I failed my mate.

I failed Zeus. I felt that cold, that familiar haunting sensation. One I had long tossed away flooded throughout my body like the ocean.

My tough wall crumbled, my body shivered and my breaths barely escaped as tears soaked my eyes. Trickling across my cheeks and down to my mate's lifeless face.

"Don't do this to me Zeus." I pitched but my silky voice came out in a tiny whisper. Broken and filled with guilt as my palms curled around his perfect face.

"Zeus!" I pleaded and for the first time that word didn't sound like an abomination for me. For the first time in years I was begging for mercy.

"Zeus!" I pressured again tapping his face repeatedly.

"I love you." I mumbled without hesitation. "I love you Zeus!" I affirmed again, this time leaning against his blood coated shirt as I sobbed.

I had become weak, I had fallen to the chains of love. A feeling I had spent centuries hiding from. It finally caught up with me and just when I was about to accept it, to accept him, he faded. Like a dream, he was. A good man. A perfect Mate.

I wondered, how did I get here? How did I become this new person? It felt like I knew the answer but at the same time, it felt like I didn't.

And amidst my tears, amidst the scent of blood, amidst his lifeless body, amidst this large wooden room we were in, the twin doors opened.

The lights came dawning and as my eyes caught glimpse of it, there I knew the answer to everything. How it all began.

************

The twin doors gradually opened, revealing a large room adorned in gold paints and strong pillars. The beautiful sun rays were given a chance by the tall windows to illuminate the room. My eyes started to inspect every detail. From the female guards sternly in their position to my Clan leaders. Three young fair, beautiful ladies, seated by their long rectangular table. They arose immediately as they noticed my presence. Bowing their heads and retaining silence as I stood proud and elegant in my luxurious green and black medieval gown.

My eyes briskly darted to the most glorious object in the room, my throne. Rooted at the center of the room, gleaming it's shade of polished black and faint Gold. Reflecting the Ginger color of my long hair.

Like always, It never failed in reminding me of my past glories. How I had mercilessly killed the vampire king and his son. A tiny smile crept to my face and I began to take an elegant stride towards my seat. With every knocking sound my heels made against the marble floor, the tension further heightened. The scent of fear and horror reeked throughout the room. I loved it and so, with divine pleasure, I climbed up to my throne seat.

My eyes studied every detail once again in a jiffy, something wasn't right, something I couldn't pinpoint as I relaxed to my endearing seat. Crossing my leg over while a man servant immediately rushed up to my vicinity. His head bowed and his hands trembled as he held a tray, containing a glass cup of blood. Immediately I took the cup gleaming an irresistible shade of red, he briskly toured away.

"You may seat." I pronounced and then took a gentle sip. They nodded before relaxing to their respective chairs. My gaze focused on them again, and then it struck me, that I had four Clan Leaders not three.

"Where is Rila?" I asked with a slight frown. My brows further furrowed as they shared known glances with each other. All of them hesitating to speak and it began to irk me. They were obviously planning to lie but just one glance at me made them lose their tongue.

"I said," I chorused in a devilish tone. "Where is the Clan Leader of the Northern Clan?"

"My Queen," one of them arose in a trembly fashion as she stuttered. "Today is Rila's mate coronation ceremony as King of the Northern Province."

Anger ignited within me and my cup shattered into pieces instantly. Drooling it's sweet content across my Throne seat to the floor. The tiny smile on my face vanished as my blood boiled with genuine hatred and rage. The tension in the room only heightened to a greater extent but I cared less. At this point, I was willing to have anybody's heart displaced out of their bodies. I arose sharply and they gasped. Even the guards and men servants

"How dare she!" I growled as I climbed down the stairs slowly. "How dare she take my position and hand it over to a mere man!"

"My Queen, but he his her mate." The same lady uttered again.

"Mate or not, he his but a man!" I growled with my palms already curled into a fist.

"Not under my watch, will a man have a taste of power in my clan. Not under my watch, will a man be called King.

Not under my watch, will a man be allowed to dominate. Men are our slaves! And slaves they shall remain for eternity in the City of Marr!" I banged my hand against the table causing them to jerk in fear.

I stared at them but none of them could utter a word, let alone share gazes with me.

"Of all things I can tolerate, but no one, absolutely no one dares to defy me."

I uttered.

"Martha!!" I yelled and immediately, the twin doors open for my second in command to walk in.

Her white hair swayed freely across her shoulder and her blue eyes, sharp and dazzling. With every commanding step her heels gave against the ground, her black and green uniform gleamed of nothing but glory.

"Prepare my escort, we're visiting the Northern Clan today." I commanded. She nodded with a stern expression before exiting sharply.

"My Queen, please show mer——"

"One more word from you and I'll hang your head on a stake."

I cut her off with a ferocious glare.

"Leave, before my anger descends on you all." I ordered and in haste, they arose sharply, bowing their heads in a courteous gesture before exiting.