The mighty king

Valerian’s POV

Zaria was not only beautiful and smart but also definitely not human. I can feel her on a level that goes beyond words, a current buzzing just beneath my skin every time she’s near. Something draws me in, pulls me into her orbit. The connection is impossible to ignore.

She moves through the world, almost oblivious to it all, and somehow, everything blurs out around her except the energy tethered between us. It makes my chest ache, this need, almost painful in its intensity. She is like a magnet, impossible to escape.

Even Noctis feels it; he tried to warn me, threatening me to stay away from her as if that would work. He is my friend, but I don’t think he understands how strong this compulsion is. Even if I wanted to, even if it would save me some pain, I can’t stay away from her. And with every stolen glance, every fleeting touch, the struggle inside me grows—desire pushing against caution, the monster in me craving her light.

You look beautiful, Zaria, I said, kissing her hand. Don’t worry, no one will bother you; stay close.

The party was extravagant. Darius was born into money, as we all were. As the future head of his faction, he showed off anytime he could. Girls dropped into his lap. I watched Zaria’s reaction every time; she seemed repulsed by him, which made me chuckle at the look on her face. Unaware, she did so.

The music was blasting, and they were already buzzed by the time we arrived. Zaria was holding my arm tight as we watched them from the side. She was an observer like me. Reads the room and watches their behavior, like a predator. She is not a witch, not a shifter… definitely a predator; I know the look. We sense things, sometimes before they happen. Zaria was not flashy—just the opposite, humbled and quiet.

Valerian, she whispered, I thought Darius liked…

Darius likes any sex with anyone, that is, Exus, a panther shifter.

Oh, that made sense when…

Well, go on, you can tell me, what did you see?

Uhhhmmm, I didn’t mean to; he wasn’t performing very well, and I wondered if magic could fix that.

I laughed like I hadn’t in a long time. Zaria had no filter after all. Okay, to answer your question, nope, magic won’t fix it. Thank you for that; I still chuckled.

Nova showed up and hugged her. Then they went to get a drink, and when I turned, Noctis stood in front of me.

Smooth, I have to say, you’re fast. But I wouldn’t have brought her to this kind of party.

All of a sudden, I felt insecure. Yeah, right, I can take care of her…Then I turned, looking for her. I couldn’t find her. But I found Nova.

Where did Zaria go? I asked her

Valerian didn’t like the party and didn’t feel well. Zaria went to bed.

I cursed. Noctis was right, I need to have a proper date and take her somewhere fancy and private…

Zaria’s POV

Valerian was pleasant and polite, and I was feeling weird all of a sudden. I told Nova that I needed to go, like something was draining from the inside. I dragged myself to Malacar’s room, and he opened it before I knocked and dropped into his arms as darkness took me.

The dream was so vivid, I smelled the burning candles and felt the pain of the man holding the lifeless body of Queen Alexandra. No, my love, please… he pleaded. The mighty king was begging the gods to take his life in return for hers. Then the growl shook the walls. I covered my ears as I was crying, watching this.

He took a sword, touched the blade, and pointed the sharp part towards his heart. The man looked up, and I gasped. Malacar.

Kill me, he shouted, do it.

My king, you’re in pain; let’s give her the proper…

Don’t say the word. The king held his head, screaming in pain. His demon came out, a massive demon, touching Alexandra’s face.

Zaria, I heard my name, please. Listen to my voice…

My eyes felt heavy, so I forced myself to open them. malacar.

You’re burning again and had a bad dream. He lifted me and turned the shower on. My body is shivering.

Malacar, I whispered, you know the king…

I black out again. This time, the dream took me inside the palace: Strigoi, the undead who roam restlessly, drifting through the hallways with hollow eyes. Demons without a host—creatures of shadow and hunger, lacking a human vessel to anchor them—moved along the edges, unsettling in their raw form. Interesting. The throne room.

The king was holding Alexandra’s hand; he was on his knees, his head on her lap.

Abrax, I have a feeling it's a girl…

I love you so much, he said, our child. Now, it's time to go to bed; you need rest.

“ You’re not going to keep me in bed," Alexandra said, chuckling. Her black dress flowed like smoke, the crown on her head. I stared at her beauty and followed them.

Water hit my body, and I yelped. Malacar was holding me close to his body.

I want to sleep…Malacar…I want to go back to the kingdom. The queen died…he is so sad…

Zaria, look at me, open your eyes, Gods, help me… What is happening to her?

He made me take pills as I was shivering. Then I fell back into the dream. I was in a market. Carriages with skeleton horses passed by, and the shadows, and humans looking like people, demons, were bargaining for different objects. I looked up to see a bright star, not a sun, but enough to warm the land and have some light. Then I saw her, Alexandra, she was giving a child bread. Paid the vendor and walked away. A large hound, its big red eyes looking around, was following her.

Strigoi roamed free, and they all seemed happy. The noise scared me at first. When I turned, I saw the portal as merchants entered the dark kingdom.

Alexandra stopped. I thought she was staring at me; her smile lit her face as the king approached her. They look so in love. What does this have to do with me? I question everything, even in my dreams. I felt thirsty; the dream was fading, and I opened my eyes to see Malacar's half-body sleeping on my hand, with a cold compress on my head.

I tried to reach the water, but he woke up. His eyes focused. Zaria, he took me in his arms. Don’t ever scare me like this. I almost lost you.

What? I didn’t feel good earlier, and I didn’t think it was serious.

Your fever exceeded the high, and you were delirious.

I saw you with the king of the darkness. I recognized his face from the mural. Malacar, please don’t lie to me…