The Last
The Snowball Effect

Time passed, with no windows or light at all in what she learned was called the pit. Amira had no telling of how long she had been down there. They had been fed once, and it somewhat resembled leftovers from a breakfast, therefore she assumed it was the next day. She didn’t have anything to do down there and the rambling from the ones who’d gone insane was slowly starting to annoy her more and more.

“Enough!” She finally roared at them, and for a brief time the prisoners were scared into submission. They started to get noisy again and Amira laid back down her hands covering her ears. She had thought she’d been brought here to be executed, not tortured. She closed her eyes tightly and hummed a little song to herself. The Princess loved to sing, it was a way for her to outlet all the emotions that built up within her from time to time. Many people claimed she had a beautiful voice and should have gone on tour with the carnavals, if only they knew her secret, they would never suggest such a thing.

Light flickered through her closed eyes and she immediately shot up, sitting up on her hard piece of bedding her focus was drawn to the sound that followed, feet, and many pairs of them wearing armoured shoes. That was a good sign, lots of guards, hopefully to take her. They came into view rounding the corner into the damp dark place. They were not led by her familiar Prince however, just a simple guard, the one that had been down before to feed them.

The hope in her heart sputtered out as they passed her cell heading even deeper into the pit. She watched, as they began to go down, two guards remaining standing at the top by her. There was some yelling and terrified screaming and then the prisoners began lurching up towards the surface. They were letting them out of their cells? Amira was confused, the Princess paced back and forth in front of her door, taking in the sight of every one of them.

The two guards at the top held the line easily, they didn’t budge as more and more prisoners tried to shove their way forwards to get out. Each of them was chained, one to another, yet still they thought they had a chance. The smell that came from them was horrendous. Amira retreated from the front of her cell as if she could escape it. There was of course, no escape. They were covered in their own piss and shit, some bore wounds, some appeared to have thrown up. The terrified faces looked around desperately, but there was nowhere to go. Some tried to reach into her cell, but were repelled by whatever kept her in. The group of soldiers came back and emptied cells as they went until there were none left besides hers.

“Move ’em out!” The call came from the back and the two at the front began making their way up the corridor, the prisoners following. Presumably to their death. As quickly as they’d come they were gone taking hundreds of prisoners and the light with them. At least it’s quiet now Amira thought as she laid down once more, her uneaten food put aside on the floor. She didn’t trust a morsel of scraps they gave her.

Hours later, Amira realized the silence was worse. Her own brain wouldn’t be quiet, she had nothing to do but imagine all the fancy ways they would go about killing her. It was either that, or think about what had happened to her in the past. She preferred to think about her death. She wondered if it would be public, if her head would be posted outside those gates as some sort of final trophy or if they wouldn’t tell anyone it happened at all and let them all think the last dragon had died years ago. There was no point in speculating, she wouldn’t know until it happened.

More time passed. Amira was reduced to singing herself lullabies and any other tune she could remember. Laying on her back staring up into the darkness she idly sang song after song until her voice was tired, and she became thirsty. Not that she trusted the drinking water anyways. She was tempted to try to lick some of the dampness off the walls, but for now she fell quiet and just laid still conserving her energy. For what exactly? She had no idea.

Footsteps once more echoed through the hallways and Amira stood eyes flaring violet as she tried to get a glimpse of who was coming before they saw her. It was Rue. Her eyes melted back to their golden color and the Princess was never more happy to see that damn Prince in her life. She wouldn’t let on as much however, as behind him stalked a dark haired and dark eyed woman and another, taller male with lighter brown hair although he did not exude the same strength as the other two. The relation between them though was unmistakable. It was clear that this was the Princess and eldest Prince, Zara and Farquin. As Rue approached the cell he offered Amira a small smile, “sorry to keep you waiting Princess, but as you’ve seen there was quite a long line before you.” Ah, so they were saving her for last, icing on the cake of their day of slaughter.

“Yes, chatty bunch that lot was,” Amira said offering him a smile in return, nodding her head to him slightly in greeting. This male, despite being her captor, had earned her respect. She recognized he had no choice in this matter, and despite the situation being as depressing as it was he still tried to provide her with comforts and communication. At the very least he had been kind to her. She could see him holding back the laugh in his eyes, he must not want to seem sympathetic in front of his older siblings.

