When the need to survive was strong, the will to fight was even stronger. I need to save him, I need to get my Armand away from the deranged elven king.
Wings or no wings, I will try my hardest to save him, the fallen angel deserves his freedom. He will not wither away in a cold, filthy dungeon.
*****
Tula was back to help me get dressed, the dark green color was starting to annoy me but I let her do her job. It was not her fault that I was in such a position though I did ask her about Nicodemus and Tordis and the other Concubi demons within the palatial walls.
"I didn't remember your family reign much, my parents didn't survive the great slaughter. I was young when I arrived in the elven kingdom with my uncle. He passed away a couple of years ago from old age." She shrugged trying to make it sound as if she had it better than the rest.
Did she?
"Tell me about the others, your friends, your lover? mate?"
She giggled when she heard the word mate. Tula had just started weaving the intricate part of the soft material against my naked waist.
"I don't have any, I've been busy taking care of my uncle then after he passed away Nicodemus took me to work inside the palace, probably out of pity. But he gave me a job here, see... his lover Tordis, he likes me. I guess finding a mate had never occurred to me, I never see the point in finding one. We'd all die, sexual pleasure is achievable with anyone else, survival is temporary while death is inevitable."
I couldn't blame her for her thinking cause I used to think the same, up until I met Armand. And finding him, feeling the love I have for him convinced me that I need to get him out of my mess. Rescue him, get us all out of this fuckery and back to his quaint little kingdom with our dragons and his flights of warriors.
Tula had impressed me, I looked gorgeous, even with the ugly royal color that I didn't want to wear. "Oh, Tula, you're so talented." My hands smoothed the invincible crease of the royal cloth.
"Thank you, it's you who are beautiful, my queen."
Her last word made the knot in my stomach grow, I was nervous. I didn't want to be the Queen, knowing that my true king was shackled in the filthy dungeon under me.
I let Tula usher me out of my chamber and Nicodemus was already waiting for me along with Cato. They both were to my sides when Tula stayed back and offered her faintest smile, it was as if she knew I was heading off to be sentenced to live out my nightmare.
The court was decorated with all the greens and gold I'd ever seen in my entire life. It would be beautiful if my future was not resting in the whole event itself. The king was already waiting. I recognized his elf bitch standing to his other side. The only creature who was wearing his color with the most exotic-looking material fitted like a glove on her voluptuous body.
His guards, his guests, and the rest of his elven kingdom residents were present at the court to witness the ceremony. All dressed to perfection, I'd feel special if not knowing that I was proceeding to give my future away to be bound by king Elegast.
Cato stayed behind while Nicodemus, walked me down the court passing through many eager eyes until I was at the King's side.
"My wings, I'm not doing this without assurance," I whispered low enough to only be heard by him. The king chuckled, raising his eyebrow, his hand gripping my elbow in a bruising manner making me hiss in pain.
"The upper right corner on the third floor," he paused, directing his gaze, and mine followed but saw nothing, "your precious Armand and your carefully preserved wings," he put his hand on top of my eyelids before he enchanted a spell in my ear. I recognized the spell and I knew exactly what I'd be seeing when I opened my eyes and directed my gaze to the said corner above.
Armand was looking furious, his wrists were bloodied, and his naked upper body was visible with bruises. But it was his eyes that penetrated my gaze, then my focus shifted to the dark wings flapping beside him and suddenly my back ached with throbbing pain. The elven king did have my wings, they were still alive and waiting for me.
"Those things you want will still be there after you vowed to be my queen." The king dared to laugh when I knew I was clenching my jaw tightly, desperately holding myself from blurting out numerous curses from the tip of my tongue. The coldness sipped into my bones, and for the longest time, I couldn't peel my gaze away from Armand's.
I stayed silent, hating myself while going through with the ceremony. Deep down I kept on hoping something would go wrong and I'd be free of one bad turn of events after another.
"We're gathered here today to witness the ceremony of King Elegast Ingalfur to be wedded to Queen Basilea of the Concubi Kingd..." The ceremonial opening words were cut when there was a crash, a huge dragon foot bearing its claws destroyed the palatial walls in one stomp. Then the heat of the fire burns all the decorations to dust as he shows his strength and within seconds he made me feel alive. Brontes. I recognized my dragon in a second, his golden eyes studied me, and without thinking, I was quick to run to him, climbing my way up his foot, then higher to his shin carelessly leaving the shocked elven king behind and continuing to climb higher up to Brontes' shoulder until I wrapped my arms on some part of his neck.
The dragon purred when I roughly scratched the back of his shoulder. What I didn't expect was to see Gerold and Savaric on his back telling me to hold on and he instructed the dragon to flap his wing and take us to king Armand. I was so glad that he could see him and act quickly before the elves recover from their shock.
Chaos erupted under us as I watch Bharat somehow fighting together with Magnus, and several other warriors I recognized as part of Armand's army. Cato was bleeding and looked pale with a dagger stuck in his chest. Justus was fighting them off trying to save his king with several of the elven warriors.
My attention was taken to Armand when I heard his rumbling scream the second an elven warrior was trying to kill him. His shackles were holding him back and he hissed when his chest was slashed with the tip of the warrior's dagger. And that was when I jumped from Brontes' shoulder, ignoring the loud protest from Savaric behind me when I sneakily grabbed one of his swords and descended swiftly to Armand's floor.
The first thing I did was break my wings free from its cage and let my body rejoice the second it flapped gracefully and attached itself to my back, where they belonged. I have never felt so powerful in my life before and I let out my roar of revenge and let everyone in the whole kingdom know about my wrath.
"Get Elegast, I'll take care of my mate." I growled loud enough for Armand to hear and both Savaric and Gerold said nothing but nodded. The demon instinct in me knew what I needed to do and I was going to do it even if it kills me.
The elf in front of Armand looked at me in horror as if he knew that his end was near. I didn't let him doubt it for a second when Savaric's sword pierced through his chest then I let it slide down to his stomach letting the male watch as his insides scattered down the floor and the elf followed as he dropped to the ground helplessly.
My eyes darted wildly and I quickly made my way to Armand and worked the sword to free him out of his shackles.
Two other dragons were waiting for us looking over the palatial court, it seemed that the elves all fled when their king was slaughtered and his guards were killed. Justus was among those who lose their life, and Nicodemus was still stunned when he saw his mate Tordis draw his last breath when Justus accidentally stabbed the half-elf stupidly mistaking him for an opponent.
The view was devastating, chaos, tears, screams, and pains echoed throughout the palatial walls as I ushered Armand and was about to help him mount Brontes. My king was still bleeding from his chest, he was getting paler when Gerold yelled from behind me.
"Stay! King Armand won't make the journey. We will heal him here, the palace is secure." Savaric and Magnus were at his side, and Bharat confirmed Gerold's words.
"Your mate," I heard him whisper in my ear moments before Armand lost consciousness.