Chapter 28 Chapter 28
Chapter 28 Chapter 28
Bailey’s PoV
After our visit to Idris, the magnificent red dragon, Benjamin and I left Walter to handle the rest. The dragon was finally asleep, and the chaos had calmed. We made our way back to the castle. Kara had telepathically summoned Benjamin, ordering him to bring me straight to Nathaniel’s chambers to prepare for the wedding ceremony. Miss Universe hated to be kept waiting.
The wedding was set for tonight. Judging by the sunlight, it was around five in the afternoon. I hadn’t realized how quickly the day had slipped by—everything since this morning had been a blur. I hadn’t even had the chance to think of an escape plan. Between Benjamin and Kara, I was constantly being watched, and both were far too skilled and perceptive to be easily deceived. Outsmarting them would be nearly impossible. And me? I was still a rookie—barely able to hold an energy ball without my heart threatening to explode.
That cursed heart pounded every time I felt stressed, and one more surge might actually kill me. I still didn’t know what Nathaniel planned after the wedding… or worse, what the First Born stood to gain. That voice in my head—the one that whispered madness—made me question my sanity. How had Nathaniel managed to suppress that lunatic? It seemed impossible to silence him. He was always there, coiled in the corners of my mind.
As we approached the castle gates, I couldn’t help but slow my steps. The towering doors stood two stories high, arched in an oval frame, carved with spiraling gothic patterns that glowed faintly under the sunlight. The castle itself was a marvel of ancient beauty—five massive round towers guarded its flanks, connected by high stone walls that stretched endlessly. Rows of arched windows shimmered with light, scattered in perfect symmetry across the facade.
Outside the gates, small homes and cottages dotted the grounds, belonging to the common folk who lived under Nathaniel’s rule. Statues of kings and warriors lined the bridge like eternal sentinels, immortalizing glories long past.
It was breathtaking. I had expected darkness—coldness, ruin—but this castle gleamed. It radiated life and quiet peace. How could something so beautiful belong to a man so cruel?
I didn’t understand this world or its people. Apart from Nathaniel and Kara, no one had shown me hostility. The guards, the servants—even Benjamin—treated me with unexpected civility. Still, I reminded myself not to get comfortable. Evil lurked in corners unseen, and this place would be my prison for now. There was no turning back. No escape… yet.
The ceremony had to happen. The First Born said it would stabilize my heart rate and help me control the power. But I knew the price—binding myself to Nathaniel would give him access to that same power. Control over me. My thoughts. My will. Would I become his puppet?
I shook my head, pushing the thought away. I’d deal with it when I must. I wasn’t going down without a fight. Let that bastard rot in Hell first.
Benjamin walked a few paces ahead, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp, always scanning. I suspected neither he nor Kara knew the full truth of what bound Nathaniel and me together. Only Lucian seemed aware. For now, that was a relief. If too many found out, it could put us both in danger—especially now, with the wedding looming.
Lucian had warned me yesterday: Nathaniel was more at risk. If I died, so would he. But if he died… I would live. After tonight, though, that balance would shift. One wrong move, and both of us could end up dead.
Why had I agreed to this again?
Oh, right—Spike. His life was still on the line because of me. Once the ceremony was over, I’d find a way to get him out of here. No matter what it took.
We arrived at Nathaniel’s chamber door, and as Benjamin opened it, we were met with a fuming Kara. Her arms were crossed, her face twisted in frustration.
“Where the hell were you, brother? I said five o’clock sharp!” she snapped, her tone cutting through the air.
Benjamin didn’t even flinch. “I ran into a situation with Idris on the way. I had to bring Miss Durant with me,” he said evenly.
“You what? You showed her the dragon without consulting His Majesty? Are you insane? He’ll have your head!” she barked, pacing.
“No harm was done,” Benjamin replied coolly. “Besides, His Majesty was otherwise occupied. The issue with Idris couldn’t wait.” He shrugged casually, clearly unbothered.
Kara’s expression was priceless—a mixture of shock and irritation. “Ugh, whatever! Your funeral.”
They really did sound like siblings. Now that I looked closer, I saw the resemblance—same eye color, similar jawlines, even the same height. But where Kara burned hot and sharp, Benjamin was calm and detached.
“Well,” Benjamin said, turning to me with a polite bow, “if you’ll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.”
He paused briefly, offering his hand. “Miss Durant, it was a pleasure.”
“Please, call me Bailey. ‘Miss Durant’ makes me sound ancient.” I smiled despite myself. He gave a faint nod, and then he was gone.
I turned to Kara, who was sitting stiffly at the edge of the bed, arms folded.