She understood, one of her earliest memories she had invoked the same feeling, she and her brother standing by their elder siblings as tall as their little heads could reach. They wanted to make their parents proud. At least he was with them now. She would be joining them shortly. Rue opened the door to her cell and gestured for her hands. Amira complied and allowed herself to be chained once more. “From what I’ve been told this is all it takes to hold you?”

“Unfortunately so,” Amira said with a small nod. “Breaking chains for a shift is far too painful, and could mean complete destruction of my body. No Druhearan in their right mind would ever attempt such a feat.” She said offering him a small tidbit of knowledge. It was the only gift she could give him before her death, a thank you for his kindness. “Besides, we made a deal.” Rue nodded and Zara rolled her eyes, clearly the Princess was not impressed.

“Pathetic,” she snarked, “let’s get a move on shall we? I have things to do this evening besides watching her blood spill.” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“You better not have plans,” the older brother spoke for the first time. His voice was like water gently flowing down a stream. Kinder and gentler than the harsh wildness of his two siblings, “It’s Mother’s birthday after all. She’ll kill us all if you aren’t present… but yes, lets go Rue,” he said turning and leading the way back up the hall. Zara seemed to know better than to retort. Maybe the soft spoken brother did hold power over her. She stomped after him and Amira followed, Rue trailing behind. If she wasn’t mistaken the younger male was moving slowly, almost as if he were trying to delay the inevitable. Poor kid, This was the way of the world. Unfortunate that he had to bear the weight of a title.

They moved upwards and breathing in the fresh air was like a cool kiss from the moon herself. They exited the stoney pathway they arrived in the same courtyard she had been ushered in a day ago. As she looked up at the night sky she wished she could feel the wind under her wings just one more time, that endless freedom she wished to taste just once more...but it wasn’t to be. She was walked through yet another doorway, into the palace itself. She barely had time to take in the lavish decor and stark cleanliness of the place as the siblings walked at a quick and steady clip to their destination. Rue still holding the end of her chain lagging slightly behind. The siblings stopped before a set of massive black doors with golden embellishments and designs weaving threw them. Rue stepped up to stand beside Amira and then slightly in front as his siblings pushed open the massive doors. She took a deep breath and followed as the youngest Prince led her inside.

She walked with as much grace and dignity as she could muster. She held her head high and didn’t shy away from the sharp stare of the Queen as she walked into the throne room still dressed in her fighting leathers, covered in dried blood. She wondered for half a second where her sword ended up as her gaze drifted to the King, and then the crown Prince standing beside the seated pair, and locked on him. Her heart jumped in her chest, and she felt her throat tighten. He was perhaps the most handsome male she had ever seen in her whole life. He wasn’t looking at her, instead out the window to the stars, but Amira almost preferred it that way. It gave her the perfect opportunity to look at him.

Black pants with a black button up shirt that was undone at the top by two tasteful buttons displayed his golden jewelry. His hair was near midnight black matching the rest of his clothing. Various weapons could be seen just under his clothing along with tightly cut muscles. The Crown Prince was a powerhouse, that was well known, but Amira had no idea he looked this good as well. Her gaze was dragged away back to the Queen almost reluctantly as Rue spoke at her side.

“Your Majesty,” he addressed his mother before he bowed yanking on her chains to abruptly force her to follow suit. “I have brought you a gift,” he said as he straightened facing his mother squarely.

“Have you now my child?” The Queen asked, as she examined the Princess not shifting her posture an ounce as her eyes swept up and down the girl. Amira could feel the heat of her gaze and bristled at the unabashed insult. She sucked back the growl she could feel growing in her chest. If she were to be Rue’s present to his mother on her birthday so be it. So long as his promise was upheld. “How is this one any different than the others before her?”

“I took her in myself mother,” Rue spoke with respect in his voice not an ounce of resistance, “she is the last Druherean, your missing Princess.” The silence that followed was deafening. No one dared to even breathe too loudly. All attention was focused on her now. Even the Crown Prince had looked at her, and he too, did not look away. The Queen rose sharply and her King followed suit. She walked down the steps that led to the dais of her throne and approached Amira directly. Rue bowed and took a step away, yet Amira did not flinch. If anything she squared her shoulders and faced the Queen head on.

“What is your name?” she demanded. Inches from the Princesses face.

“Amira,” she answered starkly.

