Fairydale: A Dark Gothic Fantasy Romance

Carefully wiping the leaves of the flower, I pause to marvel at its beauty.

The illustrations in my books had not done it justice. Though the scent is extremely light, the color is absolutely stunning and complements the rest of the row perfectly.

Not for the first time in the days that have passed since Amon had brought it to me, I wonder if he’s going to come again.

He’d said he would, but we’d parted on rather sour terms.

Yet in the time since, I’ve given his words more thought, and have decided that he…could be right.

At the end of the day, despite our mother-daughter relationship—which is more by virtue of our biological relation than anything—I do not know her.

The few days we meet yearly have not allowed me to know more than the surface level she wants to present to the world.

As such, I cannot defend her based on her character when I do not know it.

Immersed in my activity, I barely realize there’s someone else in the garden with me.

Turning, I spot him immediately—there’s not one hint of shock at seeing him again, though there is plenty of longing.

For all this time, he’s been haunting my dreams and every waking moment.

And as I gaze into his eyes again, my pulse quickly picks up.

Come to me…

‘You’ve been taking care of them,’ he murmurs, watching me intently.

‘A gift should always be treasured,’ I reply.

My body immediately reacts at his nearness. There is something impossibly irresistible about him, yet I could not say what. I only know that when he is near, I seem to give in to my baser instincts, craving touch so ardently for the first time in my life.

‘What are you doing here, Amon?’ I inquire softly, my eyes taking him in.

He’s dressed in formal clothes, black silk and leather mixed in a lethal combination. All tied together with bones—what little must have been left of his greatest adversaries.

He looks absolutely dashing, and I cannot seem to tear my eyes from him. There’s a quiet pride shining in the tilt of his chin, a deadly aura surrounding him as he walks with such casual leisure, as if he could end the entire world if he wished to.

‘I’m here for you, lovely Sela,’ he murmurs softly.

I give him a light nod as I invite him to take a seat on the bench.

‘I’m afraid I can only offer you water.’

‘I don’t require anything from you but your company,’ he smiles, taking my hand in his.

The effect is instantaneous as my skin tingles from where it touches his.

The corners of my mouth tip up as I cannot help the giddiness that mounts inside of me.

‘You like when I touch you, do you not, Sela mina?’

My lashes flutter at his question and a blush colors my cheeks.

Slowly, I tip my head in a tentative nod.

I also like it when he calls me his.

‘I like it too. Immensely,’ he whispers as he brings my hand to his mouth, skimming his lips over my knuckles and kissing each in turn.

‘Why are you so interested in me, Amon? Tell me the truth, please. Are you trying to use me as some political pawn because of my mother?’ I ask him as I bring my gaze to his.

Though I’d pondered many things during his absence, I couldn’t help but develop doubts that this could be too good to be true.

Why would someone like him suddenly develop an interest for someone like me? I’m neither worldly nor an incomparable beauty that would make him lose his mind.

What could have prompted him to say those words…that he claims me as his?

‘You’re wrong,’ he says quietly. ‘To me you’re the most beautiful woman in the entire Arkgor—in the entire universe. And believe me, I’ve lived long enough and traveled far enough to know it.’

Biting my lip, I avert my gaze.

‘Don’t,’ he immediately says. ‘Don’t take those beautiful eyes off me. Let me see you,’ he murmurs as he grasps my chin between his fingers, making me face him.

My lips tremble as I force myself to return his regard.

‘I’ve waited for a long time for someone like you, Sela.’

‘Someone like me?’ I echo.

‘Someone who completes me,’ he replies. ‘You might not understand now. But you will. Soon,’ he promises, and for some reason, I believe him.

‘How… How long are we talking about?’

‘Are you fishing for my age?’ he chuckles.

I nod.

He doesn’t look older than his late twenties, but as I’ve read, appearances can be deceiving with many species. There had been no information about the Reva, however.

‘It’s been four hundred thirty nine years since I was born.’

I blink in surprise.

‘That’s…a lot older than me,’ I whisper.

He purses his lips.

‘In many ways, I’m just as young as you,’ he smiles.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Sometimes, they say you must experience the worst before you can experience the best. I think I got that with you. If I hadn’t lived through the worst before, I would have never found this place…you.’

‘But that’s the thing, Amon. I haven’t experienced anything besides these walls. My only knowledge comes from books. I do not know how to behave in society, nor do I know how to interact with people.’

‘Shh,’ he places a finger over my lips. ‘We all have our roles, Sela. I, too, haven’t experienced plenty of those things.’

When I frown, he continues.

‘I joined the army when I was eleven.’

My eyes widen in shock. Isn’t that too young?

‘It is,’ his lips flatten in a tight nod. ‘My parents were very poor, and they knew they couldn’t afford to feed me. This was right around the time of the Uridic plague, when food was more scarce than ever. My parents were regular peasants. Though they each had the right ancestry, they had never manifested any abilities. But I did,’ he sighs. ‘From the youngest age, I showed great promise. At first, I simply helped around the house, but when it became clear that starvation was upon us, they decided to sell me to the Special Unit of the Emperor’s army.’

‘Special Unit?’

‘It’s for the most gifted people. There are many species on Arkgor, that is correct. But not everyone is born with abilities, just as not everyone measures the same on the power scale. The Special Unit was created for those people that showed most promise.’

‘I didn’t know that was a thing.’

‘It’s not too widely known. As you can guess, the military relies on the strongest people. In many ways, the Special Unit was a training ground to make sure we could all reach our full potentials. Yet there was one difference…’ he trails off as he squeezes my hand.

‘What was it?’ I ask, riveted by his storytelling.

‘Due to how aristocratic and upper-level marriages work, most often than not, the most gifted people are within those ranks. That put me firmly at the bottom.’

‘You were the poorest,’ I whisper.

He gives me a tight nod.

‘But that only made me work harder than the rest. Whoever got into the top five at the end of every month got to take home a few coins and grain. So much grain it could feed my family for an entire year,’ he speaks wistfully.

‘So you did it,’ I smile, expecting nothing less from him.

‘Not immediately,’ he takes a deep breath. ‘I was young and untutored. My parents had no idea how the Reva powers had been passed down to me after so many generations, but they’d always told me not to show them off because that could lead to death. So I had to rely on my other abilities. My speed, and mental control among others. But more than anything, I had to train my body. I needed to learn how to fight with an arsenal of weapons since we would be tested on each. Many of my peers had already wielded those, and had been trained since young with some of the most famous masters from all over Arkgor. Compared to them, I’d never touched anything but a scythe during harvests.’

‘So, what did you do?’

‘I trained. I trained and trained until the skin on my hands peeled off from overuse—until I could barely stand on two legs. It took me a year and a half until I finally scored into the top five percent. But…’ he trails off, swallowing uncomfortably.

I scoot closer to him, my thigh meeting his as I wait for him to continue.

‘After I finally got the reward, I had one free day on which I could see my family. Since we lived quite far away from the capital where I was doing my training, I used my powers to get back home. I… They were dead when I arrived there. They’d been dead for at least a couple of months, either from the plague or from starvation. I was almost thirteen when that happened—by all accounts almost a man. But I still bawled like a baby,’ he shares on a ragged breath.

‘Amon,’ I whisper, the hurt in his voice echoing in my heart.

‘My mother’s parting words to me had been to become the strongest. To climb my way to the top so that nothing could hurt me—no disease or starvation. So that’s what I did. I took her advice to heart and since then I haven’t stopped. I trained more. Every waking hour of every day. I trained until I honed every single skill required of me, excelling in all categories. And so I climbed the ranks. A mere peasant’s son climbed the ranks right to the top. So you see, Sela, I’ve never known anything but war.’

He turns fully to me as he gives me a sad smile.

‘I dedicated myself so fully to war, my name became synonymous to war.’

My eyes slowly widen as realization dawns on me.

‘Amon. You’re Amon d’Artan. The Shadow General,’ I whisper.

There are entire sections dedicated to him in the history books, all speaking of his abilities and leadership.

He is the man who captured the Kingdom of Milena for the Vissirian Empire. He is the one that annexed tens of other territories since he became the General of the entire Vissirian Empire army.

‘I am,’ he confirms, sadness descending on his features as he watches me warily.

And that’s when I realize why…

He’s waiting for me to be repulsed by him.

I don’t know his reputation in the outside world, but the books sing him homage.

He has a fearsome reputation, that is true. But for Vissirians, he is also a celebrated hero.

‘Have you ever killed a child?’

He shakes his head vehemently.

‘Have you ever killed or harmed an innocent?’

‘I may not have killed an innocent with my own hands, but plenty have died during the wars I’ve helmed. And for that, their blood stains my fingers as if I’d killed them myself,’ he admits, regret dripping from his voice.

‘Then why do it? Why do it at all?’

