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  I stepped closer, stopping merely an inch away from him, and fought with everything inside me to not rip his head from his body. “You will make sure this is done, or you shall be the next to experience pain at my hands.”

  Khet-ui’s brow rose and he straightened defiantly. The emerald green crystal at the top of his staff pulsed with his energy. “It would be wise for the Dark King to remember that I am fluent in the art of magic, and I would become a formidable opponent if I so choose to be one. After all, it is because of my power and assistance during the Dragon Cataclysm that this kingdom was conquered.”

  Flames ignited within me and my vision was engulfed in a dark mist, my eyes became black. “If I were you, I would think twice before threatening the Dark King.”

  An amused gleam entered his eyes. “I would never dare threaten you, my king. I am simply reminding you of what an asset I am to your cause.”

  “Your Highness, I am terribly sorry to interrupt, but there is someone else here to see you.” Mitah’s voice danced around us as Khet-ui and I held each other’s gazes without backing down. My heart thundered in my chest, begging me to kill him, but as much as his words had irked me, he was right about one thing. He was better kept by my side.

  “What?!” I shouted, turning to look at the royal usher.

  “Doniath Blatnath, Earl of Quoisa, is here to see you with his son, Zephyr Blatnath, my king.”

  My gaze returned to Khet-ui and our eyes connected once more. “Send them in.” I instructed and turned away from the sorcerer, dragging my hands over my head and smoothing my hair, in an attempt to regain my composure. I faced the room just as Zeph and Doniath knelt before me. The Sorcerer faced them too.

  “My king, we are sorry to disturb you, but we wanted to know if you have word of Avrielle.”

  My fists trembled at my sides while I clenched them fiercely. “I told you in confidence that she had been taken from the castle, and you told your father? You should be grateful I even shared that with you. I only did it to shut you up and stop you from coming here to whine about needing her every single day!” I seethed, focusing on Zeph as I stalked towards him. The black mist engulfed my vision once again. He stood, swallowing, and stepped away from me. His father stood before him, protecting him with his body. I wanted to laugh; it would take much more than Doniath shielding him from me if I truly wanted to hurt him.

  “My king, please forgive my son. He only told me after I questioned him. He’s been going mad with the need that seeps through him from their bond. You know how the Blooming works. It is not his fault. Please, have mercy.”

  I stopped and reached inside for my bond with Serene. The second I felt her presence, the soothing sensation rushed through me and I took a settling breath. “She has not been found.” I gave them my back to return to my throne, waving two fingers at them to leave. “I shall inform you once she is back in my castle.”

  “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but there is something else that you must know.” I took another breath, searching for patience and faced them once more.

  “And what exactly is it?”

  Doniath looked at his son as he stepped forwards. Zeph nervously swallowed. “It’s Avrielle. I um… I can’t feel her anymore.”

  “You what?” I roared, and the next second, my fingers were grasping his throat. Fear, pain and rage coursed through me at once. “Are you telling me my daughter is dead?!”

  Zeph shook his head adamantly within my hold, terror swimming in his eyes. “No, my king,” he rasped. “But something happened this evening. I came right after it occurred, although I don’t even know how to explain it.”

  “Try,” I seethed.

  His eyes went to his father’s, who although fearful, nodded for him to proceed. “There was this sudden energy rush, and I fell to my knees. It didn’t hurt, but one second she was there, and the next she was gone. It felt as though she was pulled from me. The bond was broken and replaced with another. I… I can feel my fated, I can smell her even where I stand, but it is no longer Avrielle.”

  I snapped.

  There was no sound.

  There was no sight.

  There was only darkness, and fury.

  Crimson blood dripped from my fingers onto the white stone floors after I severed Zeph’s head from his body. The thundering of my heart reverberated all around me, as I gazed into his father’s horror-stricken eyes. Tears fell from them while he screamed in anguish. The power traveled over me once more, and my fist shot out, plunging through his chest. Doniath’s eyes became glossy and cold as the life seeped out of him. His body crumbled to the floor, his heart falling by his side.