“Your full name,” The Queen ground out earning a small smirk from the Princess which caused the Queen’s cheeks to flush with anger as her blood pressure rose, it was well worth it.

“Amirasa Callanova Lightborn. First of my name. Heir and Princess to the lost kingdom of Durah.” She started her title proudly and boldly. She had repeated that phrase over and over as a child, and then even more so after the attacks, when she was alone and needed to remind herself who she was.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty four,”

“Impossible,” the Queen snarked, and turned away from the Princess storming up to her ornate golden throne and taking her seat once more. “Son I am sorry to tell you, but you have caught nothing more than a fraud and a liar.” As she spoke, Amira’s attention drifted once again. The Crown Prince was still looking at her, staring more likely was the proper term. She met his gaze and he didn’t shy from hers. His eyes were near black, a stark contrast to her golden ones. Amira broke first looking back to the Queen as Rue swore up and down she was legit.

“I don’t lie your majesty,” she stated, cutting Rue off mid sentence as he tried to explain everything that happened on the battlefield. “My parents were Jayda and Sadhir Lightborn. My elder siblings were Tyfin, Gweneth, and Sahin. I was the youngest alongside my twin, Ronan.”

“Jayda never bore twins. Her last pathetic son was just that. Her last. You are nothing more than a mockery to their name. Perhaps you command fire as my son suggests, that makes you no Princess no-” she was cut off as Amira roared in frustration. Denying her truth? Insulting her twin? Her eyes burned violet and dark silver scales began to appear on her skin slowly as she was trying to be careful not to hurt herself. She flicked her tongue now forked into the air, to taste the layers of this place.

Clean, too clean as if it had been bleached recently. Her reptilian eyes pinned the Queen to her throne as she slowly unfurled her wings behind her back. They weren’t even close to half the size of her true wings if she were to fully shift, but that wasn't an option being that she was still chained and would destroy herself if she were to try. However she had a point to prove and she wanted it made well. Her wings appeared thin and fragile, the tissue stretched between the bones a light grey color, crisscrossed with darker lines that appeared to be scars. Scales covered the inner edgers closest to her back and along the top ridges of her wings the best protection she had for the most vulnerable and essential part of her body.

“Do you believe me now?” she snarled the words echoing in the large space anger written all over her face. The Queen had gone pale, in fact she looked as if she might be sick. The Crown Prince took a step forward, not towards his mother, but positioning himself between her and Amira.

“Kill her,” the Queen said softly eyes wide with panic and when no one moved she shouted at the top of her voice, “I SAID KILL HER DAMNIT DO IT NOW!” She roared and everyone in the room snapped into motion. Amira shifted back to her full human form in the few precious seconds she had. She didn’t need to feel the pain of them ripping through her wings again. She closed her eyes and breathed in as the three heirs moved on her, even the king lurched forward at the direct command of their Alpha. Amira waited for the blow to fall, to slice through her and end it all, so she could at last join her family and be at peace.

The pain didn’t come, instead there was the sound of metal on metal, a small thud as someone was thrown back. Amira opened her eyes just in time to see the Crown Prince punch his older brother squarely in the face knocking him back on his ass. Rue had been the one to pull a sword, and had now drawn back, confused look on his face as the Crown Prince stood between him and Amira.

The male snarled at his younger brother and the boy dropped his sword and held up his hands in a sign of surrender. Amira’s eyes snagged on the movement of Zara charging once again from her undefended side, the Prince was already moving. He blocked her mercilessly and efficiently throwing her flying into the wall. The sound of her back hitting the concrete was not one Amira would want to remember. As the King began to move forward the Prince pinned his near crazed gaze on him and snapped.

“Enough.”

His voice was like the answer to a question Amira had been asking herself so long. Where is her family? Where did she belong? It was him, he was the one she was searching for why she’d wander off into the woods alone at night hoping to run into this one specific person. Never did she think she was going to find her perfect match on her death day.

“She’s my mate,” the male beside her panted nostrils flaring as his eyes flicked around the room waiting for one of his siblings or his father to attack again. He was not going to let anything happen to her. “Call them off mother please,” the prince begged. Amira blinked in surprise, sure she had thought, but this is impossible. Their kind was destined to hate each other...he surely had participated in hunting them all down to the ends of the earth… What kind of sick joke did mother earth think this was?

