We walked inside the castles grand doors, and the next thing I knew, strong hands gripped my arms behind my back. I flinched and groaned in pain because after going into the volcano, my skin felt like I had a severe sunburn.
A metal clink caught my attention.
We had been ambushed, completely caught off guard by the weight of what had just happened. Titus was seized before he could react, a gleaming gold collar snapped around his neck, a blade poised cold and unforgiving against his throat. Seven Fire Fae males in crimson hooded robes stood waiting for us to return. Two burly guards in shiny, red armor twisted my arms behind my back with an iron grip—HolyGuards.
Flames blasted from Titus and everyone took a step back. My skin crawled as Caddver stepped forward.
“Careful Lord Titus, I wouldn’t do that if I were you, the collar around your neck has a spring mechanism that I can control at any point I feel a threat,” he said. “The dagger is tipped in Fae-bane, it will poison you leaving you without your ability to heal while you bleed out from your jugular!”
“Caddver, what is the meaning of this? Remove this fucking device and unhand us.” He snarled.
Now that he was no longer a threat, the Holy Guards released Titus, confident that he was securely under Caddver’s control. “Titus!!” I cried.
He growled demonically to the Holy Guards, “Get your filthy fucking hands off of my mate.”
“Apologies My Lord, but she will be staying at the Temple in the city tonight to prepare her for the ritual tomorrow.” Caddver said wickedly.
“Ritual? What ritual? What the fuck is going on?” He shouted.
Just then heeled boots clicked on the stone stairs. Our eyes shifted to find Aurelius approaching, his mouth upturned with a grin that could only be described as evil.
“The ritual of Natural Selection, through the Law of Flesh, I challenged the rank…brother.” Aurelius taunted.
The chilling words caused my already broken heart to sink and my stomach to twist in knots.
“You son of a bitch, I’ll fucking end you!!!” Titus threatened.
“There’s nothing you can do Titus, the law has been called, tomorrow the three most powerful Fire Fae in the kingdom will breedwith your mate, and when her womb carries my heir, it will prove once and for all who is meant to sit the flaming throne.”
A strip of cloth was tied around my mouth, gagging me, and a black velvet hood was placed over my face.
“This is insane unhand her, we have bigger issues than the rank…Folliade’s army will be invading soon!” Titus shouted.
“That’s odd, he told me he was considering reinstating his alliance, what a convenient lie, to avoid the truth.” Aurelius snarled.
“Now, where the fuck is my dragon?!”
“Dead, we tried to retrieve the dagger but were… unsuccessful.” Titus said plainly. He must have had the dagger hidden in his clothing.
I heard Aurelius hitch in his cadence. “No matter, soon I will command the largest dragon in the realm, as is my right as High Lord.” Aurelius replied coldly, but I didn’t buy it for one second.
Titus didn’t even acknowledge his response.
“At least let me say goodbye to my mate.” He demanded fiercely.
“Of course, My Lord.” The council member replied curtly.
Heavy footsteps approached and I felt Titus’s warm, rough hands clasp my shoulders as he leaned in and whispered. “Just trust me Pickles.” Then he kissed my forehead through the thick fabric of the velvet hood.
“Locate General Cercies and summon and collar him immediately, we will need all three to participate for the ritual to be performed properly,…Take her away.” Caddver commanded.
I tried to scream. I tried to kick. I tried to break from their iron grip, but it was of no use. Then I felt a pinprick at my shoulder, and I lost consciousness.
K. ROSÉ
When I woke up, I was dazed, confused, and not entirely sure where I was. The walls were made of rock and painted a blood-washed red. The ceiling was the same. As more came into focus, I noticed… everything was red.
I was naked and chained to a stone table, or maybe it was an altar. Torches burned and a large fireplace roared, but I was freezing from the chill of the stone beneath me. Goosebumps prickled my skin as I fully came to, uncertain if it was from the cold… or the terror settling into my bones.
