Chapter 74 Sir Marcus's End
Elara's POV
Darkness swallowed me whole. Then pain yanked me back.
My eyes flew open. I lay on frozen ground, ice crystals melting under my back. Drakon knelt beside me, his hand pressed to my bleeding arm.
"Elara! Thank the gods." Relief flooded his face.
"How long was I out?" Everything hurt. My muscles screamed. My head pounded.
"Ten seconds. Maybe less." He tore fabric from his shirt to bandage my wound. "You collapsed, but your body fought back. That magic inside you is trying to keep you alive."
A groan came from nearby.
Sir Marcus. Still pinned to the ground by my ice spear through his arm. Blood pooled around the wound. He glared at me with pure hatred.
"You... witch," he spat. "I'll kill you for this."
Something inside me snapped. All the fear, all the pain he'd caused turned into cold fury.
"No." I pushed myself up despite Drakon's protests. "You won't hurt anyone ever again."
"Elara, you're too weak..."
"I need to do this." I limped toward Marcus. Each step sent agony through my body, but I didn't stop. "He tortured my sister. He forced me to betray you. He needs to answer for what he's done."
Marcus laughed, even pinned and bleeding. "Look at you, playing tough. You're still that scared seamstress inside."
"Maybe." I stood over him. Ice formed weakly in my shaking hands. "But that seamstress learned how to fight back."
"Big words." Marcus tried to yank his arm free. The ice held firm. "But you don't have the guts to kill me. You're too soft. Too weak. Just like your pathetic little sister."
White-hot rage exploded in my chest.
"Don't you dare talk about Lily!" Magic erupted from my palms. Not gentle this time. Wild and angry and powerful.
Ice encased Marcus's other arm. Then his legs. It crawled up his chest like living crystal. He struggled and cursed, but couldn't break free.
"Stop!" he screamed. "You're killing me!"
"You deserve worse." My voice didn't sound like mine anymore. Too cold. Too hard. "Do you know what you put Lily through? She's twelve years old. She cried herself to sleep every night in that dungeon because of you."
"She was just a tool..."
"She's a child!" I let more ice form. It crept up toward his throat. "You starved her. Threatened her. Made her think I'd abandoned her. All to control me."
Marcus's eyes went wide with real terror. "Please. I was following orders. Queen Morgana made me..."
"You enjoyed it." I crouched down so he could see my face. "I saw it in your smile every time you delivered her letters. Every time you described how scared she was. You liked hurting people."
"Elara." Drakon's gentle voice came from behind me. "You've won. He can't hurt anyone anymore."
"Winning isn't enough." Tears streamed down my cheeks. Hot against my cold skin. "He broke my sister. He broke me. He needs to pay."
The ice reached Marcus's chin. One more thought and it would cover his mouth. His nose. He'd suffocate in my frozen magic.
"Do it," Marcus wheezed. His bravado finally cracked. "If you're going to kill me, just do it!"
My hand trembled. The ice stopped growing.
I wanted him dead. Wanted him to suffer like Lily suffered. Like I suffered.
But Lily's face filled my mind. Not scared Lily from the dungeon. Happy Lily, laughing at one of my silly jokes. Sweet Lily, who cried when birds got hurt.
Would she want me to become a killer? Even for her?
"No." I pulled my magic back. The ice stopped creeping. "You're not worth losing myself over."
"What?" Marcus looked confused. Then hopeful.
"I won't kill you." I stood on shaking legs. "But you'll stand trial for everything you've done. Every crime. Every victim. The whole kingdom will know what kind of monster you really are."
"You fool!" Marcus snarled. "I'll escape. I'll come after you and your sister..."
"You'll never touch her again." Drakon stepped forward. His eyes glowed golden with dragon fury. "Elara showed you mercy. I won't be so kind if you threaten her family."
Smoke curled from Drakon's nostrils. Marcus went pale and silent.
"Good choice." Drakon turned to me. "That took real strength. I'm proud of you."
His words broke something inside me. I'd tried so hard to be strong. To fight. To protect everyone.
But I was so tired.
My legs buckled. Drakon caught me before I hit the ground.
"I've got you," he whispered. "Always."
The world spun. My magic was completely drained now. Used up defeating Marcus. Nothing left.
"Drakon?" My voice came out small and scared. "I can't feel my legs."
"That's the magical exhaustion. Your body needs rest." He lifted me gently in his arms. "We need to get you to safety. The battle's still raging."
As if summoning his words, an explosion rocked the forest. Trees shook. Distant screams echoed.
"The three armies," I remembered. "They're destroying each other."
"I know." Drakon's jaw clenched. He looked torn between protecting me and helping his kingdom. "But right now, you're my priority."
"Your people need you..."
"You need me more." He started walking, carrying me like I weighed nothing. "I won't lose you. Not again."
Something in his voice made my heart skip. The bond thread between us pulsed. Weak but there. Still connecting us despite everything.
"I thought you hated me," I whispered.
Drakon's steps faltered. "I tried to. I wanted to hate you after learning the truth." His arms tightened around me. "But hate requires not caring. And I've never stopped caring about you, Elara. Not for one second."
Hope bloomed in my chest. "Really?"
"Really." He looked down at me. His golden eyes were wet. "I love you. I'm still hurt and confused and I don't know if I can fully trust you yet. But I love you. That never changed."
Tears spilled down my cheeks. "I love you too. So much. I'm so sorry..."
"Later." He kissed my forehead gently. "Right now, focus on staying conscious. Please."
But darkness pulled at the edges of my vision. My body was shutting down, forcing rest to recover from the magical drain.
"Drakon," I managed. "There's something you need to know."
"What?"
"Princess Celestia and Queen Morgana..." My words slurred together. "Marcus said they're working together. Both want you dead."
Drakon stopped walking. "What?"
"Trap. All of this. They planned..." I couldn't finish. Unconsciousness dragged me under.
The last thing I felt was Drakon's panicked heartbeat against my cheek.
Then nothing but cold, dark sleep.
Somewhere far away, I heard Drakon shout my name. Felt him start running. Sensed his desperate fear through our fragile bond.
But I couldn't wake up. Couldn't help. Couldn't warn him that the real danger was just beginning.
My magic had saved me from Marcus. But it might have doomed Drakon instead.