Winter

Leigha and Esta are stood either sides of me as we face the empty queen’s stand. When we first got here, the crowds of witches were going crazy. Screaming my name and Taliana's into the slightly cold air. I glance up just as a few snowflakes fall from the sky. 

It’s been a long time with us just stood here waiting. Leigha is tapping her foot and my guys are sending me worried glances. The large metal gate slowly opens, creaking as it does.

The queen walks out like she hasn’t got a care in the world. She is dressed in a long black dress; it sticks to her small body as she moves and has two massive slits on the side. I guess it’s for easy movement. The main difference is that she has the black crown on her head. I haven’t seen it since the first day and its power calls to me. Taliana looks paler than she usually does. I wonder why she doesn’t wear the crown all the time. It’s so powerful, like Jaxson’s and the vampire king’s that I’ve seen. The two witches I usually see with her are at her side, walking close to her under their large cloaks. I haven’t discussed it with the guys but I knew she would fight me. Dabriel couldn’t have seen anything, as he would have told the others or me. The guys wouldn’t want me fighting her but this is personal for her. She wants Atti. I’m the only thing in her way of taking Atti and the throne. She will get everything she has ever wanted, and I bet she doesn’t want to risk me winning this fight. Taliana stops around five feet in front us, the two witches at her sides undo their cloaks and let them all fall to the ground. I guess it’s three against three. At least the odds are fair.

"Let the best queen win," Taliana says, and she flashes straight in front of me. She throws a punch straight into my face but I’m trained enough to duck. Thank god for my power as a blue wave slams out of me and straight into her. I watch her fly across the stadium and hit the wall hard by the gate.

No one is taking Atti from me.

My hands glow blue as I walk towards her, she stands up and flashes again, this time I don't see her as she appears at my side and slams a kick into my stomach. I fly across the arena and hit my side as I land on the dusty ground.

Air leaves my chest as she raises her hand and a cold wave of wind pushes into me. I roll onto the ground, dust getting into my mouth and mixing with my blood. I hear a loud scream and turn to see Leigha just as she kills the light witch by shoving a dagger into her throat. I stand up a little shaky as my eyes meet Leigha’s as she drops the witches’ body and runs towards me.

"No!" The queen screams in anger and flashes to me again, this time behind me, her hand slides over my mouth as her arm holds me tightly. I feel like I’m drowning, water filling my lungs.

“Winter,” Atti shouts in my head, seconds before Taliana’s hand is removed and I fall to the ground. I cough up the water on my knees. I turn to see Leigha fighting with the queen, both of them just as good as the other, as they throw hit after hit.

“Bye wolfy,” I hear near me and snap my head over to see Esta fall to the ground. Her stomach ripped open and blood is everywhere. Her eyes meet mine and I know she can’t heal from this. An uncontrollable anger fills me when I see the witch standing over her. The dark witch turns to me with a smirk and raises her arms. I pull a dagger out of my belt and rush over, the witch cracks the earth I’m running under and I see her dark grey eyes glowing. Unfortunately for her, I just jump over the crack and kick her chest as hard as I can as I land. She falls backwards onto the ground. I follow, not feeling my feet on the ground as I walk slowly to her, seeing only my revenge. The fear in her eyes is clear as she watches me.

“My pack,” I say, my voice louder than before and it echoes around the silent arena. I don’t think about the witch as she pleads for her life as I slam my dagger into her heart. I watch the life leave her eyes before I turn and run to Esta. I pull her head into my lap and she gazes up at me, blood is pouring out of her mouth and I can hear Leigha fighting with Taliana in the background. I have to give Esta these last moments; no one deserves to die alone.

“Ask the goddess to forgive me,” she coughs out. I barely understand her words.

“Why?” I say quietly to her.

“It was me; I killed Fergus and let the vampires in. I wanted them to kill you and then I would have Jaxson as my mate. I love him,” she says. I watch in shock as she dies in my arms, the forgiveness she wanted I’m not sure I know how to give her, now that she is dead. Her blood feels warm against my hands as I hold her and yet she feels empty. Anna would hate her for this.

“I forgive you and your life was payment for that mistake,” I say, and look up to catch Jaxson’s eyes across the arena. I know he heard every word by the angry look he’s giving me. I don’t think he’s angry with me, but with Esta.  I can’t believe she did it. I let her body fall gently to the ground and glance over at Leigha as she fights Taliana. I’ve had enough.

I’m covered in blood as I walk over to both of them, my hands glowing and my power rising. Taliana gets the best of Leigha when she sends a blast of wind at her, Leigha flies across the arena. Taliana flashes to me. Just when she reappears in front of me, I pull for my power. It comes out in a wave as she grabs my arm, this time we both go flying together. She slams into the wall, my body driving hers further into the wall, as her grip on my arm loosens enough for me to pull away.

I wipe the blood off my lip, standing at the same time she does.  She smirks before throwing a stream of fire at me. With no time to save myself, and being so close to her, the blue fire consumes me. 

"No!" I hear Atti scream in my mind. The ground shakes and I have no doubt that it’s Jaxson’s power. The fire doesn’t hurt my skin; in fact it feels good.

I walk forward, my clothes burning away as I pull the dagger out my belt and hold it at my side. The handle is burning hot but doesn’t hurt anymore. This must be what I got from Atti. I can’t see the queen but I don’t need to. I know she’s close to me, I can see her hand. I throw the dagger and the fire disappears.

The crowd is silent as they watch their dark queen hold a hand over the dagger in her heart.

Taliana dies, my silver eyes reflecting back at me in her own dark ones, and the crown rolls off her head as she falls. I look at her dead body, feeling a little sadness, I didn’t want to have to kill her but there wasn’t much choice. When did I become this person that just killed two people and didn’t feel anything doing it?

I glance over as Atti appears next to me, he wraps his cloak around my naked body, which I’m suddenly very grateful for. I don’t know how I forgot I’m naked. Bloody hell, Alex is going to love this story if I don’t tell her the whole part about me nearly getting killed. I glance at Atti, knowing I would do anything for him. I would do anything for any of my men. I reach down and pick the crown up, feeling its power rush over me. That’s why Taliana was so powerful; it’s the crown.

Atti keeps his hand on my back as I turn in his arms; I lift the crown with both my glowing blue hands.

"My king," I say loudly and the witches cheer, their support shouted in our minds and the sound of their clapping hands.

Atti lowers his head and I put the crown on his head. He straightens up and winks at me.

King Atticus Lynx of the witches has finally taken his rightful place.