❤️ Mary's Confession ❤️"Let's go," Nyxoria said, her voice firm.Without another word, they left the courtyard and entered the castle, following Vyrelen as he led the way to Mary’s room.When they reached the door, Vyrelen pushed it open and stepped inside first, followed by Tharros, Nyxoria, and Dika and he closed the door.Mary was seen fast asleep on her bed, her chest rising and falling peacefully.Tharros’ gaze darkened. "You can wake her up," he ordered.Vyrelen nodded and stepped closer, standing over Mary. He placed his palm over her face, dragging it down slowly before pulling his hand away.Almost instantly, Mary stirred. She coughed lightly before blinking her eyes open—only to freeze in place.She gasped, her face paling as she realized eight pairs of eyes were watching her in silence."Why is everyone here?" she asked, quickly sitting up. There was concern in her voice as she threw her blanket on her aside and rushed over to meet Nyxoria. She took Nyxoria’s hands in hers
❤️ Mary's Confession (2) ❤️Tharros stood up from where he was, his gaze dark and unreadable."Don’t make the Emperor repeat himself," Vyrelen warned coldly as he stepped on Mary’s already broken hand.Mary let out another sharp cry, her body trembling. "I swear, I don’t know anything about the leaves! I was just following orders! I am telling the truth!" she sobbed, her voice desperate. "I was told to put it in my Empress’s food." She added."Why?" Nyxoria asked, her voice thick with emotion. "Who told you to do it, Mary?"Mary’s lips were shaking as more tears rolled down her face. "Your uncle," she confessed in a choked whisper. "High King Vyr. He was the one who gave me the leaves. Every time it ran out, he would bring me more and remind me of what would happen if I didn’t obey him. I didn't want to die and I did as told."Nyxoria felt the ground shift beneath her. Her knees weakened, and she would have collapsed if not for Tharros’s strong hands wrapping firmly around her waist,
❤️ Shadows Of Desire ❤️They left Mary's room together, but as they walked, Dika suddenly stopped, making Nyxoria pause beside her. The sun was slowly setting, casting an orange glow over the castle walls. By now, the Arcane must have closed for the day."I have to go home," Dika said, her tone firm but reassuring. "But don’t worry, I’ll be at the High King’s palace tomorrow to support you." She added.Nyxoria's face lit up with a grateful smile. "Thank you for coming, Dika. It means a lot to me.""See you tomorrow then, Nyxoria." Dika replied with a smile, then bowed slightly to Tharros out of respect. Without sparing a glance at Vyrelen, she turned and left the castle."I will be back, my Emperor," Vyrelen said.Tharros barely acknowledged him, waving a dismissive hand. In the next instant, Vyrelen vanished into the shadows, leaving Nyxoria alone with Tharros once more."How are you feeling, Ria?" Tharros asked, but before she could respond, he lifted her into his arms. Immediately,
❤️ Oberon Challenge ❤️Tharros noticed the way Nyxoria was looking at him, so he put a little space between them on the bed. She wouldn’t understand the sick thoughts running through his mind—how much he truly enjoyed seeing her tears."How are you feeling now?" he asked, trying to shift the conversation."Nyxoria tilted her head slightly. "Do you like my tears that much?" she questioned.Before Tharros could respond, a knock at the door interrupted him.For once, he was grateful for Vyrelen’s timing. There was no way Nyxoria would understand if he tried to explain."Come in, Vyrelen," he called.Vyrelen stepped inside but remained near the door after closing it."Have you seen your wife off?" Tharros asked, rising to his feet. He walked past Vyrelen, motioning for him to follow him outside. Together, they made their way toward the closest balcony.As soon as they stepped outside, Vyrelen grinned. "Yes, my Emperor.""Good. Why are you here? Did the guards disrespect her?" Tharros aske
