The news of the attack on Inaymi had reached the Castle at daybreak, unleashing a busy day in its wake.Eli was busy, flooded with reports from different villages and speaking to the General on the next dispatch. Many villages had been attacked recently. The news put him on edge. This White Aura attacker was the only suspect he had in mind, Kestra had aided his belief in that suspicion too, and it was scary to know that the Witch moved so powerfully... and quickly.How could he not have known about the attackers until now, after a lot of damage had already been done?From the reports, this wasn't the first time something like this was happening.The Village Heads must have thought it was something they could deal with until they realized their attacker was going around fast, causing massive damage, and finally decided that the matter was something the King had to be involved with.If only they had told him about this earlier, he would have done something about it immediately, many
"It's been a busy day." She said, standing up and pulling the book along with her. He hummed, his feet carrying him to her with an aura that felt like hesitation on the first couple of steps before it faded away completely and he pulled off his mask, a tired smile on his face. His lips grazed slightly against her forehead with a gentle kiss, that lasted for only a second because she was pulling away as fast as possible, stumbling away from him so she would be able to get to the door without any obstacle, go to her study and continue her mission already.There was just so much to read and so little time, so many places that the book listed. She could only visit one place per night with Alaris' magic, so she would be needing a lot of coins to travel and make the best use of each night. "The report reaching me is that there have been no attacks since the soldiers got to their locations." Eli's voice snapped her out of her train of thought. "There are still no traces of the witch eithe
The light in the bathroom was really dim but it was enough for her to see everything that she needed to see.Eli was in the bathtub, his head downcast as the glow of the candlelight glowed on the visible upper part of his naked body.She took a couple of steps closer and heaved a sigh of relief when she realized that he was alone. Why would she think that of him? She needed to work more on trusting him. By Ignas, why had that thought even cross her mind?That he would cheat on her?Never. The sound of water trickling as he moved slightly in the water made it to her ears, and she felt the need to suddenly turn around and leave. They've never had a bath together, he was either helping her clean after sex or something else, even that had been for quite a while, so even though they had been intimate a number of times, this felt like she was invading something private. "I wanted to see if you were okay."She wished. She wished that had been it and not some other thoughts she shouldn'
Repulsed?Where was that even coming from?"I don't understand." She said as she turned around. He had that look he had in the bathroom again, broken and overwhelmed. What was this?"What can I do, so that you can stop being repulsed by me.""I'm not---" she dropped to her knees, cleaning the bloodstains around his nose, the meaning they held dragging a dagger through her heart and making her hatred for Kestra grow stronger and stronger. A frown pulled over her face, the hatred bitter on her tongue. "I'm not repulsed by you. I love you, Eli."The frown on her face wasn't really convincing to him, the fact that her focus was on his nose that had bled a while ago, made him feel even worse."I want you to want me again, want me as you used to before I told you all about," he closed his eyes, gritting his teeth as if his next words were too heavy to be spoken. "My curse with Kestra. I haven't been her ever since I met you, I swear on Ignas."Belladonna was stunned. So, that was it?Tha
Belladonna's gown slipped off her body with ease, her gaze fixed on Eli who was leaning on an elbow so he could look at her. Eli was the one always initiating their intimate moment, he always took the lead too, so right now, she was just doing whatever her lust-driven brain was telling her to do. She moved to him, climbing up the bed and over him, her face hovering above his. She could still see the doubt somewhere in his eyes, she wanted it to become non-existent. Right now the thoughts of Alaris and her mission were far away. So far away. The body pressed against hers with warmth was all she could think about, the person under her was all her mind could think of. "Donn---" she didn't let him finish that, her lips sealed against his, consumed his in the best way she knew how to. She moved against him, the curves of her body melting against his own, his length pressed against her in a way that caused her to wriggle. She pulled away from him, pressing her hands against his che
Belladonna couldn't remember how many rounds they went, they had both been greedy and now she was sore and tired, but the Blood Moon was approaching, her life was on the line and so were the lives of many others. The faster she could kill Kestra, the safer it would be for her. It would be bad if that so-called Nahiri got to her before she could take out the obstacle the Nahiri wanted to defeat. She would give anything to just lay here in bed with Eli, but even as she was looking at him like this, she was reminded of his dying state. His scales looked drained of color, black circles around his eyes, and he looked lean.Eli was sick. Her eyes welled up with tears. He didn't tell her but she knew being with her had not helped his health. He most likely thought it was because their aura didn't match but Belladonna was certain it was that wicked Kestra of a witch. She wanted to tell him, but if he was carrying a whole Alterer without his knowledge of the effect it had on his people, B