‘Because,’ he gives a dry laugh. ‘Until very recently I didn’t live. I was only a tool of violence, nothing else—alive but not living.’

‘What happened?’ I ask when I see his features darkening. ‘It has something to do with the assassination, does it not?’

‘You’re correct,’ he nods quietly. ‘My closest friends betrayed me. I’d never thought them capable of such a thing, but they allied themselves with certain members of the aristocracy to replace the old Emperor with someone new. But for that to happen, they needed someone to take the blame for the death of the old Emperor. And they found me,’ he laughs. ‘Even after all this time, I was still peasant shit to them. It didn’t matter that I was their superior—that I had the seals of the army and could move it freely to my will. It never mattered to them.’

‘That’s why my mother brought the soldiers after you. She…’ I bite my lip. ‘She’s involved, is she not?’

He grunts.

‘Does that make you hate me?’ I ask tentatively, remembering the state I’d found him in.

He’d been hurt, and badly. Just a little higher, and that arrow could have ended his life.

‘Darlin’, I just told you all the terrible things I’ve done in my life, and you think I’m going to hate you?’ He shakes his head, a smile probing at his lips.

Snaking his arm around my shoulders, he pulls me into him.

‘I do not begrudge you your parentage, Sela. It would be the height of hypocrisy for me to do so.’

‘I’m sorry all this happened to you, Amon,’ I murmur, hurting for him and everything he’s been through. ‘My heart breaks for you.’

Gods, but just imagining the child he’d been—the child he never got the chance to be—and my chest contracts with pain.

‘Please, don’t. It made me who I am. And the male I am now can protect you.’

‘What…?’ I whisper, raising my gaze to look at him..

‘From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were mine, Sela. My female. The only one made just for me.’

‘How?’

‘It’s part of my Reva heritage. They were one of the few species who mated for life. According to what I know about them, they recognize who their mate would be upon meeting. It would converge in all the senses—smell, touch, taste, sight, sound. Everything about you made my heart pound and my blood boil with a need to have you. One I’ve never had before.’

‘Never?’ I repeat in awe.

‘Never,’ he confirms. ‘You’ll be my first female, Sela mina. Just like I’ll be your first male. The only one.’

My breath becomes labored as I stare into his mesmerizing eyes, his words slowly sinking in.

‘No one?’ I ask again, unable to believe this beautiful male wouldn’t have taken another female before.

‘No one,’ he states firmly.

The color of his eyes starts shifting again and I remember what he’d told me—that it changes because of lust.

‘My lovely Sela,’ he murmurs as he skims his lips across my forehead. Slowly, he moves to my cheeks, not leaving even one part of my face untouched.

He breathes me in deeply, almost as if he’s memorizing my scent.

And I do the same.

It’s not only him that experiences this maddening compulsion. I, too, felt it from the first. The need to bury myself in his arms, bathe myself in his scent and have his big hands all around my body.

Initially, I’d thought it a bout of madness—an effect of years of solitary existence. But what if it’s not? What if it’s just…him?

He trails his tongue over my flesh before he reaches my mouth, swiping it over the seams of my lips and demanding entrance.

I open, tentatively at first, before I become more emboldened as his mouth consumes mine, our lips fusing to one another, our tongues mating with a ferocity that leaves me breathless and absolutely dripping with want.

‘Gods, Sela… You take my breath away,’ he murmurs reverently against my lips.

‘I’ll give you mine,’ I whisper, blowing gently against his lips.

His hands move to my ribcage as he encourages me to sit astride him, our bodies fitted together as we give ourselves to the kiss.

I sigh into him, letting him in deeper—wanting anything he can give me.

His taste coats my tongue, his flavor infiltrating my senses and making me drunk on pure sensation. There’s only his kiss and the stroke of his tongue against mine, every little spar of our mouths sparking something deep within me.

He’s hard where I’m soft, strong where I am weak—simply a perfect fit.

‘I’ll make it right,’ he breaks off the kiss, leaning back and watching me with hooded eyes. His pupils are close to black now, and for the first time there is no trace of fear as I take in his beauty. ‘I have a plan to clear my name. But until then, I can’t risk your safety, Sela.’

‘What do you mean?’ I ask in confusion as the fog of lust still clings to my mind.

‘The Emperor might be the most powerful man in the realm, but he is nothing without his army. Yes, there are a lot of soldiers whose loyalties are with the Empire first and foremost. But the majority of them would follow me,’ he says as he twirls a strand of hair around his finger. ‘It was me who fought side by side with them, who trained alongside them. It was me they put their faith in when we went to war, not the Emperor.’

‘You want to organize an uprising,’ I whisper.

He nods.

‘It’s why they are after me. They aren’t as afraid I’m going to tell the truth about what happened as they are about me raising an army against them, which they know will happen.’

‘How much time are we talking about?’

‘A few weeks to organize everything. Maybe more,’ he sighs. ‘I need to reach out to every legion and see who will follow me. And at the end, we will plan for synchronized attacks on the capital. The goal isn’t to get to the new Emperor. I could have done that on my own. It’s to get the support of the people.’

‘You’re telling me so much… Aren’t you afraid I might say something to my mother?’

He shakes his head.

‘I know you wouldn’t betray me. How? I cannot say. But the conviction is deep in my heart, Sela.’

‘I wouldn’t,’ I assure him. ‘I don’t have any loyalties to the Empire.’

He grunts, his mouth set in a lopsided smile as he watches me.

‘I didn’t know how to approach you,’ he chuckles. ‘I was so overwhelmed by what you made me feel that I didn’t know how to convince you to give me a chance. Especially as I got to know your circumstances. Your thoughts can be pretty loud sometimes.’

I roll my eyes at him.

‘I thought that if I shared my secrets with you, you would see I am in earnest. That I’m not trying to take advantage of you in any way.’

‘You went about it the right way,’ I wink at him. ‘The flower helped.’

‘You’ve been taking care of it daily, haven’t you?’ he murmurs.

‘How do you know?’ My eyes widen in surprise.

It’s embarrassing how much care I’ve been giving to that flower—to the extent that I’ve neglected everything else but her.

‘That you’ve been cleaning its leaves twice a day? Or that you would sit down in front of it and stare at it for hours at a time? Or maybe…’ he pauses, his smile widening as he sees my scandalized expression. ‘That you’ve been talking to it the entire time.’

‘You… You spied on me?’

He shrugs.

‘Guilty. I waited for you to come to terms with what we talked about before I came back. But that didn’t mean I could stay away. I find that even a moment is too long when I’m not by your side.’

‘Is that normal?’

‘I don’t know, and frankly I don’t care. You’re mine, Sela. And that means I must always be there for you.’

‘I like that,’ I blush as the corners of my mouth tremble in their upwards movement. ‘I like being yours,’ I say as I lay my head on his chest.

For someone who’s never belonged anywhere, hearing him call me his makes my entire being hum with pleasure.

‘And you are mine, too,’ I state.

‘Always,’ he whispers in my hair.

We stay like that, wrapped around each other as the sun ascends into the sky and then begins its descent. All the while, I cannot find it in me to tear myself away from him.

My head on his chest, right over his heart, I listen to the rhythm of his beats, finding that they match mine perfectly.

It’s the oddest thing to find ourselves so in sync.

His chest rumbles with every word spoken, his voice deep and husky as he recounts more of his time in the army, telling me about battles, about his comrades, but most of all, sharing the profound pain he’d suffered when his lieutenants and close friends had tried to kill him in his sleep.

Due to the nature of his work, Amon doesn’t sleep on a daily basis, only going into a deep regenerative slumber at the end of the month.

When he is in that slumber, he is ignorant of what goes on in the world, and can hardly be roused until he completes his entire cycle, which makes this his greatest weakness.

For that reason, he’d had a special chamber built in the Army’s garrison to which only he and his right hand man would have access to—in case of an emergency.

But he’d never counted on waking up with a rhodium sword sticking out of his chest and Kress, his right hand man, attempting to kill him.

My heart aches as I hear the disappointment in his voice, especially knowing Kress had been with him for the last hundred years.

‘He was the first person I called a friend,’ he says on a weary sigh.

‘How are your wounds now? Did the zveka help?’

‘It did,’ he smiles. ‘They are healing well thanks to your gentle touch, Sela mina. In no time I will be as good as new. Just in time for my plans.’

‘And after? What’s your plan after?’

‘I’ll marry you,’ he simply states. ‘The moment I stop being a fugitive and I vanquish all my enemies, I’m marrying you.’

A blush suffuses my cheeks as I flutter my lashes at him.

‘Shouldn’t you ask the bride-to-be first?’ I mumble.

He throws his head back and laughs.

‘I would, if it were something negotiable. But it’s not. You’ll be my wife, my mate and the mother of our children,’ he drawls seductively before leaning down to whisper in my ear. ‘You’ll never get rid of me. Never.‘

Maybe the vehemence in his voice should scare me, yet I’m too gone to care.

