Chapter 108 Glorious Poziarne

Avalyn

My door slammed open and I jumped a little in my chair, startled. I looked up to see Nik. He was breathing hard and his eyes were dark. The thing that scared me was that he looked terrified.

Of what?

I will destroy whatever it is.

"What happened, Nikolai?" I immediately got up and walked towards him.

Without a word, he grasped my hips and anchored his mouth to mine, kissing me hard and sending my senses into overdrive. I gasped at his intensity. Sparks flowed through my entire body and fireworks exploded in my mind. His intensity was maddening.

His large hands branded around my hips when he picked me up. My arms and legs automatically wound around his shoulders and waist, just like they had done it over a million times.

I intrinsically knew that something was wrong and he needed to me help him forget. At least for some time. He needed me to make it all better. So that was what I was going to do.

I plunged my fingers into his thick hair and pulled, kissing him harder, reciprocating his urgency. That earned me a groan. I bit his bottom lip before sucking on it. His breathing turned hard and I opened my eyes just when he did.

The storm in his diminished but it was still present.

He placed me on my desk and and dug his nose in my neck, taking deep calming breaths. My scent always calmed him down. I always calmed him down.

An idea popped in my head and my hands reached out to undo his jean buttons. "Nurse Avalyn is at your service, Sir." I purred in his ear as I put my hand down his pants. "She can fix everything."

"Can I get my mate Ava?" He whispered, his haunted grey eyes on mine. My heart broke hearing his tone.

I took my hand out and placed it over his heart. "How bad is it, Mi Amor?"

"Very." I wrapped my arms around his waist the second the word slipped past his lips. His strong, arms wrapped around me, forming a protective shell. Time went still while we hugged each other.

I didn't know it were mere seconds or minutes or hours. All I knew was that I wasn't letting go first. Not when Nikolai needed me to hold him. With gentle hands I caressed his wide back, taking my time to feel the indentations of his spine first and then his muscles.

He let out a soft breath and I knew he was ready to talk.

"Nikolai..." I whispered. "I love you. So much."

He backed up and cupped my cheeks, looking down at me with insatiable love. His eyes roaming all over my face and not resting even once, like he was memorising everything.

I let him stare at me. I let him take his time. I kept my eyes on his thunderstorm grey ones, silently giving him strength, letting him know that whatever it was, I was here for him. Always. Forever.

I had never seen the vulnerability I was seeing in his eyes right now.

He pecked my lips, both my cheeks and then my forehead before he rested his own in mine.

"Tell me." It was a soft whisper. A plea.

He backed away and his eyes shut down. My Nikolai was gone. And in place of was King Nikolai— cold, calculus and utterly in control.

He paced around my office with determination in his steps and anger in his eyes. He told me everything about Adrian's first bird then their plan and then the bird they sent there today, the zombie witches, his talk with Max and then his talk with Dimitri, Symon and Mikhail and then Adrik's plan of world domination. My heart dropped lower and lower as he spoke.

"I didn't know he was that cruel." I whispered. He killed thousands of witches for his plan... oh goddess. We needed to do something.

I didn't doubt Nik's claims of Adrik's plans at all. He knew him the best.

"It doesn't shock me. It doesn't scare me." He told me.

"It shocks and scares me. Very much." My eyes lowered. "I feel so terrible to know that so many people lost their lives because of him and we couldn't do anything."

He wasn't even hear anymore, he was in his thoughts. I knew him better than I knew myself. And I know that as Nikolai spoke, a million plans were revolving in his mind. He didn't look like when he had entered— like the man who had lost his everything.

He had fire in his eyes. He looked like a man who knew exactly what he wanted and wasn't going to stop before he achieved it. He was a man on a mission. A King on a mission.

"We will now." He promised. "I'm going to kill him."

"It's too dangerous."

"What's dangerous is that he is breathing the same air as you. I will not rest till I know he is dead. He will come after me. I know he will. And the best way to do that is through you. I will never be able to keep you a hundred percent safe if he is alive. Anywhere we go, I'll always be looking over my shoulder, wondering who will attack us next. The best way to solve a problem is by killing it."

