*Briella*
My nerves were nearly causing to shake.
I did my best to keep busy over the past twenty-four hours. It really wasn’t difficult since I was a queen and the king was gone for a couple of days. I didn’t even have a choice in the matter since advisors and generals were now coming to to sign off on new laws being passed and any other huge decisions that needed to be made.
There was also a pile of paperwork that Kryzen hadn’t been able to get to that needed imdiate attention. I spent a major portion of the afternoon sifting through them. Politics still wasn’t my strongest subject, so I had to concentrate extra hard when I read those kinds of docunts.
The fact that I was worrying fiercely about Kryzen wasn’t helping matters. The day still went extrely slow despite all the tasks I had to complete. I was grateful that Alyna was able to take care of Emberly. Even if she wasn’t, we had maids and nannies that would do a fantastic job. I still would have liked the excuse to just cuddle with my daughter.
I longed for her comfort desperately as I spent the day worrying about Kryzen.
I forced myself to think positively. He had promised to co back and seed extrely confident about this mission. He had been working on improving his magic wielding, which would be needed against the dark lord.
It was Malphas we were talking about. He had already gone head-to-head with Tian, but I already knew he was nothing compared to Malphas. He held my powerful grandmother captive, and she had been a great priestess of the valley.
Kryzen had been so confident and fearless, but I wondered if he truly knew what he was up against.
I thought of the dark dreams I had as a kid of a dark palace with a sinister, shadowy figure. I had been at that abandoned palace before, long before it had been emptied. I closed my eyes and could see it, even though I hadn’t been there since I was an infant.
I shuddered to think that it was partially because of my ti in Malphas’ clutches that I had so special connection to Embervale. I had always viewed that connection as magical and wondrous. The possibility that it was Malphas who tied there made my stomach twist with dread.
“She’s been so good all day,” Alyna announced when I ca into the room later that night.
I smiled at her. Emberly was sleeping peacefully in my sister-in-law’s arms. She looked so happy, even while resting. I wandered over to them so I could gently bush so wispy locks away from my daughter’s forehead. “Thank you for staying, but you didn’t have to.”
Alyna’s jaw dropped. She actually looked offended as she put the hand that wasn’t holding Emberly against her chest. “I could think of no better way to spend the day than to take care of my niece.”
I sat in the chair next to her since Alyna was making no move to stand up. Honestly, I wasn’t looking forward to being alone knowing that Kryzen wasn’t coming back that night. “Thank you,” I said again. I grinned down at my sleeping daughter. “So was she an angel today?”
“The most angelic,” Alyna said, smiling fondly down at Emberly. She gave a wide-eyed look a mont later. “I probably don’t have to tell you just how bright she is.”
I giggled lightly. “No, but you could probably still surprise with any stories you have from your day with her.”
“She’s an angel, but she’s also very mature for her age,” Alyna told . “I worked with a lot of young kids while I was studying to be a healer. She’s gifted.”
“I think I know what you’re referring to,” I said. “She can already complete puzzles that she shouldn’t be able to do until she is twice her age. I suppose I shouldn’t be that surprised considering that both Kryzen and I have special abilities. It’s only natural that our daughter would share in that.”
“True,” Alyna said. “But it’s a bit more than just being gifted. She hasn’t exhibited any signs of wielding magic yet, has she?”
“No, not yet,” I said, looking down at Emberly thoughtfully. “I can just tell she is extrely bright. I swear that when I’m talking to her, she can understand a lot of the concepts. Her eyes are a little too knowing.”
“She’s going to be an extraordinary young lady,” Alyna said, looking down at Emberly with shimring eyes.
I nodded in agreent. Alyna carefully stood and placed my baby in my waiting arms. I cradled her and thanked Kryzen’s sister one more ti before she turned toward the door.
“Would you like to sleep in here tonight?” she asked , concern shining in her eyes.
I swallowed the lump in my throat but shook my head. “I appreciate it, but we’ll be alright,” I said. I gestured down to Emberly and gave Alyna a wry grin. “I won’t really be alone tonight anyway.”