❤️ Lady Bana's Warning ❤️"You—" King Oberon started, but Vyrelen cut him off."I have told you what the Emperor wants me to tell you. Bring your fighter, and he will bring his. In two days, the fight will take place in Ashland, as you chose." Vyrelen gave a small bow, and before Oberon could say another word, the Nightweaver disappeared into his shadows.Oberon clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. He walked over to the mirror hanging in the corner of his chamber, inspecting his throat where Vyrelen had gripped him. The skin was red, an infuriating reminder of how easily he had been caught off guard. His rage burned hotter as he remembered his fire not burning Vyrelen.Placing a hand over the mark, he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the redness had vanished.With a growl, he slammed his fist into the mirror, shattering the glass into many pieces.He then grinned as he remembered Tharros response to his message.Tharros had taken the bait. He is indeed a big fool.The As
❤️ Song Of Shadows ❤️Elyria Kingdom— Vyr Palace:King Vyr sat at the head of the round table, his fingers tapping idly against the polished wood. The four elders seated around him were deep in conversation, but his mind was elsewhere. The evening breeze drifted through the open windows, carrying the scent of the fading sun. Yet, he found no comfort in it.Where was Mary?He had tried reaching her through the pendant, but for some reason, the connection was blocked. Something was wrong. Has she been caught? The thought gnawed at him, making him restless.A voice pulled him back to the present.King Vyr gave a distracted nod in acknowledgment."I called for this meeting," Elder Rivar continued. "As you know, my troops and I went to battle against the Bloodforgers, who have been stealing our newborns right from our nose. We were overpowered, and I and my troops were captured and some were killed and sacrificed. If not for the High King's niece arriving at the right time, I wouldn’t be h
❤️ Merging Her Soul ❤️Nyxoria could feel warm breath against her skin, gentle at first, then slowly growing hotter. Within seconds, the warmth turned into searing heat, as if burning coals had been poured over her body. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, resisting the urge to open her eyes.The pain was unbearable and she tried not to scream.She wanted to open her eyes, to see what was happening to her, but Ora’s voice came, firm and unwavering."Don’t open your eyes, Nyxoria. Bear the pain. It will be over soon. If you open them now, everything will be wasted, and we’ll have to start all over again which you won't like.""It hurts," Nyxoria whimpered, squeezing her eyes shut even tighter as tears streamed down her face.Ora’s voice remained calm. "What is life without pain? For power, you must endure suffering. Haven’t you learned that by now, Nyxoria?"The song continued, its melody distant, like an echo from another time. But Nyxoria could no longer focus o
❤️ Noah ❤️ Nyxoria smiled, a mixture of relief and gratitude washing over her. "Thank you, Ora. What would I have done without your help? All my whole life, I thought I was born without a wolf, but who would’ve thought it was actually caged? And not just any wolf, a wolf dragon." Her excitement was clear in her voice. Ora chuckled softly. "With me, everything is possible, Nyxoria." Nyxoria nodded but then tilted her head in thought. "But why are you helping me? How did you know my wolf was caged? And when are you finally going to show me your face?" Instead of answering, Ora turned her back to Nyxoria, folding her arms behind her. "Won't you answer me Ora? Now that I think of it, you knew Mary was putting those leaves in my food and instead of you telling me the truth you rather beat around the bush and told me to forgive Mary instead, how am I sure you are not working with my Uncle?" Ora let out a snort. "Nyxoria, I understand your fears, but I’ve told you before, I’m not here