  I whirled towards Khet-ui, panting, flames blazing within me, fists clenched, eyes engulfed in black mist. He stood there in shock. “There is only one being in the universe who can end a fated bond, and replace it with another.” I took a step closer to him. “And you assured me he was dead!”

  I moved so fast that the Sorcerer had no time to react. My bloodied palm connected with his neck, sending him flying backwards. He crashed onto the floor, several steps back, the staff falling out of his grasp.

  He scrambled to his feet. Ribbons of green magic flowed from his hand, calling the staff to him; a second later, the weapon was secured between his fingers. The crystal throbbed, and an emerald energy shield appeared around him while his lime green eyes glowed.

  “This is impossible!” he contested. “I saw him die with my own eyes right after Revyr tore his face in two. He was consumed by the flames of the dragon fire.”

  “Are you sure it was him?!” I strode forwards. “Did you see his dragon form disintegrate?”

  “Yes! I saw his dragon disappear, only the man was left among the fire.”

  “No. Did you see him die?” I persisted, while pure ire incinerated my insides. “Did you see his body disintegrate and his soul-magic join the others among the stars?”

  “What?”

  “Drayvok do not just die like you and me, you idiot. Did you see him join the stars?!” I roared.

  Khet-ui blinked. “No one could have survived that.”

  “He isn’t just anyone. He is the Dragon Lord!!” I whirled around and gripped the throne, throwing it against the wall. It shattered the stained glass window, going through it. “Aaahhhh!!!!”

  The enraged sound left my lips, as I stumbled forwards, falling onto my knees. Weakness seeped through my bones, as I struggled to breathe, I had used too much of my power. The icy reminder of my frail fated reached me, and I looked towards the door.

  “Mitah, bring me Scyron!”

  I turned to Khet-ui, who let go of the magical shield that protected him and rushed towards me, helping me stand.

  “Why now? Why is he back after leading us to believe he’d been dead all these years, why has he returned?” Fear and jealousy suddenly filtered through my being. “He is going to take her from me. If Avra is back, he is going to try and take her from me!” I gripped Khet-ui’s arms, staring intently into his eyes. “You have to help me stop him. He already tried stealing her love once, but she came back to me. She chose me. He will never let it go. If the Dragon Lord is here after all these years, it’s because he wants my queen, and my kingdom.”

  “My king. You called for me?”

  I turned to find Scyron kneeling in the middle of the throne room. He was the commander of my old army, the Shadow Army, and a true merciless warrior. “Double the guard outside the queen’s chambers.”

  “There are five guards outside her door at the moment, and one in charge of the hall.”

  “Then send five more!” I bellowed. “You have to protect the queen. Make sure she’s guarded at all times.”

  With a nod, he stood and stepped out to carry out my order. My gaze connected with the pool of blood that now stained the floor of my otherwise white hall.

  “Guards!” Three men hurried through the doors. “Take care of the Earl and his son’s bodies, they are tarnishing my throne room. And send someone to go
kill whatever is left of their family. I never want to hear the disgraceful name, Blatnath, again.”

  * * *

  I stepped into Serene’s room, and waited for the healers to leave us alone. My eyes roamed her form while pain settled in me. She was but a ghost of the woman I’d known, the one fated to me.

  Sitting next to her on the bed, I reached for her hand, holding it in mine. A cold sweat clung to her skin.

  “You mustn’t worry, my love, I will keep you safe. You shall be mine forever; even if I have to kill us both to achieve it. You, as well as this kingdom, are mine, and I will not give you up without a fight.”

  4 days after…

  * * *

  “I need you to search for them, for my sons and Avrielle. You must find them at once!”

  The seer slowly turned her head, eerie white eyes focused on me, while her silver hair fell loose over her shoulders. A white robe covered her body, while chains secured her to the wall.

  Her lips casually curved into an amused smile. “You know that is not the way this works. I can only see the future, not the present.”