Amira couldn’t help it. She started to laugh. Softly at first and then full on wheezing laughter. She bent over and wrapped her arms around her middle as laughter shook her core. When finally she straightened again she looked him dead in the eye and knew the truth as much as he did. Tears were streaming down her face from laughing so hard and she reached forwards wrists still chained and took the end of his sword and placed it against her chest, above her heart.

“Do it,” she said, breathing out a shaky breath near insanity in her eyes. She couldn’t handle it anymore; this could not be her fate this torture for the rest of eternity. She wouldn’t allow it. She wanted to be reunited with her family, she wanted to protect her aunt and uncle. She learned into the pressure of the blade slightly and it cut through her leathers easily, “just obey,” she goaded him, using the power of his own mother’s order against him. “I know you want to,” She said leaning into it even further, blood slowly leaking out from where the razor sharp blade gently pressed into her skin.

The Prince didn’t move. His gaze flicked between his mother and Amira. She saw when the scent of her blood hit him. She had made a mistake. He pulled away his blade sharply and the brief pause that had occurred was broken as he snarled softly at the Princess.

“No,” he said sharply sheathing his sword directly disobeying his Alpha.

“Kill her Caldwin.” The Queen rose from her throne seeming to have gained her confidence back and her resolve. “You have had no problem bedding any female you chose up to now, just because you’re delusional enough to think this one is your mate, doesn’t mean she actually is. Kill her and you may still find your true mate not this undeserving Druherean weakling.” Amira had half a mind to tell her to take these chains off and see how weak she was then, but strangely she remained quiet. She agreed with the Queen, well at least in the ultimate goal they shared in common.

“No.” Caldwin growled and the room tensed. Until now his mothers rule had been undisputed. It was clear Caldwin was the next strongest and hence why he had been groomed to take the throne, however it was also clear the Queen was not keen on giving it up quite yet.

“Caldwin-” The Queen began in a chastising tone but the Prince cut her off,

“Just stop mother,” he snapped, “She is mine.” Amira nearly argured at that, but this didn’t quite seem the time to butt in. “Call off your kill order or I will make you,” he threatened.

“Don’t you dare speak to your mother in that way boy” the King snarled and Caldwin snarled right back baring his teeth at his own father. “Oh is that so? You’re going to choose this thing over your very own family?” he snapped back. Caldwin only growled louder.

Amira risked the chance to look around. The dynamic of the room had shifted. Rue had moved to a more defensive position by her side, as had Farquin and even begrudgingly Zara. It seemed as though Caldwin held more favor with his siblings than they shared for their parents. The Queen was no idiot. Seeing this shift in her children, the small display in their true loyalties she conceded.

“Fine, but she’s your responsibility. One foot out of place and it’s your head on the line,” she said, jerking her chin to signal to them all to get out. The tension seemed to dissipate at this concession and Caldwin bowed his head to her in respect and thanks. So it seemed the Queen would be Queen for yet another day and Amira would get to live.

Fantastic, she thought as the Crown Prince grabbed her by the arm and nearly dragged her out of the room. She scrunched up her nose in annoyance at being pulled around yet still didn’t protest. She didn’t know where they were going and so she was forced to follow, chain dragging behind them. Rue caught up, following after them but remaining some paces behind.

The pure alpha that Caldwin was radiating had everyone running from his path even Amira beside him could barely stomach it. It made her want to go curl up in some small hole somewhere. Perhaps back down to the cells is where they were going. No, they took a different turn. In all honesty Amira was quite turned around and had no way of keeping track of their direction by how swiftly they were moving.

Before long Caldwin was pushing open a rather plain door to reveal an even more plain room covered in white. Medical equipment could be found everywhere she looked in the infirmary and she was distracted doing so when the Prince quite literally picked her up and set her on one of the tables.

“Hey!” She protested at being manhandled, and then protested further smacking away his hands as he went to undo her leathers. “Stop it,” she snapped at him and you would have thought she struck him across the face. The Prince took a step back and seemed to gather his thoughts for the first time since he put together their entwined fates.

“Get your wound cleaned.” he said as means of his only explanation before he turned away and approached one of the doctors. The other female to her credit did not exactly cower under the imposing and certainly pissed off prince, but she didn’t exactly stand up to him either. His next stop was to Rue, delivering him a few instructions before the prince was gone. Likely to go blow off some steam.

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