❤️ The Nightweaver’s Dance ❤️“Dark fire against dark fire,” Vyrelen said, voice low but mocking as the flame that had hovered between them, the one that had waited patiently for Oberon’s command, began to fade and died, dissolving into the air like it had never been there.King Oberon was still frozen in place, his eyes wide, clearly not expecting Vyrelen to carry the same darkness he thought was his alone. Dark fire was a rare one from his ancestors and wig years of perfecting it, it became his strongest power.Recovering from the shock, Oberon forced a smirk and spoke through clenched teeth, “May the best of them win.”Vyrelen’s smirk widened. “Are you telling me that... or trying to encourage yourself?” With that, the flames in Vyrelen’s hair died out.Oberon’s expression twisted with fury. A low snarl rumbled from deep within his chest, and suddenly dark fire exploded from his palms. It wasn’t a calm flame, it was rage turned alive. The flames hissed with black embers, the heat s
❤️ The Fight for Her Hand Begins (4) ❤️King Oberon clenched his fists so tightly that the veins on his hands bulged, and without thinking, he slammed one of them down on the armrest of his seat. A loud crack split through the wood, drawing startled glances from a few nearby people, especially his elder of councils who are close to him. But no one dared speak. They all felt the fury rolling off him like heat from a wildfire.He was livid.Not just because he had lost, but because of how it happened. The fight he had put so much hope in, two warriors he had trusted with his reputation, his pride, his revenge, had ended in humiliation. The Cindercloak warrior, Legion, who once burned through battlefields without mercy, had fallen without Vyrelen even breaking a sweat. And the cursed spirit of Ashland, an ancient being said to hold the wrath of the land itself, was destroyed like it was made of sand, not stone.Oberon had thought at least one of them would wound Vyrelen. Just one injury.
❤️ The Fight for Her Hand Begins (3)❤️"I should make a move? Did you not see what he just did to the Cindercloak warrior?" the spirit's voice echoed through King Oberon's mind, filled with hesitation. "You’re not blind, are you, my Lord? That man didn’t even lift a hand to win.""Are you defying me?" Oberon snapped back through their mind link, his fists clenching tightly on the armrest. His eyes stayed locked on the arena. "You made a promise to fight my opponent. And you know well, the Fae never go back on their word.""A promise is a promise," the spirit replied calmly. "I will fight. But you could’ve told me your opponent was Tharros." There was silence for a moment. "Fighting someone connected to him is not like you fighting a warrior."Oberon ignored the warning and returned his focus to the arena."The winner of this round goes to the Emperor’s warrior," High King Vyr’s voice rang across the silent crowd, breaking the tension. "According to the rules, the fight continues until
❤️ The Fight for Her Hand Begins (2)❤️Ashland:Ashland, the sacred battleground where Kings and Queens came to prove their strength, was packed with people. Each section was divided by species, the werewolves sat with their council of elders, King Vyr and Princess Nasa seated at the front. Next came the vampires with their queen, followed by the mermaid queen and her people, then the witch king, and more.Everyone was seated and was anticipating the fight that was about to happen, it was as if nearly every kingdom was present in Ashland. At the center of it all was the arena, a place where only one could walk away. A fight to the death.Tharros sat above the rest of the rulers, in a seat made for the Emperor. He had made sure seats were prepared for Nyxoria and her friend Dika. When they arrived, Vyrelen dropped Dika off before heading to the arena. Tharros made sure Nyxoria sat beside her. He turned his seat backwards which faced the arena and sat down.“You’re not watching the figh
❤️ The Fight for Her Hand Begins ❤️Early The Next Morning:Elyria Kingdom:King Vyr, who had fallen asleep in his throne room after another failed search, was woken up by his daughter, Nasa.“You didn’t sleep in your chamber, did you?” Nasa asked, helping him to his feet. “Something’s bothering you.”Taking his seat and nodding his head. "Yes, something is truly troubling me." King Vyr admitted."Whatever it is, it can wait," Nasa said which made Vyr to look up at her."It can't wait, Nasa. Don't you care about my feelings anymore? Or do you not realize I will die if I don't find it?" He asked."I am not saying it's not important, but I am saying whatever it is can wait because we have a fight to watch," Nasa said. "Everyone is talking about it in the Arcane, we have got to go." She added.It was as if someone poured cold water on Vyr's body and it drew him to what today is."Today is the day of the fight?" King Vyr asked standing up to his feet, the tiredness gone.Nasa nodded her h