If this is madness, then I fully embrace it.

‘If you are mad, Sela mina, then I am madder. You’re like the most potent poison that’s infiltrated my blood, one that is as deadly as it is sweet for I can see in you both my beginning and my end. Gods, but you consume me, lovely lass,’ he groans. ‘You’ve become my most recurrent thought, which is as enthralling as it is infuriating,’ he breathes harshly, his eyes flashing the darkest black.

‘We can both be mad,’ I whisper. ‘Together.’

‘Together,’ he repeats before he kisses me again.

It’s late at night when he takes me in his arms, tucking me in my bed and kissing me goodbye before leaving to deal with his work.

I barely manage to sleep as I worry about his safety. With everyone on his tracks, I fear he might get cornered and caught.

He might be the greatest General who ever lived, but he is still just one person facing tens of thousands—if not millions.

But he cannot be parted from me just as I cannot be far from him, so he promises that he will spend time with me daily.

A week passes in which we spend every waking day together, and to my greatest surprise, Amon doesn’t spare any details about his ongoing military actions.

In fact, he even asks me for advice on some of his ideas. And that is…entirely inconceivable.

Though I haven’t lived in the outside world to witness a proper relationship between a man and a woman, the text I’d read had had quite a misogynistic bent to them.

There were rarely any women depicted in positions of power. If there were, they certainly must have been from their shadows since their names had never made it to the history books.

But it’s more than that.

I’m surprised he prizes my opinion when my own mother had not thought it important in the least.

Our last visit is proof of that, when she’d chided me for merely mentioning politics. Yet that isn’t the first time it happened.

Though we’d discussed the history of the Empire at large, it had always been from the prism of understanding why it’s mandatory for me to stay hidden. There had never been a debate between the two of us, only information relayed with the express purpose of being internalized without any questions.

Yet the more time I spend with Amon, the more I realize just how narrow my view has been. And one of the main reasons for it is the fact that the books that my mother has been supplying me with have been written from very biased perspectives.

‘These aren’t canonical,’ he’d said when I had presented him with my treasured library.

He’d gone through them one by one and had told me that some of them had never even been in circulation in the Empire.

‘No one would approve this, Sela,’ he’d mentioned while looking at a book on military history. ‘And it’s not because it doesn’t coincide with the views of the Empire. It’s true that history is written by the victor, but in this case it’s a matter of changing the facts. I was there during this battle,’ he’d pointed to one of the key battles in the conquest of Milena. ‘And this never happened. There was no convoy sent to execute women and children. The Empire might be vicious but my army would never do something like this. I would never approve it,’ he tells me vehemently.

‘But… Then all my books…’ I’d been absolutely devastated to find out the books that I’d learned by heart, those tales that had been my driving force for so long had been…false.

I am still reeling from that information, and the urge to burn all the books is almost too intense—but that would only alarm my mother that something is wrong.

Instead, Amon had taken to filling the gaps in my knowledge and telling me the truth about key events in the Vissirian Empire history and that of Arkgor by and large.

Yet aside from his tales—and he is quite the storyteller—he would always invite me to debate on different topics that have to do with military strategy or court politics.

To have my voice heard for the first time is quite…something.

It’s rather unfortunate that I’ve gotten used to being silenced all the time—to the point where I would have never believed someone would value my opinions.

But Amon keeps showing me the opposite. He keeps challenging my views of the world and of my reality and shows me that there is another way of living.

On the other hand, I can tell that I’m also teaching him new things.

His life has always been on the move. From one war to another, he’s never had a day to just relax and unwind.

While he debated politics with me, I taught him the basics of gardening—specifically, I showed him how to prepare the zveka plant in case he ever finds himself in need of one.

Of course, I couldn’t let him go out without making him plenty of zveka poultice to have on hand.

He travels from one side of the Empire to the other on a daily basis, encountering so many different dangers along the way. Just thinking about what could happen to him, and my heart stops in my chest.

But despite his extremely busy schedule, he somehow always finds the time to bring me a gift—every single day.

Usually, he brings me flowers he’d spotted on his journeys—at least that’s what he says. I somehow doubt that he would know to bring me exactly the flowers from my botanical texts. Especially the ones that I’ve marked as being interested in.

He’s sly, but he’s not that sly.

But it’s not just flowers that he brings me. He’d figured out early on that I have a sweet tooth despite not being given too much by my mother and the staff she hired.

I’d never quite understood why sweets were out of the question since it’s not like I can get ill, or develop cavities when my body is practically an unnatural fortress—nothing can damage it.

My Amon had taken it upon himself to bring me delicacies from all over the world, getting me to try something new every day.

‘Let’s see. What did you bring me today?’ I ask as I feel him step into my garden.

He smirks at me but his hands are behind his back as he holds something.

‘What do you think?’

‘Another flower? Healing plant?’ I bat my lashes at him.

Gods, but as the days pass, my love and regard for him increase exponentially.

All my childhood, I’d been told he was a bad man who’d subjugated Milena when the truth is as far from different as possible.

‘Something different,’ he smiles sheepishly as he motions me to the bench.

I skip around the paved path and sit down on the bench like a dutiful child though I’m dying of excitement and curiosity.

Stopping in front of me, he raises a shameless brow as he baits me for a moment, showing me empty hands.

My face falls and I pout at him.

‘I know you brought me something,’ I playfully point a finger at him. ‘Please stop teasing me and show me,’ I say as I flutter my lashes at him some more.

‘One kiss and I will show you,’ he murmurs, beckoning me closer.

Not one to miss a chance, I jump up, twining my arms around his neck and giving him a kiss.

As soon as I turn to the bench, however, my eyes widen as I take in the exquisite gowns laid down in succession.

‘Amon…’

‘That’s what you wanted to ask for your birthday, isn’t it?’ he speaks softly in my ear as I continue to gawk at them.

‘They are absolutely stunning. You are the best male I could have ever hoped to fall in love with,’ I declare effusively.

His arm tightens around my waist.

‘Sela… You…’ he stammers.

Amon never stammers.

Turning to him, I note his slightly tinted cheeks and the way he blinks repeatedly as he stares at me.

It’s with a marked delay that I realize it’s because of my words, because I…

‘You…’ he scratches the back of his head as he looks anywhere but my eyes. ‘You’re in love with me?’

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Amon flustered before, and what a sight.

‘I am,’ I confirm.

A whoosh of air escapes him before he draws me to him.

‘I love you, too, Sela mina,’ he whispers in my hair, his arms tightly wrapped around my body.

He holds me like that for what feels like an eternity before he finally releases me, urging me to try the dresses on.

I do a quick show for him as I try each dress on.

They are much more glamorous than the dress that my mother had been wearing.

I don’t know where Amon got these from, but he has great taste.

‘I’ll treasure them,’ I tell him as I twirl around.

Yet when I look at him, his jaw is clenched, red seeping into his eyes.

‘Amon?’ I ask carefully.

‘Just a moment,’ he breathes out as he storms out of the garden.

I blink in confusion as I look at his retreating figure, thinking what could have affected him so.

Yet the answer is quite clear as moments pass and he still doesn’t return.

It was me.

I affected him—maybe too much.

He’d had similar episodes in the past where he’d withdrawn when his eyes had started rapidly shifting color, and he’d told me it was because he was desiring me too much.

‘I’m dying of want for you, Sela. But I’m not going to dishonor you. I’m already a lucky bastard that you allow me to put my hands on you and taste your mouth. But I can’t ask for more until you’re wed to me. More than anything, I can’t risk getting you pregnant when the situation is so precarious. I would never be so cruel as to steal your future from you,’ he’d told me then.

At first, I hadn’t been able to comprehend why he was denying himself when it was causing him great pain. But as I’d learned more about the outside world, I’d realized that he was only protecting me. Not only from the stigma of having a child without a father, but also because it would be his child—the child of a traitor.

He can’t risk that until his name is cleared in front of the entire Empire.

Yet it’s exactly that gesture that makes me absolutely convinced of his intentions towards me and the fact that he is, without a doubt, the best male I could have ever had the luck to fall for.

We’d spent a lot of time talking about how our future would look like and I’d told him in no uncertain terms that I would like a household full of children. The more the better. It doesn’t matter how many we are blessed with. After my lonely childhood and the isolation in which I’d lived, I want nothing better than to have a big family. And I know he would be a great father.

And because of that… Because I already see him as the father of my children, I need to be honest with him, too.

‘I have something I need to tell you,’ I say suddenly when he reemerges from the house.

He frowns.

‘What is it, love? Is something wrong?’

Walking to his side, I reach out and unsheathe his rhodium sword, the blade gleaming in the sunlight.

For all its poisonous effects on the residents of Arkgor, it is the prettiest thing to behold.

‘Sela, what are you doing?’ his voice holds a grave note to it.

