LOGINElaina’s heart skipped so violently it hurt. “No…” she whispered.Ryker frowned slightly, confused by her reaction. “You know her?”Elaina’s lips parted, but no words came out immediately. Her mind raced, her only surviving family was somewhere close.Aurora.The name echoed over and over again in her head. Her mother… she wasn't dead after all, all those thoughts that had haunted her on the dreadful possibility that she was chasing shadows… it was not true.Her chest tightened, emotions crashing into her all at once.“She’s… my mother.” The words came out barely above a whisper but they carried all the raw emotions she felt; shock, hope and fear….Drake turned to her instantly, his eyes widening slightly. He had been too caught up with worrying about Vaerik that he hadn't connected the dots faster. To think it was Elaina's mother who had stepped in to protect his people, the world really was a small place.“Elaina…” he called out in a bid to comfort her.But she wasn’t looking at him
When the raw emotions finally stabilized, Drake swiftly introduced Elaina. “This is Elaina, my mate,” he had said.Ryker's eyes widened in surprise and he bowed respectfully at her, “Welcome home, my queen” he greeted.Elaina wanted to stop him and tell him they were not quite there yet but she stopped after seeing the look of deep happiness and gratitude. It was like he was saying with his eyes, “Thank you for staying with my king”So she nodded instead and replied, “Thank you too for still believing in him”They exchanged a few more pleasantries before they decided to settle more comfortably. Ryker sat across from them, his posture straight and exuding joy. He was trying to act composed but his gaze drifted to Drake every now and then as though he still couldn’t fully believe he was real.Drake, on the other hand, looked a little different. He was just as happy but the weight of what came next weighed on him. It was as though the weight he had tried to ignore had finally caught up
The resting cave was bigger than Elaina expected. Drake said they had created them so people could rest for the night if they were too exhausted to return to the kingdom. It was located deep into the side of the cliffs, hidden from plain sight. And its entrance was covered by overgrown vines. From the outside it looked like just another crack in the mountain. But inside… it was something else entirely. Drake had said nothing when he brought her there. Just a simple, “We’ll stay here for now.” And that was it. Two days had passed since then and nothing changed. Drake would step out in the morning and return with some game and fruits, they would eat and he would take her out to see other parts of the temple while explaining the history tied to it. Elaina of course loved learning about ancient histories, it amazed her every time… but deep she knew what was missing. Elaina sat near the edge of the cave, her knees drawn slightly inward as she stared out at the endless stretch of sky b
The journey began without certainty. There was no clear plan and no assurance of victory. It was just a quiet understanding between them that staying one place meant their chances of winning were reducing with time. Elaina sat beside Drake in silence as the wagon rolled forward, they had stepped out of the forest and managed to rent one by selling the jewelry they had on them. Charlotte's name lingered in Elaina’s thoughts like a shadow that refused to leave. She had control now and it was not just of the kingdom, but of her too and she hated that. Elaina’s fingers unconsciously turned into fists against her lap, the memory of those visions of death was still too fresh to ignore. Drake noticed her fluctuating emotions through the bond and her body language. Her shoulders were tensed, fists had turned white and a distant look in her eyes. He was worried for her and his helplessness unsettled him. “She won’t touch you again, I will not let her” he said quietly as if it was more to
The resting cave was bigger than Elaina expected. Drake said they had created them so people could rest for the night if they were too exhausted to return to the kingdom.It was located deep into the side of the cliffs, hidden from plain sight. And its entrance was covered by overgrown vines. From the outside it looked like just another crack in the mountain.But inside… it was something else entirely.Drake had said nothing when he brought her there. Just a simple, “We’ll stay here for now.” And that was it.Two days had passed since then and nothing changed. Drake would step out in the morning and return with some game and fruits, they would eat and he would take her out to see other parts of the temple while explaining the history tied to it. Elaina of course loved learning about ancient histories, it amazed her every time… but deep she knew what was missing.Elaina sat near the edge of the cave, her knees drawn slightly inward as she stared out at the endless stretch of sky beyond
While all these were happening in Elaina's mind, only 30 seconds had passed in real time. Drake felt something was off even before he understood it. Since he could feel her emotions through the bond, he found it strange that the anxiousness she felt before had suddenly stopped. He felt her emotions had gone completely calm and it was not because she had become fearless because he would have still felt some fluctuations.Someone was wrong and so he narrowed to look at her keenly. Elaina had gone still, her body was upright and in a position to fight, but her eyes were unfocused and it looked like she was struggling to her breath. While Charlotte was standing a few distance away with that quiet, knowing smile on her face.Dread filled his stomach and his senses were tingling. Something was happening and he could not see it.“Elaina,” he called in a firm voice.But second ticked by and there was no response. He looked down at her hand and noticed it was trembling, then he glanced at C
Elaina and the others had reached Havenwood at dawn.A day and a half of relentless travel had carved exhaustion into everyone’s face. But they couldn't afford to waste any more time so they gathered the warriors that had been waiting for their return and began their journey to the capital.They to
The others had not yet recovered from the first shock when Elaina cleared her throat. She had to think calmly and approach the matter as hand professionally.Her patience had limits and the same applied to her mercy too. The cloaked woman who had dared to call herself the heir was waiting calmly f
The storm thickened with every passing second.Lightning spiraled downward but never struck the ground, it fed the staff instead. The air felt charged, heavy and impossible to breathe without tasting metal.Elaina felt it clearly now. The energy Xavier was drawing into the staff, it was not foreign
The visions did not stop when Elaina tore Charlotte’s hand away, instead they deepened.Her body remained standing in that same position but her mind was no longer hers.She felt like she was sinking, like she was falling backward into moments she had lived but never truly seen.The first image cle







