Chapter 18


    Chapter 18


    Ana POV


    I am beyond annoyed with shopping. I hate it, it sucks. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and


    sighed. My stomach growled as I turned and opened the fitting room door to show the outfit off and


    hoped for approval. I was ready to leave and get lunch.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    By the look on Amber’s face I knew she instantly approved. She nodded her head “Girl. This. Is. FIRE!”


    She walked circles around me inspecting me from head to toe.


    “I guess I look okay.” I shrugged.


    “Okay? Girl you look amazing!” Sheplimented me again as my stomach growled in protest. “Okay


    go change and we can go eat. We need to start looking for your dress, and then party nner has a


    meeting at four.”


    I walked back into the fitting room, changed my clothes, and went and paid for the items. Except the


    cashier wouldn’t ept Everest card. She would slide it and say it was declined.


    “Sorry? Let me call someone really quick, stay here. It may be our system.” She walked off with his


    card before I could say anything.


    “That is weird.” Ambermented.


    I nodded in agreement. It was weird and why did she take the card? I didn’t like this feeling but I didn’t


    want to get into trouble by going into her back office.


    “Stay here Amber. I don’t like that she took Everests credit card. I’m going to get it back.” I smiled.


    “Oooo. Acting like the future Queen already! Don’t take her s**t!” Sheughed.


    I don’t know where this confidence came from or this bravery but I hopped the counter and walked into


    the back of the establishment. When I did the girl was on the phone before she screamed a blood


    piercing sound for no reason.


    “Help! Hurry! She’s going to kill me!” She yelled. “What? No! I just want the credit card back! Give it to


    me, now!”I put my hand out and red. “No! It’s not yours!” She screamed at me “You theif!”


    Well she was right, it didn’t have my name but my mates name. “I know but he’s my mate. Give me his


    card, please.”


    “No.You’re not wearing a mark!” She took off deeper into the room and headed for the back door. I


    followed her, trying to get the card back. Why didn’t she believe me? I just didn’t understand. Everest


    was here three days ago with me. She helped us and now she doesn’t understand or believe me.


    I left my phone out the front with Amber but this woman was just infuriating. I watched her run out the


    back door and when I followed I saw a man standing with her, a smile on his face.


    ”That is her! She is trying to kill me! Help please!”


    The man who was well above six feet with broad shoulders only watched me and not saying a word he


    turned to the girl. “This is Prince Everests mate. She is not trying to kill you, you silly girl.”


    She looked at me and nodded “I am sorry.”


    I nodded my head and went to speak when the rm went off through the city. An explosion then was


    heard and I turned my head in the direction of the noise. I saw a smoke cloud in the direction of the


    castle and gasped. I heard a gasp and the sound of a thud. When I turned to look, the girls neck was


    sliced open and sheid lifeless on the ground. Then everything was ck.


    Dexter POV


    Everything was going ording to my n. An update was sent to my phone by all of my reliable


    sources. The King was now dead, the rm was cut off by the explosion of theirmunications


    tower. I still paced back and forth. Sarah was knocked out somewhere in the castle and I am sure


    Everest was hunting for his father’s killer by now. Avalynn was on her way to me, the poor store clerk


    was a casualty that was necessary. She almost ruined the kidnapping and saw my right hands face.


    She had to go, unfortunately for her.


    He and another had Avalynn and were traveling in an unmarked SUV. I paced back and forth anxious


    and excited to see her. I hoped that they had remembered to give her the medicine that the witch gave


    1. It would dissolve on her tongue so she doesn’t choke. The medicine would make her feel a pull to


    me


    almost as if we were mates, and suppress her Lycan for a few days.


    I smiled and knew I would have my hands full but in the end it would be worth it. Everything was


    leading to this to us.


    My witch departed early this morning, on the specific path that we would take. Sheid out a masking


    concoction to hide Avalynns scent until we were miles outside the territory and no longer traceable.


    Even though Avalynn is unmarked, I figured Everest would still know when something happened. It


    would feel as if something wasn’t right. But I hoped that the feeling he would assume was his father’s


    death.


    Her friend, on the other hand, that was with her, wore the mark of her mate and i knew he would


    know when we knocked her out that something was seriously wrong. We would have to get out of here


    as quickly as possible. I continued to pace as I waited for their arrival.


    Everest POV


    I was walking down the hall and runningte for a meeting when a group of our warriors were running


    towards me. I knew that something was wrong, terribly wrong. I tried to link my father and it was silent. I


    felt this strange feeling creeping over my skin. It mimicked chills but there was no bumps on my


    arms. I tried to link him again as the men reached me but the link was gone. My father was dead, I just


    knew it.


    “What has happ-” before I could finish the sentence a siren sounded, cutting through the air like the


    F


    cold wind on a winters day. It was the distress signal and then it cut off abruptly as an explosion shook


    the floor under my feet. The walls rattled and the photos and pictures hanging shook, some falling and


    breaking as they crashed onto the floor.


    My men and I looked at each other with panicked expressions for a moment. Something was wrong,


    very wrong.