There was unwavering determination on his face but his eyes held a sliver of fear. And Nik was never scared of anything. Except his father. How will he kill him if he is scared of him?

I cupped his cheeks and gave him strength through my words. "Do whatever you think is right, Mi Amor, I will stand by you."

He let out a soft breath, rested his forehead against mine and closed his eyes. "I just need you safe, Moya Lyubov. I can't stand the thought of anything happening to you."

"I'm here, Nikolai, I'm safe." I said softy and then startled when his phone rang.

He swiftly picked it up, "update?" His tone changing to business immediately. I looked at him questioningly. 'Max' he mouthed and I nodded.

"She's not ready to step out of her house, Kol." Max said, sounding pissed. "I've tried and almost lost two men. Again." Witches can be difficult when they wanted.

"Fine." Nik growled. "Make arrangements. We will arrive tomorrow morning." And then he cut the call.

"Ask Tessa to pack ours bags, we will leave early in the morning. And you're in contact with the Alphas right?"

"Yes."

"Perfect. Set up a meeting with with them in two days. Call them here." Nik said. "And don't call that mango."

"Mango?"

"Alpha Alphonso. Of Verdura Pack." Nik clarified with a scowl and I chuckled at that.

He half smiled, "he's friends with Adrik. I don't trust him."

"We will manage everything, Nikolai. I believe in us. We will survive everything thrown our way." I said fiercely.

He smiled against my lips, "I love you."

"I love you too."

Nikolai

I entered the throne room in the evening and saw that the room was full of people, just as I had instructed. The murmurs of the crowd silenced and they rose before bowing down.as I walked down the aisle.

"Rise." I commanded once I was in front of my throne and everyone's back straightened. "Close the doors."

I don't need anyone to overhear anything that wasn't meant for them.

"Do you know why all of you have been summoned?" I asked, looking at everyone in the eye.

They shook their heads.

"You are among the strongest and the most capable people in Soare- Luna." I told them and felt their ego sky rocket.

I took a seat and motioned everyone to do so too.

"We all know the tyranny of Alpha Adrik. And now, he is building an army of not only vampires but also witches to take over Jivan." I told everyone the half truth.

"I don't know when Adrik will attack. It can be tomorrow, next month or maybe next year." Angry, determined faces met mine. "I am currently in the process of procuring knowledge and resources. I want to set up impenetrable defences but it will take time. Until then, for safety measures, the pack is on orange alert. No one is to step outside their own towns of Imporia, Alvar and Silverwitch Bay—except the patrol guards, without my explicit permission. No one is to step outside their houses after sunset." Black magic is the most potent at night.

"And I want all of you to be on red alert. It is your responsibility to make sure that all the pack members are in line and no one dares to disobey any command. Consider this a probationary period for me to observe your work and behaviour. Your ranks in the army will depend on this. Also, the patrol guards will patrol in groups of five in the day time and in groups of seven after sunset. There has to be one patrol officer present with one group of guards at all times." I said, my voice hard.

They might think that this is harsh for something that may or may not happen. I can't tell them about what is happening until I know everything about it myself.

"Spread the word. Anyone caught not adhering to the rules will be punished. Dismissed." I announced.

With a flick of my hand, the guards opened the doors again and quietly, everyone filed out.

I turned to Dimitri. "The war is approaching much sooner than I think. Train the men and woman longer and harder. Spread the word that there is a possibility of a full blown war to push them further. I will bring a part of the army of Poziarne with me on my return. Make arrangements for their stay."

"As you command, Alpha." Dimitri nodded.

"Also, I shall choose council members after I return. I want suitable candidates chosen before that." I said and he nodded.

Next morning, Ava was dressed earlier than me and was waiting for me with our bags, Tessa and Eliyah for me in the foyer. She never goes anywhere without those two.

We made our way to the palace top where the helicopter was on a stand by. Once everyone were inside and buckled up, I got in too.

