A Dance Of Twilight: (A Fae Dark Fantasy Romance Stand-Alone )

Chapter 65

We cleared an endless amount of land along with Genu’s army. Her horses ran at a speed I’d never seen or felt before. The mare beneath me didn’t falter or stop, even as we crossed dangerous terrain filled with rockslides, empty pits of sand and dead trees. I never knew this part of the Obsidian Kingdom existed. I assumed the same lushness of greenery was around it all.

Perhaps this was a type of protection, keeping our enemies out or maybe an illusion of Morgana’s. I’d only ever seen the beautiful landscapes of green mountains and picturesque scenery.

“When we arrive, your highness, you must direct us to the location of the portal.”

Empress Genu ordered as we finally began passing smaller villages. Many folk stopped what they were doing to see the mighty army that marched through their cobblestoned streets. Pointing, waving, and cheering as we rushed by.

Empress Genu ordered some of her garrison to stay behind to protect the outer villages as she wasn’t sure how many soldiers Dorian brought with him or how many of our people were on his side.

“Have you heard anything from Nicholas?” I asked as we slowed down our pace for a few minutes.

“My riders met his soldiers and his second in command told them that Nicholas and his sisters left to find you.”

“How long ago was that?”

“If I’m assuming correctly, they are behind us, but travelling a different route.”

“Surely we would have crossed paths with them?”

It seemed strange why we were taking a different route to that of Nicholas and his sisters. Perhaps it was too risky for Genu and her soldiers to take, and this was the easiest one. I knew, as soon as Nicholas and I found each other again, I would stay within his arms until the end of time. This hole in my chest could only be fixed by him and I’d never let go again.

“Do you know what the portal opens?” I asked as we crossed the gate out of the village.

Just one more hour and we’d be at the castle. Genu lowered her eyes from mine and looked straight ahead. She was hiding something.

It made sense though, I was a stranger to her, and my family may have now started war on the entire world. I didn”t blame her for not trusting me. I wasn’t sure if I would had this been the other way around.

“The portal doesn’t just hold creatures or monsters that the Goddess locked away. It is said, a seed of her power lives within the doorway. If one can take the seed, they will be given the same powers of the Goddess. Thus they would become unstoppable and unkillable.”

My eyes widened at the knowledge. Norok mentioned something about power, but never to that extent. Not even Nicholas said anything about it. Why would anything like that even be real? Surely the Goddess didn’t mean to create something so powerful. Maybe it was just a myth? A folk tale.

“Why does Nicholas have to guard it?”

“The entire Obsidian line has guarded the portal since the Goddess asked them. It”s why their bloodline is blessed with such great mystical gifts. They use those gifts to protect and serve. But if the seed is taken, they will be at the mercy of the seed taker. They will then lose those gifts and maybe even their lives.”

A lump in my throat formed as the faces of my new family flashed in my mind. Dorian would not take this family from me. He’d already taken too much from me. He was responsible for killing my father, corrupting my brother, and the abuse I suffered. He was certainly not going to win this fight. Even if it killed me.

“Then we must help protect our loved ones and destroy Dorian before he gets his hands on the seed,” I said, my voice strong with the belief we would succeed. There was no other option.

Genu let out a sinister laugh as her horse, Whip, ran through the air. Tapping lightly on the backend of her horse, she started to pick up speed as did the rest of her riders, myself, Marcus, and Karim included.

“We best hurry then,” she shouted back as she disappeared into the distance.

There was a moment of relief when the castle appeared on the horizon. The feeling that everything was going to work out washed over me. This would all end soon. Nicholas and I would be able to begin our life together. We could let the past go and move forward into the future holding each other’s hands.

A part of me longed to say those words. Those three words that people said to each other when opening their hearts to one another. But then, would those three words be enough? Surely I would need to say something grander, more daring.

Riding through the threshold of the main gates, no one stopped us, the entire castle grounds empty, eerily quiet and my heart stopped. Both Genu and Marcus looked at each other with worry in their eyes, and then towards me, as if I knew the answer.

Dismounting my horse, to the protest of Genu, I rushed through the main courtyard and towards the front doors of the castle. Which would take me to the foyer, through the grand open space that connected to the stairs, and towards many different hallways until finally my feet found the throne room.

Genu, Marcus, Karim, and many of Genu’s soldiers followed behind quickly, each with their swords posed and ready. There, sitting on top of Nicholas’s throne was Dorian, with Nora beside him in my throne. At their feet, bound and gagged was Nicholas and his sisters.

Panya stood beside them, her hands up as a dark grey light oozed from them, she was holding them in place. Karim was the first to step forward, confusion spread across his face while Marcus placed a hand on his forearm, pulling him back.

“Sister? What is this?” Karim asked, broken.

“I am so glad you finally decided to join us, Ornella. Oh, and you’ve brought more of our esteemed guests. Welcome!” Nora exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

I didn’t need another betrayal. I waited for the shoe to drop with Genu admitting she’d played me. Instead, all she did was laugh, swing her sword in the air and stepped forward, standing beside me proudly.

