"Why are you not healing? Are you feeling alright?" she asked with concern. Just when she asked the question, she saw his wound healing. His body pushed the wooden piece out of his body. And the blood-coated wood fell to a side. She sighedRaphael is taking labored breaths, as his body healed completely within seconds. But the forest has sucked energy out of him, making him weak."It's this forest. It's feeding on the negative energy I am carrying. As darkness is a part of me now, it's feeding on me" he revealed.She gasped with shock. Belatedly she understood that it was this forest that took her away. Slowly the winds started to slow down until it stopped entirely. The ground is not shaking so violently anymore. She doesn't even realize that she caused so much havoc around the forest. Her attention is fixed on Raphael."We have to find a way to leave this forest" she spoke with a worried frown.'You need to mate to bring him back ' She remembered those words again.'Does that man me
Valerie is a little confused. She is experiencing something really strange that she never experienced before. She can see Everything around her more clearly than she used to. She can even see the small specs of dust flying in the air around her. Her nose is picking up the various scents of the plants, trees, and fruits around her. Most importantly, her nostrils are being assaulted by Raphael's masculine scent. It is unique and woodsy with a hint of cinnamon. His face, his voice, his scent, everything is overwhelming her senses more than it already does. She can hear every small sound that is made a mile away from her as well. Everything is overwhelming, but that is not the only overwhelming thing. It's Raphael. Her body is hot, even though the dark forest is freezing. She is sweating and something is building in her abdomen. She cannot move her eyes away from Raphael, even though she tried several times not to look at him like a hungry rabbit. But for the life of her, she couldn't d
An hour after Hector left to meet Irina, the fog-like dome disappeared. Angoori was looking at it with frustration and helplessness when that happened. He is stunned. "It is gone" he murmured with shock.The other forty-nine men turned to look at him with confusion and restlessness."What is gone? What are you talking about now? Only one hour is left for your supposed six hours. But still, there is no sign of our prince. Now you are talking about something which none of us know about. What is happening here, Angoori?" one of them asked with a hint of anger. Everyone is on edge. The fact that they are not doing anything to save their prince is making them feel on edge. Before Angoori could answer, they saw Raphael coming out of the forest carrying Valerie in his arms. "Your Royal Highness" they all bowed with relief and happiness. Raphael folded Valerie into his arms possessively. When he saw the men bowing in front of him, he saw the dark memories of the people who suffered becaus
"What? Are you sure?" Cadmus asked with amazement. He couldn't believe his ears when Angoori informed him that Prince Raphael is coming back to the Raven palace. It's been a while since Raphael left the palace. Now, he is coming back."Yes, your highness. His Royal Highness is coming back. He said you will take care of the rest" Angoori informed.Cadmus let out a laugh with sheer happiness and relief. "Yes, I will take care of the rest" he replied before disconnecting the call."Roland" Cadmus called for the security chief, who is trustworthy and who also likes Raphael a lot. He was feeling bad when Raphael left the palace. Now Cadmus knows that Roland will be too happy to hear this news.Roland rushed inside when he heard Cadmus calling for him a little too loudly."Your Highness is everything ok? Do you want something?" he asked politely.Cadmus smiled showing all of his teeth."Our Prince is coming back. The true heir will be here soon. Tell the head chef to cook everything that t
Raphael slowly descended inside the Raven Palace gates, holding Valerie in his arms. He is still shirtless, proudly displaying the mark Valerie left over his chest. His aura is more dangerous and much more powerful than usual. Everyone around him can feel the power radiating from him. He folded his wings back into him. He looked at the people around him intently. Guards, maids, gardeners, and a few Royals are standing with their heads bowed. He can now read their emotions. Fear is an emotion that everyone feels right now. He never was among the people who liked to scare everyone around him. But now, he knows that he might have to kill many of them. He has to infiltrate everyone who is helping and supporting Irina."Raise" he commanded.Everyone lifted their heads. They eyed him verily before looking curiously at Valerie. When their gaze landed on his mark, they were shell-shocked. Because only a true mate can leave a mark when they bite. And true mates these days are rare. He ignored
Valerie woke up from her deep slumber after a few hours. The first thing she registered is the familiar soft bed on which she is lying. Then she noticed the familiar scent of Raphael, which is so tempting and comforting. She remembered what happened before she slept. Her cheeks turned red with shyness. Slowly she opened her eyes to search for the man to whom she belongs now. But when she noticed her very familiar surroundings, her eyes became wide with shock and confusion. They were still in the dark forest when she succumbed to sleep. Now, her surroundings have changed completely. She is now lying on Raphael's bed, in his room in the Raven Palace. This is the last place Raphael wanted to come. 'How did I come here? Where is Raphael? Did Irina find us in that forest? Is Raphael safe?' she began to panic when the room door banged open and Raphael came striding in with a concerned expression.When Valerie saw him in his Royal outfit, she sagged with relief."Princess? What happened? Y
Valerie locked the bathroom door and leaned her back on it. Everything Raphael said is revolving in her head. She is trying to make sense of what happened. She remembered everything that happened in that dark forest. Her run-in with the dark man and his vulnerable side. She thought he might be a part of Raphael like Hydra, who will only take control when Raphael allows him to. She never thought that the dark man will find peace and become one with Raphael. It took a few minutes to come to terms with everything. After the reality of the situation sank in, she felt like a fool. 'He is the same person, I know he accepted the darkness to help someone. Then why am I so shocked? Why didn't I tell him that she still feels protected whenever he is near? I should have told him that I love him the same. Why was I so tongue-tied? Why did I hurt him with my silence?' she thought feeling bad. She looked around the bathroom and took in everything. Nothing changed. Everything is as it was before.
