I wished it went differently. I said to myself as I stared at the blood on my hands. The body of the witch laid lifeless in the snow of North Dakota.

Killing wasn’t in my schedule for the day but she had proven to be a thorn and I had no choice but to remove her from existence.

The world wouldn’t miss her presence.

I scowled at the sight of her scaly green skin as I cleaned my hands with the handkerchief I brought along. I knew it would come in handy.

There was no hiding my disgust when it came to witches. They played a major role in ruining my life and ever since Nathan told me the real truth about my mother’s death and how I was exiled, I’ve been determined to get my hands on that witch.

Davina.

“She’s dead?” Gaia halted before reaching me. Her ocean blue eyes flickered from the red stained snow to the corpse, then to me. Something flickered in her expression, but it vanishes before I can name it.

“That was fast,” she said with a nervous chuckle. “Did you get anything out of her?”

I shook my head. No answers. Just more blood and silence.

Gaia carefully stepped over the body and wrapped her arms around me. I don’t want her comfort, but I need it. I’m cold. She’s warm.

I never like North Dakota.

“I know we came here to find the witch that destroyed your family,” she spoke gently, “but going on a killing spree won’t fix anything .” She smiled. “At least let me join in the fun next time.”

Her stormy pale green thin slanted eyes crinkled with wicked mischief. Her laugh broke through the cold. I shake my head as she clenched her fist. The witch’s corpse began to shrivel, draining of moisture until it looked like a dried up toad.

“We have time,” Gaia looked back up at me. Smiling wickedly. “Time to find, torture and destroy everyone who ruined your life. The throne is yours after all,” she slurred.

“You’re right. I just lost myself.”

She patted my back.

“Where’s Jace?”

“He went to check on that girl. Heard she was spotted nearby. Oh–there he is,”

Jace strutted towards us, flecks of snow, falling off his leather coat. His face heavy with disappointment. When his eyes landed on the corpse, he groaned.

“We just landed for heaven’s sake!”

“Yeah, yeah. Save the speech for next time, you’ll need it.” Gia drawled as she coiled her right arm around his left and forcefully pulled him towards the carriage.

She exhaled loudly. “Let’s just go. We don’t want to keep the Alpha king waiting.”

The coachman looked disturbed and uncomfortable. His eyes kept flickering from me to Gia and to Jace. A werewolf.

He must probably think I’m a monster, like the rest of them.

He was not wrong.

The palace of Eldoria rises on the shore of Devil’s lake, a glittering fortress of white stone reflecting off still water.

A celebration was being planned for his return. His return to the home that wasn’t his anymore. Klaus had planned to skip it but Nathan frowned upon it.

The clouds above were dark and threatening. The worst kind of weather for a party but the king wouldn’t know that.

Underneath the layers of my rage, a stupid fragile hope whispered that maybe, just maybe my father summoned me not out of duty, but because he missed me. That he regretted his decision and that he remembered me.

I shoved those thoughts away.

The castle gates open and they enter a courtyard full of torch lit fountains and well trimmed umbrella trees. The staff lined up in silence, bowing low as they stepped into the compound but they were ignored.

None of them wanted to be here.

I saw my father.

His arms are spread wide, his smile bright as he waited for me to run into his arms. I almost stopped in my tracks but after a shake of my head, I realized I was imagining things.

Father was still seated on his throne, looking bored as ever. His attitude, indifferent. His Queen sat beside him, their arms linked. Their children lounge beside them like smug little princes.

We bowed before them.

“Welcome back to royalty, Nicklaus,” the king voice boomed across the hall.”Thank your Queen. It was her plea that brought you back from banishment. I trust you’ve matured. That you’re wiser and calmer.”

Those were the words he said and underneath those words were a lot he chose not to say. “I hope you’ve changed, tha the prophecy was false and that you’re not a monster.”

One slip from me and I will ruin my chances of succeeding.

“Arise,” he commanded.

