KING ELIJAH

ELIJAH’S POV

Two days. Two fucking days and Celeste was nowhere to be found. I sat on my throne with my crown shinning under the lights. My right arm was placed under my cheek as I kept thinking of my Celeste was safe.

The door to the throne room burst open as my the guards I sent a couple of hours ago to search everything part of the woods for any trace of Her.

“Sire” They said in unison as they got on their knees and bowed with their right hand pressed to their chest.

“Speak” I mumbled and they got up. My most trusted soldier, Williams, steps forward and I take my hand from under my cheek ready to listen to the news- hopefully a good one.

“There has been no sign of her sire..” He muttered and I sighed in defect. “… However, we detected the smell of Rouges and we believe that Lady Celeste has been abducted.”

“Why so?” I asked and William walked up the steps to my throne and brings out a piece of torn clothing.

I inspected it turning it from side to side and then I realized that it was the same Material Celeste had on when she found out about my plans.

I brought it to my nose and took a long sniff of the cloth, The sweet scent of Celeste fills my nostril, though it somewhat smelt like mud but I could still detect her smell.

I got up from my throne, stalking towards the men lined up in front of me. My shoulder tense and my heart skipping so fast. I need to find Celeste.

“Gather twenty best soldiers and meet me outside the palace, we are going to find My queen” I muttered loudly to them and they bowed once more before running around, gathering more soldiers.

Closing the door to my room, I sat down on my bed and take the crown of my head placing it next to me on the bed. I rubbed my eyes tiredly and released a soft sigh then got up and walk towards my closet. I quickly change from my royal outfit into one of my battle suits and exit my room.

I met the royal soldiers outside the palace as they lined up all ready for battle but that was not the case, we are only going to track her, find where she’s been kept hostage and come back to the palace with a plan.

I growled as my body transformed, and I slouched like an animal, my suit clinging to my body as it was made to shrink and fit. My bones snapped, lengthened, and popped back into place. The growls and howls of my soldiers echoed with mine as our human voice turned into a beast’s wail. My senses heightened, and instincts dug deeper into my being.

On attaining my final form, I shake my fur and stretched my limbs, it been long I let my beast out.

I growled out and the attention of my soldiers snapped to mine and the composed themselves.

“We find Celeste but we do not attack, we are only going to track her down and come back to the palace” I said to them through mind link.

They growled out in respond and soon, we were running over the bridge and into the woods.

I couldn’t count how many hours we’ve been running, the orange sky was turning dark but I can’t stop, I won’t stop. I have to find her.

Slowing down my pace to a jog, I brought my nose to the ground sniffing for any sign that Celeste has been here. I growled out in annoyance I make a full sprint once more with my men behind me, dashing through trees and sniffing around.

The moon was now high in the sky as I stopped by a tree, Celeste’s scent was faint here but that was all I needed. I quickly shift into my human form, my suit expanding to accommodate my large form.

I squat down and picked up the leaves on the ground and sniffed. I gagged and quickly drop it down, wiping my nose with my left palm. The acidic smell of Rogues was something I could never tolerate.

Walking around with the moon as my torch, I tried finding anything that would lead me to her. This was becoming frustrating.

“Sire” one of my men called out to me and I turned around with a frown, not liking that i was distracted.

“We found something” He said and that Sparked my interest. I followed behind him as the leaves crunched underneath our feet.

He moved to the side letting me pass through. On a bush, was a very large chunk of the cloth Celeste was wearing the night she ran away from me.

I picked up the torn piece and took a sniff. Her scent was strong and fresh, surely she couldn’t be far.

“Search around for any clue, she can’t be far” I told them and they all gave me gave me weird looks but dare not say a word.

“What?” I snapped in annoyance, looking at them one after another.

“Your majesty, I don’t think she’s close by” One of the men said as he stepped forward. I gave him a puzzled look as he continued.

“The cloth was placed there on purpose your majesty, and so was this piece of paper.”

I snatched the piece of paper from his hand and inspected it. My body goes rigid as I stare at what was written on the paper- with fresh blood.

I know your secret.

I released a threatening growl and ball my hands into fits in the process squeezing the paper.

I walk around and tried tracking but there was nothing. Their smell had been masked and their tracks covered. Obviously Magic was involved.

“Return back to the palace, we’re done here” I said aloud and they nodded before shifting and waiting for me to lead. I sighed and tuck the piece of clothing into my suit before shifting and running back to the palace.

We got to the palace around four in the morning and I went straight to the kitchen grabbing a bottle of wine and glass.

I left the kitchen with the bottle in hand and walked to the balcony I had first met Celeste. Pouring myself a glass of wine, I downloaded it in one go and sighed.

I watched the early morning sun rise but I never left my position. The only movement I made was pouring wine from the bottle into the glass and drinking.

“Isn’t it to early to be drinking?” Mumbled a voice behind me.

I sighed and threw my head backward downing yet another glass.

“What do you want Cedric?” I asked in a bored tone as his footsteps became louder and closer to me.

“Came to check on my best friend” He said placing a hand on my shoulder. I eyed him from the corner of my eye.

“Don’t Bullshit me Cedric, what’d you really come here for?” I asked once more my tone firm as I shrugged his hand off my shoulder.

“You have to let go of the Past, Elijah” He muttered, going straight to the point and I tensed up knowing where this conversation is going to.

“I don’t have time for this” I said glaring at him and his glare matched mine.

“I warned you about this but you never listened” He mumbled, his blue eyes staring into mine.

“Don’t” I gritted out and balled my hands into a fist.

He scoffed and walked closer to me. “Seven years Elijah-seven fucking years she’s been dead yet you kept her soul trapped all because you couldn’t let go” He said as my body shook in anger.

“Do you think Samantha would be happy to have her soul trapped in another body huh? Do you think she would love you for doing that?” He spat, his voice shaking.

“Shut the fuck up!” I shouted at his face, the urge to punch his face intensifying.

“Even as your mate, Samantha never loved you”

I grabbed him by his shirt and pushed him down on the balustrade, his back arching as I pushed him harder on it.

“We were going to have a child” I murmured bringing my face closer to his. “We were going to build a family” I added in a whisper.

“You mean the one you forced in her?” He asked chuckling darkly and I froze with my lips parted.

Cedric brought his hands up to mine and released the grip I had on him.

“H-how how did you k-know” I stammered stumbling backwards.

“You raped her” He gritted out.

“She was my mate” I whispered, trying to justify what I did but deep down I knew I was wrong.

“And we were in love!” Cedric shouted taking me aback. “She took her life because she couldn’t stand to live with a monster like you” he spat looking at me with disgust.

“Get out” I whispered adverting his gaze and he scoffed before adjusting his suit.

“With pleasure.”