Devotion

Chapter 46

Azra

"You were supposed to protect your fiancée, Azra!" King Eden's voice echoed through the throne room as he threw objects at me. After yelling at the Princess from the Lumar Kingdom, she used her powers and disappeared. King Paric and Queen Issele decreed that once their daughter was betrothed, she was not allowed to return until she married. Clearly, she never set foot in her kingdom again as they searched far and wide for her.

Meanwhile, my guards tried to calm down the enraged king. I glanced around the familiar throne room, with its same old banners and curtains, when something glinted and caught my eye. While my father continued his tirade, my mother grabbed my arm. "What do you think you're doing?" she scolded, her eyes darting toward the glinting object behind me.

Ignoring the chaos, I used my power to place a barrier around her and pulled down the moon banner. Behind it, ancient writing adorned the wall, along with a blue gem. King Eden stopped yelling and charged toward me. As everything around us grew dark, I dodged his attack. Guards, servants, and advisors ran toward the exit to escape the king's wrath, but I stood my ground. I turned back to the ancient writing, attempting to read it, when I felt his hand strike my face.

"Leave that alone, you brat," he scolded. I looked away, numb to the pain. Pain? What is pain? I lived it every day since this bastard hurt my sister. My eyes glowed as I lifted him with my magic. He could no longer intimidate me.

Suspended in the air, he struggled to fight back. I grabbed the blue gem and walked toward the entrance, the darkness around me intensifying. King Eden and Queen Audelia looked at me with immense fear.

"Well, I wish I could stay for a delightful family reunion. However, I have a bride to catch." I exited the castle, ensuring I didn't release my hold on them until I was outside, facing the lush green forest. The scenery was beautiful, but my focus was on finding Xylvie. Had I been harsh toward her? Yes, but I despised the Lumar Kingdom.

Lazarus brought my stallion, and I gazed at the woods once more. I recalled seeing her trying to climb the border between Kuata and Doshin. She looked cute in her effort before I caught her. I had heard tales of the Lumar Kingdom's inhabitants killing humans for their blood, though they always claimed innocence. Humans and Non-Humans were not supposed to make contact, yet here I was, tasked with finding this girl and bringing her back for our wedding ceremony in a few days.

As I rode into Doshin, the air shifted immediately. I sensed her presence and urged my stallion through the woods. Reaching the same cottage from months ago, her energy radiated throughout Doshin. If her brother appeared while hunting for humans and sensed her, she'd be in grave danger. Then again, why would Xylvie let her power be detectable? Maybe she never received proper training.

As I circled the small house, I heard voices within. The soft voice of my younger sister was unmistakable. What the hell? I barged in to find Erix, Aurora, and Xylvie sitting together with a map of Kuata sprawled out. The atmosphere felt grim.

"So tell me, Xylvie, why do your parents want me dead?" my sister asked, her attention shifting to Xylvie. Biting her lip anxiously, Xylvie was about to answer when she spotted me. Her eyes widened, and she threw a pillow at me before trying to escape through the window. I grabbed her just in time.

My sister and Erix grabbed me as Xylvie hyperventilated, desperately trying to get away. My threats to kill her must have really scared her if she was this frantic. "I'm not here to kill you," I said, rolling my eyes. My sister glared at me while Erix instructed Xylvie to take deep breaths. Out of everyone, I expected her to be terrified of Erix, not me.

"What did you do to this poor woman?" Aurora asked. I turned to her, feeling offended, but then glanced at Xylvie. "He thought I was on my way to kill you, but I never had that intention. Your brother here is not happy that I'm his fiancée," she explained, causing Aurora and Erix to look at her in shock.

"Is it too late to mention that our parents canceled my engagement with Madeline since you are 'gone' and arranged my engagement with Princess Klutz here?" I said as Xylvie threw an item at me, which I dodged.

Aurora and Erix looked between us, jaws agape. Xylvie, her face flushed, pushed past me and used her power to summon a few journals that none of us had seen before. "While I understand the confusion of suddenly becoming his betrothed, I'm only here to help you understand my family and their history," she said, ignoring me.

She pushed the journals toward us, each bearing her name except for one. "These journals contain everything I've seen and experienced, except for one. That journal reveals everything about my family and a hidden prophecy known only to us," she said. Aurora grabbed the journals and handed some to Erix. They sat down and began to read.

I wanted to join them and gather as much information as possible, but my sister stopped me. "While my fiancée and I read through this, you two should go back. I'm not sure what's going on, but something tells me that both of you should lie low. I will send someone once I have a plan set," she said.

I had never heard her be so assertive before, but this was just the beginning. Whatever these two kingdoms were planning, it was definitely going to end in bloodshed. Xylvie wanted to protest staying, but my sister waved her off.

"You said you've been waiting for me," Xylvie said, confused. My sister looked up sadly and smiled. "I know, I'm sorry, but if my brother is here, that means he's looking for you. It's best if you go back, but I promise I will keep you updated," she said.

I walked up to Xylvie and grabbed her hand. She was right; being gone too long without her would raise suspicions. "My hand?" she growled.I didn't let go, squeezing it tighter as I dragged her. "I think it's in our best interest to pretend we're in love, or else everything may go to shambles," I said. After hearing me out, she didn't argue, and we left the cottage holding hands, quietly agreeing to our alliance.