"You're going to ride?" Ava looked surprised. Thats when I remembered that this will be the first time she has sat in a helicopter and especially in one that I will ride.

"I'm a man of many talents." I winked and then after doing a quick check of everything, we were airborne.

I saw Ava looking around everywhere from besides me and a smile tugged at my lips upon seeing her enthralment.

"It's so beautiful, Nik." She whispered. Lush green mountains could be seen everywhere and most of them didn't have people living there so it was untouched natural beauty—the best kind. In the next half an hour, we landed at the airport in the human city and from there, we transferred to my private jet.

"How far is Poziarne exactly?" She asked me.

"Six hours." I replied. "Our supernatural island or Attenberg Isles— as humans call it is the main island in the centre and the vampire islands are scattered around it. And since we are in the middle of Jivan, it takes us almost the same time to go to any Kingdom. The islands towards the north are Prajini and Mozog, Bellehaven Isle is in the east, west is Poziarne and, south west we have Voda. Ovzdusia is somewhere in the south east, no on really knows where it is exactly."

"Why?" She asked.

"He is the King of Air. There are always hurricanes or tornadoes or something going on around his islands and no one has been able to pass them. And even if they did, we don't know— they couldn't be contacted since they were probably dead." I replied.

"Oh." She replied.

Ava soon drifted off to sleep which was good because she had woken up too early today. I took out my laptop and began working. There were a lot of things to be looked at in Volkov Corps., especially with the companies Ava wanted to start. I also wanted to get done with most of the work while I had time on my hands.

I'm going to get very busy very soon.

I didn't realise when the six hours flew by and the next thing I know, I am waking Ava up so we can get off.

She stirred in her sleep and slapped my hand away.

"Wake up, Love. We are here." I pecked her parted lips.

Her eyes snapped open and she looked out of the window besides. A small smile spread on her face. "Let's go." Well that was easier than I thought.

We got off the plane, Tessa and Eliyah following us with our luggage.

The heat instantly hit my skin and Ava squinted her eyes to look up at me. The glare of the sun was harsh and it was only morning. "It's too hot."

"The car is here, let's get in." I pointed towards the sleek limo waiting for us, standing between two military jeeps. The driver held the back door open and Ava rushing to get in with me just behind her. He helped Tessa and Eliyah put the bags in the trunk before they too joined us in the air conditioned car.

"Now I know why Zakyra wore such clothes." Ava muttered. True. That actually must be a normal outfit here.

The driver took us straight to the palace. The airport was surrounded by greenery but desert surrounded us soon. For about half an hour, we saw no signs of life except the occasional cars going to and fro the airport.

And then the houses started. They were scattered far and wide and were build in yellow and orange tones and most of them were one storey. They started growing in size and numbers as we delved deeper in civilisation.

All the houses were modern and and looked recently built as the city looked thoroughly planned. When we reached an intersection on our way, the car came to a halt.

"Please follow me, Alpha King Nikolai, Luna Queen Avalyn." The driver opened our door and bowed. "Your luggage and your slaves will be brought to the palace."

"Tessa and Eliyah will travel with us." Avalyn told him coldly.

"Forgive me, Luna Queen but the special provisions were made only for two." He said wearily.

"What speci—" Ava stopped when her eyes fell on the huge elephant standing on the side, an open palanquin secured at the top of his back.

"Make sure they reach our living quarters safely." I told him and grabbed Ava's hand and led her up the staircase so we could step on the elephant easily. The palanquin was more spacious than I had assumed but we had to sit one behind the other, it wasn't wide enough for us to sit side by side.

I took a seat first in the cushioned palanquin and shifted at the back and then helped Ava get in, in front of me so she had a better view. Once she was seated securely, the man handling the elephant called out something and the elephant moved. I grabbed Ava's waist to help her sit upright when she moved. The palanquin rocked a little as the elephant walked but it was in no danger of falling.

This palanquin wasn't like the one Zakyra had came in, this one had wooden beams supporting the four corners and the top half was open from all sides. The top was covered with a cloth to protect us from the harsh sun rays.