“I believe you’re in my seat,” I spoke, growing in confidence by having the empress beside me.

I couldn’t make a fancy move with my own sword, but I felt powerful just by wearing the armour of Nadrolan. The crest of Obsidian, a raven in flight with the moon cycle above it, was etched at the last minute before we rode here.

Dorian laughed that disgusting, pompous laugh as he clicked his fingers. Panya pushed forward with her magic, making the three sisters scream out in pain, whereas Nicholas stayed silent.

“When you didn’t come for Panya, I had to take matters into my own hands. She was given a choice, die at the hands of me and my soldiers, or do as I command, and she will be spared.”

In the time we had spoken, Karim and Panya set eyes on each other and were possibly already communicating between themselves. It was unknown if anyone else in the room knew of this form of contact, but then it dawned on me as I looked at Nicholas. He too wasn’t looking at anyone, but Panya.

He could hear her.

They were talking.

I hoped that meant this was again all for show, and Panya was on our side.

“My sister would never help scum like you!” Karim shouted.

We all seemed to be in a stand-off with each other, no one seemed to want to make the first move. How did Nicholas and the others get here before us? Genu said, they were a day behind us. Unless they travelled by magic, hoping to catch us before Dorian arrived.

“What do you want, Dorian?” I asked, stepping forward, lowering my sword.

“Isn’t it obvious? I want what was promised to me.”

“I will never be your wife,” I snarled.

“Ah, but you will. You will also gift me the power I deserve. The power of the Goddess.”

I wanted to throw up as my fear and anxiousness tried to take over. The very thought of being his wife, or anything to him made me want to tear out my own heart. I’d rather die.

I was Nicholas’s wife. Only his.

Genu looked at me from the corner of her eyes then back to her cousins as the sisters admitted another scream of agony. I truly hoped it was all for show. Within seconds, Dorian clicked his fingers again and Panya turned her attention towards me. A ball of light shot out from one of her hands and hit me square in the chest.

Lifting me up into the air, my body was wrapped tightly. My arms were bound tightly to my sides, my sword dropped from my hand. In protest, Genu and the others raced forward, but were stopped by an invisible wall. Squirming and kicking against my bounds, I shouted in frustration, trying to escape my new bounds, but it was no good.

Dropping in front of Nora, she laughed diabolically and yanked me up by my collar. Pressing a dagger firmly against my throat, she drew blood in an instant. It was only then I heard Nicholas’s muffled shout as I glanced towards him.

Fighting against the magics that kept him under control, he managed to stand. Determined, angry and struggling, Nic managed to push through the barrier. Dorian barked more orders at Panya to increase her spell. Concentrating she pushed at Nicholas, managing to pull him backwards as they stared at one another.

His eyes darted towards me as I tried not to scream or show the pain I was in. We would get out of this. I knew we would. We had to.

“I will do it!” Nicholas shouted, “I will open it!”

“No, Nic!” I shouted back, knowing what he meant.

A laugh from Dorian echoed through the hall as he clapped his hands in excitement. He had won this non-existent battle. Nicholas just handed over the keys to his kingdom to protect me. I couldn’t allow that to happen.

“Take me instead. I am meaningless. Nicholas is powerful! If Panya can control him—so—so can you!”

I was thinking on my feet, saying the first thing that came to mind. I needed to buy time. I needed to keep Nicholas safe. Dorian could not use him for his blood or whatever he wanted him for. Nicholas would be the only one who could close the portal. He was far more important than I.

“Can you do that?” Dorian asked in a frantic voice.

Panya looked from me, her brother and then to Dorian, possibly wondering the same thing.

“WELL CAN YOU?” he barked at her.

“Yes. My lord if that is what you wish.”

I’d seen Dorian mad with rage before at many previous dinner parties. It didn”t take much. If he didn’t get his way, or if a lady didn’t wish to speak or dance with him. But the look on his face chilled me to my bones. It was the look of a mad man that danced in his eyes. It was as if all his wildest dreams had come true.

“You can have me, Uncle, if you do not harm Nicholas,” I promised him.

Nicholas’s eyes looked at me again, pleading with me not to do this. Not to do any of it. He was willing to sacrifice himself for me—for his kingdom—but it would achieve nothing. It would only give Dorian more control and power. I was laying out my cards, hoping no one would call my bluff. I prayed Panya knew what I was doing and would play along, like she’d done once before.

“Fine. But we do this now!” he commanded.

Nicholas was pulled from the surrounding magic bubble by two large guards, with Panya at his heels. Dorian gripped the back of my neck and pushed me forward. I was to lead them to the portal while Nora kept an eye on Genu and the others.

“Don’t worry, the wall will come down as soon as I am out of range and Lady Nora will get what’s coming to her.”

Panya side eyed me as a half-smile played against her lips. She was still on our side. I tried not to show my relief, keeping my eyes to the floor.

“I sure hope you know what you are doing, princess.”