Angellove69

Ziaani never asked to be part of this world. One moment, she was living an ordinary life, and the next, she was dragged into a realm where vampires and werewolves ruled the night. Caught in the middle of a war she doesn't understand, she finds herself imprisoned in a dark castle, claimed by none other than Queen Nikita-the ruthless ruler of the vampires, feared by many, respected by all.

But there's one thing Nikita never expected. Ziaani isn't just another prisoner-she's the Queen's fated mate.

Fierce, stubborn, and unwilling to bend, Ziaani fights tooth and nail to escape, but the castle becomes a battlefield of its own. As much as she hates Nikita, there's an undeniable pull between them, something raw and dangerous lurking beneath their clashes. Slowly, as Ziaani starts to trust the Queen, whispers of prophecy rise in the shadows-she is the Chosen One, destined to either unite or destroy an entire species.

Betrayed by the revelation, Ziaani questions everything. Was Nikita's love real, or just a means to control her fate? Conflicted and heartbroken, she runs-but the moment she steps beyond the castle walls, she is taken once more. This time, by King Silas' son, Prince David, a werewolf convinced that Ziaani is his mate. Trapped in enemy hands, she must fight for her freedom while longing for the vampire queen she left behind.

With war looming, a prophecy unraveling, and love caught in the crossfire, Ziaani must make a choice-one that will change the supernatural world forever.

Can love defy destiny, or will fate tear them apart?

War between the bloodlines

What's happening? I asked myself after the Queen left. I was confused but pushed the thought aside when I noticed my door was open—meaning it wasn't locked. I stepped into the hallway, momentarily forgetting how massive this place was.

Sunlight poured in through an open door at the end of the hall, drawing me toward it. As I stepped outside, I found myself in a breathtaking garden. It was enormous—not that I was surprised. Everything in this place was. Flowers I'd never seen before covered the space, their colors more vibrant than anything I had ever encountered.

One flower, in particular, caught my eye. It was rainbow-colored, each petal a different shade.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" the Queen's voice came from behind me.

"Yeah," I replied, my eyes still locked on the flower. "What's it called?"

"Prism?" I repeated. And then it clicked. "Ohhh… that makes sense."

Before I could say anything else, one of her guards approached.

"Oh God," I heard the Queen mutter under her breath. "Again?" She turned to the guard.

"No, my Queen," the guard responded. "I just came to tell you we're ready to attack. My team is prepared."

"Good," the Queen said. "Thank you, Rose."

"Rose?" I repeated the name, glancing at the guard. She turned to look at me, her piercing eyes filled with both curiosity and danger. I immediately hid behind the Queen. I didn't know why, but being near her made me feel safe. That feeling was only growing stronger.

"You said my name," the guard noted, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Yeah… umm… wait, how did you hear me? I barely whispered it."

"I'm a vampire, remember?" she said, tapping her ear. "Super hearing is one of my abilities."

"Oh, right… vampires," I mumbled under my breath.

"I heard that," she said, tilting her head slightly to look at me. I quickly hid again.

The Queen chuckled before switching to another language as she spoke with Rose.

"Again with the different language… What are they saying?" I wondered, this time keeping the thought to myself.

After a moment, the Queen patted my back. "She's gone."

"You don't have to be scared of her," the Queen assured me.

"Wait, are we forgetting the time she nearly killed me? Because I can't. She may not have actually touched me, but she was coming for me—so, nope. Nuh-uh. Not happening," I said firmly.

"She won't hurt you. She knows I'd kill her if she did."

"No, I mean… why would you protect me? Why would you kill your own kind for me? A human?"

She hesitated, locking eyes with me. "It's… complicated. You won't understand yet."

"Yet?" I repeated, confused. "If you're going to tell me one day, what's the difference between now and then?"

"Because…" She trailed off. "Just trust me." Then, without another word, she turned and walked back toward the castle.

"Why am I here?!" I shouted after her.

She didn't answer. She just kept walking.

"I hate this place! I hate you!" I yelled, sinking onto the grass. Tears pricked my eyes. "I just want to go home."

A moment passed in silence before she finally spoke. "Okay. You want to leave so badly? Give me three months. If you still want to leave by February, you can go. But for now, I need you to trust me."

"Why?!" I demanded. "Why do you keep saying that? What am I supposed to be trusting you with? What exactly am I getting myself into?"

She said nothing. Just turned and walked away.

CHAPTER TEN