‘Don’t stop me, Amon. I need to show you something.’

‘What…’

Before he can finish his sentence I bring the blade down my arm, slicing a long line on the inside of my forearm.

‘What have you done, Sela…’ he whispers in shock.

‘Watch,’ I tell him as I extend my arm towards him.

Immediately, the skin starts melding until in no time the wound disappears completely.

‘What… It can’t be. What…’ he mumbles as his eyes flitter from my healed wound to my face.

‘You’ve told me your secrets, now I’ll tell you mine. The reason my mother kept me isolated from the world.’

‘Because your power changes everything,’ he whispers, still shaken by what he’d seen.

I give him a brisk nod.

‘What’s the extent of it?’

‘Rhodium can’t kill me. At all. Not even a stab in the heart.’

‘But how would you know unless…’

‘My mother tried it on me when I was six. I went through a lot of trials to determine the nature of my ability.’

‘Gods, Sela. But that means… She could have fucking killed you. A child!’ he bursts out, his eyes crazed with worry. ‘That damned woman,’ he shakes his head. ‘I’m sorry, but if I ever cross paths with her, she will not survive the end of my sword,’ he declares solemnly.

I nod slowly, not contradicting him.

If there’s anything my time with Amon has shown me, it’s the fact that I’ve been lied to my entire life. My mother has manipulated me for her own purposes, and when she’d spoken of the final goal—the ultimate test of my abilities—who knows what trap she had in mind.

She’s never had my interests at heart despite swearing on it.

‘I can also survive being cut into pieces,’ I admit reluctantly.

‘Vessar, my fucking gods,’ he jumps up as he places his hand over his face, his breathing harsh and barely subdued.

‘Continue,’ he nods at me, though his muscles are straining under his clothes, his eyes red when it’s decidedly not because of lust.

‘If you cut a limb, the severed one will dissolve and I will regenerate,’ I explain.

‘Do you feel pain?’

‘Of course I do.’

‘Then you realize what you’re telling me? That your mother’s been torturing you? Fucking experimenting on you?’

‘I know,’ I answer quietly.

‘What else? Tell me everything, Sela. Every. Fucking. Thing. And while you’re at it, tell me who else was involved. Who watched? Who knew? Who was there?’ he fires question after question, his eyes now turning black.

Though I know he’s on the verge of losing control, I tell him everything they’d done to me when I was younger. How they’d hurt me in all the ways imaginable to see if I could heal. I also give him the names of the people I remember from that period aside from my mother. It had been five or six people who’d called themselves scientists of sorts.

‘They what?’ he whispers in disbelief. ‘They burned you alive to see if you could heal?’ his voice cracks as his eyes turn glossy—black for his raging wrath, but glossy for the tears he’s shedding for me.

I haven’t thought about those days in a long time, and despite trying to keep my emotions under control, I cannot help my own tears from falling as I recall the pain I’d been through.

‘They drowned you… How long?’

‘At most a day. Though it went progressively longer after they realized I could be submerged under water, die, and then come back as my lungs would regenerate. In all honesty, I don’t think there’s anything in this world that can kill me. Likely not even your power to blast me from the inside,’ I wrinkle my nose in distaste. That would hurt. A lot.

‘Don’t even speak about that,’ he shakes his head.

‘There’s more,’ I whisper.

‘Fucking Vessar. I can’t imagine what else there can be and I’ve doled out torture for centuries! I hope you realize just how bad this is, Sela. It’s not just a test, it’s torture.‘

‘I know,’ I nod grimly. ‘I think I coped with it by not thinking about it.’

‘I can’t believe you would still be sane after all of that, Sela. I’ve seen countless wars and disasters. I’ve seen people die in the worst conditions. But for someone to withstand that type of torture repeatedly?’ he scrubs his face with his palms, wiping his tears away.

Suddenly, I find myself in his arms.

‘I’ll kill them. Every. Single. One. I’ll make them rue the day they decided to experiment on a fucking child.’

‘It’s in the past,’ I whisper.

‘No, it’s not. For me, this is the present, and it’s a fact that those bastards will all suffer.’

I nod absentmindedly, somehow not feeling any pity for the fate those people will suffer at Amon’s hands. I suffered, too. I cried in pain, and never did they stop. They just continued.

But there is still more he needs to see. I don’t want to hide any facet of myself from him.

Stepping away from him, I take a deep breath as I channel my power.

He watches me closely, not understanding what he’s seeing until tendrils of electricity sneak up my arms and legs, creating a field of pure energy all around me.

Amon blinks in shock.

‘Sela…you…’

‘They called me a source of pure energy,’ I tell him. ‘They didn’t know if this was the core of my power and what gave me my healing abilities, or if it was the other way around. They only knew that I was a source of unlimited energy.’

‘What did they do?’ he asks in a defeated tone.

My lips tremble.

‘They wanted to siphon the power from me, to feed themselves or their weapon. They tried, but they couldn’t succeed.’

‘My brave, brave girl. I’ve got you, Sela mina,’ Amon swallows hard as he kisses my forehead. ‘I won’t ever let anyone abuse you again. In any way.’

‘I trust you,’ I reply, realizing just how true those words are.

‘And I trust you. Unequivocally. So much so that I would like to go through my slumber here if you don’t mind that.’

‘You… You would trust me with something like that?’ I whisper in awe.

‘I am trusting you with my life,’ he confirms.

‘When is it?’

‘At the end of the week. I’ll come after your maid has left.’

He recounts that usually it takes him a couple of days to recharge, sometimes less, sometimes more depending on his energy levels—which at this point are fairly low due to his extensive travel.

It’s the following day, however, that Amon instructs me to put on my favorite gown from the ones he’d gifted me.

‘We’re going out today.’

‘Out?’ I repeat, a little scared of that.

How many years has it been since I’ve been out of the house?

Gods, I’ve become so used to this solitary existence that even the thought of putting one foot outside of the house absolutely terrifies me.

‘I’ve got you, love,’ he assures me with a wink.

Knowing I can trust Amon but also the fact that I need to do this at some point—challenge myself even further—I do as he says and I dress nicely.

In the beginning, I think he’s going to take me to an establishment somewhere in a more remote part of the city.

But as he takes me in his arms, murmuring how pretty I look, the entire scenery shifts around us.

One second I’m inside my house, the next we’re in another location altogether.

‘What’s this?’

Yet as I look up at him, I nearly jump out of my skin at his changed looks.

His hair is dark, his eyes equally so, yet it’s not in the way the color spreads to the entire area when he is in the throes of bloodlust or lust.

‘You can manipulate your appearance?’

He nods.

‘To a certain degree. But at least this way I won’t draw attention to myself. There aren’t too many white-haired, blue-eyed men around,’ he adds drily.

‘Where are we?’

I look around, noting the brightly lit corridor and the many people jostling around us—all wearing the finest clothes I’ve ever seen.

‘It’s a…’ he smiles. ‘House party.’

‘House party?’ I frown.

‘I investigated some of the names you gave me. Even if you didn’t remember much, it was enough to track at least three of them. All attending this party tonight.’

‘What did you find about them?’

‘Hans is somewhat of a scientist in these areas. He has some very lofty ideas about giving ordinary people abilities.’

‘How?’ I frown. It’s a known thing that it’s entirely by virtue of your birth and your ancestry.

‘That is the question, is it not?’ he narrows his eyes. ‘At first he claimed he could unlock abilities for those with the right pedigree, but now he claims to be able to give abilities to someone who has neither. Bollocks, if you ask me, and entirely too suspicious.’

‘What about the rest?’

‘One is his wife, Andrea. She is purported as an occultist.’

‘Occultist? What is that?’

‘In her case, she claims to be an expert in the science of the soul. There are quite a few faiths around the Capital that claim the same thing. Charlatans, the lot of them.’

I nod along.

‘And then there is the third, and quite possibly the most dangerous. Aristol. I couldn’t find much about him except that he dabbles in the dark arts.’

‘Sorcery?’ My eyes widen.

I’d read that it was banned in the entire Empire for fear that it would be misused, which Amon had confirmed to be correct.

The issue with sorcery is that it’s unpredictable. You only require a powerful source of energy which you can wield to suit your needs.

‘Yes,’ Amon’s lips flatten into a thin line.

‘I could see why they would all be involved. Sorcery could be the answer to Hans’ problem, could it not?’

‘It could. If they found a way to give someone an energy source first.’

His eyes bore into me, the implication clear.

‘They would have used me, wouldn’t they? If they could figure out how, that is.’

Amon nods.

‘Fuck, but I’m going to have so much fun breaking their bones today,’ he mutters under his breath.

‘Can I do something, too? I don’t want you to do all the work,’ I pat him lightly.

‘Sela, love. If you want to help, you can. But you are in no way obliged to do so, alright? I can handle it just fine.’

‘We’ll see.’

