All Chapters of THE DEVIL'S JEWEL: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Malakar looked at Eryndra for a long moment before he started laughing - not the cruel chuckle he'd been using all evening, but genuine laughter that filled the room with its rich, dark sound."I must confess, my queen, you'll be one of the most entertaining wives I've had among all the others," he said, wiping at the corner of his eye as if her defiance had actually brought him to tears of amusement.His expression shifted back to something more serious, though the smile never quite left his lips. "But wait until I show you that no normal human being is truly capable of staying beside me for very long. They all break eventually, in one way or another."Eryndra smiled back at him, though hers was sharper, more dangerous. "If a normal human can't stay beside you, then why don't I become a lunatic just like you?" she said, her voice steady and challenging.The words hung in the air between them like a promise and a threat rolled into one.Malakar nodded slowly, as if approving of her an

Eryndra nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful as she absorbed Seraphina's words. "You're absolutely right about that," she said, her voice calm and measured."But there's a huge difference between us that you seem to be overlooking," she continued, studying the concubine's face carefully. "I have the power and the official position, while you only have his supposed affection. Don't forget that small but important detail."She paused, letting the implications sink in before delivering her next blow. "I have what you couldn't obtain, despite all your efforts and all your time spent in his bed."Seraphina's eyes flashed with anger, but Eryndra wasn't finished yet."You know, if I really put my mind to it, I might even go after his heart as well," Eryndra said with calculated casualness, as if she were discussing the weather. "Looking at his majesty, he doesn't strike me as someone who would have deep feelings for just anyone who shares his bed."She tilted her head slightly, her voice

The afternoon light filtered through the tall windows of Eryndra's chambers, casting long shadows across the ornate marble floor. The silence in the room was thick, heavy with unspoken tension that seemed to wrap around them like a suffocating veil. Eryndra's heart hammered against her ribcage as she processed what she had just requested, the weight of her words settling like stones in her stomach.Eryndra looked away from him, unable to meet those piercing dark eyes that seemed to see straight through to her soul. Her fingers trembled slightly as they gripped the edge of her vanity table, knuckles white with the force of her hold. The mirror before her reflected her pale complexion, her usually composed features now etched with uncertainty and something that looked dangerously close to regret.You can't deliver the head to me, she said, her voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking louder might make the reality of her request more tangible, more real.The words had barely left her

The heavy oak doors to the throne room groaned open, their sound echoing through the vast chamber. Lord Commander Theron Blackwater stepped inside, his polished boots clicking against the marble floor with military precision. His weathered face bore the stoic expression of a man who had served the crown for decades, though today there was something different in his eyes. A flicker of concern, perhaps, or maybe just the weight of unspoken knowledge."Your Majesty," he said, his voice cutting through the silence as he approached the throne. "The horse is ready."The words hung in the air like a challenge. Malakar's grip on Eryndra's wrist loosened, and she felt the blood rush back to her fingers as she stepped backward. The sudden release made her stumble slightly, but she caught herself, her training as a princess kicking in even in her confusion. She turned to look at the Lord Commander, taking in his stern features and the way his hand rested casually on the pommel of his sword.Ther

Without waiting for another second, Malakar caught the arrow that had been aimed at Eryndra with his bare hand, the shaft trembling for just a moment before going completely still in his grip. His reflexes were impossibly fast, almost supernatural in their precision. Then, with a fluid motion that looked almost effortless, like he'd done this countless times before, he threw the arrow back toward the exact same place it had come from.The arrow cut through the air with a whistling sound, spinning end over end as it flew back into the dense woods. It went directly toward its target and struck the arm of the person who was already preparing to shoot again. A sharp, agonized cry of pain echoed through the trees, bouncing off the trunks and creating an eerie chorus that seemed to come from everywhere at once. This was followed immediately by the sound of someone crashing through branches and underbrush, clearly trying to escape despite their injury.Malakar moved with the speed and silenc