Chapter 206 Chapter 0206

Chapter 206 Chapter 0206
Lucien's POV

I grabbed Aerith's hand and ran; there was no time to think, no time to look back, no time to wonder whether the kingdom was already falling apart completely. All I wanted to do was to get away. A lot had happened in one night, from finding out about my mother infidelity to me killing her and to think of all the men in the world, she is to have an affair with is, it has to be that power-hunger thirsty man, I don't think I could ever accept that man as my father, for everything he did to Aerith and he even tried to kill his own son. If I ever said Silas was the worst man on Earth, then my biological father, Raezor, was the devil walking on Earth. I looked at my palm; the ring Silas had given me was still resting there.

Silas may had given me seal of power, but I knew his sons would never accept that quietly, especially when they found out, I am not their father's son, they never did like me when they think I was their brother and now that I wasn't, I know the moment they realized their father had given me seal of power, they wouldn't think twice but kill me. I know if they came for me, they wouldn't spare Aerith, my fingers tightened around hers. "Keep running," I told her, not letting go.

"Are we really running away?" She asked; she stumbled slightly,  trying to keep up with me.

"Yes, we had to leave." She went silent, I know she had lot of things to say, I know she didn't want to leave Silas behind, I understand her, she never had a father, and now she finally found one, she didn't want to leave him, "I know you don't want to," I said suddenly, "but this is for the best, maybe, we could come back when there is a new king that love us, a king like Drayce." Her eyes went to me.

"But I thought you were the new king?" My head tilted to her.

"I am not your father's son, and I know those brothers of mine would never accept me as their king; they will kill me," I said in one breath. Aerith went silent again, then she huffed. I thought she wanted to insist on staying back, and if she did, I would let her.

"Where are we going?" She asked suddenly, my gaze moved to her, she was picking me again, even when this would mean not living the life of a princess.,

"Anywhere but not here," I said. The sky rumbled immediately after I said that; it was as if they were mad at my decision. A deafening boom echoed through the corridors, followed by screams from somewhere outside. The war was still going on, and I think it had reached the palace. I could feel the panic spreading through the kingdom like wildfire. I pulled Aerith closer. "We don't have much time." She look at me, and despite the terror in her eyes, the hurt in her heart, there was something else, she trusted me, she wanted to be with me, and that made my chest ache, I had promised her, I would find a way to protect her, I had promised to take her away from here after the king's birthday but I still had no idea where to bring her. I tried to teleport, but it was nothing. I tried again; it was still nothing. Damn it!" Aerith looked at me.

"What happened?" 

"I can't teleport inside the dragon palace without the king's approval." I knew that already, but desperation had made me try it. The palace had ancient wards woven into its walls; you can teleport into it, but you can't teleport from inside to outside. It was impossible because they thought that was the only way to trap their enemies. 

If I am to do that, I need the king's permission, and right now I didn't have one. "We have to run," I said. We raced through the corridor; just a few more steps ahead and the exit would come into view. Freedom was so close I could almost taste it, then someone stepped into our path. I stopped so suddenly that Aerith nearly crashed into my back. It was Thalion, the missing man. There he stood at the entrance of the hallway, looking so calm and unharmed; he was nothing like a man whose kingdom is under attack. His clothes were still neat, his hair well arranged. I looked at him, confused; how could he still be whole when the kingdom is falling apart? I guess he noticed my curious face, and he laughed; my grip around Aerith's hand tightened. "Get out of my way," I growled. Thalion tilted his head.

"Running away brother?"

"I said move." I pulled Aerith behind me. Thalion's eyes flickered toward her; something about his expression made my stomach twist. I knew they were related, but I didn't like the way he was looking at her.

"Lucien!" Aerith whispered behind me.

"Stay behind me," I mouthed, Thalion chuckled.

"You really are predictable." I took a step toward him.

"Whatever game you are playing, Thalion, I don't have time for it."

"You are right." His smile widened. "You didn't have much time at all. My brows furrowed, and just like that, boom, the world exploded; an earth-shattering scream tore through the palace, the ground beneath my feet shook violently, throwing me sideways.

"Aerith!" I screamed when our hands disentangled; dust erupted from the ground, and a smile filled the air. I couldn't tell if I was still inside the corridor or in the open. I reached for her, my fingers caught the air. Aerith!" I called out desperately. I couldn't see anything; I couldn't feel anything. The air was thick with dust. Something crashed behind me. I coughed, trying to clear my eyes. "What the hell is going on?" Thalion laughed, not nervously, not fearfully; he actually laughed like a man watching a great plan unfold exactly as he had wanted it.

