AYASHA'S POV
The morning sun burned my skin through the thin fabric of my travel clothes. I sat atop my horse, looking back at the castle that had been my home for all my life. My mother clung to my father's arm, her tears flowing freely down her cheeks. I had said my goodbyes already, but the weight of what I was about to do pressed on my chest like a boulder.
"Remember your promise," my father called out. "Stay alive."
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. I had made many promises lately. Some I intended to keep. Others were just words to ease worried hearts.
The journey to Lamia territory would typically take weeks of travel through treacherous mountain passes and dense forests, but as royalty, I had access to the ancient magic that few knew existed. The Royal Gates. Magical portals hidden throughout the lands that only those with royal blood could activate.
The guards who accompanied me—five of our strongest warriors who had survived the battle—remained silent as we rode. They knew what awaited me. They knew what I was sacrificing.
We rode through the lush forests of Whitewater, passing the crystal-clear rivers that had given our pack its name. Each familiar sight twisted the knife deeper in my heart. I might never see these lands again.
"Princess," one of the guards said, breaking the silence. "We need to stop soon. The horses need rest."
I nodded, though my mind was elsewhere. My brother's face haunted me. His smile. His laughter. The way he taught me to hold a sword. All gone now, because of Nahuel Lamia.
When we stopped by a small stream, I splashed water on my face, trying to wash away the exhaustion. The journey had barely begun, but I felt like I had been riding for days.
"Princess," the oldest guard said, his voice low. "You should eat something."
I took the bread he offered but couldn't bring myself to eat it.
"Tell me about Lamia territory," I said instead.
The guard's face darkened. "It's nothing like Whitewater. Their land is harsh, dominated by mountains and deep forests. Their fortress sits atop the tallest peak, surrounded by sheer cliffs on three sides."
"And their people?"
"Warriors bred from birth. They have forgotten the old ways, the connection to nature. They build with stone and hoard gold. They respect strength above all else."
I processed this information, turning it over in my mind. They had lost their way with nature, unlike Whitewater where we lived in harmony with our surroundings. The thought of living among such people made my skin crawl.
We rode hard through the afternoon, the landscape gradually changing. The soft, rolling hills of Whitewater gave way to rougher terrain. Trees grew taller, their branches blocking out the sun. The air grew colder as we rode toward the hidden clearing that housed our Gate.
"Princess," the lead guard said, breaking the silence. "We've arrived at the Gate."
Before us stood two massive ancient oak trees, their trunks twisted together to form an archway. At first glance, it looked like nothing more than an interesting natural formation, but I knew better. Only those of royal blood could see the faint blue shimmer between the trees—the dormant magic waiting to be awakened.
I dismounted my horse and approached the archway. My brother's face haunted me. His smile. His laughter. The way he taught me to hold a sword. All gone now, because of Nahuel Lamia.
"Only you can pass through, Princess," the oldest guard reminded me. "We'll have to take the long route and meet you at the border in three weeks."
I nodded, placing my palm against the rough bark of the oak. The moment my skin made contact, the blue shimmer intensified, spreading throughout the archway until it became a swirling vortex of light and energy.
"Blood of Whitewater," I whispered the ancient activation words, "open the path and take me to Lamia."
I felt the familiar pull of magic as a drop of my blood was drawn from my palm into the vortex. The Gate recognized me as the princess of Whitewater, rightful user of its magic.
"Safe passage, Princess," the head guard said, handing me a small leather pouch. "Food for your arrival."
"Thank you," I replied, taking the pouch with trembling fingers. "Tell my parents... tell them I will not fail Whitewater."
The guards bowed, their faces solemn. I turned toward the swirling vortex, took a deep breath, and stepped through.
The sensation was always the same. Like being pulled apart and put back together in the span of a heartbeat. Colors blurred around me, and I felt weightless, suspended between worlds. Then, just as suddenly, solid ground materialized beneath my feet, and I stood in a different forest entirely.
The air here was colder, the trees taller and more twisted. I had arrived at the outskirts of Lamia territory, a journey that would have taken weeks completed in a single step through the ancient magic. Only royals could use the Gates. A secret kept for generations, known only to those with the blood of rulers flowing through their veins.
I took the bread from the pouch the guard had given me but still couldn't bring myself to eat it. My stomach churned with anger and grief.
I looked around, gathering my bearings. According to the maps I had studied, the Lamia fortress was still half a day's walk from here. I would need to continue on foot.
When I reached the border of Lamia territory, marked by a row of tall spikes topped with skulls, I tensed visibly.
"I know you're watching," I called out, my voice steady despite my fear. "I am Ayasha, Princess of Whitewater. I come as agreed."
I straightened my back, refusing to show fear. Let them watch. Let them see that the Luna princess of Whitewater approached with her head held high.
Sure enough, a group of Lamia warriors appeared from the trees, their faces painted with black streaks, their bodies adorned with animal pelts and bone jewelry.
"The bride approaches," one of them said, his voice mocking. "Nahuel will be pleased."
I bit back a retort. Now was not the time for pride.
The Lamia warriors surrounded me, their expressions cold and calculating. They led me deeper into their territory, through forests so dense that the sun barely penetrated the canopy.
The Lamia fortress loomed ahead, a massive structure of stone and timber that seemed to grow out of the mountain itself. Unlike the wooden and earth structures of Whitewater, this place was all hard angles and imposing stone. Smoke rose from multiple chimneys, and I could hear the distant sounds of fighting and laughter.
"Nahuel awaits," the Lamia warrior said, his smile cruel.
I followed him through the massive gates, into a courtyard filled with people. Men training with weapons, women carrying baskets of food, children running wild. But something struck me as odd. There were other women, all finely dressed, some with guards from different territories, others already alone. They looked important, some frightened, others proud.
The warrior led me to a great hall, where Nahuel sat on a throne of gold and polished bone—so different from my father's simple wooden chair. The hall was lit by torches, casting long, dancing shadows on the stone walls. The opulence was startling. Furs on the floors, gold ornaments hanging from the walls, servants scurrying about with platters of food.
"The Luna princess of Whitewater," Nahuel announced, his voice carrying throughout the hall. "Welcome to the Lamia pack."
I scanned the room for Koda, the prince I was meant to marry, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is your son, Your Majesty?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Nahuel laughed, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "My son is preparing for his wedding. But first, there is something you should know."
He gestured to the other women in the hall. More were still pouring in. "These are the Lunas of territories I have conquered. Like you, they have come to save their people."
My heart sank as understanding dawned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, Whitewater princess, that you are not the only one who has offered to marry my son to save her people." His smile was predatory. "Twenty Lunas, twenty territories, but only one bride for my Koda."
The room seemed to spin around me. "You lied," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I never lie," Nahuel replied, leaning forward on his throne. "I said if you married my son, your people would be spared. That offer stands. But first, you must win the right to marry him."