Filed to story: Sorry Alpha I Am Wolfless Novel
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The magic was pulling me but I could still make out the room that I was laying in. I could still feel Joaquin laying next to me. I could feel his hand gently stroking up and down my arm. I tried to call out to him, to let him know what was happening, but I couldn’t do anything. I was just free falling through space, yet somehow tethered to reality.
I fell and fell for what felt like a long time. But oddly enough it looked like I was moving up not down. Was I falling up? If I could have turned my head to look away from my room with Joaquin then I would have. But no, I was locked in place.
The view was still there before me, but much smaller. I had stopped moving but it now felt like I was floating in the air, weightless and bobbing up and down slightly. This was worse than when I made myself levitate earlier.
“We meet again.” A male voice reverberated around me, seemingly to come from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. The voice was deep and familiar, and seemed to rattle my bones.
“Thoth?” I asked with shock filling my voice.
“We need to speak to you, young one.” Nehalennia’s smooth voice joined Thoth’s.
“What is going on?” I asked them.
“You exhausted yourself.” Thoth spoke immediately.
“We’re happy that you are learning and taking things seriously, but you need to learn when you’re at your limits.”
“So this will be the extent of my power?” I asked with sadness filling my voice. I had done a lot, yes, but being Queen I had hoped for more.
“Not in the least.” Thoth’s voice held a soothing edge. “But you are just learning. And you have been going nonstop for the last few days. Your body is not ready for that yet. You need to work your way up, so to speak.”
“What will my capacity be?” I asked him.
“As you are the Queen of my people, you will need to have the highest quantity of magic possible. You will have more power than any other witch or warlock. But your body is not yet used to using it. That is why you need to move slowly.” Thoth was being kind in his words but was ultimately just telling me I was stupidly powerful but I was equally stupid for rushing into things. Great, this was going to be easy. Not!
“You have been doing well, so worry not. You handled those traitors with perfection. I did not even need to send you my guidance. That means you are learning how to behave like a leader. Trust those close to you, the team you have is one of great talent and wisdom.”
“Thank you Nehalennia.” I put as much sincerity into my voice as I could. It meant so much to me to know that I had earned her approval.
“You are making great strides. And we thank you for learning your histories. Please, make sure you guide our peoples, lead them into a new life of unity.” Thoth’s voice was wistful as if he were speaking of a dream he has had for a long time.
“We trust you, young one. That is why we chose you.”
“Was it on purpose?” I asked them, feeling as if they were getting ready to leave.
“Was what on purpose?” Thoth wondered.
“Did you each decide to choose me coincidentally or was it planned?”
“From the moment of your conception, there have been no coincidences.” Nehalennia’s words cause a shiver to run up my spine.
“There were things that we did not plan for. That is for certain. But we knew the eventual outcome.” Thoth added.
“Did you know my mother was going to kill herself? Did you know my father and his goons were going to kidnap and torture me?” I was getting angry now, my words coming in a rush.
“Those were not planned for, no. We knew you would be the successor for the both of us. And that with the power you receive from us there will always be someone there to try and steal it from you.”
“Is there another traitor among us?” I needed to know this, we had to keep ourselves safe and protected.
“He is not among you yet.” Thoth answered.
“For now he is nothing more than a shadow looming in your future.” Nehalennia added.
“It is possible that he may never cross your path.”
“But if he does, you will be ready for him.” Her words brought the discussion to an end. I felt them slipping away from me.
With their departure it was like the magic holding me in the air snapped. I felt myself freefalling all the way back to my bed. The scene rushed up to me so fast that I wanted to scream, but I held my tongue.
My body didn’t move at all, but I felt my mind jolt with the abrupt landing. Light was visible around the edges of my vision. The darkened curtains letting just the barest traces of light through.
It was already morning. How long did I spend talking to them? Was the time mostly spent falling up and falling back down? This night was a blur. And I still felt so exhausted. Dammit, didn’t they tell me I was too tired already? Now they go and keep me up all night. When am I supposed to sleep?
I felt Joaquin stirring next to me, having woken for the day. He kissed the top of my head and slid out of the bed. He probably thought I was still asleep and didn’t want to wake me up.
I heard him head across the room and into the bathroom. He left the door open so I was able to hear the shower start and I could even smell his soap when he was washing. It was a special bottle with cinnamon and chocolate that Lila had bought for him after they finally pried out what he smelled like to me. He also had one that smelled like the forest after a rainstorm, that one was my personal favorite.
When I heard the shower stop I listened to what it was he was doing. I heard the slide of the towel against his body. If I was going to be stuck imobile as an inanimate object then I would have preferred to be his towel. Then I could have still touched him even if I couldn’t move.
I just continued to listen on, imagining what he looked like during the different stages of his morning routine. I wasn’t scared this time like I was the last time. I had exhausted myself to the point of being a vegetable before. But I could be brought out of it, I just needed to wait.
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