Chapter 65 The Forbidden

Chapter 65 The Forbidden
Cold sweat formed on my forehead as I watched that black, smoky Divine Link intertwine around our wrists.  My magic faltered. 

And my mind, melting. 

Alfonso groaned as I accidentally pressed on his wound when I leaned closer.  But I had gone deaf over the loud beats of my heart as I reached for his golden mask. The remaining material hiding his true identity from me. 

“Hestia…” 

I swallowed hard as I started to lift the mask, bracing myself, when…

“Hestia!”  “Your Highness!” 

My hand automatically moved away as soon as I heard hurried footsteps coming from the lower decks. Castiel, Augustus, and Kieran came out rushing, followed by Mischa, whose eyes were glowing in the dark as he glared at my hand. 

Kieran ran towards me, noticing the patterned circular marks on my skin. He scooped me up, inspecting my body. “Are you alright? Your wolf called us through the Divine Link…” 

Castiel ran towards the railing, scanning the waters, while Augustus swept through the deck to see if there was an intruder on board. Mischa, on the other hand, protectively took Alfonso into his arms and led him back to his quarters. 

His wrist didn’t have the link anymore. 

I sighed and closed my eyes, massaging my temples.  “It’s nothing. Probably a sea beast.” 

I glanced at the waters once more before Kieran shut the door behind us. Castiel and Augustus remained on deck, assigning more of their men to guard through the night. 

But should I really be worried about that siren, or the enemy Prince on board among us?

What was that earlier? Why did we have a Divine Link together? Only the Stranger had that link with me…

THOSE thoughts festered in my mind until we reached the Arcadian Isles three days later. Alfonso and Mischa left the ship without much word, as if in a rush. 

Alfonso shot me one last glance as he stepped onto the shore of the isles, before turning away. As if he were inviting me. As if he were waiting for me to do something. 

“Hestia.” 

I jolted and moved away from the railing, only to see Castiel looking back at me. He shot the leaving party a glance before talking once more. “Are you troubled about the Red Prince and his aide?” 

I shook my head, grabbing him by the arm to drag him away from the railing. “It’s nothing. It just seemed strange to me that they chose that island for a mere vacation.” 

Castiel clicked his tongue. “As much as it seemed suspicious, we can’t break our treaty with them until the two-month ceasefire is over. We can’t risk the trials going south.” 

I didn’t answer. After all, Castiel was right. 

It felt selfish of me to worry about Divine Links and my mate’s ex when our kingdom was on the brink of an invasion we weren’t even sure if we could survive. 

I need to win the trials. I need the crown. I need the power. 

I know that Medea and Father would betray the whole Lycan Kingdom in a heartbeat. And if she would ever sit on that throne…

I should keep in my hard, thick skull that if a betrayer sits on the throne, Alfonso and his father would benefit greatly, and—

“Prepare yourself. We’ll arrive on the Forbidden Island in an hour,” Castiel said, before gently patting my shoulder. “I wish you a safe and fruitful third trial, Hestia Locke.” 

An hour passed, and the harsh afternoon sunlight burned my skin more than the cruel salty winds. Kieran slung over his shoulder a massive burlap bag carrying three days’ worth of food and necessities, along with his weapon. 

I adjusted the messenger bag hanging over my shoulder, nervously fidgeting with the strap as a couple of Black Wolves lowered down the plank to the shore of the Forbidden Island. The golden sword Uncle Reuben gave me weighed heavily on my body. 

Mother explicitly forbade the use of modern weapons on the island. Even swords and axes were nothing but to be used to cut down a thick vine or two. The place was reeking of magic. 

Pure, unregulated, uncontrolled magic. The kind that would swallow you whole if you weren’t powerful enough to go against it. 

There’s a reason why this trial was reserved for the strongest of the candidates. 

“Mother… protect me with Your Divine might…” I whispered as Kieran grabbed me by the hand and jumped off the ship. 

“Oh, you worrywart. When did I even forsake you?” Mother’s words echoed in my mind as I slowly got up, a crashing wave of unease crashing over my body as the overwhelming amount of ancient magic washed over me.  “Just be careful of fake trees. A lot of my pets on the island had grown restless, wanting to leave and see the world, and they’d do anything to do so.” 

I couldn’t even see past the thick bushes near the shore, let alone make out a trail leading up to the elevated parts of the island. And even though Kieran stood beside me, I still felt… uneasy. 

Castiel dropped off Augustus and Medea on the opposite part of the island. As soon as we saw a bright red pillar of light pierce through the sky, Kieran and I wasted no time traversing through the thick bushes.  

Three days might not be enough to go through the whole island. That is, if we’re even lucky to survive that long. 

Kieran clicked his tongue as he chopped off another thick clump of vines blocking our way. Aside from that, there was nothing else that crossed our path. 

And somehow, that made me feel more anxious. 

“If this continues, I might consider this as the easiest trial—”

“Sshh!” I scolded Kieran as a playful grin formed on his lips. “Don’t let your guard down. We don’t even know what might happen to us.” 

Before I could even finish my sentence, the ground began to rumble, as the massive land underneath our feet began to crack and separate into two. 

Kieran lunged to grab my hand, but it was too late—he watched in horror as I plunged into the deep ravine below, which was once a flat ground covered by thick foliage. 

It was an infamous rumor that one of the reasons why nobody gets out of the Forbidden Island was that it changed its terrain and forests as often as it wanted, keeping everything in but almost nothing out. 

And now, I’ve managed to prove that the rumor was true. 

I felt my bones crunch as I hit a massive boulder, while Kieran’s voice echoed from the top of the ravine, calling for my name. 

But how would he even reach me?

I could feel thousands of eyes glaring at me as I slowly faded out of my consciousness, sending shivers through my weakened body. 

“Mother… is this the end of the trials for me?” I softly asked as I put my last strength into lying on my back and seeing the blue sky above me, a wave of nausea overcoming my body as I was reminded of my fate a year ago.

“Help…”