Honestly, I rather stay kneeling. Years away from this place and I still could not guarantee the control over my rage once I looked into his eyes but I promised Nathan and myself that I would pull through so I got up.

His beard is thicker now. His green eyes that were once sharp and bright were dull and cloudy. Black magic. He’s still under her spell.

My gaze shifted to her. The Ice Queen they called her. My aunt. My mother’s sister. She wore my mother’s crown with ease.

When I take it off her shiny gray head, her skull will crack open.

Seeing her made me remember my actually purpose. I smiled. It wasn’t fake. It was malicious. Exactly as I intended.

Her eyes narrow slightly. She studied me. She’s unsure of what my presence would bring.

“I’m grateful to the queen for her mercy. I will never forget it, your majesty,” I praised, letting my words flow smoothly. “And to the king, for his generosity. I’ve returned with my companion from France, ready to serve the crown.”

They both nod approvingly.

“You’ll be escorted to your chambers to rest,” The Queen announced, her words quick and sharp like ice. “Everyone is eager to see you at the ball.”

Of course.

After another bow, we turned to leave.

The Queen’s son chuckled amongst themselves. My step brothers. I ignored them, didn’t even spare them a glance. If I do, I might snap their necks.

The maids showed us to our chambers.

“I’d prefer to share a room with klaus,” Gaia told the maid.

Jace snorted. “This isn’t a hotel, Gaia.”

I waved her off. “I’m sure you will love your room,” my voice cold. The longer I stay in this nightmare of a palace, the colder I got.

She pouted but must have understood the sudden change in my mood cause she didn’t argue. The maid led her away. Jace lingered beside me.

“Don’t lose your shit while you’re here, Nic,” He warned under his breath. “Don’t give them that satisfaction.”

He clapped me on the shoulder and walked off.

I entered my chamber.

The room wasn’t bad. It wasn’t grand neither was it shabby.

Cold stone walls, a large, craved four poster bed draped in pale curtains took most of the space. The furnitures included a writing desk by the arched windows, a plain wooden chair and a weathered chest at the foot of the bed.

Nicklaus ran his fingers on the plane of the bed post and brought them up to inspect. No dust. He pulled his lips into a fat line, raised his brows and nodded slightly. Not bad.

Candlelight flickered from wrought iron holders, casting soft shadows across the stone floor and faded rug.

He walked right across it to the window and look down at the view below. An abandoned garden. His eyes widened. He recognized the garden, the angel statue at the center, buried by overgrown vines.

His father had made it for his mother while she was alive. He scowled. The Queen must have purposely placed him here, where he could see what has become of his mother’s memory.

He could hear them. His senses were heightened better than pure breed wolves. He was a monster after all.

The mocked him in his absence.

“No mother’s guidance,” One of them spat with so much venom, it irked Nicklaus to the bones. “No wonder why he is such a cold bastard. I’m sure a little taming is all he needs, he will warm up to us eventually.”

The wall cracked beneath Klaus’s hand. He ducked his head, a dark chuckle rumbling from his chest.

He needed to leave. His wolf was raging inside him, ready to tear out of his skin and he was too angry to deny him.

He stormed out of his room, pushed past the staffs, past guest and guards until he found the path to the garden.

His memories are jagged. Especially now that his wolf is begging to escape. It’s far from the palace but he kills the distance with his super speed.

He collapsed at the entrance. On one knee, a hand to his chest as he tried to breathe, to calm his wolf.

It didn’t work. Their words of mockery rang in his head.

“Come on!” He roared, slapping his forehead. His golden curls became slick with sweat.

The sudden snap of a twig caught his attention.

His head jerked up and his eyes came on her.

A woman, standing by the statue, watching him.

“You need to leave,” he managed to croak out, his body trembling. “Leave!”

The pain exploded inside him. He threw his head back and let out a shout. When his head came back down, he caught the glint of her violet eyes.

A witch.

He registered and that was his last straw. The rope he had on his wolf snapped and he lost himself.

The beast took over and it aimed for what was about to be is third kill for the day.