Filed to story: Wolf Crying Mate of the Alpha by Jazz Ford
I bring my attention to Ogrun, ‘I’m hoping not much has happened while we’ve been gone?’
He straightens, stiffens and nervously looks around and bites over the small tusk that protrudes from under his top lip. He looks like he is seeking a black hole to swallow him up.
Impatient, I begin to tap my fingers on the table and give him a sharp stare.
‘Well, you see…. A lot has surprisingly happened,’ he shrugs.
‘Spit it out, Ogrun,’ Valkrim warns.
Ogrun takes a deep breath and blurts it all out at once, ‘After you all left, and they were in the field, dragons attacked them. All the children but one were captured and flown away as well as most of the adults including Magnus and King Damon. The witches and the mage could use magic against the dragons, so they weren’t taken away. Nina and Sir Hugo also managed to escape the dragons.
They became distraught and decided, since they were close to Mystic Pride, to continue to go there, where Nina then created a star portal. Then Ember suddenly turned into a fox, and the children fell to the ground sound asleep and couldn’t be woken. The spell that kept children asleep during the old war has returned, so in order for Amber to change back and the children to wake the war must end to break it, which means putting an end to Thypon.
Nina and Sir Hugo then entered the star portal to Moon Crest Castle and found Magnus, King Damon, and the others locked up individually in cages hanging from different heights outside the castle wall. They tried to free them but were attacked by Minotaurs and Harpies. As Nina was about to fall to her death, Alec came out of the shadows and flashed by, catching Nina just in time. Thypon was returning to the castle and knew they could not save Magnus and the others at this time, so they fled with Sir Hugo following a fair distance behind them.
While waiting for Sir Hugo to catch up, Alec and Nina found an injured dragon whom Nina ended up helping. The dragon then flew Nina around half of Mysteria, and she named him Vermillion, who has now pretty much become her pet. She has not long arrived in Thornwell and just gone to sleep for the night,’ he says, panting and catching his breath.
‘Wands!’ I say, tapping my fingers on the table and staring down at Atlanta in thought.
I hover my hand over the orb and think of Nina. It lights up and shows her to me, asleep in a bed.
‘Okay,’ I say, staring up at Cerridwen, Valkrim and Ogrun. I summon a teapot and teacups, filling each cup with sweet tea. ‘Drink this. It will make you all fall asleep for a short while. I will bring you all into my dream so we can all talk and interact with Nina. I will dream of our Celestial world so we will be here in a dream state as well as physically.’
They reach for the tea cups and drink. Within a minute, their eyes close, and their heads tilt down. I close my eyes and bring Cerridwen, Ogrun and Valkrim into my dream.
‘Is something meant to happen?’ Cerridwen asks, opening her eyes. ‘I’m still waiting to fall asleep,’ she says.
I laugh and smile at her, ‘You’re already asleep and inside my dream,’ I say to her.
‘Are you sure?’ she asks and punches Valkrim in the shoulder.
‘Ow! What was that for?’ he says, rubbing his arm.
‘I’m checking if we’re in a dream,’ she replies.
‘You’re asleep and, in my dream, but you did just physically punch Valkrim in your sleep next to you,’ I laugh.
‘Oh!’ she looks at Valkrim and laughs nervously, ‘Sorry!’ she says.
‘Mhmm,’ he grizzles.
‘So, what now?’ she asks.
‘Now, I must enter Nina’s sleep and bring her into this dream.’
I focus my mind and bring Nina into my dream of the celestial world with us in it. Once I find her, she finally appears in my dream on the violet grass in the celestial world.
Snowbelle greets her and rubs her face against Nina’s shin.
‘This is the second time I’m having this dream,’ Nina says to Snowbelle. ‘It’s so strange because it feels so real. The grass under my feet and even when I pat you,’ she says.
Nina looks up at the glimmering night sky.
‘Nina,’ I whisper
‘Is someone there?’ she asks, turning.
‘Nina,’ I say again and then begin to hum.
Finally, Nina begins to follow the sound of my voice, reaching the front of my castle made from crystal. I use my mind to make the doors open for her. She enters and admires the moving paintings on the wall
As she comes to the end of the corridor, I again use my mind to open the two large crystal blue doors that lead to the grand hall we are in.
Nina looks up to see Cerridwen, Ogrun and Valkrim sitting at the table and then gazes at me as my smile widens at her arrival.
‘Nina, we have been waiting for you,’ I say to her.
‘Where am I? Who are you?’ she asks, stepping closer.
I extend my hand towards the table, ‘Please, take a seat, and all will be explained,’ I reply.
I return to my seat as Nina cautiously approaches and sits between Ogrun and Valkrim.
‘What is this place?’ she asks.
‘This is the Celestial world where deities reside. Even though it looks identical to the real place, you are in my dream that envisions it. It’s the only way we can communicate due to the veil being closed,’ I say to her.
‘Wait! The Celestial world? The veil to Mysteria?’ she says.
I nod. ‘You’re the moon goddess?’ she squeals in disbelief.
I nod again, and she jumps up from her seat. ‘If you’re the moon goddess, Selene, then you must be Ogrun?’ she says, pointing at him. He nods and salutes, and then she turns to Valkrim. ‘And you would be Valkrim, and you, Cerridwen?’ she says now, pointing across the table.
‘Pleasure to meet you, Nina,’ Valkrim grins.
‘Yes, a pleasure for sure,’ Cerridwen smiles.
‘Now that the introductions are out of the way, we can focus on why we have summoned you here in my dream. We know what is happening in Mysteria. Unfortunately, my sister, Atlanta, released Thypon and told him about Mysteria. He entered not long before the veil closed.’
‘Is there a way you can all stop Thypon from here in the celestial world?’ Nina asks.
I meet her hopeful gaze and look away with guilt. ‘Unfortunately, we cannot stop Thypon unless we enter Mysteria, which we cannot for quite some time, as you already know,’ I reply.
Nina leans back and sinks a little in her chair in disappointment.
‘There is some good news, though,’ I say to her.
Nina tilts her head and narrows her eyes in curiosity, ‘I’m listening,’ she says contently.
‘Bef ore the veil closed. We summoned the sceptre of divine power, and I dropped it through the veil. I saw mountains, but there are many in Mysteria. I was… disrupted during the moment and couldn’t focus on exactly which mountain it landed in.’
Nina’s eyes widen in realisation, ‘Wait! During the solstice. I saw something small and shiny fall from the sky above the Oakpaw mountains.’
‘Good, now, when you wake up from this dream. I will need you to go there and retrieve the sceptre. We have selected you specifically to use it. Under no circumstances must you let anyone else wield it. It must always stay with you until you’re ready to activate it,’ I say to Nina.
‘What exactly does this sceptre of divine power do once it’s activated? Is it a wand that will strike him down or banish him?’ Nina asks me curiously.