Page 65 of Fire & Ice

As Deakon's essence pulsed through Beau's veins, he reveled in the sensations that flooded his senses. He could hear the wind howling outside, each gust rattling the cottage's timbers with renewed fury. He could smell the scent of blood and decay, an aroma that had once repulsed him but now filled him with a primal lust for power.

"More," Beau demanded, his voice echoing through the small room like thunder. "Give me everything you have, Councilman Deakon Lacey. Let me consume you."

And with that command, the last of Deakon's essence was ripped away, his soul laid bare before Beau's insatiable hunger. The noble Halfling's eyes went wide in shock, the light within them flickering and dying like a snuffed-out candle.

"Thank you, Councilman," Beau whispered as he stood over the lifeless husk of his enemy, feeling stronger and more powerful than he had ever imagined possible. "You have given me a most precious gift."

The cottage lay in ruins, the aftermath of Beau's voracious attack evident in every splintered beam and shattered heirloom. The lifeless bodies of Councilman Deakon Lacey and Sara sprawled on the floor, their once-radiant features twisted into grotesque masks of pain and terror as they slowly started to crumble into ash.

Chapter 53

Beau burst through the heavy oak doors of their chambers, his chest heaving. She still lay motionless on the four-poster bed, ashen as death, her usual, red-tipped hair now a dull and lifeless black fanned out across the pillow.

He rushed to her side and grasped her hand. It was cold and limp. "Tempest, can you hear me?" There was no response. Panic rose in his chest like a wave. He had failed to protect her. Again.

Tempest was trapped in the darkness of her own mind, spellbound by Sara's poison. But she could hear every word Beau spoke and feel the coolness of his hand encompassing hers. She strained against the invisible bonds holding her, fighting to surface and reassure him. To tell him this wasn't his fault.

"I'm so sorry," Beau whispered, brushing a stray curl from her face. His touch ignited sparks along her skin. "I should have been more alert."

His anguish pierced her heart. She struggled harder, summoning every ounce of will and magic within her, but the poison's binding did not budge.

Beau clutched her hand to his chest, his voice breaking. "Come back to me, Tempest. I can't lose you."

He drew back to look at Tempest, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "I need to speak with my mother. She may know of a way to reverse what has happened."

He made his way through the grand hallways of the palace, the marble floors and towering stone pillars a familiar sight. His boots echoed on the floor with each step as he wound through the corridors to the queen's chambers.

Two guards stood at the entrance, and they bowed their heads in deference as Beau approached. He rapped his knuckles twice on the heavy wooden doors. "Mother, it's Beau. I must speak with you."

A muffled "Enter" came from within. Beau took a fortifying breath and pushed the doors open. His mother, Tatiana, sat on an ornate throne, wearing a gown of royal blue velvet and a delicate silver diadem in her raven hair. Her piercing blue eyes, so similar to his own, gazed at him expectantly.

"Mother," Beau began, striding into the room.

Queen Tatiana leaned forward, concern etching lines on her pale forehead. "I've been waiting for you Beau. I've seen Tempest and her state does not look well. The healers have done all they can, but she shows no signs of waking."

"I fear she is trapped, and I don't know how to free her." His mother listened intently, her full lips pressed into a grim line. When Beau finished, she was silent for a long moment. The courtiers and advisors surrounding her waited with bated breath.

Finally, the Queen spoke. "This is dark and powerful magic. It will require an equally powerful counter-spell to break it." She rose from her throne and descended the steps to stand before Beau. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she gazed into his eyes.

"You must go to the statue of mated Selene. Our revered ancestor has powers beyond our comprehension, and she will know how to save Tempest. Kneel before the statue, and she will guide you."

Beau's eyes widened. The statue of mated Selene was rumored to possess great magical abilities, though few had witnessed them firsthand. But if there was any hope of saving Tempest...

He took his mother's hands and brought them to his lips. "Thank you. I will go immediately."

Tatiana smiled, her eyes softening. "You're welcome, my son. Now go, and do not lose hope. mated Selene may well show you the way."

Beau bowed to his mother and the assembled courtiers, then turned and strode from the room with renewed purpose. He would get answers from the statue, no matter what it took. For Tempest's sake, he had to.

Beau made his way through the palace grounds, his boots crunching on the gravel path as he walked. The maze of hedges loomed before him, shrouded in shadows. According to legend, the twisting paths led to the hidden grotto that housed the statue of mated Selene.

He entered the maze, the thick hedges closing in around him. The gravel underfoot gave way to soft earth as he walked, following the turns almost instinctively. At last, he arrived at a stone archway covered in flowers.

The grotto opened up before him, dim and overgrown with foliage. In the center stood a pedestal of pale marble, and upon it the statue of mated Selene. She was carved from the finest white stone, her features delicate and serene. Beau approached slowly, taking in the candles and garlands of flowers surrounding her.

Generations of his lineage had come here to worship and beseech the revered ancestor.

Would she truly answer his pleas?

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