Chapter 137 The First Warmth - Craven's POV

Chapter 137 The First Warmth - Craven's POV
I turned toward her. Mira stood several feet away, holding the small ring between her fingers. Her expression was far too serious for me to believe that this would go well.

Darren glanced between us. “Already?”

“Yes, the ring is ready to try again. Your biology is close to Soren’s, so I only altered it a little and hope that this time it’ll work.”

His eyebrows shot up. "Already? But you said before—”

Mira gave him an irritated look. "It has been ready for hours. I needed Craven to be willing to try it again."

"I’m willing,” I admitted. 

“But you were burned badly and this may go the same,” Darren said softly. “Are you sure?”

“For Adele, I will do anything,” I murmured. "Give it to me."

Mira's attention snapped back to me. "Craven—"

"Give it to me,” I demanded.

She hesitated. I knew what she was thinking. She was afraid that this would fail and that I would lash out because of it. I wouldn’t harm her or anything. Deep down, I knew she was trying her best and that I was only being brutish because of Adele being away from me.

If she had been safe, then I wouldn’t be rushing the ring.

Right now, though, I didn’t care. I couldn't spend another night on this island.

I couldn't spend another day wondering where Adele was or what Corwin was doing to her. Every moment I remained here was another moment she was alone with my brother.

And I knew Corwin. I knew exactly what he wanted. He wanted her as his queen. With her status and what she was, he could use her. 

Mira had told me enough over the last three days that had pushed me toward that decision. 

With her, there was the potential to rule all.

But more than that, he always wanted what was mine. It didn’t matter that he was the oldest and the heir to the kingdom. I would have never had that. He didn’t want me to have anything that he didn’t.

I never understood it either. I didn’t remember doing anything to him that would warrant his feelings. He had it all. The only thing he didn’t have was a mate.

But Adele wasn’t something anyone could take. She had chosen me and now Corwin had taken that choice away. I would kill him for it.

Mira gently extended her hand, the ring gleaming. “Take it and try it now. If you feel any burning, the door to my shop is open. Flee.”

I looked at it once before closing the distance, snatching the ring from her palm and sliding it on. I stood there for a moment, wondering if it would be just like last time.

As I waited, the sun climbed.

I continued to wait, even as the first rays gently moved toward me. 

“Maybe you should get closer to her shop,” Darren said, his voice barely audible.

“It’s going to be fine,” I murmured. “I’m fast enough if things go wrong.”

I was used to things going wrong. At least if the ring worked, I could travel during the day. I could be of more use.

If it didn't, I would have to hide beneath the boat until we reached the mainland.

That would make everything harder. I couldn't afford harder. Not when Adele was waiting.

The first beam of light reached my boots. I swallowed hard. This was it. One more movement and I should feel if it’ll burn me or not. I closed my eyes and took a breath, but the pain never came.

I waited and waited, then cracked one eye open. The beam of light was firmly on my face.

Darren gasped. “You’re not…burning.”

I opened both eyes, taking in the sun for the first time in my life. Though I had seen light through windows before, I had never felt its warmth. I had never seen the sun like this.

“Nothing,” I murmured. “I feel nothing.”

“Do your eyes hurt?” Mira asked.

“No, my eyes are fine. I can—” Words failed me.

A creature of darkness finally stood in the light which should have burned him.

I lifted my face toward the sky, allowing the warmth to spread across my skin. It was strange. I had spent decades believing that sunlight was something I would never experience.

Now it was touching me.

I slowly lifted my hand, watching as the light fell across my fingers. Nothing happened. There was no burning, no pain, and no smoking skin. I could feel the warmth.

A laugh escaped me. I couldn’t stop it.

Darren stared at me as if I had finally lost what remained of my mind. "You're laughing."

I looked at him. "I can stand in the sun."

"Yes, I can see that,” he said, his brow rising.

"I can stand in the sun,” I repeated.

"I heard you the first time."

I looked down at my hand again. This small ring had changed everything.

I could leave. I could chase Adele without worrying about the sun. I could search for her during the day. I could fight my way into the castle if I had to.

I could get to her.

The thought erased the last bit of amusement from my face. "I can go to her."

Mira's expression softened. "Yes."

I looked toward the woods. “We can leave before nightfall.”

Darren groaned. “I knew you were going to say that. I’ll get the others and tell them we are leaving now.”

My gaze shifted to his as tears welled in the corners of my eyes. “Thank you.”

He tilted his head to the side, confusion flashing across his features. “For what?”

“For everything.”

He rolled his eyes. “When you’re king, you owe me.”

With a laugh, he walked away, and I stood there basking in the sun. I couldn’t believe it.

“What are you going to do if she changes her mind and wishes to take them as her lovers as well?”

Those words jerked me back to reality. I looked at Mira, who was innocently gazing at me.

“What? She chose me.”

“It’s not done until she firmly tells them that they are free to take mates,” she murmured. “That is what the last queen had to do. She has to either claim them or tell them that they are free.”

“And you didn’t think to tell Adele this while she was here?” I asked, shaking my head. “And how do you know all this? You always seem to know things about the last queen.”

She swallowed hard. “I just do.”

Her eyes fell to the ground, and I knew then she was hiding something. When Soren and I shared her as a blood source, she always did that when she didn’t want to tell us something. Normally, Soren would get it out of here.

“You’re hiding something.”

“Maybe, I am,” she murmured. “But it doesn’t matter what I know.”

“Yes, it does. It does matter and I need to know.”

She shook her head. “If I told you, you would never believe me.”