Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
N ovi sat in the royal family's private seating area, watching as Fallon approached Annika with a synchrony that seemed both choreographed and unpredictable. The amphitheater buzzed with anticipation, the air thick with the scent of incense and the sea salt carried by the breeze from Sinarya's harbor.
She, along with nearly a hundred thousand other souls, watched as Fallon pulled the short redhead into an intimate embrace. His lips met Annika’s in a kiss that was anything but innocent.
The crowd burst into cheers of approval.
Good , thought Novi. They believe it’s real.
She hummed in approval, expecting Fallon to politely kiss the back of Annika’s hand, then return to his empty seat to her left.
But Fallon wasn’t letting go of his new bard.
Magic crackled in the air while elemental forces swirled around the entwined figures on stage. Annika arched into Fallon, their bodies moving together as if possessed by primal desire. Novi's breath caught in her throat as she watched him devour the singer’s mouth. Their kiss was urgent and hungry, his hands tangling in her fiery hair.
With a sudden, almost violent motion, he pulled her flush against his unyielding body. Annika’s fingers were practically clawing at Fallon's shoulders as they continued to kiss. To the untrained eye, it looked like passion, raw and unfiltered. The crowd erupted in cheers, their minds leaping to the most scandalous conclusion.
"Claim her, Prince Fallon!" someone yelled nearby.
“Yes! Take her!” shouted another voice. Within seconds, chants of “Fallon the Stallion” were being shouted in unison all throughout the amphitheater.
Novi's breath hitched, her vision narrowing until only the two figures on stage remained. She had advised Fallon to kiss Annika, to protect her from Tristan's lecherous advances, but this ? This was beyond what she could fathom.
What is he doing?
To her right, Tristan laughed contemptuously.
“Looks like he’s forgotten that you even exist. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Shut up, Tristan!” Novi hissed. Her words were swallowed by the deafening cheers of the audience around her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she clutched the armrests at her sides. It seemed like the only way to fight the urge to rush the stage and stop this spectacle.
This had to be an act…a show for the audience. Fallon loved her , not Annika. She repeated it like a desperate prayer.
Novi watched in shock and disbelief as fiery magic engulfed them both. Flames licked over Fallon's skin and his eyes glowed as bright yellow as Kai’s—and all the other chimeras locked in the temple. The fire grew while flames danced higher, burning hotter. Even from where she sat, Novi felt its heat on her face like it was right in front of her.
Then Fallon burst into flames, becoming a living inferno. The crowd went absolutely wild, rising to their feet and surging forward. Nobody had seen a demonborn catch fire in over a thousand years, and now their beloved Prince Fallon had been anointed by the gods right in front of them. He was a veritable bonfire of magic engulfed in flames. Thousands of hands outstretched to receive the blessing of their Sacred Son of Sinaryos.
Their frenzied energy crashed over Novi like a tidal wave and she shrank back in her seat, her heart racing, her mind reeling. The view of the stage was completely blocked. All she could see were tens of thousands of dark elves screaming, clapping, and urging their prince to do what fire did best.
To take without mercy.
To ravage.
To mark his territory with both fire and ash.
His people couldn’t get enough of it.
While the public reaction was more than she could’ve hoped for, Novi was too confused and unnerved to celebrate alongside them. She didn’t know if she was trembling from fear, pain, or from the stomping in the stands that was now rattling her bones and her teeth.
Ten minutes ago she’d been all in favor of convincing people that Fallon had taken Annika for a lover to make Tristan leave the poor woman alone. Ten minutes ago she’d had no problem with coaching Fallon to flirt with the beautiful redhead at dinner…to pretend to take her to bed…to laugh at the footmen and the courtiers who were calling her “Fallon’s Filly.”
Ten minutes ago it was cute.
It wasn’t cute anymore.
Although she wasn’t technically human, Novi still felt just as small and insignificant as one. Humans were near the bottom of the unofficial caste system of Ellunian society. They were good for raising crops of wheat, barley, and demonborn babies, but they would never be held in the same high regard as the N?kki.
In that moment, even though she’d been blessed by Daiyana to live out a demonborn life, she knew she would never truly be one of them. She’d been born into this society, but she didn’t belong to it. She’d been reborn by the mother of all dark elves, and she still didn’t belong.
She was simply lucky enough to be a demonborn’s pet. They had lost more knowledge, history, and power than she could ever dream of gaining. She chastised herself for thinking that Fallon had ever seen her as his equal.
As a partner.
She was neither of those things.
Not when he could be set on fire by a kiss.