  The back of my hand connected with her cheek and her head whipped to the side, her hair flying, covering her eyes. I gripped her chin, and turned her face to me once again, forcing her to look at me between the strands.

  “Then tell me, will the princes return to my kingdom?”

  The white haze glowed over her eyes, and a laugh erupted from her. “Your kingdom will be no more. They will return, but only to hand you your death.”

  “What?!” My fingers dug into her cheek, the edges of my fingernails sliced her skin, drawing blood. She whimpered. “My sons would never attack me,” I seethed.

  “Perhaps your sons would not, but the Dragon Lord’s sons will be your undoing. They shall come back for you, surrounded by the ghosts of your past.”

  “What Dragon Lord’s sons…. Are you delirious? What are you talking about?!” I demanded, but her laugh returned, thundering around the small room.

  “My king, sorry to interrupt you, but it is urgent!” Scyron’s voice reached me and I pushed her face away.

  “You are worthless to me, old hag.”

  “Then kill me,” she dared, and smiled when I stepped back, seething.

  I couldn’t kill her. I needed her and she knew that. She was the last one of her kind alive in my kingdom. Whirling around, I faced the commander. “How dare you interrupt me!”

  “I apologize, Your Highness. But the queen has been taken from the castle.”

  My eyes instantly darkened, as the black mist rushed over them. “What do you mean, the queen has been taken?!”

  Without waiting for an answer, I pushed him, sending him flying against the wall and I rushed out of the room. I reached for my bond to her and found it there, weak and ice cold, barely present due to her condition… but it was still there.

  My heart thundered in my chest as I ran down the stairs towards her chambers, shoving aside anyone who dared cross my path. I stepped onto her floor and ran towards her door. The sight suddenly brought me to a stop. The ten guards I had placed outside for protection were immobile on the floor, golden dust engulfed them and even their eyes glowed with the mystical substance.

  “Elven magic,” I seethed, while the rage that lived in me became alive once more. “I am going to catch the Golden Prince, and hear him scream as I rip each limb from his body until only his head remains.” I had made a mistake by leaving him out of my fight, only because he remained locked in his castle, away from everyone else’s affairs. “I should have killed him when I had the chance.”

  I stepped into my queen’s chambers and found them trashed. Her armoire was opened and her clothes were everywhere. Every possession, every gift I ever gave her lay on the floor, discarded as though it didn’t matter. The five healers that were always by her side had collapsed, captured by the Elven magic, just like the guards outside.

  My fists clenched and began to tremble as pure, incinerating flames exploded from my core at the sight of Serene’s empty bed. Ire like I had never felt before rushed through me, while the black mist engulfed my eyes. It did not stop there. The Shadow Curse expanded, encasing every inch of me until my full form shook violently. Soon, everyone in this kingdom would be reminded of why I was called the Dark King.

  “Aaahhhh!!!”

  Lifting my arms, the fury burst out of me without even a thought. Tendrils of black smoke swiftly shot from my fingers, towards the guards that stood beside me. Seeping into their eyes, nose and ears, it rushed over their bodies until it engulfed them fully. The Shadow Curse took over them. They quivered as it lifted them into the air, consuming their souls and desiccating their skin, its darkness pulverized their bones, sucking the life out of them before my eyes. What was left of their corpses, collapsed to the floor. I whirled round and stormed out of the room, my flesh coat soared behind me.

  The shadows inside me snapped back into my essence like an overstretched band, clearing my eyes from its darkness. I searched for Serene’s bond and found it soon after—Icy and dormant, where it once was warm and thriving. It had been thousands of years since I had felt her that way. But not even our bond could keep the ire from me now.

  I made my way through the corridors, towards a part of the castle no one knew existed but my Sorcerer, Khet-ui, and me. Passing the entrance of the Royal Archives, I stood at the end of the hallway and looked around me to make sure no one had followed. The moment my hand touched the stone wall, a red glow ignited over the grey surface and I watched it spread like fire. One by one, the stone squares illuminated, forming an archway that sunk into the wall. I pulled the long chain that hung on my neck—hidden within my garments—and placed the skeleton key in the newly formed lock. With a click, the silver door opened and I strode through it.

