Destined

14. Inner Beasts

I knew I was losing control of myself. I stopped striding away when I realized I was in the courtyard again where Annalise talked me down. I stepped out into the thin blanket of snow and tried to cool myself off. I took deep breaths but the heat inside me was not releasing.

"Mister, are you okay?"

I turned around to see the little boy I saved. I sighed. "Hey now, you don't need to worry about me. You can go back to the party if you want, I need some air."

The little boy eyed me for a long moment and wandered away glancing back until he went into the party hall.

I wonder if the beast inside me is trying to reveal something to me. I took out the amulet and squeezed it in my palm. Closing my eyes, I tried to sense the magic inside me.

"Do I really have magic inside me?" Nothing happened and I sighed. The amulet was still dormant if there was even an ounce of magic in it, to begin with.

"Your highness, not one of your finer displays of civility leaving the hall like that." Mesmer walked over and smirked. "You cannot force it to form its power that is not how that amulet works."

"Whatever, I still don't believe there is magic." I retreated my hand from the amulet, and it fell against my chest. "Magic doesn't rule my life, just like Ravela could not."

Mesmer sighed. I turned my head and his grave expression bothered me. He dropped his gaze before he spoke. "Magic exists in this world, in you. What happened on the slope was magic and refusing to see it for what it is will be difficult moving forward." He wandered out into the courtyard and there were no impressions of his boots there. "Ravela killed Judaven because he was the one holding onto the key that Kader left to his family. Not many know how it works, but my father is aware of its power. Do not take his pets likely, they will come back."

I made a fist at my side. "Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?"

Mesmer glanced over his shoulder. "No," his voice grew soft.

I noticed Artemis coming out of the corner of my eye. "There you two are, what has gotten into the both of you?" she put her hands on her hips. "His highness I get but not you brother."

Mesmer withdrew his gaze to stare at the snow. A light chuckle came out of him. It was a hollow laugh. "What if I had the same reason to come out here dear sister, now wouldn't that be something?"

"Stop playing games, brother. You have been acting strange since a few hours ago."

Mesmer turned with a huge smirk. "Have I, but there is nothing wrong with me."

Artemis was worried and that was more trouble for me. I checked his aura and it was different. The person standing before us was not Mesmer. I scowled. "Artemis, do you trust me?"

"Your Highness, what has,"

Mesmer's lookalike belted out a laugh. "Was wondering if you could tell the difference but it appears you have yet another interesting ability up your sleeve, little prince of wolves."

"Who are you and why are you posing as Mesmer?"

"I thought it was obvious who I was boy."

Artemis's face grew paler than the snow underneath our shoes. "What did you do to him?"

The lookalike quirked a menacing smirk. "He should have been more careful declaring he would free this world from my grip. Seems my children side with a little wolf who will supposedly defeat me." He narrowed his eyes on me.