Walking arm in arm, we reach an enormous ballroom where everyone is busy dancing the night away.

My pulse accelerates at seeing so many people at once, a sheen of sweat covering my skin as I force myself to bear it.

‘I’m here,’ Amon whispers, his touch the only soothing thing.

One hand on the small of my back, he uses the other to rub circles on my inner wrist as he leads me to the back of the ballroom.

‘That’s Hans,’ he points out to an elderly male being accompanied by a relatively younger female. ‘And that is his wife Andrea.’

‘Where are they going?’

‘I don’t know. But we’re following,’ he winks at me.

Making our way through the crowd, he swirls me effortlessly on the dance floor in an attempt to blend in as we follow the two.

‘You’re a good dancer,’ I note, jealousy gnawing at me as I think of other women he would have spun on a dance floor in the past.

‘It’s my first time dancing, Sela,’ he chuckles. ‘I’ve been to celebrations, that is true. But I’ve only stayed on the sidelines for a polite period of time after which I took my leave. I’m not the type to care for frivolities such as this.’

‘So you don’t like dancing?’

‘I like dancing with you,’ he says pointedly, eliciting a smile from me.

‘Right answer,’ I chuckle.

‘I knew it was a tricky question,’ he laughs, his eyes crinkling at the corners. ‘But I quite like you being possessive of your male like this.’

‘Really?’ I raise a brow. ‘Does it inflate that already gargantuan ego you have?’

‘Ah, Sela mina,’ he opens his mouth in a wide smile, his tongue swiping over his white, sharp teeth. ‘It inflates something for sure. Something like…my sword?’

I blink twice before my cheeks turn red as I realize I’ve been caught in a trap of my own making.

‘Well,’ I clear my throat. ‘I am very glad your sword reacts to me,’ I say, barely able to look him in the eye.

‘Are you?’ he raises a brow.

‘It should only react to me, of course.’

‘Of course,’ he repeats, his amusement seemingly increasing by the moment. ‘And you’ll take good care of it, won’t you?’ he drawls wickedly.

My lips tip up in a teasing smile.

‘Of course. I’ll polish it quite thoroughly. First I’ll use my hands. Then my tongue and…’ I trail off when I note the usual change in the color of his eyes.

‘I win,’ I lean in to whisper in his ear, quite satisfied with myself.

‘Fucking Vessar, Sela. You want me to spill my seed right here on this dance floor? Before I get to torture those bastards? That’s just mean, lass.’

‘We should probably get on with the plan then, they’re rounding the corner.’

‘Trust you to be the voice of reason when my baser instincts take over,’ he groans.

Taking my hand once more, we follow swiftly after the couple, stopping only when they enter a strange room.

When the door closes behind them, Amon fits his ear to the wood.

‘They are alone,’ Amon whispers. ‘And getting quite busy from what I can hear.’

‘Maybe we should go in before…’ I trail off since I’m sure he gets my meaning.

‘Naturally. I wouldn’t want your pretty eyes to be damaged by such a sight,’ he winks at me.

Taking my hand, he pushes the door open as we step inside.

Andrea and Hans are kissing against a bookshelf, both suddenly breaking apart when they realize they aren’t alone anymore.

‘What’s this?’ Hans demands sharply. ‘Who are you and what are you doing here?’

Amon uses his power to close the door and lock it.

‘What?’ Hans frowns.

Andrea is trying to put her dress back together as her gaze flies sharply from Amon to me.

Yet one thing is clear. Neither recognize me.

They don’t, Amon speaks into my mind.

‘I’m sorry for the rather impromptu visit,’ Amon starts in a feigned diplomatic tone. ‘I was told only you would be able to answer a question of mine—one that cannot wait any longer.’

Hans tilts his head in obvious interest.

‘Speak,’ he commands.

Amon’s lips twitch in amusement since it’s ironic for someone to give him a command.

‘I’ve heard about your study into sources of energy. I’ve acquired one of my own and I’d like to use it to fuel my own abilities.’

‘What type of energy source are we talking about?’ Hans takes a step forward, his eyes glinting with curiosity.

‘This,’ Amon says as he gently pulls me forward.

‘The girl? How so?’

‘It’s quite unprecedented, but she can withstand a rhodium blade and heal from it in a matter of seconds.’

Both Hans and Andrea freeze on the spot, their eyes widening in shock.

‘You say she can heal from rhodium?’

Amon nods.

‘Why don’t you give them a demonstration?’ he coos softly.

Trusting that he knows exactly what he’s doing, I take his sword, cutting myself lightly on the finger and showing them how the cut mends.

I’ll make it up to you, my love, Amon whispers in my mind.

I stifle the urge to smile at his caring tone, instead focusing on the moment at hand.

‘You see, unprecedented, I tell you.’

Hans brings a finger to his chin, tapping it lightly as he regards me closely.

‘I’ve seen one person exhibiting this ability before. Unfortunately, we were not able to siphon the energy out of her,’ he says, confirming what we already knew. ‘However, my associates have developed a new protocol that we will start testing very soon. You are more than welcome to join. These…creatures are exceedingly rare and we must amass all the data we can on them.’

‘Creatures indeed,’ Amon repeats, a twitch in his jaw.

Hans doesn’t seem to note that as he continues to speak.

‘Everything we’d tried in the past has failed, but we’d approached it from the wrong angle. We tried to siphon just the energy.’

‘So what is this new protocol, if I may ask?’

Amon is barely holding himself together as he grits each word out.

‘Transplants,’ Hans smiles. ‘You see, we wouldn’t try to take just the energy since it seems to be rooted in its owner. We would try to gather the energy through body parts.’

My eyes widen.

That is absolutely sick.

Hans doesn’t shy away from going into detail with what he plans to do—take out my organs and place them in another body in hopes my energy would transfer as well.

‘That is an innovative idea for sure,’ Amon notes. ‘But what about the other creature? In all my life I’ve only encountered her, and trust me, I’ve lived long enough.’

Hans chuckles.

‘They are rare, are they not? The one I know of is being contained at an isolated facility as we speak,’ he says, undoubtedly referring to me. ‘Her guardian still needs some coaxing in regards to the new plans since she has some silly notions about using the creature for her own goals. But science will prevail.’

He seems very pleased with himself as he invites Amon for something to drink in order to discuss further plans.

‘Alas, I will have to decline,’ Amon gives them a predator smile before they are both thrust backward and nailed to the wall.

‘W-what?’

‘Hans…’ Andrea opens her mouth to scream, but Amon somehow makes it so she cannot talk.

‘Thank you for enlightening me on your future plans. And here I was of a mind to punish you only for past transgressions,’ he makes a tsk sound as he uses his power to draw two chairs back and situate them in the middle of the room.

As if we’re in front of a theatrical spectacle, Amon invites me to take a seat next to him as we continue to look at the two people currently stuck to the wall.

‘May I introduce you Sela? Although, I’m sure you must recognize the name.’

The only reaction from the two is the flare of their eyes as panic overtakes them.

‘You might also recognize me,’ he smiles wolfishly as he changes his appearance to his original one.

Oh, yes, they must recognize him alright, because a wet spot appears on Hans’ trousers, piss trailing down his leg and dripping to the floor.

Amon laughs as he leans into me.

‘They were so brave a moment ago, were they not?’

‘So brave,’ I shake my head dramatically.

‘What do you think, my love? What do they deserve?’

I think on it for a second, not really knowing what to say.

‘You do whatever you want to Hans. I’ll take Andrea,’ I eventually say.

Seems only fair that I get a chance at this.

Though it’s been so long and I barely remember some of the events—more due to my effort to forget than due to my young age—I can still recall the pain.

Maybe their faces have been erased from my memory, but what I felt as a result of their experience will never fade.

‘Whatever I want?’ Amon’s eyes sparkle like a child receiving his most desired gift.

I nod.

‘We can start with an apology. What do you have to say for yourself, Hans?’ Amon asks as he removes his hold on Hans’ mouth.

‘I-I-I’m s-s-sorry,’ he whimpers, close to tears.

Amon releases a loud sigh.

‘That sounds rather fake to me, Hans. Let’s see if you can do better.’

Amon raises his hand, and with one finger he moves Hans’ left arm so it’s stretched outwards. Before I can even think what he means to do, there’s a loud explosion as his entire arm blows up before his flesh and bone liquify to the ground.

‘What do you say now?’

Amon allows him to speak again but this time he releases a shrilling cry.

‘Now, that’s not fun,’ Amon chuckles.

He does the same thing with his other arm, until Hans is completely arm-less.

‘Quite fitting, wouldn’t you say, love? He wanted to chop you to pieces, now he gets the same treatment.’

I nod.

‘I think you’re right. Good should be repaid with good just like evil should be repaid in kind.’

He leans in to kiss my temple.

‘Agreed. See how compatible we are?’

I roll my eyes at his playful tone as I turn my gaze to the two people.

