Chapter 124: FIRST TIME IN YEARS
Lumina reached for the cloth beside her bed and wiped the blood stain off her lips.
Just then Stella walked inside, and Lumina took in a deep breath of relief that Stella didn’t notice.
Then she pressed the back of her hand to her mouth until the taste was gone. Her chest was still burning, but she forced herself to sit up straight so it wouldn’t collapse now.
"Stella," she called out, her voice calm despite the tremor in her body. "I need your cleansing veil."
Stella froze, startled. "My lady, what do you need them for?"
"Just do as I say," Lumina ordered.
"I am sorry if you sound offended." Stella let out, and then shut her eyes... for a bit... then her hands glowed and some like a reddish stone appeared in her hands and then she handed it to Lumina.
"My lady," Stella called cautiously, "why did you speak to the prince in such a way? Why would you push him like that when you know how much he is?.."
"Because," Lumina cut her off, her voice sharp. "That is the only way to keep him in line. I cannot afford to lose control over him. I am not here to love Stella. I am here to win."
Stella’s brows furrowed as she stared at the way her lady rubbed her cleansing veil on her chest.
She so badly wanted to ask why she needed it but she could tell her lady was not in a good mood and she didn’t want to make her mad.
"But... you are hurting him."
Lumina’s fingers tremble as she proceeds to use the reddish stone to ease the pain in her heart.
"That will make him aware that I only have plans to work on," she said quietly, though there was a flicker of pain in her own voice.
Stella was about to speak when she noticed the sweat beading on Lumina’s forehead. "You are trembling," she stated.
Stella weirdly didn’t have a good thought about this, ever since her lady had gotten back the previous night she had been abducted.
"Tell me the truth, my lady.. What is wrong with you?"
Lumina’s hand stilled me and she took a long breath.
"Because Adam poisoned me," Lumina confessed.
"What!" This voice came so deep from Stella’s heart.
Not wasting any more seconds she lunged forward, grasping Lumina’s wrist and pressing two fingers to her pulse.
Stella’s eyes glowed faintly, along with her fingers as she checked deeper than any ordinary healer could.
"No..." Stella whispered, fury rising in her chest. "How dare he..."
Her entire body began to glow, light rippling across her skin as if it were alive. Her hair lifted, strands floating upward. Silver markings bloomed along her arms and neck, glowing so bright that they could blind anyone inside the room.
On the ground, her shadow stretched and twisted, its shape warping until horns rose from its head and its outline no longer looked like it.
"Stella!" Lumina shouted, an alarm flashing through her as she felt the air from Stella.
But Stella’s voice was low and dangerous, vibrating with suppressed power. "I will kill him. I don’t care if he is the Crown Prince."
Lumina scrambled to her feet, her strength faltering but her fear stronger. "Stop!" she cried, seizing Stella’s arm.
"Do you want the entire realm to know what you are?"
For a moment, Stella didn’t seem to hear her. Her glowing eyes were fixed on the door, her body coiled like a predator ready to strike.
"Stella!" Lumina’s voice broke out in fear and she was desperate now.
"Please change back!" she cried out this time around. If one eye can see Stella’s real form, they would plan to kill her.
She had managed to control herself all these years, this wasn’t the time to reveal her real self.
But Stella was at the last straw now, she couldn’t be atop.. She lunged for the door and Lumina had no choice.
Lumina pulled off her blindfold, her eyes glowed as she spoke with her breath.
"Stella... the creature of the Shadow born you go nowhere." Stella stilled at once, she turned back to her mistress one second she was standing before her.
This was the first time her mistress was using this power on her, the moment she got in front of Lumina.
She pressed her fingers to the side of Stella’s neck. Stella gasped once, then went limp, collapsing into Lumina’s arms.
This nearly knocked Lumina over. She lowered Stella to the floor, breathing hard, her heart racing.
"I am sorry," Lumina whispered, brushing the hair back from Stella’s face as her glow faded, and now in her mortal form. "I can’t let you hurt yourself."
Ashen stood at the window of his office chamber, his back to the door.
The room was silent, he hadn’t said a word ever since Lumina’s words had struck him like blades, tearing through everything he thought they had begun to build together.
He had told himself not to care, but she had crushed it in a single breath.
Without warning, his body shuddered once, as though something inside him snapped.
My Lord..." Ero called but was met with an empty office leaving him confused.
"He was standing here a few..." his words stopped when he felt a sudden air past him.
Ashen on the other hand moved through the realm in his invisible form, until he reached the outskirts of the realm.
The moment he got there he appeared again in his mortal form and there Aria flew in and her flock form.
She morphed into her mortal form also.... "Finally you made the decision." she let out.
"You used my anger to call me some here," he said, his face blank.
"I didn’t... You made the decision yourself," she replied and he narrowed his gaze.
"They have waited for long... you can’t change your mind this time around". He stared at Aria.
"Don’t you dare touch a strand on her," Aria smirked dangerously.
"The dragon himself is threatening me... I will say I love my lady for bringing this part of you out." he didn’t say a word.
"Guess it’s time." she let out and her body arched low, a growling sound rumbled from deep within her chest.
Instantly her bones cracked and shifted beneath her skin, her frame stretching taller with each breath.
Scales broke through the surface in a ripple, spreading across her arms and back, until they coated her completely in a gleaming armor.
Her wings tore free with a violent snap, unfurling in a rush of air that sent dust swirling around her.
Claws curled from her fingers, her eyes blazed with light, and when she lifted her head, the final snap of her jaw reshaping echoed like thunder
"Finally," she said, her voice like a low rumble. "You are ready."
Ashen didn’t answer and just climbed onto her back, gripping her mane. The moment he was secure, Aria launched into the air, her wings beating hard until the ground was only a blur below them.
They flew to the edge of the realm, where it dropped into a vast depth that seemed to have no end. This time the air grew hotter... this is hotter to the extent that not a dragon’s blood could withstand it.
"This is your last chance to turn back," Aria warned.
"I am done turning back," Ashen finally let out, and Aria dove.
They plummeted into the abyss, wind howling past them, until a wall of solid rock appeared below.
Ashen raised his hand and spoke a word he had not spoken in years.
"Veyrath" Instantly the rock split open.
Flames burst from the cracks, rushing out with a roar, but not a single spark touched Ashen’s skin. The fire curled around him like an old friend welcoming him home.
When the opening was wide enough, Aria glided through and landed.
Ashen dismounted, his boots touching the floor. Aria... dropped to the ground and she smirked and bowed before Ashen.
Then came the voice. "Well, well," it said, deep and amused, echoing from every wall.
Ashen’s breath caught, he hadn’t heard this voice in years.
"The last prince finally decided to reach out to us after ten years!"
Another burst of fire erupted from everywhere, lighting up the cavern and then they rose.
Seven massive dragons, each larger than a palace tower, lifted their heads one by one, their scales shimmering in several colors.
Their eyes glowed as they focused on him, and for the first time in years, Ashen felt small.