Final Brushstrokes of a Tragic Romance || BxB | MLM

xxv the warning spark

The waterhorse galloped effortlessly through the river as it narrowed, splashing water in every direction

Willow and I raced back towards the castle. The rush of wind and the cool spray were usually exhilarating, but my mind was elsewhere—on the fire we’d just put out and the spark that had shot into the sky. A deep sense of urgency weighed down on my chest.

As the castle walls came into view, towering against the sky like the silent guardian it had always been, I leaned forward, urging the waterhorse to move faster. Willow rode beside me, her face set in the same grim determination I felt.

“We need to tell Queen Hera as soon as possible,” Willow said, breaking the silence, her voice barely audible over the rush of the river.

“I know,” I muttered, my thoughts racing. “She needs to be prepared for whatever this is. And the fire—it wasn’t natural. Whoever started it knew what they were doing.”

“Ian,” Willow’s voice was quieter now, more tentative, “do you think this could be an attack? An invasion?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, my gaze fixed on the castle gates up ahead. “But we can’t ignore the signs. We have to assume the worst until we know more.”

The waterhorses slowed as the river led us right up to the entrance of the palace grounds, their legs shifting from waterborne speed to a steady, graceful trot on land. The transition was seamless, but my focus was already elsewhere. I dismounted quickly, barely registering the stable hands who rushed to take the reins. Willow followed me as I started toward the grand doors of the palace.

That’s when I saw him—Theo.

He stood in the hallway, a casual smile on his face as our eyes met. For a split second, I could feel the tension from earlier, that unspoken thread between us, pull tight again. His smile faltered, though, as he saw the urgency in my steps.

“Ian—” he started to say, his brows knitting together in confusion.

But I didn’t have time to respond. In my hurry, I barely noticed that I’d brushed right past him, accidentally bumping into his shoulder as I continued forward without acknowledging him. There was no time to stop and explain. Everything felt too pressing, too immediate.

I could feel his eyes on my back, probably confused, maybe even a little hurt, but I pushed that thought away. There were bigger things to worry about right now. The doors to Queen Hera’s chambers loomed ahead, and I pushed them open without hesitation.

“Mother,” I said, breathless as I stepped inside.

Queen Hera was standing by the window, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. She turned the moment she heard my voice, her expression calm but questioning.

“What is it, Ian?” Her eyes flickered briefly to Willow, who had entered behind me.

“We went to the Shroom Forest,” I began, trying to find the right words as quickly as possible. “There was a fire—one that shouldn’t have happened. And… there was a spark. Something unnatural. It shot from the ground and disappeared into the sky. We think someone’s testing us.”

For a moment, my mother didn’t respond. The silence felt heavy, each second stretching like an eternity. Then, her face darkened, and she moved swiftly across the room, her robes whispering against the stone floor.

“A fire in the Shroom Forest?” she asked, her voice sharp, incredulous. “That’s unheard of. And the spark… you’re certain?”

I nodded, trying to steady my breath. “It wasn’t normal, Mother. We’ve seen magic before, but this was different. It felt… like a warning.”

She pressed a hand to her forehead, her fingers trembling slightly as she turned away from me, her gaze lost in thought. “First, your father’s illness, and now this…” she murmured. “We can’t ignore the possibility that these events are connected.”

Willow stepped forward, her voice steady. “The Shroom Forest  the Cadesoin lands.  someone trying to provoke them.”

Mother pacing across the room, her movements quick and agitated. “Their lands are rich, and there have always been whispers of unrest. If someone is targeting them, or trying to take their resources…it's definitely Vitalis, hungry for the remaining land of Cadesoins”

I sank into the nearest chair, my mind spinning. “What do we do? This spark—it didn’t feel random. Whoever is behind this knows something about the castle, about us.”

She paused mid-step, her back to us as her fingers tapped rhythmically against her arm. “First, we need to secure the castle. I’ll have the outer banks of the Shroom Forest patrolled. We’ll increase watch on the limits of the skies as well. No one comes near this place without us knowing.”

As she spoke, I could see the toll this was taking on her. My father’s illness had already worn her down, and now this threat—whatever it was—was pushing her to the brink. But she was a queen, and she would not falter.

Before I could respond, there was a knock on the door, and one of the guards stepped in, bowing deeply.

“Commander Ionek is here, Your Majesty.”

“Send him in,” Mother commanded, her voice firm.

Ionek entered, his expression as serious as ever. He had been one of our most trusted commanders for as long as I could remember—a man of few words, but someone who could be relied on in any crisis.

“Commander,” Mother began, turning to face him fully. “We’re dealing with a potential attack. The Shroom Forest caught fire, and there was a magical disturbance—a spark shot into the sky. We don’t know who’s behind it, but we need to be prepared.”

Ionek’s face remained impassive, but there was a glint of understanding in his eyes. “I’ll increase patrols along the forest’s edge. And I’ll station additional guards on the castle walls.”

“Good,” Mother nodded. “And one more thing—we need to ensure the safety of the royal family. The prince and princess should be guarded at all times.”

I could see the worry flash in her eyes as she said it. She was thinking of me, of Athena, of the fragile balance that held our family together.

Ionek bowed slightly. “Consider it done.”

As he left, I felt the weight of everything settle more heavily on my shoulders. The castle had always felt impenetrable, a fortress against any danger, but now it seemed vulnerable—like the cracks were starting to show.

“Mother,” I said, my voice quiet, “this could be connected to the disturbance in the castle from earlier. The one we couldn’t trace. Maybe the same people who caused that are behind this. If they know the layout of the castle, they could strike again.”

She sighed, her gaze distant. “I’ve thought of that too. We’ll double the guards. Every room will be watched. We won’t be caught off guard again.”

I nodded, though a sense of unease still churned in my gut. “We’ll need to be careful. They’re watching us, waiting for the right moment.”

She stepped forward, resting a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll get through this, Ian. I know it feels overwhelming, but we’ve faced threats before. We’ll face this one too.”

I wished I could feel the same certainty she did, but something about that spark, the fire, the sickening feeling that something far worse was coming—it was hard to shake.

Still, I nodded, offering a small, determined smile. “We’ll be ready.”

As she turned back to her pacing, I knew that our next steps would be crucial. We couldn’t afford any mistakes.

And I couldn’t afford to let my fear get the better of me.