Pulling herself up to stand, Novi watched Annika desperately try to break free from Fallon…only to be pursued and engulfed by his fire once more. She pushed him away, and still he came back.
The raging Stallion couldn’t stop himself.
Novi thought back to the carriage ride when she’d made fun of him for revealing his loyalty…for not wanting to kiss Annika. She thought about how she’d pressured him to do it, claiming it was “just a kiss.”
Even Tristan seemed to be at a loss for words as all of Sinarya watched Fallon try again and again to go back for another kiss, another taste, only to be rejected. From the corner of her eye, Novi could see Tristan’s jaw had nearly fallen in his lap. Whether he was dumbfounded or boiling over with jealousy, the spoiled prince sitting beside her was unable to form a complete sentence.
“I can’t believe he just…he just…”
From the other side of Tristan, the Duke of Ordeya gave a hearty laugh. “He just what? Just burst info flames and fucked his new bard in front of all of Sinarya?”
Tristan nodded with a tight-lipped frown. “I didn’t think he had it in him.”
“Clearly The Stallion has plenty to go around,” chortled the duke. “Why, at the rate he’s going, he’ll sire an heir on his and Lady Jennae’s wedding night. Do you care to make a wager on it?”
Novi shot the duke a disgusted look that went unnoticed. How could he sit there and talk about his daughter Jennae like she was nothing but a broodmare? On the other side of the duke, the duchess simply smiled at the comment.
Of course she was smiling. She would be the grandmother of the future king or queen.
Despite the shocking event happening in front of them, Tristan’s arrogant facade inevitably returned.
“I won’t place any bets on my brother and Lady Jennae until they’re married next month.”
The duke nodded in agreement.
“That’s reasonable. What if I were to wager a thousand copper crowns that his red filly is pregnant by the year’s end?”
Tristan lifted a skeptical brow. “Only a thousand? Why such low stakes?”
“I’m paying for the grandest wedding in perhaps all the history of Sinaryos,” the duke argued. “It’s costing a fortune.”
“I’ve seen your estates. Make it ten thousand and we have a deal.”
“I don’t mean to insult you sire, but the best I can do is five.”
Tristan shook his head until the duke gave in. “Fine. Ten thousand.”
“Fools and their money…” Tristan murmured as he shook hands with the duke. Then he spoke louder to make sure that Novi could hear. “It took Fallon roughly two years to put a child in this one. I can’t imagine his new filly will be any easier to breed.”
The crudeness of their conversation made Novi’s stomach turn. All she wanted in that moment was to leave the amphitheater and be alone. She didn’t want Callie with her, and certainly not Fallon, who was now walking across the gravel in her direction. Wisps of steam rolled off his shoulders, then fell down his cloak before evaporating into the afternoon light.
Novi watched with partial numbness as he arrived at the stands and pushed through the surge of nobles who crowded around him. Dozens of eager hands reached out for a chance to lay their fingers on their Sacred Son of Sinaryos.
Step by step, he finally arrived at their private box and staggered into his seat beside her. His gaze was still fixed on the mysterious woman on stage. Annika’s fingers danced across her guitar strings until the noisy crowd was lulled into captivated calm by the haunting notes.
Then she began to sing.
Her voice was a siren's song that captivated everyone in the audience. Novi felt the power in it, ancient and alluring, tugging at her very soul.
Beside her, more steam rose from Fallon’s warm, damp clothes and wet black hair. His skin was flushed and gleaming with sweat that evaporated almost as soon as it appeared. His teeth were slightly bared, his jaw clenched as he panted heavily. She caught a glimpse of bright red blood at the corner of his mouth. Just as she was about to ask him why he was bleeding, his tongue darted out to lick it away with a deep growl of both satisfaction and longing.
Novi stared at her half-demon lover, equal parts horrified and entranced as he sucked in one deep breath after another in a desperate bid to regain his composure.
“Fallon…what have you done?" she whispered, her voice nearly lost in the din of the crowd.
He met her gaze, his black eyes wild and unfocused as he studied her with barely restrained lust. Heat emanated from his body while a deep golden glow filled his eyes, making him look just as demonic as the chimeras in the temple nearby.
Novi swallowed hard as he stared at her, huffing and catching his breath. She saw triumph in his eyes, and something else. Something that chilled her to the bone.
She’d seen wolves that were less feral.
He bent his head closer to her ear, his breath warm and soft against her cheek. “I’ll explain later,” he gasped, his voice hoarse, “it’s not what it looked like.”
