Finally, she turned to Garrick. Touching his chest she whispered, "King Garrick, I leave you with a gift." Slowly she pulled her hand away from his chest, bright glowing strands appeared as if she were pulling them out of him. They wrapped around her hand before she gently pressed it to her own chest. "The madness of the mate bond will no longer effect you as it once did to our grandparents," she said softly. He growled, "Darra, what have you done?" She turned and started towards the portal, "I've freed us both." Just before she stepped through, he called after her, "I love you Darra, Dragon Queen." She froze before turning her head and saying, "As I love you, Wolf King. If you dare follow me, I will kill you." With that she walked through the portal, disappearing into the fog before it disappeared altogether. Nothing left of their presence but the vampiric dead. Doubling over, Garrick grabbed his chest and let out a sorrowful howl.
Two days later
Darra sat alone in her new quarters as queen, her hair piled atop her head as her handmaiden, Erazibeth moved around her zipping up her gown. She was a shy and frightened woman due in part to the abuse her sister caused. She had an awful limp and one of her hands was damaged seemingly without repair. There was also a jagged scar across her cheek disfiguring her otherwise beautiful face. Darra watched her prepare her dress and hair intently before reaching out and grabbing her good hand. The woman jumped and paled even more if possible. "Erazibeth, my sister did you a grave disservice by harming you. I am more sorry than you will ever know," Darra said softly. "My queen I do not hold you accountable for you sisters' actions. It is not your fault, it never will be," she said shyly. Closing her eyes Darra rubbed the back of her hand gently healing all that her sister had done. When she opened her eyes Erazibeth was staring at her wide eyed as the last of the scar was erased from her visage. "My queen," she gasped. Releasing her hand, she rose slowly as not to startle her handmaiden more. "In time I hope that I can count you as one of my trusted friends and advisors but for now know that you will never have reason to fear me. I will never harm you," she said softly. "Now," she said with a smile, "How do I look?" With tears in her eyes Erazibeth smiled, "Incandescent my queen!" Looking at herself in the mirror Darra smiled sadly, "You've done amazingly well, I actually look like a queen. Thank you Erazibeth." A knock on the door had them both turning to see Gregori standing in the doorway. His eyes widened in shock once he took in Erazibeths appearance, noticing her scar and disfigured arm were healed. His eyes flew to Darras, and she smiled warmly. Clearing his throat and bringing himself to his full height he asked, "Are you ready, my queen?" With a slight frown and shrug, "As ready as I'll ever be I guess."
A hush moved through the crowd as Darra approached the throne. No one objected or said a word. Once she ascended to the throne she turned and looked out over the room, her grandmother by her side. "I present to you, Darra Eldritch, your true queen," Marie called out. A roar went up as the crowd cheered and clapped. Darra tilted her head down to accept the crown now that she was much taller than her grandmother. "Your mother would be proud Darra, don't ever doubt that" Marie whispered to her. Bowing out of respect and love for her grandmother she turned and flaring out her wings she sat on the throne. The cheering intensified before she held up a hand for silence. With a smile she didn't feel she called out, "Let the celebration begin!"
Six Months Later
Garrick sat on his throne barely able to conceal his surprise by the appearance of Gregori in his court. "To what do I owe this visit Gregori," he asked. Gregori bowed at the waist before looking up at the werewolf king. Shock registered across his features before he'd had the time to school them. The king looked unfathomably tired and there was a pure white streak of hair that started at his left temple and wound itself down the length of his hair. His eyes were a dull and dirty brown. He looked aged and unkempt with a weeks' worth of facial hair. Clearing his throat he spoke, "Good king I have come to ask, on behalf of myself and my people, please come and see the queen," Garrick frowned but before he could respond Raven and Aiden came running in. "Gregori," Aiden called in excitement, "It's good to see you! How is Darra?" Gregori smiled sadly at the young boys exuberance. Aiden had grown as well, manhood was quickly approaching. "It is good to see you as well, Master Aiden. I'm sure Darra would be thrilled to see how much you've grown," he said.
Garrick cleared his throat, "The Vampire Queen was quite clear on not wanting to be followed. Why has she changed her mind now?" Gregori ran a hand through his short spikey hair, "Well, um, she hasn't exactly." Garrick narrowed his eyes, "She doesn't know you're here, does she?" Gregori sighed, "No, she doesn't." Aiden frowned, "What's wrong Gregori? Why are you really here?" He looked from Aiden to Garrick imploringly, "Queen Darra is dying."
Garrick shot up from his throne, "WHAT!?!" "Whatever she did to the mate bond between you is killing her and by the looks of you it's effecting you as well, just at a much slower rate," he said. He approached Gregori crossing his arms over his chest, "What do you mean?" "Let me guess, you just woke up one morning with that white streak in your hair? You have strange and sudden chest pains daily. I can guess being a wolf that when you change it's become incredibly difficult to change back, am I right?" Gregori asked. Garrick stared at him in shock, "How could you possibly know that?" "Because she is experiencing the same on a much larger scale. Her claws and fangs are fully extended all the time now and her eyes, pupil and all, are fully gold but with a film covering them. We're not even sure if she has sight anymore. Please, I beseech you, come. If not for her sake, then definitely for your own. I do not believe you would survive her passing," Gregori begged. Garrick and Aiden shared a look before turning to Gregori. "We'll go," they said in unison.
