James' POV

I relax on the couch in Artemis' living room in her Princess suite as her and her closest friend here, Chelsea gets ready with Artemis' maid, Anna. Feeling a bit stifled in a monkey suit, I try to distract myself by refreshing my memory on the High Lords and Ladies of the Faerie Court. Over the four plus years that Artemis and me have been friends, I've come to remember and even like some of the High Lords, some of them respecting and acknowledging my position as Alpha rather than sneering down on it with pity. Lady and Lord Blazen of the House of Fire are my particular favorites along with the outspoken and headstrong Lord Azrin. Things are always amusing whenever they are in attendance.

Though if I get the chance I'd rather avoid the House of Water in particular. They're a stuck up old fashioned family that puts blood purity and natural born strength above all else. Well except power of course. Which they have in abundance, not that they don't take the chance to remind everyone of this when there's a second to spare.

I hear Anna, Chelsea and Artemis begin to wrap things up and I stand from the couch and turn around to see Artemis in a stunning golden day dress, with Chelsea in an adorning green to match her pledged Household. From what she's told me she's the second in Command to Lord Delwyn Wells- the High Lord of the House of Earth. They're the second strongest Division within the entire Faerie Army. He's also the youngest Faerie in history to become a High Lord so it makes sense that between her close ties with Artemis and the House of Earth, why Chelsea would be able to attend such an exclusive event.

And also probably why some hate my attendance. You can learn a lot from High Court.

"You ladies look as beautiful as ever." I say sweeping a dramatic bow that has Artemis rolling her eyes and Chelsea pretending she's not blushing.

"Why thanks, your wolfiness. Let's go before we're chewed out for being late." Artemis says, shooing the two of them from the living room and towards the grand doors adorned with Faeries slaying Daemons and Forsaken alike with majestic grace visible even through carved stone.

'How come they're the only ones who gets to wear a dress? I have the legs and ass of a super model. We're depriving the world of perfection James. That's a serious offense.' Sloan shames me, shaking his head in disappointment as Artemis opens toe doors, two of her personal gaurds standing on either side.

I recognize the twins Marco and Marcus as they turn, hands resting causally on their blades, with their noses already scrunched up. "Who put the beast in a dress?" Marco asks, making a face as his brother laughs, the guards further down the hall stifle their own laughter, trained to keep straight faces through any situation. Except lifelong friends and now guards making fun of their dearest friend, sister and Princess.

Something they would be executed for if anyone ever found out, though I suspect it's only because of Artemis' fondness of them that they haven't been already.

"Shut the hell up and escort your goddamn Princess." Artemis retorts, snapping at them to hurry. They bicker at each other as we walk down the hall and through the maze that is this castle towards the Throne room. Anna and I catch up as we wind through the halls, more examples of the Faeries superior attitude decorate across the walls and display glasses, showcasing their strength and history.

It takes a lot for me to not roll my eyes.

'I'll do it for you. Pretentious assholes. Everything will be different when Artemis is Queen.' Sloan adds and I can't help but agree with him.

We finally reach the throne room, the doors thrown open in invitation, inviting music and the warm welcoming smell of food pulls us in, Artemis' guards peeling off our tails to go stand along the perimeter of the room along with the other guards and servants.

I step forwards to stand beside Artemis, Chelsea on the other side, and offer the Princess my arm, reminding myself to use her titles while we're here.

We step further into the room, and with Artemis leading the way we head towards the Throne where her mother and father sit, staring down their noses even at the High Lords and Ladies as they mingle and debate. Even just sitting there, the hair on my arm raises at the old deep mama they have, the power leaking out of them in waves as if a subtle reminder to everyone here that they would die in an instant if they dared to cross them. The Queen's hair is slicked back into a perfect low bun, her crown sparking and dead center, her pointed ears adorned in fine jewelry to match the intricate crown. Her flawless face is adorned in light make up, her lips line in a deep plum color to match the extravagant dress that hugs her beautiful figure perfectly.

Her golden eyes are sharp as they scan the room, her sharpened black nails drum on the throne chair softly as she eyes Lord Azrin Viletto while the High Lord of Mind talks to one of the Royal Adviors, wine glass in hand.