"Have you found anything on him yet?""I'm working on that too. Just ensure you keep staying away from him. What about the bottle, did you give him any of that?"Belladonna suppressed a scoff. "He hasn't given me any need to do that yet.""Great." Kestra leaned back. "Just ensure to do as I say. Exactly as I say." She emphasized. "I will not lead you astray."Astray. That word.Astray.That was exactly what she wanted to do though. All this while that she had been preparing her for the sacrifice. The 200th bride. "Of course, I know I can trust you, Lady Kestra."She could see a flash behind her own eyes, her reality clashing together, her gaze became fixed on Lady Kestra's neck, watching every movement, blood running hot in her veins and her heart pounding more in her chest the harder she focused. The needle in her hand would sink straight into that skin, puncture something and that would be it. All their problems, gone just because of one needle. She should do it. "Yes, you
Collin rushed around the room, a goblet in his hands as he approached Kestra who was pacing around barefooted, bumping against some things as she did.The sound of the muttering from her lips clashed against her farts that ruptured through the room. "Stupid child." She muttered, her hand resting on her belly."This should help," Collin said, handing a glass over to her, and she swallowed all the content of the goblet in one gulp, yet her stomach was still a rumbling mess.It might take some time for the medicine to work. The foul smell had completely taken over the room, if Collin didn't feel a deep sense of duty towards Lady Kestra, he would not be here enduring all this."She put something in the tea, I'm sure." She stood up from the edge of the bed she was sitting on. "I should have her executed for this."When Lady Kestra had disrupted the meeting with the rumbling sound that had come along with that life-threatening smell, Collin who had been at the door, rushed away from the m
“What is this?” Ny'ka asked, racing up to her feet.“The Stones of Prophecy. I already told you,” Ka'el replied, rising to his feet too. He groaned a little, his ribs hurting from the force that had tossed him aside.The stones had suddenly fallen to the ground, scattered; they were still glowing though. “I mean, what do they do?“I don't know!” There was a bit of panic in his voice, then he started to mumble to himself as he fell on his knees and started trying to collect the stones. “The King believes his daughter is in the Rebellion, and there are rumors of the Heir; he thinks they are working together.” He stopped and stared up at Ny'ka who watched him with a frown on her face. “That is why the Moon and the Sun came up in the sky because she is really here? But you said it didn't happen here, that it was from another Realm. It is from another realm, right? It isn’t true, Is it?”Ny'ka tried to grab one of the stones from Ka'el but it held it away from her. “Is his daughter truly
Then she felt like she was drowning and her words vanished from her lips. It felt like she was right in the lake and above it at the same time, hovering over the water and looking at the drowning child, while the drowning child looked back at her, struggling. Then she was finally in the baby and she could see Xinora floating over her as she felt herself dying in the baby — felt the baby dying. She saw Xinora stare right at her mother, who froze immediately like she had seen a ghost - it was what she looked like anyway, what she seemed to be. Then Belladonna felt the presence slam right into her immediately. Xinora had vanished and was now inside her as one being, the moment of her almost death creating the perfect space for Xinora to fit in. But just as Xinora had merged into her, she dissolved into the back of her mind like a mere pest fighting against a strong host. Her mother pulled her out of the water, her gaze blank and cold. Without a word, she wrapped her in a piece of clo
Trigger warning: Dealing with rape aftermath (from victim’s perspective) on page, and baby drowning on page. _________Belladonna paced the room. Two nights have passed since Alaris and her had discussed about Xinora. The Rebellion was healing, and she had sought out Ny'ka to help her with creating portals; although she knew that it might not work, just as it hadn't been working, but that was just how unpromising Channeling had been, and it had worked eventually. That wasn't the problem though. The thing was that Ny'ka was nowhere to be found. It didn't take long for her to figure out where she was.She was with Ka'el, most likely inquiring about their recent failure.Alaris had confirmed her suspicion, and here she was, in the room, trying not to drive herself mad with every single possibility that was crossing her mind.The Priest had drawn a tattoo on the top part of her chest, a little distance from her neck. He had smeared it with the blood of an animal, chanted some things th