“You smell like that lizard,” she said bluntly. “We can’t have that. Go take another bath. Then we’ll prepare you for the rest.”
I was too exhausted to argue. She wasn’t wrong—I did smell faintly of dragon. A long bath sounded like the best thing that had happened to me all day.
Nathaniel’s PoV
The shadows of the forest coiled around me like smoke, whispering against the fog-dampened ground.
This place hadn’t always been like this. Once, it was bright—a lush sanctuary where Tristan and I played hide and seek among blooming trees and chattering birds. Now it was nothing but decay. The townspeople called it the Dark Forest, cursed and cold even in the heart of summer. The fog never lifted, the air bit like frost, and the creatures that once lived here had long since vanished—or become monsters.
The reason for it all stood rooted in guilt: my mother.
Her spirit was bound to this forest—by my own doing.
When Father lost himself to madness and we finally stopped him, Mother was mortally wounded. She wanted to pass peacefully into the afterlife… but Tristan begged me not to let her go. I was newly burdened then—the Dark Heart pulsing inside me, whispering promises of salvation. Against the First Born’s warning, I did the unforgivable.
I tethered her soul to the forest, binding it to the ancient Heart Tree at its center—once a fountain of light magic. Its blossoms used to glow at night like stars. Now it stood barren, every branch stripped bare, the magic tainted and blackened. My mother’s essence had become one with that corruption.
As I walked the familiar path, red and yellow eyes blinked from the fog—vampires, ghouls, maybe worse. They watched, hungry, but none dared approach. They knew whose domain this was.
I ignored them and pressed on until her voice came, drifting through the air like a haunting melody.
“You waste your time, Mother. These cheap tricks with fog don’t scare me.”
A pause. Then—
“Thanks to you, my dear boy, I have all the time in the world to perfect my methods.”
Her form coalesced from mist: tall, regal, beautiful even in death. Her caramel eyes shimmered with sorrow, her dark curls floating weightlessly, her gown woven of fog and moonlight. Once, she had been the embodiment of grace. Now she was an echo of grief.
“So, the only way to summon you these days is through chaos?” I muttered dryly.
“Well,” she replied with a coy smile, “since you never visit your mother anymore, I had to improvise.”
I rolled my eyes. “What do you want, Mother?”
She spread her arms, her voice dripping with amusement. “To congratulate my son on his upcoming nuptials.”
I froze. “How do you know about that?”
She smirked. “Please. I am spirit now—news travels faster in my realm than yours. I have eyes everywhere, Nathaniel. You think I don’t know about Tristan? Or that girl who shares your heart?” Her laughter was soft, mocking.
Perfect. My dead mother was gossiping about my love life.
“Careful, Mother. I bound you here—I can unbind you and cast you somewhere much worse.”
Her laughter deepened, almost melodic. “Darling, you can threaten me all you want, but in your current state, you couldn’t move a leaf.”
She wasn’t wrong. My powers were unstable, fractured. For now.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “After tonight, that will change. When I marry Bailey, my strength will return—and I’ll finally send you far away from here.”
Her eyes flickered with sudden understanding. “Ah. A full Moon wedding.” She tilted her head, thoughtful. “I see what you’re doing.”
She stepped closer, her tone softening. “Lucian must have warned you already—but I’ll do the same. Be careful, Nathaniel. Marrying without love can curse you both. The full Moon strengthens bonds, yes—but it also magnifies pain. If you turn against one another, the agony will be unbearable. And with the Dark Heart shared between you…” She sighed. “You’ll be bound by suffering.”
I smirked. “Then let her suffer. She stole what was mine. I’ll enjoy watching her break.”
Disgust flickered across her ghostly face. “You’re so much like your father it frightens me. The Heart didn’t create your darkness—it only amplified what was already there.” Her voice trembled with sorrow. “You and Tristan deserved better than the childhood we gave you. Please, son. Don’t let it consume you. Let this girl be your redemption.”
I laughed, a harsh, hollow sound. “Save your lectures. I have no intention of redemption.”
She sighed again, defeated. “So stubborn. So arrogant.”
Then she smirked, her mood shifting once more. “I want to meet her.”
“What?” I snapped. “Absolutely not.”
“Then I’ll keep tearing this forest apart. Maybe I’ll extend my chaos to the town—or the castle. I’m feeling rather lively these days.”
I clenched my fists. She knew she had me cornered. If she unleashed her wrath near the castle, it would draw unwanted attention. Damn her.
“Fine,” I ground out. “I’ll bring her tomorrow. But you’d better behave.”
Her lips curved into a satisfied smile. “Of course. I only wish to meet my future daughter-in-law.”
And with that, she dissolved back into the fog.
This would not end well.