In the ancient land of Greece, where the shadows of myth and legend dance with the light of reality, a young girl named Althea finds herself thrust into a world of ancient prophecies and supernatural conflicts. Abused and rejected by those around her, Althea discovers that she is no ordinary girl-she is the chosen one, destined to bridge the divide between werewolves and winged beings, and hold the key to the fate of their world. But Althea's path to destiny is paved with blood and betrayal. When the King of Rome, a man with black wings, brutally murders her family, Althea's heart is consumed by a thirst for vengeance. Despite a mysterious connection to the king, she refuses to accept his role in her family's demise, vowing to see justice served at any cost. As tensions escalate between the warring factions, Althea must navigate a treacherous landscape of revenge, power struggles, and ancient rivalries. With the fate of her people hanging in the balance, she must confront her own inner demons and embrace her true power if she is to prevent an all-out war that could destroy everything she holds dear. But as dark forces conspire against her, Althea realizes that the path to peace is fraught with peril, and that the line between friend and foe is not always clear. With the help of unlikely allies and the strength of her own indomitable spirit, she must rise to the challenge and confront the darkest corners of her own soul in order to fulfill her destiny and bring about a new era of harmony in a world torn apart by ancient hatreds.
Chapter 1 Prologue
PROPHECY
"Cursed with the burden of bridging tricha and ftero, she shall be the light in the darkness of their strife."
PROLOGUE
GREECE
456BC
LEONTIOS' POV
"Get out of my way!" I hissed, pushing past the cloaked figure that stood in my path.
"You don't want to do this," the cloaked figure said, his voice low and raspy.
"I have to," I replied, my eyes fixed on the dark alley ahead of me. "The Romans are raising threats against us. You do not expect me to sit and watch them perform their enterprise.
"There are other ways," the cloaked figure insisted, grabbing me by the arm. "You do not have to do it this way. And I have mentioned countless times that you should not allow your emotions to cloud your judgement." He gently gripped his rod tighter as he made his statement.
I pulled away and glared at the cloaked figure.
"My King, remember your regime is going to be short lived. You cannot afford to make reckless decisions because of your temper. And you needn't prove anything that you'll regret later." He warned.
"My King, the magistrate has requested to see you." A guard called and he dashed into the throne room. The magistrate followed, holding a list.
I knew what the announcement was about, whilst I collected the list from the magistrate to check it out. My breathing became slightly ragged as I became enraged.
"This wasn't supposed to be the case." I blurted out.
"You cannot withhold punishment from whom it is due. A rebellious woman cannot be accepted as one of us." The cloaked man said.
"There has to be another way." I whispered.
"You're dismissed. And make sure she receives the punishment she deserves." He takes the seal and waits patiently for me to take it. I didn't... hesitant, I stared at the seal.
Then I slowly took it from him...eyes lingering on the list in front of me before I pressing the seal against it.
The magistrate and the guard left the moment they collected the seal.
Raged, I turned to the cloaked man.
"You are not her mate, neither is she anywhere near your class. It's preposterous to try and save her." He said calmly as usual.
"You cannot say that because I'm deeply in love with that woman."
"You cannot lose guard because of a woman." He gritted out. "And just because you loved her doesn't permit you as the ruler to interfere with the laws of the empire." He contorted.
But I stepped down the stairs attached to my throne and walked past the man.
"My King!" He called.
I do not care what it is that he wishes me to be as the Ruler of Greece. I live by my own rules and nobody can question that.
I hurried past the knights while my watchmen followed behind me. Having every individual bow as I strode through the corridor had me paying no attention, all I wanted to do was to save Thaleia.
The supposed bride of the Caesar of Rome and the rebellious of all women in Greece.
Her beauty attracted so many and her refusal of the proposal had made her a living example to other women.
Althea, her little sister of sixteen years just has mesmerizing as Thaleia I believe has picked up on the rebellious trait of her older sister.
And while I believed that Thaleia was indeed right for standing on her belief. It was also rebellious to betray the principles of her society least she becomes a common woman and a laughing stock to all other women.
And knowing Thaleia, she would rather be executed than made a mockery.
That was the reason I was hurrying to the execution ground. I didn't want it to be a choice, neither a chance for her to kill herself.
I will take her as my bride if nobody else does. I cannot afford to watch her executed. I will bring back that honor she lost.
The crowd was gathered as they watched with curiosity and morbid fascination.
The magistrate was a stern-faced man, dressed in a dark robe. He looked down at Thaleia with disdain. How dare he?
"You have been brought before me for the crime of refusing to marry the man chosen for you by your father," the magistrate said. "This is a grave offense against the law and against your family. The punishment for such a crime is severe, and you must be made an example to others who would follow in your footsteps."
Thaleia tried to speak, but her words were cut off by the magistrate's raised hand. "Silence!" he thundered. "You have been found guilty, and now you will face the consequences of your actions."
"Take her to the square, and bind her to the whipping post," he commanded. The young woman let out a cry of fear as the guards led her away, but there was no escape.
As the crowd watched, Thaleia was bound to the post, her back exposed to the sun. The magistrate picked up a whip, and the air was filled with the sound of its cracking.
And when he raised it...
A growl echoed in the air, loud, clear and authoritative.
The people cowered sensing the pressure in the atmosphere.
I had no idea the growl had come from me till the guards around me stepped back in fear.
I was ready to face anyone who dared lay a finger on her. I growled again. Believe it or not the consequences were going to be severe.
"My King, you have given your word and you have sealed the punishment. You cannot go back on it..." The magistrate mentioned boldly.
Nobody could do anything to me. I was the King, I had the final word. My voice was not my voice... because my wolf had taken over.
"You should think twice before touching her. A single misstep, and you will become a pawn in your own game."