The man beside her, her husband and king, is unimpressive. His clothes are fine and his face is as flawless as any Faeries but there's nothing extraordinary about him. He seems about the most ordinary man I've ever seen even with his pointed ears and bold blue eyes. Except for his kind eyes that seem to watch and learn his people rather than judge and despise them. I've been told that he's from the Southern continent where another Faerie Kingdom can be found. In order to secure a relationship between the two Kingdoms five hundred years ago, they gave over Arthur, the High Lord of Water in their Kingdom to the rising Queen Arla at the time.

We finally reach the couple and I stay behind as Artemis climbs the stairs to the throne, two smaller ones seated behind the couple for the Princess and her seemingly absent brother.

I watch as Queen Arla's smile turns downward when she sees who Artemis brought, but I ignore the look in favor of Arthur's nod of respect that comes when I catch his eye.

After a few strained words with her mother than I chose not to listen to, Artemis descends down the stairs and motions for me to follow her towards the decedent buffet set out for the attendants.

"You okay?" I ask Art, but she only shrugs off my concern, lightning up when another royal child beckons for the Princess' attention. I let her go, staying beside the table, but worry bites are me, knowing her smile was a little too forced and her shoulders a little too stiff for me to believe she's alright. But knowing I'm not going to get anywhere here, I turn towards the food, my mouth watering at alluring smells of the rare meats that adorn the table, some animals only being found in the forrest surrounding the Faeries here in Melamar.

A servant grabs a plate and follows me as I pick out the things I want to try, trying not to be annoyed over not being able to do it myself. As I wait for everything to be gathered on my plate and brought to a table, I feel someone come up behind me. When I turn, I smile when I see that it's Azrin Viletto.

"Lord Azrin, it's good to see you again." I tell him and I mean it, always enjoying his stories of of adventure and trouble he's always getting into. He's the second youngest High Lord, his predecessor killed unexpectedly during his visit at the castle.

"Young James! I wasn't sure which wolf I would see today, but I told Artemis I would much rather she bring an honorable wolf than some narcissist from this lot." He tells me honestly, and he doesn't lower his tone even a notch, ignoring the way other Houses and even some of the Royal family look at him.

'Oh my goddess! This man can have me!' Sloan swoons when he sees who's talking, Lord Azrin being his crush since we met the man three years ago.

"Well, I'm glad it was me that came." I tell him just as the servant comes with my food, gesturing for me to follow him towards a table. "Would you like to join me? I'm about to eat." The High Lord agrees and we head towards a table with a mana light lamp, the color of the light turning a bright purple color as the Lord of Mind settles into one of the chairs around the small table.

I start to eat, trying not to embarrass myself by moaning at the food, and listen as Azrin clears his throat. I'm surprised when I actually have to focus through the noise to hear, his near yelling not present which only puts me in high alert though I try not to show it, not wanting to draw unwanted attention.

"Young, James, has their been an increase of crime in your Pack Territory? Not just petty crimes. Almost as if they're getting worse over time?" The question is simple but the seriousness in his voice makes me think before I answer, keeping my voice just as low.

"Actually, there has been. My Beta has been keeping me informed, but there's been an increase in reports of minor incidents that grow in severity by the day it seems like. When I checked in with the pack before heading here, he and my advisor actually pulled me aside to tell me that a kid has gotten attacked on the way home from school in broad daylight. The child was able to heal quickly, thankfully they weren't a Omega, but they'll still have scars." I tell him before taking another bite of a delicious steak that I will tell Alex all about.

With everything going on with Cody, and with our Warriors on the job and then checking in with my dad already, I hadn't given it much thought. But from the way Azrin's frown deepens makes me wonder if maybe I let myself get too distracted.

"The same here. Only it started months ago. Yesterday one of my soldiers was killed on the job. That was the latest in a series of crimes that have left the military scrambled with confusion. If it was only happening here I could chalk it up to the Royal family trying to get to me like they got to Master Duella. But you're the second region to confirm that it's not just here. This could be happening everywhere. Which worries me. I don't like a threat I can't see." He discloses, his voice merely a whisper now, otherwise lost to the sounds of Court if not for my Super hearing.

His words give me pause, the insinuation behind his late Master, Predecessor, the last High Lady of House of Mind, as well as his worries about an unknown threat. The words make ice pool in my stomach for a moment as my mind fills with worse case scenarios that turns the delicacies I was scarfing down to become sand in my mouth.

