“Now I’m no virgin. The beast had me, but wants more.”

“This is my fate and it has been sealed.” – Ava Goodchild

…

“I want you.”

Caspian purred out. “To bear my pups as my mate.”

Closing it off with a kiss.

I closed my eyes, taking in the sensation of his hands roaming over my body.

His angelic voice and dark long hair sweeping across his face beautifully. All like a magical fantasy.

“Do you want it too? Do you want me?” he asked.

That was it.

I didn’t know.

I didn’t know what I wanted anymore.

“I missed you, Caspian.” I replied truthfully.

Totally ignoring his questions.

“I miss you.”

I woke up in my room, with my eyes coated around my tears. It must have been from the dream I had.

And perhaps, my body’s way of saying it craved our mate. Ever since the tournament with Lydia, he won’t talk to me.

Not that I didn’t have much on my plate already.

I mean since that day with Tania, I had a hard time trusting people’s true intentions.

How did she succeed in covering her love with hate?

Felicia was another mystery to unravel.

I had a hard time trusting her as my assistant. This was why I wanted Emily to be by my side till we figured something out.

“Your food, My Knight.”

Cassandra said with a bow, bringing a silver platter with some meal and berries by the side.

That jeered me out of my thoughts.

“Didn’t even hear you come in.” I remarked, as she dropped it on the table.

“I made sure to knock as usual. You seemed lost in thoughts, Lady Ava.” she stated.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah sure.” I answered with a smile. “Join me.”

“I’m afraid duty calls, My Knight.” she said with a bow. “Perhaps later should sound okay with you.”

“Oh, that’s fine Cass.”

I answered as I ate.

My wolf tugged at me but I ignored her. She wished our mate held us while we slept at night.

I also felt glad a bit because this was the first time I ate without having to struggle for food.

And the first time I’d be served with a silver platter and not a bronze as a pawn.

“Send these to Emily and Piper if you don’t mind.”

I muttered, giving her a fair share for them while she was leaving.

“As you wish, milady.” she said with a bow.

After she went out, someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Felicia immediately entered with the book of rules in her hands.

“Lady Ava, I have come to inform you of what you have to do as the castle’s Knight.” she spoke fiercely.

It was almost as if she entirely forgot about our last encounter.

“Go on.” I waved, letting out as she opened the book.

“A Knight should be groomed to be with bravery, loyalty and truthfulness.” she read.

After her reveal as Francesca’s twin, I couldn’t just help but see her differently.

Yes, she was the good twin.

But being connected to Francesca, was really disturbing.

“Defending her Kingdom at times, she should be the warfront leader. Laying down her life for His Majesty.”

I watched how stern her lips appeared, while she said those words.

“She should also lead and guide the pawns diligently grooming them, for the beast.”

Grooming them for the beast?

That was almost impossible.

“Let’s go, Felicia.”

I stood up saying.

“To where?” she asked.

“Let’s get to work.” I answered.

Didn’t even know if I didn’t want to hear those words, or jealousy got the best part of me.

If it was the latter, I really had to decide on what I wanted.

“W-work? Milady, we’re not finished yet.”

She commented, with her eyes locked to the ground.

“Yes correct, but we should start from somewhere right?” I stated hurriedly.

My hands swept over my hair as I put on my clothes.

The violet ones Lydia previously wore.

“I presume, yes but--”

“We should go now.” I interrupted, straightening my gown and walking to the door with my head up high.

Opening the door, I stepped out heading to the dining room where the pawns where gathered.

“The rules has to be followed to prevent a penalty, Knight Ava.”

She hastily followed with the book in her hands, saying.

“Then tell me whenever I’m wrong. Aren’t you by my side?”

I didn’t wait for her to say anything else, instead I barged into the dining for pawns.

Surprisingly, the same guards that I hid from in the past, bowed down in respect to me.

Seemed like being the Knight had its perks.

“Good morning, pawns.”

My words said at the 23 of them gathered at the breakfast arena.

“As the new Knight, today would be different and unusual.” I added.

My eyes searched for Emily to tell her the news.

I wanted her to be my assistant and bring Piper in with me.

A loud scream distracted me from my thoughts and words.

Everyone gasped in fear at it. I immediately looked towards where the scream came from.

My eyes widened instantly.

“What happened here?”

A pawn girl squatted on the floor just ahead of us.

Beside her was Emily and in her hands was a blood-stained fork.

I noticed the pawn girls were divided into two groups. While Tania led the first, Emily led the second. On their faces were angry looks, just like they were having a clash.

“She tried eliminating me so I h-had to do something.” Emily muttered, dropping the stained fork on the floor.

Blood seeped from a pawn girl’s body who looked like she was long time dead.

It looked like it pierced just through her neck.

“By killing her?”

I asked her, with a glance at the amount of blood on her clothing.

“Ava, it’s not what you think--it was an accident.”

She explained.

But by the looks on the girls faces, they wanted revenge. I had to do something to stop this. To protect them from eliminating her, perhaps at night.

Since I wasn’t there for her.

“Felicia,” I called.

“Yes, My Knight?” she replied, running hurriedly to my side.

“What does the rule book say in regards to incidences like this?”

I asked her, with my heart pounding in fast paces.

Emily was going to hate me for this.

“In a game, participants are allowed to take their lives if required. If not, and a participant does, here is the penalty,”

“Isolation from others.”

“When seen as a threat, banishment from the game.” she concluded.

Emily widened her eyes, walking up to me with a frightened look.

“S-She came at me, I didn’t mean to harm her.”

“Guards!” I called out, hoping she understood.

I’d never betray her but I needed to put the girls minds at ease. So no harm would come to her.

“Put her in the isolation arena.” I stated.

“Ava really?” she said.

“That would be Knight to you, Emily.” I seethed.

Maybe I overdid it.

But it was to protect her.

“I trusted you.”

She said with a look of hurt, as they dragged her away.

I dismissed the girls, before going to train. However, I felt a sickly feeling thus, came swiftly to my chambers to rest.

A dizzy feeling washed past me, as I came inside. My eye sight turning to a blur.

“Lady Ava!”

I heard someone yell. But couldn’t answer.

Slowly, I fell on the floor and from the weak feeling.

***

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