Page 72 of Ruined Kingdom

How else could I explain what I was seeing?

“M—” The word tried to leave my mouth, but it couldn’t.

The humming noise reverberated off of my lips without the hope of another syllable.

The woman came more into focus now as the light subsided back into her.

A long white and flowing gown was draped around her like she herself was a Goddess.

She somehow looked even more beautiful than I’d ever imagined.

Her delicate hand reached out for me with long, slender fingers and sharp, pearlescent nails. “My darling girl.”

I could hardly believe the word that now freely escaped from my lips. “Mother?”

20

SOPHIA

Istood there, unsure if I was shaking as hard on the outside as on the inside.

My mother took a few gliding steps toward me, placing her hands on either side of my damp face. Her crystal eyes dangled like drops of fresh honey in the early mornings of autumn. “Breathe, my darling.”

It wasn't until she said that that I realized I hadn't taken a breath in a while.

I could feel the oxygen within me dying right before I inhaled so sharply that it hurt. After I did that, I wasn't able to stop myself. I took another breath and another.

My entire body felt clammy, and my vision became hazy.

The rapid, short breaths kept coming, and I felt like the weight of the world was pressing down onto my chest.

What’s happening to me?

Suddenly, I began crying helplessly, wildly. I was breathing and sobbing and wavering. I had completely lost control over my body.

The only thing I was made aware of was the fact that my knees gave out and that I was crumbling to the ground. My mother wrapped her arms around me and fell to the floor along with me.

She held me with all of her strength, her one arm wrapped around my head, burying my face into her chest until the panic began to subside within me.

“Why?” I sobbed, unable to stop myself. “Why did you wait so long?”

“My darling, there isn't enough time to explain. For now, all you need to know is that I was sent here by the Fae King in exchange for Kaine. I’m supposed to stop you from marching into his territory and stopping him from committing his most heinous act yet.”

I pulled away from my mother, however unwillingly it was and looked up into her eyes. “So you’ll help me then?”

“Whatever you think is best, I will follow you, my daughter … my Queen.”

“Everyone here is under a spell of some kind.” I looked around at my trapped, frozen people. “Do you think we can release them from it?”

“Darling, you are a full-fledged Cervus, and the Queen to the Alpha King. You can do anything.” Her smile was so full of faith and promise that it was hard not to believe her.

Her eyes flickered down to the locket hanging from my neck.

She seemed surprised at first before giving it a soft smile as if it was a dear old friend she hadn’t seen in ages. “Your grandmother gave you that, didn’t she?”

I nodded wryly, still unsure of how to react to her. “She said it was yours.”

“Indeed, this locket is special. It can help you channel your power if you call out to it.” She gave my hands an excited squeeze.

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