Hans is slowly bleeding out while Andrea has also peed herself and is now silently sobbing while begging us with her eyes to let her live.

‘Let’s add another level, shall we?’ Amon narrows his eyes at Hans.

He doesn’t even move as Hans’ legs explode next, both being cut right at his upper thigh as his flesh liquifies onto the floor.

Yet against all odds, the man is still conscious, probably ruing the day he was born—just as Amon had intended. His face is red since Amon will not allow him to cry in pain, and the entire situation feels eerily familiar.

After all, hadn’t they afforded me the same treatment once upon a time?

They’d never cared about my pain as long as the experiments yielded data.

‘Why don’t we show Hans that there’s one more type of suffering? That of watching your beloved one in pain?’ Amon murmurs in my ear.

Giving him a brisk nod, I focus my energy to the surface, tendrils of electricity forming on top of my skin and slithering onto the floor. As if having a mind of their own, the tendrils snake up the wall until they reach Andrea’s side.

Hans is watching the entire display with wide eyes as the tendrils touch Andrea’s skin, the electricity so potent it burns every inch of her skin. And as they continue to climb up her body until they reach her head, nothing recognizable remains in their wake.

Tears stream down Hans’ cheeks as he looks at his wife turned into a mass of burned flesh. And with a flick of a finger from Amon, what is left of her liquifies to the floor.

In the end, nothing remains.

‘This is my message to everyone who was ever involved in Sela’s torture, Hans,’ Amon smiles. ‘And they need to see just what type of pain awaits them.’

Raising his palm, Amon slowly squeezes it. At the same time, Hans’ body is squeezed down, his bones breaking and contracting, his flesh almost dissolving until only a ball of mangled matter remains—but it’s one that still holds some sort of resemblance to Hans.

Getting up, Amon narrows his eyes at the wall, and lifting a finger, he controls the liquified matter from the floor, slapping it onto the wall in the shape of words.

Welcome to Krovj. Hell. The dimension where Vessar was supposed to have banished the souls of his defeated enemies to be tortured for an eternity.

‘Shall we?’ Amon turns towards me, his intense gaze washing over my form.

I take his hand, laying a gentle kiss to his knuckles.

‘You could never scare me, Amon,’ I answer his unspoken question.

‘Your appetite has grown, miss,’ Meli jokes as she shows me the assortment of food she’d brought for me. ‘I brought the extra stuff you requested, too.’

I look around the kitchen, nodding in satisfaction when I see the cuts of meat and the ready-cooked stews.

Since Amon is with me throughout the day, he eats here too. He sometimes brings food, too, but I like to be prepared in any case and have something to offer him.

After all, he is more than twice my size and as such needs more nourishment.

‘Thank you, Meli. This is wonderful.’

‘I cleaned your room and dusted the library. This should be it for this week,’ she gives me a tentative smile as she takes off her apron. ‘Do you have any requests for next week?’

‘Just the regular. Thank you.’

Nodding, she finally takes her leave. And now I can breathe more relieved as I call out for Amon to come back.

‘That smells divine!’ he exclaims as he appears in the kitchen.

‘You’re hungry?’

‘When am I not?’ he mumbles.

With the energy he expends every day, it’s not a wonder that he requires plenty of food.

‘I hope you eat when you’re away, too,’ I say as I pick up two bowls, filling them with stew and placing them on the table. On a separate tray, I cut pieces of meat and arrange them in a row.

‘Here, come,’ I beckon him.

Giving me a breathtaking smile, he takes a seat next to me.

‘I do. Unless I forget, but then I get reminded when I become ravenous,’ he chuckles.

‘You’ve had a lot on your mind lately.’

He grunts.

It’s been four days since the incident with Hans and Andrea, and though that went well, Amon has had trouble locating Aristol again. We’d looked for him after we’d finished with the other two, but Amon thinks he might have realized we were trailing him and disappeared.

Yet that’s not everything that’s been weighing on his mind.

In his attempt to unite the people who are loyal to him and rouse his own army, he’d come across a few roadblocks. Some of the lieutenants he’d been counting on had turned their backs on him. In the best case, they’d declared that they didn’t want to get involved since they had their own families to think about. In the worst, the ones he’d visited had rang the alarm on him and he’d once more had to escape being followed by trackers—a special branch of the army designated with tracking down individuals of interest.

Their abilities are so specialized that Amon had to make some stops around the world in order to lose them.

‘Are you hurt?’ I ask softly as I see him eat with such an appetite.

Though his abilities are extraordinary, he’s never risked revealing his Reva side before—and I doubt he would start now when he needs people’s approval, not their hate. In that regard, we are quite similar as we are both outsiders—what many would call creatures.

But even knowing he is a flawless sword master and a born warrior, I cannot help but worry about him since he purposefully holds himself back so no one will find out about his heritage.

‘Not more than usual,’ he shrugs. ‘I should be fine after my slumber.’

‘You need to let me patch you up first,’ I tell him sternly. ‘After you eat, go take a bath and I will meet you in the bedroom to examine your wounds. Then and only then you can sleep.’

He grunts.

I can tell he’s tired, his face paler than usual. He is also rather quiet when he is usually talkative, always teasing me about this or that.

We eat in silence before Amon goes upstairs to bathe while I pick up some plants as well as my pestle and mortar and a few clean rags to use as bandages.

When I enter the room a while later, I find him sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing only a pair of loose pants.

His naked torso is covered in cuts and bruises, some of them still oozing blood.

‘You said it wasn’t bad,’ I chide softly as I come by his side, assessing the state of him.

‘It doesn’t hurt,’ he shrugs.

‘It might not hurt you, but it hurts for me to see,’ I murmur.

His eyes widen and for a moment, he doesn’t speak, merely watching me as I apply a mix of paste to the deeper wounds and some balm to his bruises.

‘I did not realize. I apologize,’ he says quietly. ‘I will attempt not to get hurt from now on.’

‘You…’ I draw back as my lashes flutter in confusion. ‘It’s that easy? If I tell you not to get hurt anymore you won’t?’

‘I’ll do my best,’ he inclines his head.

A smile pulls at my lips.

‘What am I going to do with you, Amon?’ I whisper lovingly, my hands still working on his wounds.

‘Love me?’ he offers lightly.

‘That I already do,’ I chuckle. ‘And now you’re all done, too. Get into bed.’

‘Will you stay with me for a while? Until I fall asleep?’

His question makes me still. Why does this one question convey such an aching vulnerability? My heart clenches in my chest at his words, and I give him a small nod.

Taking me in his arms, he fits his big body on the bed (taking most of the space) and places me on top of him.

‘Your wounds,’ I burst out, but he doesn’t budge.

Just as he assumes a comfortable position, his eyes close and soon his breathing evens out as he is deep asleep.

That was…fast.

Gods, he must have been so tired. He’s really been running himself ragged these past few weeks trying to take care of everything.

I can’t help but feel a little guilty that I’ve added to his load.

During the day, he spends all his time with me, going out into the world and dealing with his issues at night. Rinse and repeat.

Has he taken a break since everything imploded? Has he even had another slumber before this one?

The answer, unfortunately, is no.

He couldn’t have when he’s been by my side daily, and he’s already confessed that once he’s in that deep state it takes him a couple of days of uninterrupted sleep to recover.

I nap for a couple of hours with him as well, but I later go back to my garden to wet and clean my plants for the day.

When I’m done later in the evening, I quickly wash myself and get back into bed with him.

The following day, I do the same, thinking he would awaken in the evening.

Yet he doesn’t.

Once more, when I go to bed at night, he’s still deep asleep, as he is when I awaken.

Goodness, but I can’t imagine how he must have stayed on his feet if he was that tired.

Without the blessing that is his company, I get bored easily by mid-afternoon.

I have no idea how I’d gone about my day before he appeared in my life, because now everything seems…tedious.

I sit in front of my purple flower, admiring it once more. It still doesn’t have a name—a proper name. In my botany book it had been referred to by its geographic location since it is endemic to one area in particular.

It’s sometime later that a loud noise startles me. Jumping to my feet, my lips spread into a big smile as I dash down the pathway, thinking Amon must have awoken.

Yet as I reach the landing of the stairs, my smile dies down as I come face to face with my mother, her expression thunderous.

‘Where is he?’ she bites out, striding towards me.

Instinctively, I shrink back, but not before her palm connects with my cheek.

‘What are you talking about?’

‘The male you’re hiding in here. Where is he?’ she asks as she comes into my garden, her eyes scanning every corner.

‘I’m not hiding anyone,’ I reply.

‘Lies,’ she grits out as she comes to face me again.

Yet this time when she tries to strike me, I channel my power to the surface, my entire skin becoming electrified, which seems to make her pause.

‘Aristol saw you, you stupid girl. He saw you at his party on the arm of a male.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I continue.

