Page 133 of Scars and Burns

Then I’m plunging it into his heart. Right where he killed my Mother. The exact same location I made my first kill.

Relishing in the same realization I came to then.

Deathis not a sentence, but arelease.

55

Aeron

Saphrina was not pleased with the discovery of Dinalia and myself together but I could care less. Dinalia is mine and I will not deny myself any longer. Not with Prince Proteus attempting to claim her as well.

The landscape the Celestial Realm has provided me with is not ideal. Especially since they seem to have intimate knowledge about my Father that I do not. How would this have happened? When could this have happened?

Estelle is right. There is more at work here. The Goddess has something planned with all our fates.

I’ve returned to the hall where I saved Dinalia. Something about this just is not sitting right with me. Besides the obvious reason that King Elio tried to rape Dinalia. Anger begins to grow inside of me once again at the thought of him harming her. How could such a worthless male think he can defile such an exquisite female. Regardless, of whether he wanted to use her and sire another heir, only to kill her after the deed was done, he should not have had a substance that could restrict her magic.

I kneel down, picking up the hard rock but it’s not rock. Perhapsstone or granite. But even so, such material would not and should not restrict one’s magic. Especially, someone as powerful as Dinalia. King Elio said to ask my Father but that is not longer an option.

Unable to shake these questions from my mind I teleport to King Elio’s study but I’m shocked at what I find.

King Elio is on his knees, beaten and bruised. Blood coating his face and his clothes are torn. He is being restrained with the same substance he restricted Dinalia with. Standing over him is Prince Proteus. They whip their heads toward me when I appear.

“What are you doing here?” Prince Proteus asks.

I smirk, “I could as you the same thing.”

“That’s not your concern.”

I look down to King Elio, uncertainty in his eyes. “What is going on here?”

“King Elio had some information I needed. Some information he was a little reluctant to give.”

“I see. And what information might this be?”

Prince Proteus huffs, “Why would you think I would divulge that to you when you are trying to steal my mate.”

Anger rushes through me at Proteus calling Dinalia his mate. I recall what Estelle informed me of about mates. How it is a choice. But how is there a possibility for two?

“She is not your mate. I’ll make sure of it.”

“You think she’ll choose you? You, the malicious, ruthless, torturous prince of death when she is everything light and good.”

He cannot be her mate. He doesn’t see the true darkness in her soul. Darkness that cannot be denied.

“No matter,” Prince Proteus continues, we look to the door as the screaming begins. “The raid has started and I will sweep her off to the Celestial Realm. Saving her from your wrath.”

My brows furrow, “Wrath? The Shadowlands are not raiding theMiddle Kingdom.”

“No, but we’ve expanded the manipulation magic one uses to change their appearance to most of our ranks. All those that fall will appear to be from the Shadowlands in line with the reputation of your realm. Now, if you’ll excuse me I have my mate to go save.” Then he is gone in a cloud of blue smoke.

King Elio stands and walks over to me. I snicker at him, “You’ve looked better.”

“Yeah. Get these off of me.”

“And why would I do that?”

He huffs, “You can’t be serious. My realm is under attack and yours is being blamed. We must do something.”

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