"No, no, no, Ramirez..." Queen Maeve’s voice tore through the silence, a raw, visceral scream that echoed through the chambers.
It wasn’t just a sound; it was an agony given voice, a howl of despair capable of rousing goosebumps on anyone who heard it. The indomitable Sumr Queen, the unshakable Maeve, was now reduced to a sobbing heap on the floor.
Gone was the queen who ruled with ice in her veins and fire in her hands. In her place was a female broken, shattered by the cruel finality of death. She no longer cared for decorum, for the regal pride she had carried for centuries.
She crawled toward Ramirez, pulling him into her arms, feeling the fading warmth of his body. His head lolled back, his once-bright eyes now glassy and unfocused, staring at nothing.
Maeve had built walls around her heart, cold and impenetrable, to protect herself from weakness. To her, love was vulnerability, and vulnerability was a fatal flaw.
Except when it ca to Oberon. Oberon, her husband, had been her exception, but even with him, Maeve had kept parts of herself locked away. Ramirez had never been her Oberon, but he had been there for her in ways no one else had.
He had satisfied her cravings, kept her company when her bed felt too cold, and for that, he was the closest thing to solace she had allowed herself. Now, the only person who had seen her without her mask, who had understood the pieces of her no one else cared to know, was gone.
"No... this isn’t possible..." Maeve whispered, clutching him tighter, as if sohow holding him close would reverse the flow of ti, would undo the horror that had unfolded before her eyes.
His body was still warm, but his chest was ruined, a gaping hole where his heart had once been. She shook him, desperate, as if shaking him could pull him back from the brink of eternity.
Aldric stood over them both, unmoved. His expression was cold, indifferent, as though Ramirez’s death ant nothing. The heart in his hand dripped with fresh blood, and Maeve’s gaze locked onto it with desperation and hope.
If she could get the heart, maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance Quern Nirvana or the royal physician could do a bit of healing and save him. Perhaps, there was a chance for Ramirez to be revived.
"Aldric, please..." Her voice broke, pleading. For the first ti in her long life, Maeve begged.
Aldric looked down at her, his lips curling into a wicked smile as he realized what she was thinking. He let the heart drop to the ground, the sound of it hitting the stone floor like a death knell.
For a fleeting mont, Maeve thought she might still have a chance, but that was until Aldric’s boot ca down on it with a sickening squelch. The fragile hope she had clung to was crushed beneath his heel, just like the heart that had once given life to Ramirez.
"No!" The scream that tore from Maeve’s throat was more than just grief. It was anguish, it was rage, it was the sound of a soul breaking.
She held Ramirez’s lifeless body tighter, her fingers trembling as she realized that whatever chance he might have had was now gone. Forever.
"Ramirez..." Maeve whispered, her voice hollow, her tears falling freely as she rocked him gently.
She had lost people before, but this—this felt different. This felt like a part of her had died along with him. How could things have gone so wrong? One mont, they had been having the ti of their life, her life had spiraled into this nightmare.
When Maeve finally lifted her gaze to Aldric, her eyes were no longer filled with sorrow. They were filled with murder. Fury surged through her veins, burning hotter than any fire she could summon. Aldric would pay for this. He had to.
Without a word, she rose to her feet, her body trembling with rage. She had been taken by surprise before, but now she was prepared. The Sumr Queen was done playing the victim. Aldric would pay for this. He had to.
Fueled by the pain of Ramirez’s death, she lashed out at Aldric with everything she had. Aldric may have been powerful, but Maeve was the Sumr Queen, and she would show him exactly what that title ant. Maeve was relentless, her movents swift and deadly as she pushed Aldric back, their battle igniting the very air between them
But Aldric was stronger. He t her blow for blow, magic for magic. His shadows swirled around him, blocking her flas, absorbing her power. His claws were out, sharp and deadly, and with a quick swipe, he managed to slash across Maeve’s face, drawing blood.
Maeve stumbled back, her hand flying to her cheek. The blood trickled between her fingers, and the pain only fueled her rage. She lunged at him with a scream, but Aldric was faster. His shadows slamd into her with the force of a physical blow that knocked the air from her lungs and sent her crashing to the ground.
Maeve gasped for breath, her body shaking as she tried to pull herself up. Aldric stood over her, his expression dark and rciless. His shadows coiled around him like a living entity, ready to strike the final blow.
"You will suffer," Aldric said coldly, his voice devoid of any warmth. "Just like my mother did."
Just as Aldric summoned his shadows for the final strike, a voice called out from the doorway.
"Aldric!"
He froze, his head snapping toward the sound. At the entrance stood Islinda, her face pale, her expression filled of fear. "Aldric, no don’t —"
Maeve saw her chance. While Aldric was distracted, she gathered the last of her strength and hurled a final blast of fla at him.
The fire hit him squarely in the chest, and for the first ti, Aldric let out a roar of pain. His shadows faltered for a mont, and in that brief opening, Maeve struck again, pouring all her remaining power into the attack.
"Aldric!" Islinda scread.
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