Alyna didn’t look convinced but nodded. “I’ll just be down the hall if you need ,” she said. She reached out and pulled into her arms. Emberly, who was still sleeping, was snuggled between our chests. “It’s going to be alright. Don’t worry. Kryzen is even more stubborn and ruthless than you are. He’s going to be okay.”
I hugged her back with my free arm, leaning my cheek against her shoulder. I swallowed hard, my eyes filling with tears at the close contact. It didn’t help that Alyna looked so much like her brother. Looking into her eyes was so much like looking into Kryzen’s.
After Alyna left, I stood in the middle of the room for a bit just holding Emberly close and trying not to cry.
It wasn’t doing any good to worry, but Malphas had been a fear of mine since I was a child. I think a part of knew deep down that there would co a ti when I would be faced with his cruelty again. It almost seed like my destiny.
I took a calming breath and gently lowered Emberly into her crib. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake up. I carefully draped a small blanket over her, kissing her forehead tenderly.
I should have probably started getting ready for bed at that point, but I knew deep down that if I tried, I would just be lying there awake worrying about my mate. I crossed the room and stepped out onto the balcony, staring up at the glittering moon and then down at the gorgeous night flowers we had planted throughout the garden.
The beautiful flowers only blood at night and seed to glow the color of moonlight. I looked over to Emberly. She was still sleeping peacefully. I sighed and inhaled deeply, taking in the cool night air.
I felt a sudden urge go through . It was as if the night itself was calling to , beckoning outside.
Emberly would be fine for a few minutes, I reasoned. She was sound asleep, so I could take a quick stroll through the garden just to get so fresh air and clear my head.
I grabbed a thin cloak on my way out of the room but then froze when I started to open the door. There were guards on the other side of my door who likely wouldn’t let out of the garden on my own this ti of night. Even if it had been the middle of the day, they wouldn’t have let go on my own.
I stepped back out onto the balcony, peering over the edge to find guards just below the window. I bit back a curse, feeling the urgency growing in my veins. I felt suffocated suddenly like I needed to be outside or I would die.
I had to get out of there, even if it was just for a little bit. I looked up and saw a spot where I could grab the edge of the roof. I looked down to make sure the guards weren’t watching before I hopped up onto the ledge before jumping up, grabbed the roof’s edge, and pulled myself up.
I had never done this before but a sudden surge of energy was flowing through . I walked across the roof until I found a spot where I could climb down undetected. I used a pipe to secure myself. Using my years of military training, I was able to get down to the ground.
It was at that mont that I realized how crazy I was being. Emberly needed back ho with her. My shoulders sagged. Just as I was going to turn to head back to my daughter, I felt sothing pulling from deep within. My body was suddenly not my own as I started to walk through the grounds.
I resisted, but a bad feeling fell over when my body wouldn’t respond to my commands. My legs moved on their own accord, taking through the garden and into the woods. I tried to scream, but my voice wouldn’t work either. I couldn’t even open my mouth. Even my breathing seed to be controlled by an outside source.
My heart and mind were definitely still my own. I could think and feel that sothing was very wrong. As fear gripped , I could feel my heart threatening to beat its way out of my chest.
My feet were almost silent as they floated over the grass. Although I was very much aware of what was happening, my concept of ti was completely skewed. I must have walked for miles, but it felt like no ti had passed. It took a while to realize where my body was taking .
I tried to resist even harder when the mouth of a cave ca into view. I could barely make out the familiar rock stairway in the darkness, but my body practically flew down the stairs without any hesitation.
My breathing remained calm even though I was outright panicking on the inside, knowing where I was being dragged against my will.
That was when I realized the urge to go outside hadn’t been my own thoughts. Soone was putting thoughts in my mind, making act against my will.
I had no doubt that it was Malphas. He was controlling .
And I was completely helpless to stop it.
My head spun when I erged from the darkness and was standing at the entrance of the shadow city, the dark towers nacing in the distance.
My legs started to move toward the buildings and that’s when I lost consciousness, surrendering to the darkness.
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