Chapter 90: what next?
Raphael’s POV
It has been two months since the war with the Netherlands Kingdom.
Two months of blood, conquest, and relentless hunger.
I did what needed to be done. I marched into their lands, city by city, town by town, forcing them to surrender.
Those who knelt before me were allowed to live, along with those they loved. But those who refused? They had a choice; death or servitude.
Many fell to their knees, swearing fealty, willing to do anything to survive. And I let them. But not because of mercy. No. Because mercy no longer seems to exist within me.
The scent of blood, the cries of the defeated, the stench of rotting corpses… It was intoxicating. Grey fed on it. He wanted more.
More blood. More war. More destruction.
I tried to fight him. I tried to pull back, just as Allora had warned.
So, I returned with Anastasia. Her clan was the only one capable of repairing my broken mana core, pouring their purest mana into me, stabilizing what was left of my sanity.
And just in time. Because the next war had already begun.
The Kingdom of Mesomerica. They had joined the Netherlands kingdom to war against me. It is how they quickly forget what I am capable of.
I had pursued their soldiers and even went into their kingdom. I should have stopped there, but no. Grey never shows mercy. So I entered their kingdom, almost erasing it to the ground.
Mesomerica king fled like a coward, abandoning his people, leaving them to burn in his place. But it didn’t matter. I subdued them. I broke them.
Now, it is over.
Now, I can finally return home.
To her. To Ava, my beloved. She kept me sane on days Grey wanted us to go on a rampage. Especially, since I left the kingdom in the hands of Caleb to run.
I don’t know if she is awake. I don’t know if she is alive. But I know this; I need her. And I cannot wait to see her again.
I was still lost in my thoughts when Anastasia’s voice pulled me out, her voice urgent and desperate.
“M-my King, I have a request to ask of you.” she said, a little too quickly.
I turned my head to look at her. Truly observe her. She had dramatically lost weight. I wonder what's wrong. Could it be Gwen? I glanced through her mind.
‘ Will the king listen to me?’
‘ I hope he does.’
Anastasia had been ruthless in this war, more brutal than my generals, colder than the warlocks, more fearless than the centurions. She was terrifying.
Yet now, she trembled.
I narrowed my eyes. What could make a woman like her afraid?
“Yes? What is it?” My voice was even, but my patience was thin.
She hesitated, her fists clenching at her sides. Then, with a shaky breath, she spoke.
“It’s… it’s Gwen.”
Something in my chest tensed. I have actually not seen her in a long while.
“I have not seen Gwendolyn Saraif for the past three months, before we embarked on this war,” she said, her voice lower now, tight with barely restrained emotion. A single tear slid down her cheek, but she did not wipe it away.
“I have searched everywhere. I have searched the land. I have searched the sea, if I had to. But she is nowhere. If it is okay with you, my King… I ask for your permission to take some of your troops and raid the Witch Clan. I believe they have something to do with this.”
I stared at her. Then I laughed. A short, mirthless sound. She flinched. I leaned back slightly, exhaling through my nose.
This was perfect.
I had been looking for a reason to finally rid the witches of their cursed existence. And now, they have given me an opportunity.
“Done.”
She stiffened. “My King…”
“You don’t need to finish,” I interrupted, waving a dismissive hand. “Take whatever you need. Do whatever you wish. If they are guilty, burn them. If they resist, kill them, only the guilty ones.” I added the last bit.
Anastasia hesitated for only a moment before bowing her head.
“Thank you, my King.”
I said nothing as she left my tent, her presence vanishing into the night.
The moment she was gone, I closed my eyes. And I see her, Ava. The one my heart longed for. She will be waiting for me.
“Caleb,” I called through the mind-link.
“ Yes, my king,” he responded some seconds later.
“ How is my mate? Is she recoverin” I couldn't hide the excitement in my voice.
“ Yes, Raphael. She is.” Caleb replied sarcastically. Caleb had informed me, a month ago, that Ava was responding to the princess treatment.
My happiness couldn't be contained so everyday, I made it a duty to mind-link Caleb every night to check on her well-being.
“ Come home, Raphael. She is waiting for you,”Caleb said and then the mind-link abruptly.
The next morning, my troops and I set to leave. The wind howled through the camp, sweeping against my face, but it did nothing to soothe me.
All I could think about was her. The joy on her face. I envisioned everything.
Her hair. Her blue eyes. Her snow-white skin, skin that should have been untouched, perfect, not marred by the black veins that were killing her.
I had been gone for too long. And now, nothing else mattered. I was going home.
I could finally see her again.
‘ What if she couldn't heal her?’ Grey's voice whispered in my mind.
He sounded scared. ‘She has pure holy powers. So of course, she can,’ I shot back.
‘ I am just saying. What if she couldn't? What next?,' he asked quietly. I could feel his fear even though he tried masking it.
'Don't forget your promise, vessel. If she dies, the world and everyone in it goes down with her.’ Grey was reminding me of my words. It was a warning. And he doesn't just make threats.
Ever since that day, we heard from Caleb about her recovery, Grey had been at his best. Excited just as I am to finally see our mate.
So why? Why is he sounding this way now?
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