Ny'ka went to Ka'el that night as the Heir had ordered, only to find out that he was with someone. Tsiri?What?What was she doing here? Why was she here? How long has she known about Ka'el? How did she get here?Why was she here?By Ina, what had she told him?!The White glow of the crescent moon above glimmered down on them through the shadows of the scanty leaves of the tall trees around them. The smile on Tsiri’s face was plain for Ny'ka to see, just as obvious as the doubt that dotted Ka’el’s eyes. What had she told him?!“Is it true?” Ka'el asked, his fist tightening around the small bag he had in his hand. She wondered what was in that bag but his next words made her aware of the greater problem she had before her. “Are you just fooling me?” He asked as his free hand anchored around Tsiri’s waist, making her smile widen. Disappointment flashed in Ny'ka's eyes and she frowned, blatantly ignoring Tsiri. “Fooling you? What nonsense are you talking about? And why are you with o
“Nightshade, do you have any memories of Jyris?”He was crouching in front of her. This room suddenly felt too small. Where was the air of ease?“No, except that he healed my ankle, gave me that gold ring that you tossed away and he was at the table with the King. Nothing else. I’m trying to but I don't remember anything else.” She wouldn't tell him about the strange feeling of familiarity she had when she had first seen him. That would be too dangerous. “You were in her dreams even when you weren't in captivity. So can you just go into people's dreams? Can you still do that?”“No. Her dream was the only one I could get into without being in captivity. But My freedom does come at a price. It was hard to lure the brides with my soul, and certainly, I prefer this freedom to that.”“Did killing her hurt you? Since the gems are supposed to be a pair.”“I struck her stomach.”“Why didn't you strike her in the heart or behead?”“I wanted to behead her and take her heart as my own; a litt
He heaved a sigh and sat next to her. “Well, it was after being King. I think the wars I had fought strengthened the connection with my gem; the lives I had taken fed it, and I dreamt of Xinora — well, she dreamt of me. It was the first time I would be in anyone's dreams.”Belladonna nodded, taking a mental note of that. “She was crying and lonely, and because the Gem perceived its master to be distressed, it sought a connection and found me. Xinora was terrified when we met; I was confused, too; it was strange. But then, I realized who she was and why I was there. At that time, I really wanted to come back here, to Vestros, but I knew it wasn’t time, I wasn't powerful enough back then.” He paused, before he continued. “The White King would kill me easily, but being in her dreams was like fate being on my side. She was the only weapon that could be used to kill me—”The only weapon?“Wait. Only a Bearer can kill a Bearer?”“Yes.” “So,” she turned to him squarely so she wouldn't mi
“And you didn't tell me? Why?”“It was over two centuries ago.” He stood up. “She stayed dead during those times, why would I think anything would come out of her now?”Belladonna said nothing and Alaris continued. “With you, I believed she had already been replaced. A new Master, her time was over, gone. The gems will always have their masters, I have discovered. At first, I was worried, but then you proved to be more than one with a mere link.”“I had visions of her. I told you everything.”He shrugged. “I thought it was just her lingering presence since she was the one who was connected to the gem before you. They are just mere visions, they don't suggest a powerful presence to get bothered about.”“You must be joking,” she stated, flabbergasted. “I had dreams of her every time and nothing ever really happened as a result,” he replied with a dismissive tone.“You know that is not true.”“Nothing “real” ever really happened.”With a realization, she stood up. “You are doing it aga
It felt compelling to desire more, it felt right… yet it didn't.Alaris pulled away being the first one to snap back from the spark pulling them together. “I’m sorry, I shouldn't have done that.” He was gone in a flash, leaving her flustered. She couldn't think; the foreign and overpowering feeling was a driving force that sent her out of the room to go after him. She did, reaching the surface, however, and feeling the warm glow of the moon on her skin. Something else seemed to have possessed her, and she went towards the lake instead, strangely seeking the comforting feeling of the water and the floating relief. The reflection of the full moon was cast over the still water and the trees seemed to create a path for her. She walked into the water as a shadow warrior emerged from behind her; the only one of Alaris' shadow warriors that wasn't killed. It swiftly moved into the water, reaching out to pull her back but she turned sharply to it. “Go Back!” She ordered, her voice a gr
Breathing heavily, he turned back to her. “I’m sorry— I just— I was afraid that you’ll shift—”“I have been terrified that this day would come but I thought I was stronger, as strong as I was in your Realm. I knew I would be lacking the moment I saw that annoying thing healing your ankle with his flames,” he laughed, the sound dry of humour as he swept his hand over his hair, pushing it back. “At that moment, I knew there were many things that I lacked, many skills, so many things. I might have been a King there but here, I am like a child. I’m not better than any of those dragon shifters. I’m useless.” “You are not.”With a huff, he sat down next to her, feeling exhausted. “My pretense to know what I am doing can no longer save me. I’m fighting a lost war, Nightshade and you can see it.”He turned to her, to find her shaking her head. “Don't lie to me.”“I’m not.”“Alaris—”“Don't try to inspire me, it won't work.” “I wasn't trying to inspire you, I just want to tell you how disap