We entered a part of the old city where the houses were more traditional and their roofs were dome shaped. All the houses were colourful and had several different shapes and patterns painted on them with care.

"This is so beautiful," Ava whispered and caught my hand and pulled ahead, holding it in her lap. I scooted closer to her and wrapped my other arm around her.

"Not as much as you." I said cornily and kissed the base of her neck.

She blushed before she looked back at me with a loving smile and a look of adoration in her eyes. I pressed a chaste kiss to her dimpled cheek.

Two ornate camels walked in front and two behind us. It sure was a royal ride. Max outdid himself with maintaining peace in Poziarne.

There were no cars on the streets of the old city, with only horses and a couple of camels here and there.

The people walking on the streets parted to make way for us, waving at us with excitement and enthusiasm. People stepped out of their houses an peeked out of the windows to greet us.

Love was in the air.

It made me wonder how miserable Zakyra must have made them if they were so happy to greet a King and Queen they hadn't even met. Max must have done a splendid job of gaining the love and respect of the masses.

Ava was smiling widely and giggling when she saw something amusing and occasionally waved at the people who waved back at her with double the enthusiasm.

As we neared the palace, a line of people stood on the either side of the road with trumpets in their hand and blew them when they saw us, decreasing the volume as we neared their area so they didn't assault our ears. The throng of people gathered around the trumpet players threw flowers at us.

I guess this is their way of greeting too.

I caught a rose in my hand and tucked it above a beaming Ava's ear.

She turned to look at me. "Thank you." She kissed my lips.

"You're very welcome." I squeezed in my arms lovingly.

The palace was grand. It looked like one of the palaces from the Disney movies Vanessa loved— Aladdin. The walls were a simple ochre colour but the domes were colourful with thick stripes of red, yellow, blue and orange. All of them were very different but fitting for the palace.

We entered the main gates of the palace where the people didn't follow after us.

The gates closed behind us and the elephant circled a huge spectacular statue of a woman rising from fire in front of the palace carved our of marble.

Surrounding the curved path were lush, neatly kept maze gardens and smaller versions of the same statue placed in regular intervals.

When we reached the other side of the statue, the elephant stopped and a group of slaves were quick to push a staircase on wheels adjacent to the elephant. Both of us got off easily.

Ava's eyes were focused on Max and Nat waiting for us at the bottom of the staircase of the palace with people surrounding them.

We walked the path that was made out of flowers spread on the floor and reached them.

All of them bowed in greeting.

"Rise." I said and once everyone stood straight, Max met my eyes and came forward to hug me. "It's been a while, brother."

I patted his back with a smile. "I see you have done well."

He took a step back and grinned. "You have yet to see many things."

I grinned back and then hugged Nat as Max hugged Ava. She had dyed her hair to red now. I don't remember what she looked like in her real hair at this point. It was jet black, if I remember correctly. She had always hated it, claiming it was 'boring'.

"I love your hair!" Ava gushed, touching a strand of Nat's now red hair.

"I got bored of being a brunette." She grinned. "And red matches these type of clothes better." She was also wearing something like a barely there bra and a bottoms like Zakyra wore, just a little less translucent. It reminded me of princess Jasmine from Aladdin again.

"You look... pretty." Ava said after a little consideration. I knew she wasn't as comfortable in her own skin as Natalia. And she wouldn't wear the type of outfit Nat was wearing in public either. I wasn't complaining. I didn't want her to wear such clothes in front of the leering, lascivious eyes of males and females. I was all for her doing whatever she wanted but these sexy clothes were for bedroom only. At least for Ava and I. If Ava liked it, I don't think I could have stopped her but I would have driven myself insane with jealousy and possessiveness.

Max and Nat were a different case altogether. They had a disturbing amount of fetishes. Nope. Not going to think more about it.

"It's practical." Natalia grinned, not offended in the least.

"Let's step inside and then we can do all the introductions, it's fucking hot here. And not just because of Talia." He winked at Nat.

I wrapped an arm around Ava's waist and climbed the entrance steps and energy the palace, Max and Nat flanking our side immediately.