She’s unrelenting as she barges into the study, then the kitchen, inspecting everything around.

‘I know you’re hiding him somewhere. Who is he?’

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about mother.’

‘So it’s just a coincidence that Aristol sees someone who looks exactly like you and then two of my friends die in the most horrific ways?’ she yells at me, a vein throbbing at her temple.

‘I… I don’t know what you’re talking about. I swear,’ I lie, demurely shrinking back.

Yet it’s when she decides to go upstairs, to my bedroom, that panic gets the best of me.

Amon trusted me with this! He trusted me with his life, and with his most vulnerable state. I can’t fail him.

I don’t even know what my mother is capable of. She might know about my abilities, but I know nothing of hers.

‘Mother, just stop for a moment and explain to me clearly what this male thinks he saw. It’s preposterous that you would assume it was me when I haven’t exited this house in more than a decade,’ I call out as I follow her up the stairs.

Panic surges in my chest as I hurry and plant myself in front of her so that she won’t be able to open the door to the bedroom.

‘I thought it odd when Meli requested additional food, but then it all makes sense if you’re fostering some vagrant. What did he tell you, Sela? What idiocies did he fill your brain with that you would allow him to do something like that?’

‘I-I don’t know what you mean, mother.’

‘No one else would have targeted Hans and Andrea like that,’ she hisses. ‘Who else would have known about them?’

‘I don’t know, their other victims?’ I add drily. ‘I can’t be the only one they experimented on.’

‘Experiment? That’s my confirmation,’ she shakes her head in disgust. ‘Only someone else could have introduced that word in your vocabulary. And I demand to know who he is.’

‘No one. I keep telling you. There’s absolutely no one. I don’t know what you heard from that friend of yours, but I never left this house. I’m terrified to take one step in the outside world and you think I would go to some party? How?’

Her nostrils flare, and before I know it, she pushes me aside as she barges inside the bedroom.

‘Mother, stop…’

My mouth drops in shock as I note the empty room, just as a feeling of tranquility overtakes me.

He’s gone. Amon is awake and gone.

‘See? There’s no one here.’

She releases a string of curses before she marches back downstairs. But as she’s about to leave, she levels me a harsh stare.

‘This isn’t over. I know it was you. And I know you’re working with someone, you ungrateful little bitch. After all I’ve done for you, and this is how you pay me back? By betraying me? By going after my friends?’

‘But I haven’t done anything,’ I complain.

‘I don’t have proof yet, but rest assured I will get it. And when I find out who the male you’re hiding is, you will pay for this transgression, Sela.’

Just as she opens the door, I spot at least twenty soldiers in front of the house.

‘What…’

‘They will keep watch, both inside and outside the house. You chose the wrong moment to rebel, Sela. And by Vessar, I’m going to enjoy killing that male of yours.’

As she gives the soldiers orders, five of them enter the house, one in each room.

‘Mother, this is preposterous! You’re letting a male in my bedroom. To stand there at all times?’

‘I don’t trust you,’ she shakes her head. ‘Too bad you’re still useful to me.’

Her words confuse me, but I don’t get to dwell on them as I return to find my home entirely occupied with strangers.

The front door closes and I know my mother has already left, leaving me to deal with these strangers.

No sooner had the guards assumed their positions that they drop dead. One by one, they melt in a puddle of grime on the floor.

‘Tell me I can kill her,’ he demands as he appears, anger radiating from every pore in his body. ‘Tell me I can fucking slaughter her for putting her hand on you.’

He reaches out to touch me, carefully stroking the cheek my mother had slapped.

‘It’s not too bad.’

‘She wanted you to live with five males. FIVE, Sela,’ he grits out. ‘And if you knew what was on their mind…’ he exhales deeply as he leans down to place his forehead on top of mine.

‘She didn’t care that she was leaving you here to be raped, for those men only had one thing on their mind.’

A shudder goes down my body at his words.

‘Thank you for keeping me safe,’ I murmur, hugging him close.

‘Let me kill her.’

‘I…’ And just like that, I hesitate.

She’s the only mother I’ve ever known. How could I possibly condemn her to death?

‘We need to leave,’ I whisper instead. ‘I can’t stay here anymore under her scrutiny. Not like this. Not when I could endanger you too.’

‘But your home…your garden,’ he draws back to search my features. ‘You would abandon your beloved garden?’

‘It’s no longer my home,’ I confess. ‘Flowers and plants can be replanted. A house can be rebuilt. But the feeling of home can never be restored. This,’ I motion to the house, ‘ceased to be my home the moment you appeared in my life.’

Our gazes find each other, grasping—arresting.

He stares at me as his breathing intensifies, his nostrils flaring.

‘Damn it, Sela. You’re making me lose what little control I still have,’ he rasps.

I’m about to ask him why, but the moment I open my mouth, his lips claim mine as he kisses me so hungrily, my heart feels like it’s about to burst in my chest.

His hands cup my head as he angles my head to the side so he can kiss me deeper until my head swims with euphoria, my body humming with approval for every little touch of his skin on mine.

Taking hold of his hands, I move them lower to my breasts, encouraging him to touch me further. He always pulls the breaks when our kisses get too heavy, but in this instance it’s not enough.

‘Amon,’ I whimper against his mouth.

His sharp teeth nibble at my lips, drawing drops of blood which he laps at, sucking my tongue into his mouth. A growl escapes him as he fits me to his body, so tightly I can feel his hardness protruding against my stomach.

Yet just as I think he’s going to take it further than ever before, he wrenches himself from me. His eyes are wholly black as he tilts his head, his ears pricking at some inaudible sound.

‘Soldiers,’ he suddenly speaks, his lip twitching in distaste. ‘They’re close. Very close, Sela. They must have used a cloaking spell.’

‘Cloaking spell?’

‘Sorcery,’ he spits as if it was the most disgusting thing. ‘We’ve encountered those in battles before. It means there must be a sorcerer nearby too.’

‘Aristol?’

Amon nods.

‘It must be him,’ he grits out. ‘Don’t worry. I’m going to end this once and for all, Sela mina,’ he promises before he disappears.

My eyes widening, I run towards the exit, opening the door and stepping outside on my own for the first time in too long.

My entire body trembles as my eyes accommodate to the change in scenery in front of me.

Yet as soon as I take everything in, my mouth opens in shock.

There are tens, maybe hundreds of soldiers stationed in front of the house.

All at once I realize that my mother’s visit had only been a bait as she’d tried to draw Amon out.

‘Amon, don’t,’ I shake my head at him when I spot him facing off all those soldiers. ‘Don’t use your powers, please.’

The last thing he needs is for the world to find out he is part Reva. Then all his efforts would have been in vain. Everyone would fear him by virtue of his heritage alone.

He half-turns.

Dressed in a pair of black linen trousers and a loose top that’s tied with a belt around his waist, he removes his sword, the movement slow as the metal shines in the sunlight.

Despite seeing Amon use his abilities before, this is the first time I’m seeing him fight with his sword.

He gives me a sharp nod.

Only as long as you are not in danger, Sela, he speaks in my mind.

A battle cry resounds through the air and the soldiers march forward, charging at Amon.

And this is what it has come to. One standing against hundreds.

Gods, but the sight sickens me to my stomach, and I know I can’t let Amon fight this on his own.

Tensing my muscles, I let all the energy course through me as I call it to the surface. Once it’s simmering on my skin, I let it seep in the ground, controlling the tendrils of electricity as I send them to the soldiers, burning them alive the moment they touch them.

I walk towards them as I send everything I have in me towards the envoy.

A blast of fire comes my way, but due to my misplaced focus, I see it too late to avoid it.

It catches the side of my head, the heat so powerful, it blasts off half my face.

I blink against the scorching pain as I turn slowly towards the assailant. My face is slowly mending together, the tissue repairing under everyone’s sight.

I’ve been trying to protect Amon’s secret and I’ve revealed mine. Yet I can’t seem to care. He matters. He is the hope of the Empire. As long as his reputation suffers no damage, I’m willing to be his shield.

Turning my attention to my attacker, I send him a blast of electricity that fries his entire body.

‘Sela,’ Amon roars when he sees my mending flesh. ‘Don’t do it, lass. Don’t get involved.’

He just felled ten, if not more warriors just to be able to tell me those words. And even as his attention is on me, his sword is slashing through enemy skin, deftly avoiding the armor and going for the weak points.

‘I’ll protect you, Amon,’ I tell him.

What good does it do to be invincible and not use it?

With that thought solidified in my head, I proceed forwards, using my energy to fight off one line of soldiers while Amon cuts through lines of people.

Yet it’s still not enough as more and more soldiers appear.

How could my mother have gotten access to this many forces?

Another moment of inattention and a sword slices through my arm.

The pain makes me hiss as I see my arm drop to the ground only to turn into smoke, disappearing into thin air as my flesh starts to regenerate.