Darting her eyes down to his lap, Novi took a quick inventory of his clothing. His belt was still buckled. His pants were still fastened shut. But the long, thick outline of his stiff cock was impossible to miss. Her eyes widened at the sight of it.
“Then how did that happen?” Novi asked, incredulous.
Fallon gracefully draped the edge of his cloak into his lap, hiding it from her prying eyes. Then he gripped her hand, his skin scorching hot against hers. "A side effect. I'm still a man, Novi."
"Obviously," she bit out.
Unfazed by her dismissive retort, Fallon’s wild gaze wandered over every curve and swell of her body. The glow in his eyes brightened at the sight of her round belly. Still holding her hand, he pulled it into his cloak and pressed her palm against his erection.
“The second we get home, this is all yours. I’d take you here and now, but I don’t want anyone to see what I’m going to do to you.”
Novi’s jaw fell at his unhinged demeanor.
“Why now? You haven’t wanted me for months !”
Fallon tried and failed to bite back a seductive grin. “Such lies you speak. I’ve wanted you every minute of every fucking day. I’ve been a fool to put you off for so long.”
“There’s no doubt about that.” Novi pulled her hand out of Fallon’s and forced her mouth into a stern frown. “I’m not letting you near me until we talk about what just happened.”
“What’s there to talk about?” Tristan leaned in, sneering at Novi with disgust. “You’re a concubine. You’re barely ranked above a common whore. You have no say in who me or my brother wants to fuck.”
He shot Fallon a cruel smirk. “You might be fucking your new bard, but we all know I was the first one to make her come.”
He looked out to the stage and waited until he caught Annika’s gaze, then licked his fingers in an obscene gesture.
She stared right back at him, then made a fist and flicked her thumb off her front teeth. When she went back to singing, Novi was shocked to hear the new improvised lyrics.
“Sedem demona okolo teb
Sedem demona v doma ti!
Seven devils all around you
Seven devils in your house!”
Gasps and murmurs exploded all around Novi, whispers caught in the wind that picked up as tens of thousands of heads swiveled in Prince Tristan’s direction.
“Did she really just say that to you, Your Highness?” asked the Duke of Ordeya.
“That fucking cunt…” Tristan hissed. Although he was trying to sound outraged, his face was pale at being cursed in public. “She’ll lose her hand for that!”
“You will leave her alone,” Fallon warned, but before he could argue further with his brother, he was distracted by the sudden appearance of dark clouds that blocked out the blue sky. Lightning streaked through the dim light while fiery sparks of magic swirled around Annika like a tempest. The power emanating from her was palpable. The ground was beginning to tremble.
"Fallon... what’s happening?” Novi whispered, gripping his hand tightly as they watched the growing storm above Annika.
"Something far beyond our control," he replied, his voice heavy with dread. The amphitheater was abuzz with fearful whispers and hurried shuffling as the audience began to disperse, their faces a mix of awe and terror.
"I need you to go back to the castle immediately," he ordered, his voice strained as he motioned to a nearby pair of redcloaks. “Take two of the guards and go with the Duchess of Ordeya and her ladies. It's not safe here."
Novi bit her lip, torn between wanting to stay by Fallon's side and seeking safety for herself and their unborn child. She glanced at the stage, where Annika continued to play, to sing, and to command the vortex of raw magic she'd unleashed. Whatever was going on, Fallon knew more than he was letting on.
As lightning tore through the sky and hit the Temple of the Chimera, the Duchess of Ordeya stood up and offered her arm. “We must go now, Novi. Before the streets become too crowded to leave.”
“Alright,” she agreed reluctantly. She gave Fallon a worried look. “Just promise me you'll be careful."
"I will," he assured her. He pressed a swift kiss to her forehead before rushing out of the private seating area and barking orders to his soldiers.
Within seconds, Novi was ushered away into the secret passages located in the bowels of the amphitheater. She followed the redcloaks, the Duchess, and her ladies through hidden rooms and doors until they arrived at the private carriage house reserved for nobles. Above them, pandemonium erupted. Tens of thousand of feet were stomping through the stands, all trying to leave at the same time.
Down in the carriage house, there was no time spent on formality or manners. The women were practically stuffed into the coach before the guards sent them off.
Galloping hoofbeats clattered hard against the cobblestones as the carriage driver headed straight for Blackwood Castle. Ignoring the ladies around her, Novi stared out the window just in time to catch one last glimpse of The Temple of the Chimera.
Her timing couldn’t have been better.
Its once-solid walls were cracking under the force of lightning and unchecked magic that only the gods could control. The giant tomb that once imprisoned her—and still imprisoned Kai and the other chimeras—started to crumble.
