Jayden stood in Azrael's arms, still breathless from the flames of war and the fire of his kiss. His warmth steadied her. But as the echoes of the battle faded and smoke drifted lazily into the dusk sky, she knew what she had to do.
She stepped away from him and walked toward the fractured balcony of the ruined castle. The sun dipped low behind her, casting her figure in golden light. Below, the courtyard was filled with survivors. Some had fled earlier from the king's ritual, some were soldiers now kneeling in shame, others were villagers with soot-streaked cheeks and trembling hands.
A few cried out, their voices echoing across the stone.
"That's the witch!"
"No—she saved us!"
"She's the cursed one!"
"She's our queen!"
Jayden inhaled deeply. Her heart beat fiercely in her chest.
"My name," she began, voice clear and unwavering, "is Jayden Lumera, the last princess of the Lumera family."
Gasps erupted. A thunderous wave of murmurs rose from the crowd.
"Impossible..."
"The Lumeras were destroyed..."
"The gods cursed their bloodline..."
Jayden raised a hand. Silence fell, drawn by the strength of her presence.
"I was cursed at birth," she continued. "Born with the demon of destruction in me. But it was not my curse—it was the burden my parents placed upon me. They stole the crown I now wear from the temple of the gods. Their selfishness brought wrath upon our bloodline. I paid the price for their crimes."
Her voice caught briefly, but she pressed on.
"And now, the king—your king—has done the same. He tried to sacrifice you for his own power. He feared I would come to claim what is rightfully mine."
She lifted her chin.
"And so I did."
Jayden paused, then closed her eyes and recalled what Aurora had taught her. When she opened them again, they glowed faintly.
In a strong, melodic tone, she spoke the ancient language of Lumera—words so old, the wind itself seemed to still. The crowd stared, transfixed. A few elders dropped to their knees.
"She speaks the Tongue..."
"It's true. She's one of them. Queen Lumera reborn..."
Voices changed. Cheers rose.
"All hail Queen Jayden!"
Jayden lowered her gaze, her heart swelling. She felt the weight of her lineage, but for the first time, it no longer felt like a burden—it was a crown she had chosen to wear.
Azrael stepped behind her then, his arms wrapping around her waist. His presence was possessive, grounding, and deeply intimate.
Whispers swept the crowd.
"Who is he?"
"Is that... Death?"
Jayden smiled softly. "He's my lover," she said aloud, but in her mind, the words were more intimate still. *He was meant to take my life. Instead, I fell for him. Now we are one.*
The king's soldiers, still alive, crawled forward on their knees.
"Please, forgive us... We only followed orders."
Azrael's eyes flared. "Shall I slice them in half? Or send them to Hell and revive them again? Slowly?"
They cowered in terror.
Jayden touched his hand gently. "No. They're not the enemy. They were pawns, like I once was. They are forgiven."
She turned to the people. "I vow to protect this kingdom with my life. My power is yours. My reign begins now."
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Azrael swept her up into his arms in one smooth motion, cradling her against his chest. She laughed softly, burying her face in his shoulder as he carried her through the halls of the broken castle.
They reached a quiet chamber and he laid her on the bed as if she were made of stars. Their lips met again, slow and searing, hands rediscovering each other with reverence and need. His mouth moved to her neck, where he kissed her until she moaned his name softly.
"I love you," she whispered, her fingers tangling in his hair.
"I adore you," he said. "I have wanted to kiss you, worship your body, like this since the day you defied me."
They kissed again, deeper this time, it was intimate, their tongues entwined as they kissed, Azrael slid his hands to her waist, he ached for her, he wanted her so damn much, he wanted all of her, he held her tighter to him, they broke the kiss the fire outside the window flickering like their passion. They both had longing, aching hunger in their eyes. Azrael skillfully unzipped her garment, her face a bright shade of red, she had wanted this, his touch on her, him claiming her, marking her as his. He slowly opened her garment revealing her slender shoulders. Her heart was racing out of fear and excitement at what she was going to experience.
But then, Azrael paused.
Jayden frowned. "What's wrong?"
His eyes turned somber. "I don't belong here. I am Death, not human. Death cannot live among light. Doing this to you will just create a problem we may not be able to solve."
Tears welled in her eyes. "Does that mean, you're leaving?"
He touched her face. "Yes, that's where I belong. But I still adore you, you'll always be mine, Jayden."
She laid her head against his chest. "Take me with you."
"If I did... you would have to die. I can't bear that. And besides, you have a kingdom to rule."
Her sobs were quiet against his chest. He kissed her forehead. "I will always love you."
Suddenly, the shadows shifted. A presence filled the room.
Hades appeared.
Azrael looked up and smiled faintly. "Hades."
Jayden sat up, wiping her tears. "So this is the famous god."
Hades gave a lazy wave. "That's me."
Azrael asked, "Do I need to return?"
Hades nodded. But when he saw the look in Azrael's eyes, he sighed.
Jayden looked at Azrael with pleading eyes. "Stay. Just for tonight."
Azrael turned to Hades. Hades rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll cover for you."
Azrael's smile returned. Hades smirked. "You're soft now."
Azrael glanced at Jayden. "No. I'm just different. For her."
They all laughed quietly.
Hades vanished into smoke.
And Azrael stayed.
For tonight, Death belonged to love.