    “Your father! He was murdered! We found Sarah unconscious in the hallway, bleeding from her


    head!” Finally Finn spoke breaking the silence.


    My father was attacked and died, Sarah was attacked. “Is Sarah okay?”


    “I had someone take her to the hospital. It looks as if she was struck in the back of the head and the


    blow knocked her unconscious. She should make it.” Finn spoke again.


    “My mate! Can anyone confirm if she’s okay?” I asked the group of men.


    Suddenly shouting was heard by Jameson


    “Everest! Everest! Something is wrong!” Jameson was running full speed and shaking uncontrobly


    undoubtedly fighting control with his Lycan.


    “What is it?” I asked him, but I knew it wasn’t good.


    “I can’t feel her. I felt like my head was dizzy and now she’s not responding to my link. She’s alive!


    know it but she’s hurt I can feel it!”


    “Dear Goddess..” I looked around and felt my stomach flip.


    “Everest..” Jameson trailed off.


    “What?” I looked back at him.


    “Everest, Amber was with Avalynn.” He looked at me and I could feel his worry and panic.


    I felt nothing but rage. My Lycan beast was pushing to get out. I need to find her. Damn it I should of


    put a tighter security detail on her. s**t!


    Without saying a word all of us were rushing down the hallway. We made it to the office and when I


    walked in my father’s body was stillying on the floor. His head waspletely ripped from his body


    and I fell to my knees. I don’t know how long I was down there or how long I had been screaming but


    my men were there for me. Calling my name, bringing me back to focus.


    “Shut it down. All passageways. Find me the bastard responsible for this. We need to find Amber. We


    must find Avalynn. Find my mother and make sure she is okay and bring her here. She needs to say


    her goodbyes before we move my father’s body. No one stops, no one sleeps until we make sure


    Amber and Avalynn are both okay. Send someone to the hospital to be with Sarah and notify me


    immediately when she wakes up. Do you understand? Immediately!”


    “Yes your grace.” They all said together and split. Jameson stayed at my side and we walked out of the


    office.


    “Do you know where they were shopping today?” I asked him and he nodded. “Go. Start with whatever


    store and keep moving until you find her. I will link you as soon as I can. I


    need to sit with my mother first and have my father removed.” He nodded and was gone.


    Theard my mothers sobs before I saw her. My heart was breaking by each ragged breath she took. I


    knew she already knew of his death because the mate bond was severed. It’s like a piece of our soul


    dies when our mate dies, or so I’ve heard. If you aren’t strong enough it could kill your mate too. I was


    worried for my mother. Would I lose her too?


    My mother now stood in front of me, leaning against my body as she cried for my dead father. We


    walked into the office and she fell to her knees by his side. She cried over his body and looked up at


    me with tear stained cheeks and blood shot eyes.


    “Everest you find the monster who did this and give me their head.” Her jaws were clenched as she


    stood. “I will handle this. I heard your mate is missing and Amber is missing. Go find them. I am sure


    this is


    all rted. Go now!” Her voice was strong and I kissed her cheek and went to find my mate.


    I linked Jameson “Any luck finding Amber?”


    “No. I have tried linking her to no avail. I’m at the first store and they hadn’t made it here yet.”


    Even


    through the link you could hear his panic and worry.


    “What other stores did they go to?” I questioned. “The ones by Riverside and Creekmore.” He told me.


    “I’ll meet you there.” I cut the link and made my way there.


    When I arrived I met Jameson outside to a shop that looked like something Amber would drag Avalynn


    into. It appeared to be an upscale boutique. When we walked it we noticed that not only was it empty


    but there appeared to be a struggle that took ce. There were racks knocked over and clothes strown


    all over the ce. I found one of my guards with a bullet to the head and fear crept back into my


    body.


    “Amber! Amber! Baby are you here, please answer! Amber!” Jameson called out to his mate. We


    followed the path of destruction and found her cell phone broken into a thousand pieces. I linked for


    help to arrive at our location and they should be here shortly.


    We soon found her unconscious with a pool of blood around her head and a few stab wounds to her


    torso. Jameson scooped her up in his arms and a tear streamed down his face as he spoke to her. She


    was breathing and her wounds looked like they were already beginning the healing process, which was


    a very good sign.


    Tinhaled and could still faintly smell my mates scent. I followed it to the counter and walked around to


    the small door and pushed through it. There I stepped over another one of my dead body guards who


    had the same fate as the other. My blood was boiling as I followed her scent to the back door. When I


    stood there that’s when I saw a lifeless body of a girlying in the middle of back lot. Her neck had


    been sliced, poor girl never stood a chance. I walked down the steps looking around. Sitting just a few


    feet away from her was a card, I kneeled down and picked it up. I turned it over and my breath caught


    in, my throat. Anger and panic consumed me when I saw that it was my credit card I had given to


    Avalynn for shopping. She was here, she is gone. I looked around and noticed ck tire marks left


    behind from where they took off


    too fast. My Lycan came to the surface and I let out a sickening howl, running in the direction and


    following her faint scent.