Queen of Ash

𝒯𝓇𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔

"Shift!" Rhoe yelled, hurling a blast of ice at her.

Ashlyn ducked, the ball of ice smashing itself into a tree behind her. She took a step back and hurled herself at Rhoe, flames appearing in her hands. He bared his teeth as he took a step to the right, extended his foot and tripped Ashlyn. The king's mate fell to the ground face first, her clothes now caked with dirt.

She cursed loudly as a smile made its way onto his face.

"Shift!" Rhoe yelled again, jumping into the air, ice spikes in his hands. He sliced at her shoulder, drawing blood. He could have killed her in one blow, but she was his king's mate. Not just an ordinary girl.

Don't touch her.

Ashlyn gritted her teeth and pushed herself up. She lunged at Rhoe, her sword now unsheathed. "I don't know how!" she snarled, aiming for his shoulder. Rhoe just flicked it away with one finger. With one finger.

"You Fae bastard!" she cursed giving him a vulgar gesture. He returned the favor with a blast of cold air.

Her magic surged as Rhoe lunged at her, sliding under her feet, knocking her down. She rolled over, his sword meeting hers. He pressed his knee into her abdomen, knocking out her breath. "I said shift. Be who you're supposed to be!" he snarled, his knee pressing in harder.

Ashlyn couldn't breathe and Rhoe's blade hovered over her face, merely a few inches away.

Be who you're supposed to be

Supposed to be.

She gritted her teeth again and pushed against Rhoe blade. But he didn't budge. He just narrowed his eyes and pushed harder. "Or are you just a coward?" he snarled, pushing harder.

Her world began to rock from side to side. Her vision became blurry and her head spun.

The King of her nightmares flashed before her eyes. He approached her, darkness swirling around him. The king grabbed her, claws tearing at her back. Pain shot through her back. It was still there. It was real.

You're nothing but a coward.

You couldn't even defend your people.

Couldn't even defend yourself.

"No."

Then she exploded.

Fire surged from her hands, her body glowing brighter than a star. Rhoe jumped off of her, staggering back. He patted his shoulder, extinguishing a small flame. But he did not falter. Ice swirled around him as he pressed a cold hand on her shoulder, cold slivering down her spine. The world burned around her, all she could see was red. Nothing else.

Couldn't even protect your people

Defend yourself.

"Don't ever call me that." she huffed, her flames surging higher. The warrior through his hands up and smirked. Smirked.

"What?!" she hissed, flames rising. The world still burned, but her magic started to cool down. Thanks to Rhoe's cold touch.

"Nothing. It's just you...may want to check out your new look." he chuckled.

Ashlyn rushed over to one of Rhoe's melted snow puddles. She gasped looking at her reflection in the water. A new look indeed.

Instead of her normal small human ears, she had long pointy Fae ears. She bared her teeth, her canines longer.