Just then, Valerie walked inside the dining area, escorted by Angoori and three other men whom Raphael trusts. "Her Highness, the future queen of the Raven clan, Princess Valerie Raven graced us with her presence" the guard announced to inform others of the arrival of the princess.Every Royal who was seated at the table stood up to show their respect for the future queen and the true mate of their prince. When Valerie hears Raven's name behind her name, she is overwhelmed with joy. She never thought that one day she would become a Raven. She remembers the first day she met Raphael. It feels like a long time ago. Then, he used to hate her a lot. She used to find only hatred in those eyes. But now, his eyes are locked with hers and she can only see love and possessiveness in them. 'How things changed in one and half years' she thought. If it means that she could have Raphael all to herself, then she is ready to become a slave all over again. She knows she would do anything for him,
After one year....Raphael wanted to hide everything Irina did, because she was once a queen of the Raven clan. Her black deeds will forever become a black mark on the Raven clan. The hard earned reputation of his ancestors would be ruined, which he doesn't want to happen. So he hid her death when it happened. As everything happened in the middle of the night and as the Raven palace is sitting at a fair distance away from the town, no one knew what happened or suspected anything. By morning, only ashes were left behind. The dead army and even irina who brought them to life are all gone. Cadmus lied to everyone that irina went on a spiritual journey to find peace. Everyone believed that lie as Irina made sure to keep her reputation spotless when she was alive. Only peace was left behind after she passed away. "Raphael? What are you doing here?" Valerie asked from behind him. He is standing in the palace court yard while looking in the exact place where his mother died. Valerie noticed
Raphael and his men together surrounded the dead army from all four directions. They start to burn the dead army with their dragon fire. As Irina is momentarily disoriented, the dead army stands still like statues, while their bodies are burned down to ashes. When Irina realized what was happening, she gained back the control she has on the dead people again. "You dumb idiots, attack" she screeched loudly. At once the dead army started charging toward the Raven palace again. As their bodies already started burning, they are now walking fireballs charging towards the Palace gates. At once the palace gates shook with the force of the dead army. It creaked loudly, protesting from the force with which the dead army was pushing at it and trying to breach the palace walls."Guards, shift and stop them from entering the palace. The gate will not hold that much force for longer. Barricade the gates with sandbags. Quick" Raphael instructed his men while he resumed burning their decayed bodie
"Your Highness, dead bodies are walking," he said in a rush. The guard is pale and looked scared. Raphael and Angoori ran outside and were shocked to see an army of dead and decaying people walking towards the Raven palace. Their bodies are muddy as if they just came from inside a grave. Bones can be seen in their half-decayed bodies. Most of them are just walking skeletons, and the rest are in the process of decaying. Irina is leading them in the front. She looked happy at herself. Raphael thought he was prepared to deal with anything Irina threw at them this time. But no amount of mental pep talk would have prepared him for this. 'How does anyone fight with already dead people?' he thought while taking in the walking dead steadily approaching the palace. The Raven guards look scared out of their minds. But the guards are trying to look brave and do their part by locking the tall wrought iron palace gates and positioning themselves to shield the entrance with weapons. That dead ar
In the dark forest, Irina is pacing the uneven land with fury. She is furious with Raphael who destroyed her lab and then ruined the souls for the dark powers. Out of all her enemies, she never imagined that it would be her own son who would destroy everything. The years of planning, pretending and after a million cunning ideas, everything was burned down to ashes because of Raphael."No one, I mean not a single soul dared stand against me. But now, after twenty-five years of unhindered rein of only victories, my own flesh and blood is standing in my way" she screeched with anger and frustration.The dark forest shook with the intensity of her anger. "After everything I gave you, you decided to take up my enemy's side and betray me. Now, after I learned that you stole my dark powers, there is no going back for you from this betrayal. You have to join your dear Father in heaven. You never really saw my true nature, Raphael. I only ever pampered you and hid my true self from you. I onl