  My eyes fell on the sleeping form that lay in the middle of the cave, over the white onyx pedestal, the door closed behind me and the archway disappeared into the stone wall. A green dome of pulsing energy encased the body that rested inside, frozen in time, preserved by Khet-ui’s power. I walked closer, admiring every inch of his naked form, now healed to perfection. His body had fully regenerated, although a gruesome scar marred his left forearm. Dark as the moonless sky of midnight, his skin glistened under the spell that had kept him from dying, reflecting the green light over his pores with every pulse of power.

  My lips slowly stretched into a sinister smile, while the latent rage in me mixed with pleasure and the hunger for revenge.

  “Perhaps you will be of use to me after all. I look forward to your awakening and the rebirth of our alliance. This time, nothing will stop us from winning, Soulless Black.”

  Chapter 2. Fated

  NYX GAERRATH

  3rd Born, Prince of the Winter Court.

  Protector of the Royal Archives.

  * * *

  2 weeks later…

  * * *

  “Breathe in…. Breathe out…”

  Kyr’s words guided me through the anxiety and frustration I was suddenly experiencing while attempting to perform the exercise he requested of me.

  “Try again,” he whispered softly.

  My older brother was quite used to helping me through these moments of unease. The oxygen traveled through me, filling my lungs, and providing me with some calm once I connected with the energy in my essence. The one that concealed my abilities, and that I somehow was required to “release”. During the past fourteen days, Kyr had dedicated all of his time to me—just as he once did when I was a child—with the sole purpose of teaching me. The memory brought a small smile to my lips, briefly cutting through my irritation. Although too briefly.

  “Is this absolutely necessary, Brother?” I inquired, feeling the frame of my glasses slide further down my nose. I pushed them back in place. “Frankly, I don’t see the point of accessing my ability without needing to use it. That is what you taught me all of these years, after all. I should not access and engage my power unless it be
came crucial. ‘The true worth of a man lies not in his mystical ability, but in his intellectual one’. Those were your words,” I huffed, quoting him. “I remember them quite clearly.”

  I took a deep breath, waiting for Kyr’s confirmation that my statement was in fact correct. Instead, his lips twitched. “That is true, little brother. I did say that, however, I might have been wrong.”

  “Excuse me?!” I glared at him, appalled.

  He chuckled. “Let me rephrase that. Yes, the true worth of a man comes from his intellect, from the choices he makes when lives are on the line, and his integrity depends on it, however, lately I have come to realize, thanks to Avra, our father, that our abilities are something to be valued. There is no shame in using the gifts that the Goddess herself bestowed upon us; they are part of who we are. We should embrace them and let them flow freely through our being, not suppress them.”

  I frowned, pushing my glasses back in place. “If you say so,” I grumbled. I had spent a lifetime founding my actions on a principal he was now asking me to ignore. It was a paradox. I wasn’t fond of paradoxes.

  “Can we try again?” Kyr asked, placing his hand on my shoulder.

  My brow furrowed even deeper and I sighed. I wasn’t really capable of denying my older brother. I had an inexplicable need to please him. “Very well.”

  Taking a settling breath, I closed my eyes and allowed my senses to take over. I searched inside me until I felt the magic stir in my core and I held on to it, connecting it to every cell in my body.

  “Excellent, Brother. Now push it out of you.”

  “Could you be any more ambiguous with your teachings, please?” I huffed.

  Kyr chuckled again. “It is not something I can explain, per say. It is something you must feel.”

  My lids snapped open, letting go of the connection I had achieved. I stared at him perplexed. “Then how in our Goddess’s Hell do you expect me to achieve it?! Have you forgotten whom you are speaking to? I need specific instructions on how to do whatever it is you are asking me to do!”