Everyone is staring at me as if I were, indeed, a creature.

But before I can unleash my electric snakes at them, Amon teleports to my side.

Blood drips from his face, staining his hair and every inch of his skin. His eyes are wholly black just as more darkness seems to seep from his eyes into his skin.

‘Amon… What’s happening?’ I whisper when I see him.

‘You’re hurt,’ he rasps, his voice deeper than before, the bass making the hairs on my body stand up.

He lifts my still regenerating hand as he stares at it, his cheek twitching in displeasure.

‘You’re hurt,’ he growls, the sound louder.

The soldiers advance towards us, but with one look, Amon has them stop in their tracks, an invisible barrier seemingly holding them in place.

‘Amon…’

‘You. Hurt. Her,’ he screams, the sound of his roar turning into a physical blast that as soon as it reaches the first row of soldiers, transforms them into little else but goo on the ground.

It’s almost as if he’s not himself anymore.

‘Don’t…’ I whisper, but he doesn’t listen.

He’s already charging at the soldiers, his feet barely reaching the ground as if he’s stepping on air.

Yet that’s not the most alarming feature. It’s the fact that the black from his eyes is seeping into his skin, his body almost doubling in size as his hands turn to claws. And…

I blink, thinking I’m certainly not seeing this right. But…there’s a tail? That’s a tail, isn’t it?

‘You. Hurt. Her,’ he yells once more.

If before most of the males had been regular soldiers, the ones arriving now seem to have special abilities, too, as blast after blast is thrown at Amon.

Immediately, I become scared that he could get hurt by this.

But it seems that with his changed appearance there are new abilities coming to light. Like the fact that his darkened skin seems to serve as some sort of armor. The black linen gets blasted and burned off his body, but his chest doesn’t get injured at all. But it’s not like me, where I get hurt and then I heal. No, his skin seems like a thick shield that can block any attack so far.

Like this he’s…unstoppable.

I know it, just as the soldiers are realizing it, too.

More people come towards him, but even if they land a hit on him, it doesn’t affect him at all. At this point, Amon is a mindless war machine, bent on destroying everyone.

My lips part in a combination of horror and awe as he uses his bare hands to smash people to pieces. Given his change in size, his fists are now the size of a soldier’s head—helmed head. He can easily grasp it and squeeze, causing it to pop.

Soon, I can see his strategy, and his weakness. He can’t use his mental abilities while using his physical ones at the same time, and that means that while he’s slaughtering one row with his hands, he reduces the next to mush with his matter manipulation, then goes back to using his hands.

I wonder if there’s an interval at which he can use his ability, and that’s why he alternates like this.

But even as I study his movements, I can’t help but admire the way he is absolutely magnificent in fight. Despite his monstrous change—maybe because of it—blood has never looked better on someone.

His skin-armor is so strong that I doubt even my energy could penetrate it.

The sight of him alone is enough to inspire terror in everyone, some of the soldiers fainting before Amon even gets to them.

As I admire the fight, I note a couple trying to tackle me from the side and I decide to do something else.

Instead of letting the electricity tendrils seep into the ground, I use them as lassos. Holding my hands out, I will the energy to materialize before me, one in each hand.

They have a yellow-bluish tint, and as I grasp them, I feel a slight tingling sensation in my palms.

Turning my eyes on my adversaries, I use each lasso concomitantly as I throw them towards the soldiers, watching with satisfaction when they coil around their necks, suffocating them at first before sending the first high voltage of electricity and frying them.

Amon must be halfway through the soldiers who’d arrived here. At this point, in no time he’ll run through all of them.

I smile at my big protector. He would stop an entire army from getting to me.

As I step forward to go to him, I feel fingers coil around my arm, thrusting me backwards.

I’m about to call up my tendrils of electricity again when I note it’s my mother, a scowl deeply embedded in her features.

‘Call off your pet,’ she sneers.

‘He’s not my pet,’ I push her hand away. ‘He’s my mate,’ I declare proudly.

Her expression changes immediately. From a disapproving one, it slowly morphs into a terrified one.

‘What have you done?’ She whispers in horror. ‘You don’t know what you’ve done, Sela.’

Her eyes travel down my body, almost as if she’s searching for something.

‘Have you bedded him?’ she asks suddenly.

‘What…’

‘Have you or have you not bedded him?’ she hisses at me.

‘It’s none of your business. And I’m done hiding away from the world.’

Her lip curls in distaste as she scoffs at me.

‘It’s a world that will chew you up and spit you out damaged beyond belief, Sela. I did you a service hiding you all this time. Giving you the best money could buy. And this is how you repay me? By mating with a…creature?’

‘He’s not a creature,’ I tell her.

Despite the erroneous literature I’d been digesting my entire life, Amon told me it’s true that non-humanoid creatures are not welcomed in society. Nothing that doesn’t fit the norm is. You have powers? Perfect. You don’t look a certain way, then you don’t matter.

‘Whatever he is. Call him off or you’re going to regret it. Both of you.’

I look at her in disgust and I cannot believe this is my mother.

‘How could you treat me so? I’m your daughter. Your blood. Don’t I matter in the least? Doesn’t my happiness matter?’

‘It doesn’t when there’s a greater purpose at play,’ she says as she grabs me again.

This time, however, her touch hurts.

Looking down, I note her hand glowing just as her lips are moving in a low chant.

‘What are you doing? Stop this,’ I try to push her off me, summoning my energy, but I find that I cannot do it.

‘Selaaaa!’ Amon’s cry resounds through the clearing now littered with tens if not hundreds of corpses. He can feel my alarm and my silent struggle, and as he appears before us, my mother smiles.

It’s then that I know she means to do something. She…

I can’t even form my next thought before her other hand is on my chest. But it doesn’t stop there. No, it penetrates my skin until I feel her fingers clench around my heart.

My eyes widen in disbelief.

‘Surrender, General, and she will live,’ my mother adds smugly.

I can only see Amon from the corner of my eye. His new shape is absolutely breathtaking in its savageness. But as he sees the danger, he starts to morph back, his tail and claws already fading and leaving way to weakness.

I shake my head in horror, afraid they could hurt him.

‘I can heal. Don’t do it, Amon,’ I call out confidently, wrapping my fingers around my mother’s wrist and tugging at her hand.

‘Can you?’ She raises a brow. ‘You think you have no weakness do you?’ She smiles arrogantly.

‘I can do it, Amon. I know I can do it,’ I tell him.

But he’s not listening.

He’s staring at her hand in my chest, the way she’s holding on to my heart.

‘If I squeeze too tightly, her heart is going to explode in her chest. Even if you think she can heal, will you take a chance on it?’

‘Amon, no.’

‘Sela,’ he releases a ragged breath as his dark form is completely gone, leaving behind the Amon that I know. He has a crazed look of fear on his face as his eyes go from my mother’s hand to my chest, almost as if he doesn’t know what to do.

‘I can’t risk it,’ he shakes his head.

Some soldiers move from behind, approaching slowly and waiting for my mother’s command.

‘No, Amon, please don’t,’ I whisper, realizing what my mother plans to do.

This had been her goal from the beginning, hadn’t it?

It wasn’t to scare me, or threaten me. It was to catch Amon somehow.

Except… How had she known? How had she known the male from the party was him?

‘I can’t risk you, Sela,’ he says. ‘I can’t risk that she’s right.’

‘Surrender, d’Artan and I will remove my hand.’

His eyes flash red at her as he releases an animalistic snarl.

My mother flinches, and I note that despite her air of confidence she’s afraid of him.

‘Let her go,’ he growls, his eyes growing black again.

‘On your knees,’ she commands him.

He gives me a look full of longing as he mouths a sorry.

The soldiers come forward holding rhodium chains in gloved hands.

They plan on…

My breath hitches as panic hits me. Full-blown, horrifying panic that clogs my airways as I take him in and the intention reflected in his gaze.

I can see the love, but I can also see the sacrifice.

Slowly, his knees buckle before they hit the ground, yet his proud demeanor doesn’t change.

Head high, back straight, he looks my mother dead in the eye as he says.

‘You may chain me this time. But next time you will meet the end of my sword. Or,’ he smirks.  ‘You will join your soldiers on the ground.’

‘Shut him up,’ my mother commands.

I’m helpless as I watch the soldiers put the rhodium chains around his body, as well as a gag in his mouth. The chains must have been bespelled because the moment they meet his skin they shrink until his movements are fully restricted.

Wait for me, Sela. Nothing will stop me from coming for you. Just as nothing will save them from my wrath.

The moment Amon is restrained, my mother withdraws her hand from my chest.

I draw a deep breath in as my heart beats harshly in my chest. Yet as I move towards Amon, a needle pokes at my skin as my mother injects something into my veins.

‘Amon,’ I whisper as I wobble towards him.

But I don’t reach him.

I just…fall.