry leaves before a large oak tree and immediately run towards it. If I am fortunate, I can burrow deep into the leaves and hide my frame from Castiel.*

*I immediately slide into the leaves and start swimming into the middle. But as my leg touches the ground, something snaps and grabs my twisted swollen ankle.*

*Soon, my world is upside down and excruciating pain is exploding in my ankle. I try to stop myself from screaming but it is useless. The pain is too great. The pressure on my ankle is unbelievable.*

*Another growl makes my eyes fly wide with terror. Castiel has found me. Castiel will kill me*

*”Aneira! Aneira wake up! If he catches us he’ll kill us! Please you need to let me shift!”* I scream and wrestle, despite the pain in my leg.

*’Poisoned. I am poisoned’* Is her faint reply.

*And then my worst nightmares come to life. An enormous red dragon the size of a duplex comes sweeping forward, its wings wide and its claws outstretched, ready to grab his prey.*

*Castiel has caught me. He will never forget that I had stabbed him earlier in my attempts to run away.*

*The snap of my Fibula bone is my confirmation that this Crimson beast is unforgiving.*

*”Castiel! Castiel please put me down!”* I cry out to him, writhing in immense pain.*

*But Castiel swoops into the air, tightening his claws around my small frame and growling menacingly.*

*I keep my eyes shut as Castiel flies, taking me away to wherever he wants to lay my corpse.*

*But surprisingly, he takes me back to the Crimson Estate. Castiel shoves my body against the floor and I roll severally, doing more damage to my already broken leg.*

*I crawl up the Cobblestone floors, still trying to put distance between both of us. I am surprised he has not killed me out of rage but I suppose this is my opportunity to run away.*

*However, my hope is short lived as Strong arms pick me up and toss me over a shoulder. I know it is Castiel. I recognize his scent because he always sneaks into my room in the night and watch me sleep.*

*”Castiel,” I weep, small sobs of pain leaving my lips*

*”You broke my leg. Please let me go. Let me fix my leg,”*

*”You have put me through hell Rey. You put up such a good fight. I did not realize that you wanted it this way. Or else, I would have taken you like this right from the first year you denied me,”* *He laughs, slapping my bottom and pretending that he did not just break my leg.*

*Red alarms sound in my head as I struggle feebly against his hands. What does he mean? What is he saying?*

*”I finally get to take you, if you do not understand what I am saying. You will have my children. You will be my Luna,”*

*Castiel...No, I realize. He wants to claim me by force,*

********

*The next chapter is contains detailed descriptions of rape. Please read at your discretion*