Raven

Queen Luna Aakifahlynn Mathiasen scanned her memories. She remembered developing a tactical plan that ended this war before it even began, and this was a constant wrangle.

Some group or the other was continually rising up to overthrow the Monarch. She never understood why they would not quit.

Aakifahlynn abruptly rose from the head chair, scrapping noisily on the concrete flooring, and she leaned forward, resting her knuckles on the table, feeling slightly off-balance.

"Please, pardon me. It seems I am not well. Do carry on with this meeting." Her eyes slid to each of their faces, ensuring they grasped.

"It is imperative that we secure our borders and stop these snakes." With that, she nodded and was about to head out of the room to gather herself when Duke Chapman said, "You should see the healer."

She nodded again and quickly exited the meeting room. Aakifahlynn shut the door behind her and leaned on it.

Her head resting on the door, she looked up to the ceiling as if searching for answers. She sighed, then asked, 'What am I doing here?'

This was three years in the past, a past she'd already lived through years ago! Why was she here?

Aakifahlynn finally moves off the door and wanders the castle almost aimlessly, her mind racing with thoughts of what could possibly be the reason for this.

The castle was like any other in the 1800s, made of stone, and the walls whitewashed. The wealth of period details throughout the living spaces were seen in the magnificent fireplaces, aviating ceilings with intricate carvings, stone archways, and mullioned windows.

Aakifahlynn roamed the vast castle with many apartments and several formal reception rooms, including a long picture gallery and two-story library, the great hall, two kitchens, and a lovely fernery that opens to the garden terraces.

The color theme is cream and blood red, with gold highlights.

Though she did not venture into all the rooms, she did relish the idea of still being able to walk through these corridors and visit these rooms. She was alive!

Though still hard to believe

After wandering about the castle with thoughts of what could possibly be the reason for her return, she found none. Aakifahlynn had never heard of this before. She'd never heard of someone returning to their lives years earlier, AFTER their death.

How absurd? How unbelievable!

Then she summed up that even if it had happened before, she could not imagine someone speaking about it, let alone believing it. As she quickly realized how crazy that sounded.

She could tell no one lest they thought she was sick in her mind and needed to be hospitalized.

And the Divine Moon Goddess knows that is not what Aakifahlynn needs right now to draw unnecessary attention to her person.

Aakifahlynn eventually ventured into the garden while replaying every detail of her day yesterday, the day of her death. November 19th, 1804. We are now back in October of 1801.

Aakifahlynn could not remember the exact date.

Out here was calming; she could find solace and settle her racing heart and raging mind.

Aakifahlynn strolled aimlessly, her eyes moving from flowers to flowers, to the trees, to the benches, to the exquisite pond.

The breeze blew lightly, lifting the dried leaves off the ground. The bees buzzed around the pretty flowers in search of nectar.

But Aakifahlynn did not see any of it.

She was lost in her introspections, and suddenly she stopped and slapped herself across the face, "Ouch," she muttered. Nope, this was not a dream.

She is alive! She thought for maybe the hundredth time since she left that meeting.

Aakifahlynn ventured further into the garden and sat beside a gorgeous, picturesque fountain. Hearing the trickling of the water flowing slowly comforted her and brought her tranquility.

Nevertheless, her husband's words kept replaying in her mind. His last few tormenting words. Her heart broke all over again. He was HER mate. Jairus was supposed to love and protect her.

Goddess, how could he do this? It was like he had not one drop of love or care in his dark heart for her. 'Every time I gaze upon you, I WILLED myself to see HER.'

His words destroyed her to no end. She thought she was beautiful enough. She thought she was his everything. She recalled her death being a shock more than anything else.

Aakifahlynn remembered standing there looking so stupid while not grasping what was happening, unable to move like an idiot.

SO traumatized by the reality of the situation. But in the end, Jairus did it; he did the unthinkable. Her husband had poisoned and tricked her for months. 'Did he ever love her?'

She wondered why he did not let her just leave when she asked him to. But then again, that would not be a smooth transition for Taisiya if he'd chosen that route.

Chances are, Aakifahlynn would have gotten better and returned.

So this was about Taisiya, and suddenly the urge to know more about this new enemy piqued Aakifahlynn's interest. Maybe there was more to her than meets the eye.

Aakifahlynn realized her husband went through quite a spectacle to ensure Taisiya's transition went fast and smoothly.

He showed Taisya's mark. Another stabbing sensation racked her heart.

She recoiled into herself and wrapped her arms around her tightly as she gently and slowly rocked back and forth. Her mate slapped her, shoved her, and he threw her weakened body down the steps...

And suddenly, Aakifahlynn had a light bulb moment. She was no longer in that weakened body and had her wolf still. 'Raven.' She immediately called.

'I am here. What is going on?' Raven's voice quivered. Raven had yet to experience what Aakifahlynn had. However, she saw it in Aakifahlynn's memory. Raven was already lost to her at the time of her death.

'I am so sorry, Raven,' Aakifahlynn immediately started apologizing. She felt terrible for her mistakes, and it was around this time that she began concentrating on her magic.

Plus, Aakifahlynn felt sorry for what Raven learned. She could hear the sadness in Raven's voice, seeing what her mate did. Though she was not there, Aakifahlynn could now feel Raven's anger bubbling within her, along with her pain.

She whined and whimpered. Aakifahlynn was so caught up in her own grief that she had not even noticed Raven's silent cries.

'We cannot stay here,' was all Raven said before retreating into the back of Aakifahlynn's mind as she mourned the reality they both now faced. Aakifahlynn sighed and whispered, 'I know, I know.'

Aakifahlynn was now alone once more with her thoughts. She felt alone, but she was happy she had her wolf back.

As for her parents, they were not at the castle. They always disliked the attention and the life at court. They preferred the quiet of the forest. They live on the outskirts of the Kingdom.

And Aakifahlynn had no siblings, being an only child.

Besides, she could not unpack this on them anyway if she were to visit. What would she say, 'Mom, Dad, I was killed by my mate three years from now, and I returned?'

Aakifahlynn realized she had no one to talk to besides her wolf because she had no one to trust there. She remembered her servant was missing in the event of her death, but her husband must have sent away the staff.

Looking back, the castle was practically empty as far as she could see.

Plus, deciphering who was loyal to the King and who was not would take the time she did not have. She did not plan on sticking around that long.

But her wolf was enough.

When, as if on cue, "Your Highness.., thank Goddess.., I found you.., where have you been?" Nadie, her servant, came running toward her, out of breath.

Her brown shoulder-length hair flowed with the light breeze as she ran, and her gray eyes glinted with worry and concern.

Aakifahlynn emerged from her memories, looking up at Nadie, confusion written all over her features. One eyebrow rose in question. What was with the young lady? What was the emergency?

"I have been looking for you for hours. You weren't there when I brought your meal when the meeting broke for lunch."

"Duke Chapman asked about your well-being. And I was lost to what he meant and had been looking for you since. Are you ok, Your Highness?"

Nadie got it all out; she heaved the air greedily, hunched over, her hands braced on her knees.

Aakifahlynn realized she must have been wandering in her thoughts for hours, reliving her betrayal. Nadie was just worried about her.

"I am fine," She waved her hand dismissively. Though relieved to see a familiar face, Aakifahlynn wanted to sit with her thoughts some more, so she quickly gave Nadie a task to send her on her way.

Aakifahlynn, alone in her thoughts again, her mind slid to those traitorous council members, three werewolves, and two vampyres.