To my shock, it wasn't empty. Nausea crawled up my gullet, and my pulse throbbed in my ears, drowning out the sounds of chatter from the other tables. He wasn't alone, all were armed. It was a kingdom of faeries.
"Your Highness!" The stranger placed his fisted hand over his heart and bowed his head, he kept his eyes low.
"I'm not going to do that to him," Silver whispered, her brows wrinkled.
I nodded my head. I wasn't planning to do that either. I didn't live in his kingdom but I needed his help. The book! I glanced at the person sitting on the throne. He got on his feet. He was very tall, not bulky but with broad shoulders, a square jaw, sharp features, and his eyes were a shade of venomous yellow. Faerie beauty graced his features. His smile had an irresistible tug. His gaze was on Elizabeth.
Edward scowled at him and growled, taking a step forward.
"Your Highness," Mary bowed her head with a smile, interrupting them.
"Princess Mary, " His smile didn't waver, he extended his hand. Mary placed her hand in his, taking steps toward him. He placed a kiss on the back of his knuckles, "Join us. You must be hungry." He swiped his hand in the air, gesturing at the table.
"No acquaintance," Daniel snorted.
"We shouldn't waste our time in introducing Alpha Daniel when we are lacking time," King Kelstov said and his gaze turned to me.
My hackles rose feeling the depth of his gaze, my skin prickled with irritation, and I sucked in a breath, silently.
"We're not hungry, King Kelstov ." Elizabeth said, "We need your help to cure the curse. I can see you're already aware of it." She said, in a humble way.
His lips split into a smile that could cast spells on innocent hearts. I was thankful my heart was already taken. He seemed dangerous too. Evilness couldn't be hidden behind his beautiful smile.
King waved his hand and his companions got on their feet. They bowed their heads and turned to leave. The stranger stayed at his King's side, his hand on the hilt with a straight back.
"Have a seat, my lady." He advanced with a sinewy, serpentine grace, each step soundless as a wraith. He outstretched his hand.
Hesitantly, Elizabeth put her hand in his large hand. Her smile forced, "Queen Cassandra would have..."
Edward seethed with rage; he lifted his foot but was halted by Drake. Daniel muttered something.
A loud beep echoed in my ears. I blinked. My sight got so blurry that I couldn't see Silver's face clearly. I blinked again. The air seemed to clamp in my lungs at the realization. I wasn't fully blind. But I couldn't see anything clearly. A hand wrapped around my wrist, its chill seeping through my skin, permeating my bones to the marrow. I shuddered. There was nothing to ease my pain. Hot tears rolled down my eyes.
"Silver," My voice shivered. I tried to speak as low as I could.
"What happened?" She must have panicked from my tears. I wanted to hit her.
Another hand curled around my wrist, "We don't have much time. You have to help us, King Kelstov, " Mary said.
"Is she?" I heard Elizabeth.
My blurry gaze turned to her. I recognized from the blur color of her pink top and white jeans.
"You can't heal her with your magic," I heard the king, "If you..." She cut him off.
"She's my friend. I'm not selfish like you," I heard Elizabeth's snappy tone and then loud footsteps, gasps of people.
Silver wiped her hand on my cheeks, "Em," She breathed as it ghosted my face.
"Everything is blurry," I muttered.
"We need your help, your Highness. You have the book. My mother has gifted it to you." Mary said, requesting.
"That's a gift. I can't give it to you."
"We're not asking for the book. Just let us borrow it for a few minutes." Drake said, I could feel helpless and his anger from his tone.
"That can't be. Queen of light, Elizabeth Smith, you have to marry me. I'll help your friend and do anything in my power to help her." His voice was promising.
"I'm under oath, King Kelstov. I can't marry you." She didn't bring out that Edward was her mate. Perhaps she didn't want to upset him.
"So, it's true. You're going to ask her for the wedding." A sharp and full of sarcasm tone echoed in the hall.
"You're not invited here, Princess Aubrette," His tone was full of authority and anger.
A whimper escaped my trembling lips. My eyes began to burn. The pain was unbearable as my eyes were on fire.
My hands shot to my eyes. I squealed when the pain became out of my tolerance. My eyelids feel hot like burning coal. More swiftly I pushed my hands away from my eyes.
"What's the f**k is happening?" Drake's voice was full of fear.
"We have to take her pain away," Edward said.
I fell on the ground writhing in pain. The pain shot through my eyes to my whole body. Someone was holding me. I couldn't dare to open my eyes. They were arguing. Elizabeth was pleading Kolstov to help me. He continued to ask her to accept his offer. Edward's angry voice stopped her and find another way to help me.
"Mary, do something!" Silver shrieked. Her tears felt on my upper arms
"I don't know what Aragon said. We can't take risks."
"Please! I..."
"Elizabeth!" I said out loud, my lips were trembling in pain but my voice was solid, "You won't beg this arrogant a******. I'm going to die anyway,"
"No!" Silver hugged me. Someone was cradling my head. I didn't know who, "Don't say that. He would devastate everything, every realm." She muttered in dread.
"You're not going to die," Elizabeth reprimanded me.
"Just take me home." I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. It felt like the fire was trailing down my cheeks, scorching my skin. The pain was unbearable.
"Her tears are of the fire!" I heard someone gasping and her voice full of shock.
A bone-deep shudder rattled my spine. I dared to lift my hand to touch my cheek.
Someone held my hand, "Don't. I'm scared it will hurt you more," I heard Drake.
"Take me home, his home," I said. More tears welled. I pressed my teeth together to block the pain. It was just a failed attempt.
Dastien! I called his name in my mind. I was going to die. All I wanted to do, hold him, him to hold me until I left this world.
"We should help her," An unknown female voice spoke again. Perhaps princess Aubrette.
"You won't, Aubrette. You can keep your path and still marry me." King said to Elizabeth.
"You're sick," Silver snapped.
"Oh! No!"
" No! No!"
"Edward!"
"What's happening?" I asked when I heard shouting, noises of hitting, falling. Did Edward attack him? I drew in a sharp breath through my clenched teeth. The hall erupted with screams. Arms tightened around me. I heard footsteps shuffling away.
Suddenly, it went silent in the hall. I didn't realize the pain began to lessen. Arms slipped away from me. I tried to grip her hand.
"Silver, Betty! Don't leave..." My words stuck in my throat when I felt a warm aura around me.
"Open your eyes," I heard a command in my head.
I couldn't resist. I opened my eyes slowly. My gaze was glued on a fire ball floating in the air over me. I felt attached to him.
"What's this?" Scared! I pulled myself back.
His familiar warmth enclosed me.
He did not take physical form yet, therefore he appeared only as a swirling vortex of fire. I could feel the place that was reserved for him in my heart.
'Mate!' I heard a weak sound of my inner voice. Perhaps she's my wolf calling for him. I don't know But she was so happy. I was going through pain but it was nothing compared to this moment. I could endure it again If it would bring him to me.
It crawled around me. He held the power to bring a smile to my face when I was going through unbearable pain.
It glowed lighter. revealing a pair of eyes, it was also a part of a burning fire.
My lower lip trembles from all the emotions consuming me, he was here he was holding me. I couldn't speak and just stared at him.
A black wing sparking with an amber glow rested on my forehead and a bright red flower landed on my chest, cracking sparkles around it. I had read about it in the Herbology book. FlammaFlos! It's a powerful plant and the Queen of Faerie guards them. I saw Cassandra but her sight wasn't clear. It's given for a new life.
"Wing will help her endure the power of Flos," I heard Cassandra's s
oft voice which was unbelievable.
The burning faded from my eyes, it was replaced by coolness. My eyes were forced to close.