Volume I: Forged

Chapter 34: The Love of His Life

Kristen Rosales had been born into power.

She was a princess, an heiress to a throne to the Third Kingdom, the most powerful kingdom at its time.

She had been born into magic.

She was a Deep Magic Magess, one of the only ones left. Deep Magic was the magic of the Overworld, made of life and purity and easily one of the most powerful forces in existence. 

Kristen Rosales was not someone to be messed with.

...

Phil still remembered the night he met the love of his life.

It had been close to midnight on one of the clearest, darkest nights Phil had ever seen. Cold enough the women were wearing fancy wraps over their expensive dresses, but warm enough to smell the summer air on the breeze.

He still remembered the very first time he saw her, reclined on one of the fountains, arm bracing herself against the marble, laughing at something one of her friends had said.

She had been so beautiful, wearing a floor-length dress that looked as though it had been cut from the night sky itself, hair in luxurious curls to her waist. Perfect legs, visible through the dress's slit, crossed at the knee as the finest lady. She looked like a painting, everything absolutely perfect about her in every way that Phil could possibly imagine.

She was the only woman that Phil had ever looked twice at, and forever would hold that title.

He had asked her to dance, as the violins and cellos had begun their waltz in the glittering ballroom, and the Angel of Death danced with a mortal that night.

That mortal became his whole world in a span of days.

...

Kristen still remembered the night she met the love of her life.

A fancy party for the highest of society, in one of the biggest palaces in the Five Kingdoms. It had been quite chilly in the gardens, blossoms and perfumes lilting on the air. She had been laughing with friends, enjoying herself with no cares in the world.

Then he had walked down those palace stairs as if he had owned them himself, a head above everyone in the crowd. Tousled golden hair he had obviously not bothered to style, a hint of stubble on a sharp jaw he hadn't bothered to shave, the barest of crooked grins tugging at his mouth—her stomach had fluttered with a flurry of butterflies.

He had been the only man to ever reduce her to a giggling little schoolgirl—and he would forever be the only man.

For one single moment that she would remember for an eternity, eyes dipped in the richest night met the royalest of greens.

Her royal friends had teased her, then sniggered behind hands when he held her gaze again from across the ballroom later into the night.

Then he had asked her to dance, as politely as the most perfect gentleman, and the Magess danced with the rugged stranger.

In a matter of days, he became her everything.

...

"Is this what you want?"

Kristen looked up from her book. The sun was warm on her face, and the cushioned wicker chair was comfortable, and she had been thinking about a nap.

Phil was bracing himself on the marble railing, overlooking the city below.

The Capitol was known planet-wide for its beauty and artistry, sprawling with gardens and intricate structures. Kristen's library had the perfect view.

"Hmm?" she asked, smiling lazily.

"Is this what you want?" he asked again. His wings twitched nervously as he turned to face her. His face was drawn, worried.

"I don't know what you're talking about, love," Kristen said, putting her book down and swinging her legs off the chair.

"This—" Phil waved his hand towards the glorious city. "This isn't what we're meant for."

Kristen's heart fluttered at the use of 'we.' They weren't even married yet, and he was already thinking of them as one.

"What--?" she stood, making her way to his side. He pulled her close, resting his chin on her head and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"This isn't it," Phil whispered. "Can't you feel it? The itch under your skin? The need to be something more?"

Kristen didn't know what he was talking about. "No—"

"You know what I am," Phil said, and Kristen swallowed. She wanted to forget that, forget what Phil was meant to do.

"I have to." Phil said. "They can't do this to us forever."

Kristen knew what he talking about, but that didn't mean she wanted to face it.

But she would.

She would do it for Phil.

She would do anything for him.

"Okay. Then I'll go with you." She looked up at him, eyes filled with love. "We are one, love. Your battles are mine."

"We're not even married yet—" Phil said quietly, though the love in his voice was pure. "You would follow me?"

Kristen pulled him down and kissed him on the forehead. "To hell and back."

Phil pulled her into a hug, his wings coming to wrap around her. "You know you may have to."

Kristen murmured and hid her face in his shirt.

If only she knew how terrible it would actually be.

...

Tales are told of the two. Beautiful stories of sacrifice and love, power shared between two selfless hearts.

But, darling reader, these tales are meant for a later time.

You do not understand all yet.

But you will.

;]