Chapter 185

I scream and thrash against Jren, trying as hard as i can to break his hold on me, but nothing works, and if i don’t break free soon, my mother is going to die, and i cannot live with that. I cannot lose her.

“Stop Mihen!” I shout when he steps forward, my father blocking his path to my mother. “Don’t do this!”

Dieter growls, lifting his sword. “Listen to my daughter, i will not allow you to kill my wife.” he says coldly, “If you continue on this path, you will die.”

Mihen laughs hysterically, his eyes on me, and not my father, “Make sure you watch, princess, because your father is next.”

I scream again, punching Jren in the thigh, but still, he does not let me go. He holds me in place as though i weigh nothing.

Will no one stop this madness? I cannot just let him kill my mother, she came here to save me, but i never wanted her to give her life for mine.

I wanted to live alongside her, i didn’t want to be the cause of her demise. I'll never be able to live with myself.

My father steps forward, holding out his hand, to my mother, “Use your gift, Lucinda, make them shift.”

My mother looks torn, her eyes glancing between my father and i, but she does it, she reaches out her hands and calls upon her powers, but nothing happens. No one screams, no one moves, and my mother drops her hands, confused.

“Nice try, but your powers will not work here, not whilst i am alive.” Mihen laughs louder, “My power negates all others.”

Dieter looks torn now also, he knows that without the powers they had, they are just as weak as anyone else, just as weak as me against the general.

I've never heard of one power negating another, but it must be true, because my mother’s ability is strong, stronger than any other I've known. Or so i thought.

“Stop this, I'll obey you, but only if you stop.” I shout, trying to shift Mihen’s attention back to me. “I’ll follow you anywhere, but spare my mother.”

“Isn’t this just so sweet, a mother and daughter willing to trade their lives for the other.” Mihen smiles at me, “You are brave princess, but that will not help you, not here.”

“Please.” I beg, tears streaming down my face.

Mihen walks towards me, brushing the hair from my face, “Hush now, princess, it’ll only hurt your heart, not your body.” He turns back to my father, “How about i let you choose, King Dieter, i can either take the life of your Queen, or i can take the lives of all of your children.”

My father’s eyes drift to me, but he says nothing, he won’t choose, he cannot. My mother is his mate, he’ll be weak without her. It is why he fought so hard to obtain her all those years ago. She is the one fated to be the other half of his soul.

My mother walks around my father, placing a hand on his chest, “I have lived long enough, but our children have yet to have tasted their futures.” she smiles sadly, “I will do this, for them.” she turns to me, “I will do this for you, Cay.”

“don’t be foolish, Lucinda, you have plenty left to live for.” My father growls, grabbing her wrist, “I won’t allow you to do this.”

“You have no choice but to let me, Dieter.” My mother snaps back, her eyes full of rage. “There is nothing you can do that will stop me from protecting the lives of my children, even if you will not.”

Mihen smirks, moving forward whilst we were all distracted by the argument my mother and father were having with one another, and he lifts his sword, my eyes spotting the action a second too late.

I scream as he slices through my mother’s back with his sword, the blade piercing her heart as a gasp escapes her, my mother’s body crashing into the mud.

Blood pools under her as my father stands and stares, and for the first time, i see true pain in his eyes as he watches the woman he married die on the ground.

Jren releases me as i rush straight for my mother, turning her body over so that i can see her face, and she does the strangest thing, she smiles at me, tears in her eyes. But they are not tears of fear of pain, they are tears of relief, she is glad to be dying.

What exactly has my mother been through? Why would she choose death over life?

I cannot live without her, she is my guide in this world, but more importantly, she is my best friend.

“Mum.” I sob, pressing my hands against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.

“It’s ok, sweet girl, I'm glad i got to have all these years with you.” Her eyes grow heavy, and she sighs, “There was a point where i didn’t know if i would ever make it back to you, but i did. I made it, and so did you.”

“Mum please, don’t die.” i cry, holding her tightly, blood pooling on my hands.

“Live your life, Cay, my beautiful girl.” She whispers, “I have always been so proud of you.”

I look at my father for help, but he just stands there, his eyes glazed over with tears he will not allow himself to shed.

I look at the soldiers, but they are all alert, staring at the enemy, no one moves to help her. No one even tries.

I look back down at her, at the woman who gave me life, and i cry harder than i have ever cried before, she’s the one who is beautiful, inside and out.

She has always been that way, choosing others before herself, and now she has given her life for me.

“Mum please.” I sob, choking on my own breath, “Please don’t die.”

There is no response, just a small smile, and i have no idea what it means, is she trying to reassure me? Why isn’t she trying to live?!

My mother’s body suddenly goes limp in m arms, my bare legs, the shirt i took, my face, my hands, all of it covered in her blood. I'm soaked in it.

I shake her, but her eyes remain on the sky, staring at the clouds, “Mum wake up.” i say, “You have to wake up.”

Mihen walks up behind me, pulling me from her body, and right now, I'm too shocked to fight back, too weak. I can’t take my eyes off her body.

I can’t take my eyes off her blood.

She's dead, my mother, the Queen, is dead.

And it is all my fault.