Then the massive dome exploded outward, blinding Novi as beams of brilliant orange and gold light shot out in all directions. To her utter shock, huge monstrous forms began crawling out, their wings spreading wide as they took to the sky, roaring with newfound freedom.
Tears blurred her vision as her carriage raced through the streets and rounded a corner at a fast clip. The jostling and nervous chatter amongst her companions faded into the background as Novi became lost in her thoughts. The echo of Annika's haunting melody was still ringing in her ears. The sacred ancient temple was crumbling to dust. The world she knew was falling apart, and yet, she couldn’t help but be happy about it.
The chimeras were free.
Back in the amphitheater, screams filled the air as the temple walls collapsed and the roof exploded in a blinding burst of light. Stones as big as oxen and as small as berries fell like rain, smashing into the emptying seats below and sending up clouds of dust.
The crowd scrambled to get out of the way, trampling each other in their haste to push through the multiple exits and stairways. Fallon pulled an older man to his feet just in time to miss being hit by a boulder the size of a large chest.
“Help him to safety!” Fallon shouted at two terrified men, who nodded and helped the older man down the stairs.
Swirls of smoke from the burning timbers drifted up, up, and into the sky. Small fragments of stone pinged off the medals pinned to Fallon’s chest and fell to the ground. Suddenly a prehistoric screech pierced his eardrums before thundering through his chest. It was immediately followed by a second, deeper one. Then a third.
Fallon looked up to see the distinct shape of chimeras crawling from the rubble of the temple. Their eyes glowed bright yellow at their sudden freedom. Enormous black wings spread out and flapped as if to test the limits of their new environment.
Most of the creatures were crawling up the amphitheater walls and fluttering from one building rooftop to another like fledgling birds. A few of them loped halfheartedly towards people, unsure if they were toys or prey. Most of them became distracted by the fire fountains, or joined their companions, who were perched on the amphitheater walls.
But a couple of the biggest and oldest chimeras were stalking a group of women in plain grey robes.
Fallon ran through the arena, his sword clutched tightly in his hand. Smoke and flames billowed from buildings as panicked citizens continued to flee in all directions, screaming at the top of their lungs.
Chimeras were still climbing up the amphitheater and other nearby buildings, while others took to the sky, occasionally swooping down like birds of prey chasing after mice. They might’ve been well-fed demonic beasts, but that didn’t stop the two largest ones from descending on the nuns. The worked like a team of herding dogs, pushing and prodding until they’d separated the Prioress from the rest of her group.
They were allowed to escape, but Fallon could almost hear the collective thoughts of the demons?—
This one must die.
He watched in horror as a third chimera joined the other two, surrounding the Prioress from every angle. Compared to the size of the three giant creatures, Fallon’s sword looked like a sewing needle. There was nothing he could do to stop what was about to happen.
One set of talons swiped out near the ground, ripping away the Prioress’s plain grey robes and leaving her naked. Another swipe, and a red gash ran the length of her leg, leaving the skin and muscles flayed from her hip down to her ankle. The smallest chimera of the three pushed forward and sank its teeth into the fleshy calf, ripping it away and leaving a leg bone exposed below the knee. The largest chimera bit into her upper arm and shook violently until her limb was separated from her body.
If the Prioress was screaming, Fallon didn’t hear it over the roars of the chimeras and the cries of the few people still trying to escape. He’d only experienced battle on the high seas, and this was nothing like firing cannons at enemy ships. Out on the ocean, there were always tactics and strategies that one would use in battle. But here in the arena, there was no ship to move into position, no cannon to prepare, no crew to command.
A chimera took orders from no one.
Not even a Sacred Son of Sinaryos.
Fallon pivoted and took an inventory of the amphitheater. The seats were empty. Judging by the shouts beyond the building’s walls, the crowds had fled into every building with a door or windows at street level.
His eyes flicked over to the Prioress, finding nothing left but a heap of shredded organs and a bloody stain that was being trampled and scratched into oblivion. It was as if the chimeras hated the woman…truly despised her.
Maybe Novi would have some answers. He had to get back to her.
Now.
He gritted his teeth and headed for the main gate, taking care not to run and attract the attention of any other chimeras. He left the amphitheater and hurried down the cobblestone streets littered with debris from the destroyed buildings and broken windows. Meanwhile, Fallon had a thousand thoughts running through his mind all at once. Among them,
Is Novi alright?
How many Sinaryans are dead?
Where are the chimeras headed?
And lastly…
What have I just done?