❤️ The Night Before Ashland ❤️"I don’t get it, Tharros. I know Vyrelen is your right-hand man, but calling him your shadow? That’s a little hard to believe," Nyxoria said, frowning."I know it’s strange, my love. But one day, you’ll understand," Tharros replied gently."So, he’s really fighting Oberon tomorrow?" she asked again to be sure and when Tharros nodded his head, she continued. "Where is the fight taking place?""Ashland." Tharros responded.Nyxoria's eyes widened in shock. "Ashland? The same Ashland that is at the outskirts of all kingdoms, the land that is forbidden to enter? That same Ashland?"Tharros nodded his head once again. "That same Ashland.""Why would Oberon choose such a cursed place? I heard there is an evil spirit that lives there who has a Fae blood and is very dangerous. If Vyrelen fights there, he’s walking into death. And we don’t even know who his opponent is.""You’re worried?" Tharros asked, smiling softly."Of course I am! Aren’t you? Vyrelen could di
❤️ Thousand Years To Love You ❤️Nyxoria noticed Tharros was leading her toward the garden. Once she sat down, a servant girl arrived with a bowl full of apples and grapes, placed it on the table, gave a small bow, and quietly left, just as Vyrelen and Dika walked in. Dika took a seat, while Vyrelen remained standing beside Tharros."What did she mean by ‘they… and you know them’?" Nyxoria asked Tharros.Tharros snapped out of his thoughts and gave her a small smile. "I might have an idea of who she was talking about, but I can't be too sure if it is them.""And what if it really is them?" she asked again.Tharros let out a deep breath. "They won’t hurt you, Nyxoria. I promise. I won’t let them. Trust me, they can't.""But why are they after me? I haven't hurt anyone and people that I don't know of are trying to hurt me," Nyxoria said with a frown and picked up an apple, biting into it angrily, nearly taking half of it in one go."When she’s upset, she eats like that," Dika commented,
❤️ Fefe's Fall ❤️Nyxoria had her bath. The water was warm, likely brought in by a servant, so she didn’t waste any time. Once she was done, she slipped into one of the long dresses Tharros had gotten for her that fit her.Not long after, they left for the throne room. This time, they didn’t use Tharros’ shadows. Nyxoria wanted to walk, to stretch her legs a bit.Taking her sword with her.††Throne Room:Fefe, still pretending to be Daisy, was getting frustrated. She had been standing for nearly an hour, and Nyxoria was still nowhere in sight.But what really annoyed her wasn’t the wait, it was Vyrelen.He had left the throne room briefly, returned before she could even blink, and told her Nyxoria and Tharros were on their way. When he first brought her in, she’d tried to sit in one of the empty seats around the round table, but Vyrelen stopped her.“Those aren’t for you,” he’d said flatly. “I’ll bring you a chair.”That was a lie.Instead of fetching a chair, he went to sit in one o
❤️ Unveiling Fefe ❤️Dika's Dream:Dika saw herself in an empty large room that could pass for a palace, The walls were painted red, but something about the color made her uneasy, it looked too much like real blood. She was alone, yet she felt like someone was watching her. Then, a woman appeared in front of her, tall, striking and beautiful, with two horns on her head."Who are you?” Dika asked immediately, eyes narrowing as she took a defensive step back. Theme first thing she noticed was the two horns in Bana's head.“I am Lady Bana,” the woman said smoothly. “I’ve come to offer you a proposal.”“So, I’m guessing you’re the one who pulled me into this weird dream?” Dika asked.Lady Bana nodded her head. “Yes. Like I said, I have a proposal for you and you will like it.”“And what’s that?” Dika asked, her tone sharp.“Join me,” Lady Bana said simply. “Help me destroy Nyxoria.”Dika blinked. “Wait—Nyxoria as in my friend Nyxoria? That Nyxoria?”“The one you know,” Lady Bana confirme