Cadmus understood what Raphael meant by 'Our plan ' after half an hour. They are standing in the palace Courtyard and all the Raven guards are standing in front of them. Confusion is seen on their faces. It's almost midnight and a meeting with their king at this hour is not common. But Cadmus understood why Raphael is doing this now. Because they cannot afford to waste any time, especially when they don't know where Irina is and what she is planning. "You must be confused and thinking about why your new king wants to speak with you all at this hour. But I understood that this is the best time to speak about things that all of us want to hide from others" Raphael spoke.His words left everyone confused in the beginning, but then the men who are loyal to him understood where this was going. So they looked at each other and nodded their heads in understanding. Stealthily they changed their positions in such a way that they are now surrounding Irina's loyal men whom they are sure would g
After her failed attempt to threaten her enemies, Irina left the Coronation party in a fit of murderous rage. "No, if they think that they can intimidate me, then they are dead wrong. Raphael might not know about me, but Arthur, how did you think that I would let you go so easily? We grew up together. You know how stubborn I am. If I set my eyes on something, then that should either belong to me, or it should be destroyed. Just like you. I wanted you, but you rejected me and married anesthesia. I thought of killing you, but that would be an easy punishment for you. I want you to suffer. And your suffering would only end on the day you die. Now, your daughter made a huge mistake by taking over my position as the Raven Queen. You made my son go against me. That is a sin deemed to be punished by death. Now she will die, and so will you. None of you know what I did for two years after I left the Ernest palace. I practiced dark magic. All these years I was trying to amplify my dark powers
Irina has a malicious smile on her face. She is hiding how angry she is. She never thought that there would come a day when she might have to see her son laughing and chatting with the people she hates the most. What's worse is, he made her the worst enemy and made Arthur's daughter his Queen. "Hello Eugene" Irina greeted the Nester king. She intentionally skipped his title. This is the same way she used to address him when she used to stay in the Ernest clan. But after things turned bad between her and Arthur, she distanced herself from Eugene as well. Because she knows that he is loyal to Arthur.Eugene became stiff and so did the others. Raphael tightened his fists. Valerie's eyes flashed with anger. Anesthesia, Arthur, and Liliana have matching frowns of disgust. Hector and Cadmus look uncomfortable."Hello, Irina" he replied with a blank face. Irina turned her gaze towards Arthur. She wanted to disturb their happiness. "You look happy Arthur. I saw this kind of smile on you on
After the coronation of Raphael and Valerie as the new king and Queen of the Raven Kingdom, Cadmus is given the respectable position of the Royal advisor and the Royal godfather of the Raven clan. He is given the power that he can involve in every matter that concerns the Raven clan. His position is equal to Raphael and Valerie's. He is overwhelmed with joy and his happiness has no bounds. But the same cannot be said about Irina. She is not at all happy. Raphael gave her no position to hold in the Royal court. He decided that it was time for her to rest. He made it look like he is doing her a favor and all of this is for his good..'The previous queen of this clan has given her everything for the well-being of this clan. After my father's unfortunate demise, she took it upon herself to take this clan under her care. She worked restlessly toward her goal. I think it's time for her to leave these heavy responsibilities to us and rest. She deserves this more than anyone ' he announced.
The entire Agnes clan bowed their heads when Valerie approached them. They don't have a choice. Going against a gold dragon is like going against a mountain that is taller and stronger. It's useless to fight with a mountain when you clearly know that you cannot win that battle. A gold dragon's wrath can destroy an entire clan. Her blessing would help any clan flourish and grow. The land that she touches will be greener than any other land."I am not killing you merely because I don't want my mate's coronation to be remembered with a blood bath. Ravens are known for their hospitality. You came here as a guest. I don't want to hurt a guest. But be aware, Princess Tasha. I will not tolerate disrespect either. If you open your nasty mouth to pass cruel comments, then I would not hesitate to kill you in the future. Keep your judgments to yourself. Me, Valerie Ernest, daughter of King Arthur, princess of the Ernest clan, and the mate of the Raven King here by declare you, Princess Tasha as