Chapter 3

Even though I had already agreed, Abyron seemed uneasy.

I stood and told the servants to pack my things, but he caught my hand. “Yoelle, if this bothers you, you don’t have to move.”

I shook my head. “It’s fine. I don’t mind. This place is closer to yours. It’ll be easier for her to attend to you.”

I was just stating facts, but he heard jealousy in my words and felt relieved.

“Don’t worry. No matter where you live, you’re my only queen. The crown prince of the Phoenix Clan is going to celebrate his birthday the day after tomorrow. Come with me.”

Among the beast clans, the Dragon Clan and the Phoenix Clan held the highest status.

The Dragon King and the Phoenix King did not even truly belong to the beast clans. They belonged to the Divine Race of the heavens.

On the Phoenix Crown Prince’s birthday, all the beast clans gathered to offer their congratulations.

Abyron said he would bring me, but, in the end, the one standing by his side was Xena.

Several beast kings came forward to speak with him. They praised Xena and said they had long heard the Snake King’s queen was a rare beauty. Seeing her today, they were amazed.

Abyron listened with a faint smile. He did not correct them.

Those who knew the truth glanced at me with sympathy.

I could not bear their looks. I found a quiet corner and sat there alone.

While no one was paying attention, I studied the Oath Stone. Cracks covered its surface. Once tonight passed and the stone finally split, the bond between Abyron and me would be broken.

I had not seen Auron for three days. I wondered how he was doing.

As I thought about him, I overheard two people nearby.

“Isn’t the Phoenix Crown Prince especially close to the Dragon King? Why isn’t the Dragon King here today?”

“The Dragon King has been busy preparing for his wedding.”

The other person gasped. “The Dragon King is getting married? Whose daughter is it?”

I felt nothing when I heard that.

The Dragon King was like a distant god to us. I would never meet him in this lifetime. Our paths would never cross.

After estimating that enough time had passed, I returned to the banquet.

I was about to inform Abyron that I was leaving when I saw a crowd gathered ahead.

Abyron and Xena were kneeling on the floor. Fear was written all over his face. “Fire God, Xena can’t endure a lightning tribulation. Please withdraw your decree.”

I quietly asked someone beside me what had happened.

Xena had offended the Fire God and shattered his divine artifact. The Fire God was enraged and had decided to punish her with a lightning tribulation.

No wonder Abyron was so anxious.

A lightning tribulation was deadly. Even an ordinary beast king might not survive a single round.

Xena was only human.

The Fire God grew furious after hearing Abyron’s plea. “If she can’t endure it, then you can. Since she is someone you brought, you’ll take the punishment in her place.”

Abyron hesitated. He was about to turn one thousand years old. At that age, a heavenly tribulation would descend upon him.

For every beast clan, the king’s heavenly tribulation was the most dangerous time. If the king failed to survive it, rival clans would seize the chance to invade and divide his territory.

He could not risk taking Xena’s punishment.

Xena seemed to realize that as well. She was trembling with fear. She clutched Abyron’s robe. “Your Majesty, save me. I’ll never do it again.”

Abyron was torn. As he searched for a solution, he suddenly looked up and saw me.

The tension in his expression eased.

I sensed what he was thinking and instinctively stepped back.

It was too late.

“Fire God, if someone must face the lightning tribulation today, then let my queen take it.” Abyron pointed at me. “We’ve formed an empathic bond. It makes no difference whether she or I face the punishment.”

Everyone turned to look at me.

Abyron stood up and took my hand. His voice softened. “Yoelle, Xena is a human. She won’t survive this. Can you take her place?”

My whole body trembled, and my heart ached. “Are you certain you want me to do this? What if I die under the lightning tribulation?”

Abyron frowned. “You’re a deer spirit. You won’t die. But Xena truly will. If you agree, I’ll do anything for you.”

He gripped my hand so tightly it hurt.

I knew that even if I refused, I would still be pushed to face it.

I closed my eyes, then opened them again. “Alright.”

The moment I agreed, dark clouds swallowed the sky. Thunder roared overhead as I walked toward the heart of the storm.

The second I stepped away from Abyron, I felt his regret wash over me in waves.

“Yoelle, don’t…”

Before he could grab my sleeve, Xena collapsed behind him.

He did not hesitate. He picked her up and turned away.

The instant he left, the heavenly lightning struck me.

Thunder roared through the sky.

The first bolt was already more than I could bear.

Pain tore through me from head to toe. It felt as if my limbs were splitting apart.

One strike. Two. Three.

The torment lasted the entire night.

When the lightning finally ended, my body was covered in wounds.

The crowd slowly dispersed. I reached into my chest and took out the Oath Stone.

The stone that had once been unbreakable had shattered into pieces.

Good.

The bond between Abyron and me was finally gone.

From today onward, regardless of what happened, we had nothing to do with each other.

Soon, one of Abyron’s guards came to take me back. He gave me a secret medicine from the Snake Clan and told me to swallow it.

He said that Abyron was busy with official matters and could not come himself, so he sent him instead. After taking the medicine and regaining a little strength, I forced myself to walk to the pool and wash my face.

When I turned around, it was already dawn.

Three days had passed. It was the day I had promised to meet Auron.

I swayed as I walked toward his place.

The guard hurried after me and blocked my path. “Your Majesty, this is not the way back to the Snake Clan.”

“Let go.” I shoved him aside. “I’m not going back.”

“What?”

Ignoring his shock, I tossed the shattered Oath Stone into his hands. “Give this to Abyron. Tell him we’re done.”