"Enjoy your little gift!"

"What?" I spun around. "Thalion, what did you do?" He was already backing away. "Aerith!" I called trying to reach for her, but my fingers closed around empty air again. My heart stopped. No, I looked down at my hand; it was empty. "Aerith!" I pushed through the smoke, "Aerith, where are you?" I called desperately; she was right here, with her fingers intertwined with mine. I could still feel the phantom warmth of her fingers in my mind. I dropped to my knees and searched through the dust. "Aerith!" I called again, then I heard a metallic crash; something enormous dropped from above. I barely had time to look up when a massive cage slammed around me. "Fuck!" I struggled backward; the iron bars surrounded me before I could react. I grabbed them. "Let me out!" I slammed my shoulder against the cage, but the bars didn't even move, I did that again, still nothing, then the floor beneath me began to glow, blue flames, erupted around the cage, my blood ran cold, as they circled me like a living wall, "What the fuck?" I jumped backwards; the heat struck my skin. I reached for my magic, yet it hit a dead end. My dragon stirred violently inside me, then he went still, as if he had fallen asleep. "No!" I clenched my fist. "Wake up!" I reached deeper into my dragon; my power was there, I could feel it, but something was blocking it. Something had wrapped around my magic like chains. I slammed my palms harder against the bars. "Who is there? Let me out!" Then I heard a familiar laugh from the smoke. Thalion stepped into view; he looked almost amused. "What madness is this?" I growled; he smiled.

"I told them," he walked closer, "I told the Faeries that you kidnapped their princess." My blood ran cold; my eyes widened in disbelief.

"What stupid thing have you done?" I roared while Thalion shrugged.

"Isn't Aerith their princess, the daughter of Valerie, the woman her father raped and killed her lover?" My jaw tightened; I can't believe this stupid man who calls himself a prince. "Didn't you take her away?"

"You lying bastard, you could do anything just to get what you want," I grabbed the bars and shook them.

“Of course, I could even kill my father.”

"Why would you do that?" Thalion's smile disappeared, for the first time in years, I saw the hatred in his eyes for me.

"Because I want you dead and I want Aerith gone."

"Aerith is your sister, your blood..."

"I know that." My eyes bulged. He knows. He laughed humorlessly. "I know she is my sister, and I know that the mate of the chosen one will become the next king." I looked at him, lost; he knew and still planned this.

"You will kill your blood because of the throne?"  

"Didn't your father kill his brother for the throne, so why can't I?" My heart pounded.

"You are insane."

"No," he stepped closer, "I am finally being honest." Distant sounds reached my ears, at first, I couldn't understand them, then I heard wings, hundreds of them, my eyes slowly lifted toward the sky, through the cage, shadows moved across the sky, the Faeries were descending, not dozens of them but hundreds, I didn't even know the faeries were still this many. Their wings filled the sky as they flew towards me; my stomach dropped.   

"Thalion," I called

"Good luck."

"Let me out!" I screamed, then summoned my magic again. It was still silent. "Let me out, please!" I begged the demon as I slammed both palms against the cage. My power refused to answer; my dragon remained silent. Thalion stepped backward.

"You can't fight them like this," I glared at him.

"Open this cage!"

"I would love to," he leaned toward the bars, "but then you would survive, and I don't want that." he blew me a mocking kiss, then turned and ran.

"Thalion!" I called. He disappeared into the smoke. I turned toward the Sky; the faeries were almost upon me. "Wait!" I screamed to the sky, "You have to listen to me; you are being lied to!" But none of them listened to me. The first blast of fire struck the ground beside me. I threw myself backwards. Another explosion rocked the kingdom, then another. Blazing flames surrounded the cage; they climbed higher, twisting around the bars. "Stop!" I tried to summon my magic for the second time; still nothing. Then another fireball slammed into the cage. I screamed. The flames burned against my skin. "I am not your enemy!" But the Faeries only attacked harder, I shielded my face with my arms. "Aerith!" That was all I could think about. I hoped she was fine; I hoped Thalion didn't find her as well. Another blast struck. I dropped to my knee; my hand trembled, my magic was still trapped, my dragon silent, and these monsters believed I kidnapped their princess. Thalion planned all these, he had separated Aerith from me and make sure I couldn't defend myself, another wave of fire came crashing down, I screamed as the blue flames swallowed the cage, my blood drop to the ground, then a roar tore through the whole chaos, everything stopped, the Faeries froze in midair, the flames suddenly flickered, and I slowly raised my head, a powerful growl rolled through the atmosphere, then a voice thundered across the ruins.

"Let him go."