Before I can respond, Artemis is approaching the table with someone I've always known of and seen but never interacted with. Lady Ciara Arimantè, the High Lady of the House of Spirit. They reach the table and Artemis sits and gesture for her to speak, as if the Lady asked for an audience with us. Confused, and already a little overwhelmed with the information I've gotten, I glance towards Lord Azrin and go to ask what's up, when suddenly Lady Ciara touches the table and all of those touching it along with her as instantly paralyzed, the room around us almost falling to the background, dimming into an almost dreamlike manor, the only things solid and unchanged are us and the table. I look back at Lady Ciara and and shocked when I see her white eyes glowing as I feel the pull of her gathering the mama in the air, her hair moving at its strength, waving as if it were in the wind.

She opens her mouth, but the voice that comes out isn't just her own, one I've heard at a distance for years, but that of what seems like a thousand voices whispering at once, sounding like death and everything all at once.

Her voice is both coming from her mouth and booming from inside my brain as if edges the words along the curve of my skull to make sure I won't forget them.

"Fangs, paws, mana, horns, and magic
if these cannot become one, the result is tragic blindfolds, missing pieces and keys
the official story isn't the one to seize
after three hundred moons, darknesss persists
uncovering of history will cause hearts to shift
All as one the united stand tall
As the oldest source of evil finally falls
wait for the dawn breed by the briefest if nights
for the fifteen warriors that show the world their might.
the ages long fight will come to a close
As a phoenix from the ashes, a new age rose."

Her words are like daggers piercing my ears and heart, completely foreign but also almost as familiar as a memory.

Almost as soon as the spells starts, it's over, the orchestra of Faerie laughter and the clinking of fine china fills my ears again. I stare at Ciara in shock, unable to find words to question her or ask for more and again she beats me to the punch.

"I've been waiting for you. Welcome young Warriors." Is all she says before she goes to walk away, I go to stop her but still my words fail me and it's only after she's no longer touching the table that I feel my body release completely and I take a deep unsettled breath, unease pooling deep in my stomach as my voice comes back.

"What the hell was that?" I ask, but I'm immediately shushed.

"Quiet, young James. There's a reason it happened the way it did. Not here." His directions are quiet but firm and as he tells me this I look around and notice the dirty nosy looks of a few High Lords and Ladies and I instantly understand.

Ciara Arimontè is the High Lady of the House of Spirits and from what I know she was granted the divine power of an Oracle being able to grant prophecies that have helped the Faerie Kingdom survive for over six hundred years. Her House isn't really anything special when it comes to combat, but when it comes to healing fortunes and strategies, they're invaluable.

And completely terrifying.

What did she mean by "the official story isn't one to seize."? And "After 300 years, darkness persists."?

'Maybe the old hag is just batshit crazy." Sloan offers but I know he's just as unnerved as I am his own mind racing with the possibilities of what it could mean.

But before I can think any further, we're approached by another House. It's almost impossible to stop myself from rolling my eyes when I see who it is.

"Ahh, Lady Melody Mist. How bleak you've just made my day." Azrin greets with a plastered smile on his face, his canines presenting just a bit, making the need to challenge him rise in me, but I squash down my wolf instincts and focus on one of the most rudest bitches I know.

"I couldn't help but notice that High Lady Ciara has happened to grace you with her time. I must say, how brief her little visit was. One could only wonder what it is she had to say that was so quick but seemingly so important that it could only be down by the cover of mingling. A distasteful woman." Her accusations are clear and it makes me regret saying anything aloud at all if she was paying this much attention.

"Spying as always are we, Melody? You'll be heartbroken to know that I am Knotted and I don't take very kindly to blatantly attempts at adultery. Lady Ciara was merely asking James when his own coronation was since Princess Artemis will be here soon enough." Azrin declares, his usual volume back, causing the entire Court to chuckle or stare at him in disgust, whispers rising nonetheless and getting Lady Melody's attention from Artemis and I as we slip away and into the king king crowd.

We don't get a chance to talk again before her and Chelsea get called into a private audience with all the Royals and their Seconds.

She sends me home with one of her drivers and royal gaurds, one I don't recognize. The car ride is silent as I make my way back to the pack house, the prophecy given to us etched into my brain as if by magic. I repeat it in my head over and over trying to make sense of it.

If there's one thing I'm sure of, things are going to get a whole lot worst for a whole lot of people. And the Daemons are probably involved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Omg yaaaay! the overhead plot has officially been introduced to the series. Now as we are along for the ride with James and Cody's story we're also going to be preparing for the events of the prophecy. What do you guys think so far?

Thoughts?

Comments?

Qotd: Favorite High Fantasy Author?