Page 3 of Heirs of the Cursed

Leonel had always believed that the daimonas—the children of the goddess of destruction—were monsters. Creatures tortured by their own darkness and fated to doom them all. But the panic that tinged their petrified faces made him question if they were monsters at all.

He climbed the stairs to the royal chambers. The steps creaked under the scout’s weight and the wind accompanied him, watching his every move—as if hopeful that he could do something to save them.

He forced himself not to look back as he reached the last floor.

The room of the regents was the first he investigated. In it, Erlina and Tavarious Boreaalinen lay on the bed in an embrace, eyes closed. Their intertwined hands were clasped between their hearts.

Love could conquer everything, even fear, but not death.

Leonel went to the next room, where the king had told him that the cradles of the cursed princesses were located.

The Dark Twins.

When the soldier crossed the threshold, his heart stopped. That room was undoubtedly the worst of all. The walls, the furniture, the windows . . . They were covered with a dangerous plant, born from the curse. The holly of death grew from their very cradles.

Leonel leaned over the cradles, and what he saw in them churned the pit of his stomach to reveal his greatest fear.

They were empty.

The princesses were gone.

Leonel returned to the castle, his face so pale that some of his comrades in the Royal Army had asked him if he had seen ghosts with vengeful plans during his secret mission in Evrethia.

When the guards opened the doors to the throne room, the king already awaited his arrival, sitting on his golden throne with Prince Killian standing at his side.

“Well?” he inquired. “What did you find?”

Leonel’s words rushed out before he could process them. “The princesses. Queen Erlina’s daughters . . . They’re gone. They’ve disappeared!”

“That’s impossible,” Killian denied. “Nothing can leave the cursed kingdom without paying a price.”

The king frowned and the shadows in his eyes danced with hidden emotions. “Unless . . .”

“Unless what?” Killian folded his arms.

“Unless they had never been there.”

The sharp silence made Leonel shrink.

“That’s impossible,” the prince said.

“Then tell me, Killian, how is it possible that the child died turned to stone as soon as he was born!” he spat. “Explain it to me!”

Killian tried to think of a coherent answer, but there was none.

“Soldier Ramsdean is the only one who has done a thorough exploration. In the reports received, none of the soldiers went beyond the second floor. Prepare the troops, Killian, and release the Chaser,” King Kirus announced. “We are going hunting.”

“And once we find them?”

The king lifted his chin, and the world cracked slightly.

“We will destroy their legacy and all they were promised. We will claim their crowns until the world bows to us and end them once and for all.”

1

Dawnfall

Darcia Voreia had grown used to playing with minds, stirring a dark feeling that was hard for her to explain.

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