Hidden Crowns: A Royal Romance

Chapter 15

Alexander's POV:

When I wake up the next morning, I immediately grab my bag and find the map, taking it to the library as fast as I can.

I find some old tape and piece together the paper until it resembles what it once was.

"Prince Alexander, it's nice to see you up and healthy again." Gabriel says as he comes into view.

I give him a nod. I'm sure my parents won't mind if he knew where I was.

"Actually Gabe, I wasn't sick. I went after Ruben Of Night and killed him." I say. "Well, at least I think he's dead. I found this map in his camp, but a piece is missing and it looks like it's important."

Gabriel walks over and leans in to look closely at the map.

"I think I've seen this before." He says and turns it to face him.

He studies it for a moment and then looks back up to me.

I give him a quizzical look. "What?" I ask.

"If this is the real thing, then this is a special map. Follow me, I know where I've seen it before." He replies and I follow him deeper into the rows of books.

We get to the very back of the library and he pulls out a large black book with nothing on the cover. There's dust coating every book in the area, no doubt not used very often.

He flips the pages until he abruptly stops and turns the book to me.

"Here. They are the same." He says and I lay the map next to the book.

It's true. They are exactly the same. Except the one in the book shows what is missing from the torn copy.

It's a dark area by the sea. There's a circle of fire in the middle of the sand and it's labeled, 'Darkwave Bay.'

"What's so important about Darkwave Bay?" I ask.

Gabriel shrugs. "Some believe that dark magic can be performed there. They believe you have to call upon the devil to make spells work and things like that. No one has ever lived to tell about it though."

I run my hands through my hair and look back at my map.

"One thing is different on your map than the one in the book." He says and points to a marking I hadn't noticed before.

It's placed just on the margin of the paper, barely visible unless you knew it was there.

The marking is the same as Ara's birthmark on her side.

My eyes widen and I grab the map, looking at it closer.

"What does this mark mean?" I ask.

Gabriel studies it and eventually turns the pages of the book again. "I've seen that before too, but it doesn't make sense why it would be on your map and not in the book." He turns a few more pages before stopping again.

"Here. It says it has some type of healing power that only certain people can possess. It's for the pure in heart and in spirit." He reads.

I ponder what he said for a moment. That would explain why my wound is almost completely healed. Ara has a birthmark that grants her healing capabilities, because she's pure.

That's my Ara, I think.

"I was after Ruben and he said he needed this marking from someone. Why would he need it?" I ask.

"My guess is he probably wanted it to perform spells with it. Possessing it enables you to have more access to different magic." He replies.

I sigh and sit down. Ara has no idea what she's capable of. She's even more incredible than I thought. I have to tell her.