Page 95 of A Kingdom so Crimson

The king cleared his throat, commanding the attention of the crowd. "Betting will take place at the front gates as usual. Remember the rules—one bet per family. Now, let the festivities begin: Eat, drink, enjoy the night, for tomorrow, the real enjoyment begins."

With a final gesture, he raised his hands, and streaks of glittering fire danced through the air above us. Fireworksexploded, illuminating the night sky in a dazzling display of colors.

I closed my eyes, allowing the vibrant hues to permeate through my eyelids. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself, acknowledging the presence of the dark force within me. I refused to succumb to its influence, to the possibility it presented. Whatever they sought from me, I would face it head-on, ready to fight until the very end and allowed this new warmth and peace within me to take precedence.

I recalled the memories vividly, Darius's voice echoing in my mind.

Don't listen to the darkness.

His words lingered, urging me to push through.

If you can't do it right, don't waste your energy.

I refused to waste my energy fighting against the past, against false truths I had formed about my life, dreams, and future. I couldn't…wouldn't let the darkness of the Spellcasters drag me down with them in their evil schemes.

I sucked in a breath and opened my eyes, moving my view to the sky. Watching the radiating colors explode against the deafening blackness. It took my breath away and pulled my veins with something unfamiliar, something I hadn'ttrulyfelt since I sat wishing under that wretched tree.

Hope.

30

Levon held onto me tightly as we navigated through the throng of people. The crowd was thick, and I felt hands brushing against my shoulders, arms, and side as they praised my name with the unmistakable stench of hard liquor on their breath, their thoughts consumed by the festive atmosphere.

Feeling overwhelmed, I begged Levon to take me somewhere, anywhere but here, away from the cacophony and the chaos.

Levon merely smiled in response and guided me away, paying no attention to Jesri's persistent questions, which he continued to shout even as we moved out of earshot. Calum was nowhere to be seen and probably enjoyed the women's attention and free-flowing drinks.

My dress kept catching on the bodies pressed tightly against one another, making our progress slow and cumbersome. The crowd radiated with excitement, their energy tangible as they pushed forward, eager to reach the front where the betting was about to commence. The air was thick with anticipation, the noise of chatter and laughter blending into a continuous roar.

My stomach churned with anxiety, knowing thattomorrow, I would embark on the lifelong mission Jesri had set for me.

I forced myself to silence these rising fears as more people applauded me. Some even bowed deeply, and by the time they straightened up, I was already gone, no longer there to acknowledge their gestures. I didn't feel guilty or care about any of them. They were dancing, flattering, drinking, and laughing, living as if they had no concerns or cared little about anything beyond their revelry. It disgusted me, especially knowing children were starving in the streets and mothers struggling alone to care for them.

Levon must have noticed the disgust on my face because he glanced back, tugged on my arm, and gave me a sympathetic smile.

"How can so many people fit in here?" I shouted to him as we continued to make our way through the crowd.

"By pushing and shoving," he replied with a chuckle, demonstrating as he cleared a path for us.

We finally emerged into the open air, free from the tightly packed bodies. As we rushed into the empty city streets, the lights around us seemed more alive than the sweaty, chaotic crowd we left behind.

"How is the king supposed to control any of that?" I asked, still catching my breath.

Levon slowed our pace and came up beside me, taking my arm and pulling me close.

"He doesn't," he said with a wry smile.

I furrowed my brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"

He continued, "King Thealor only allows the ruckus as long as the people obey the rules. If they don't, more severe measures are taken."

"How does one control a crowd of thousands?" I pressed, genuinely curious and slightly horrified.

"Extreme force," he replied. Seeing the shock on my face, he quickly added, "Everyone knows the consequences, so they clear the square by one in the morning and continue their festivities elsewhere. We…they haven't had to use those extreme measures yet."

I nodded, still processing his words as we continued through the vibrant, quiet city. The contrast between the silent streets and the unruly crowd we'd left behind relieved my quelling stomach.

We strolled through a secluded, illuminated cobblestone archway flanked by vibrant, colorful houses. "Did you ever enjoy yourself during these festivities?" I asked, trying to ease my anxiety.

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