The New Emperor

The New Emperor
Gatrina’s POV…

Two more days. That was all it had been since Jarox asked me to become his queen. Two days since I said yes. But before we could think about marriage, there was something far more important that had to happen. Jarox had to become emperor.

And now, I stood on the balcony of the palace, watching it happen. Below us, New Lagos was filled with people. Krugs. Humans. Soldiers. Families. Ministers. Lords. Masters. Everyone had gathered to witness the beginning of a new era.

I looked toward the center of the balcony. Jarox was on his knees. He was dressed in royal garments, the fabric flowing around his body as the priest stood before him. The imperial crown rested upon a ceremonial platform beside them, waiting for the final moment.

The priest began speaking. "Do you, Galatian Jarox Girth, accept the responsibility of the throne?"

Jarox raised his head. "I do."

"Do you swear to protect the empire?"

"I swear it."

"Do you swear to bring strength where there is weakness, justice where there is oppression, and peace where there is war?"

"I swear."

The priest paused. "And do you swear to preserve the Legacy of Yahweh and honor the purpose for which your bloodline was created?"

Jarox's eyes moved across the crowd. For a moment, they found mine. I smiled. Then he turned back toward the priest. "I swear."

The priest lifted the crown. The crowd became completely silent. Then he placed it upon Jarox's head. "The empire has a new emperor."

Jarox rose. And the crowd erupted. "ALL HAIL THE EMPEROR!"

Their voices rolled across New Lagos. Jarox raised both hands. The cheering grew louder. I watched him standing there, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to believe in something. Hope. Not the fragile kind. Not the kind that disappeared whenever something went wrong. Real hope.

There would still be battles. I knew that. Feran was dead, but his empire wasn't simply going to disappear overnight. There were still Krugs who hated humans. There were still humans who hated Krugs. There were still people who wanted power. And somewhere out there was Abigail.

I didn't know where she was. I didn't know what she had become. But I knew she would return. And when she did, we would have to be ready. I looked toward the palace behind us. Trix was still lying unconscious in the healing wing. I believed she would wake up. I had to believe it. She had survived too much to simply disappear now.

I looked back at Jarox. The new emperor. My future husband. Maybe, just maybe, we could change everything. Maybe humans and Krugs could finally live together. Maybe Yahweh's Legacy could finally mean what it was always supposed to mean. And maybe tomorrow will be better than yesterday.

I smiled. For the first time in a long time, I believed it. The new emperor had risen. And with him came the possibility of a new world.

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Abigail’s POV…

The soil was dead. I knelt in the dirt and dragged my fingers through it. Nothing. No life. No moisture. No trace of anything that could grow.

Ajegunle had become one of the wastelands scattered across the empire. Several miles from Ibasa, far enough from the major cities that nobody cared what happened here. That made it useful.
I looked around. Broken structures. Rusting metal. Collapsed walls. Empty streets. The perfect place to begin. I picked up a handful of soil and let it fall between my fingers.
"Not yet." I stood. "But soon."

Something would grow here. Something new. Something that had never existed before. I would plant it myself—and nurture it with the blood of those who would try to stop me.

A sound suddenly came from behind me. The intentional snap of a twig. I turned. There she was. Amara.

She was sitting a few yards away, casually carving an apple with a knife before taking another bite. She looked almost amused. "Want some?"

I stared at her. "How did you find me?"

She finished chewing. "I'm a tracker." She stood and tossed the apple core aside. "I'd be a pretty terrible Killer if I couldn't find someone who didn't want to be found."

She began walking toward me. I didn't move. She wasn't here to attack me. I could tell.

"What do you want?"

Amara stopped several feet away. "I want to fight for you. I want to help you."

"Why?"

"Because someone is going to have to."

I looked at her. "I don't need anyone."

"You will. The entire empire is going to come after you eventually." She took another step. "Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But they will."

"And you think you can protect me?"

"I know I can help you."

I studied her. She wasn't afraid. That was interesting. "Why?"

She shrugged. "Because I don't think this world can stay the way it is. Humans have suffered. Krugs have suffered. Personally, I’ve lost everything I’ve ever cared about because of the state of the world. Everyone keeps fighting because nobody knows how to stop. I want to help change that."

I remained silent. She continued. "Whatever you are planning, whatever you're trying to accomplish, I want to be there."

I looked into her eyes. She believed what she was saying. That was enough. It wouldn’t hurt to have an ally for once. Everyone else has been trying to kill me this entire time. And she was useful. She had skills I could use. 

I turned away. "Come with me."

Amara blinked. "That's a yes?"

I started walking. "Try to keep up."

She quickly followed. "Where are we going?"

I didn't answer immediately. The wasteland stretched ahead of us. The wind moved through the ruins. I kept walking. Then I finally spoke. "We're going back to where it all started."

Amara frowned. "Where?"

I looked ahead. "The same place it will end."

She didn't ask another question. She simply followed. I kept walking. I wasn't finished. Not even close. The world believed it had won. The humans believed they had survived. The Krugs believed their empire had been saved. And the new emperor believed he could finally bring peace.

Perhaps he could. Perhaps he couldn't.

But peace had always been defined by those who survived long enough to write its history. I knew what I wanted. No more separation. No more hatred. No more borders between species. No more humans and Krugs. One people. One family.

And if millions had to die before that world could exist, then so be it.

I would cleanse this world of its sins. And when I returned, I wouldn't be the frightened child they once dragged from a laboratory. I wouldn't be Trix's creation. I wouldn't be Feran's weapon. I wouldn't be anyone's experiment. I would be the bridge; I would be Abigail.

And this time, the world would listen. The future waited ahead. And I was coming for it.



THE END OF BOOK ONE…

ABIGAIL WILL RETURN IN BOOK TWO (HIS HYBRID BRIDE)