Chapter 42 – Shattered Calm
I walked into my room, my footsteps heavy, my breath uneven. I couldn't believe what had just happened. The echoes of recent events rang in my mind like a thousand whispers, all at once. I collapsed onto my bed, my heart pounding wildly in my chest, the walls of my mind caving under the weight of too many thoughts—confusion, fear, shame, rage.
A knock sounded on the door, snapping me out of my daze.
"Come in," I muttered tiredly, assuming it was Thalia.
But when I looked up, it wasn't her.
It was Solana.
I immediately stood from the bed, my body tensing like a coiled spring. "What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
Solana rolled her eyes, her arms crossed over her chest with that familiar smirk of disdain. "Oh, so now I need permission to walk into your room? Or have you already crowned yourself queen?"
I exhaled sharply, already exhausted by her presence. "Solana, I'm not in the mood for your drama. Please… just leave."
She stepped forward, her expression darkening with contempt. "Ravena, you're so fake. Such a pitiful attention seeker. I know you used one of your little tricks on the prince—and probably the king too. Always climbing, aren't you? Clawing your way to the top like the desperate, cursed creature you are."
I flinched.
"You think seducing the prince, or casting your pathetic little spells is going to work?" she scoffed, stepping closer with every word. "You think they'll let someone like you into their world? A cursed child. Loveless. Hopeless. You don't belong here. You never have."
"Stop..." I whispered, my voice shaking. "Solana, please..."
She only laughed—low and cruel. "They're going to kill you, Ravena. One day, when they find out what you really are—what you're capable of. You're a devil in disguise. And you'll never be better than me. Never."
I could feel it then—the tremble in my hands, the tightness in my chest. I was shaking uncontrollably. My legs gave out beneath me as I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
"Leave!" I screamed, clutching my chest, tears threatening to spill. "Leave my room, now!"
Solana stood over me, sneering. "There it is again. Your little act. Seeking attention as always. Pathetic. If you want to die here, fine by me. At least I won't have to look at your worthless face again."
Suddenly, the door burst open.
Damier stormed in, his eyes wild with fury. Azelar was right behind him.
"What are you doing?" Damier growled.
His eyes locked on Solana—his fury so intense it felt like the air in the room shifted.
"Take this fool away. Now."
Guards rushed in, grabbing Solana by the arms. She kicked and thrashed as they dragged her from the room, her screams echoing down the hall.
"Let go of me! You're making a mistake! She's dangerous! She's a monster!"
But Damier ignored her.
He dropped to his knees beside me, gathering me in his arms as if I were made of fragile glass.
"Ravena," he whispered, laying me gently on the bed. My body convulsed, black veins spreading across my skin like ink through water. My eyes shut tightly as I cried out in pain.
"No, no, no," Damier muttered, shaking his head. "It's starting... just like Virelda. The curse—"
"It's not going to consume her," Azelar said, stepping forward with a strange calm. "She has the witches' blood. It's trying to take hold, but she's fighting it."
Damier brushed the strands of hair from my face, holding my hand tightly.
"She shouldn't have been alone," he said through clenched teeth. "Thank the gods I insisted we check on her."
Azelar nodded solemnly. "It's only just beginning. You know what this means… don't you?"
Damier looked at him, pain evident in his gaze. "We need to find her. Virelda's mother… the only one who might understand this. She's been missing for centuries, and now..."
Azelar's voice was low, but urgent. "You know that if Lord Kaelthar finds out what Ravena truly is… he will do anything to possess her power."
"Then he'll have to go through me first," Damier said firmly, the room humming with his raw emotion. "I will never let him touch her. I'll burn the underworld to the ground before I let anyone take her away from me again."
He leaned closer, whispering into my ear.
"You're not going anywhere, Ravena. You're mine. Do you hear me? I won't let you slip away from me. Not now. Not ever. Even if it means losing my crown, losing my throne, losing everything… I'll still choose you."
He turned to Azelar, his jaw set like stone. "Prepare the marriage ceremony."
Azelar blinked. "What?"
"I'm making her mine. Officially. Forever," Damier declared, not taking his eyes off me. "Before the darkness comes, before they try to tear us apart again—I will bind myself to her in front of the gods."
Azelar stared at him, silent for a long moment.
Then he nodded slowly. "As you wish… Your Highness."
Damier pressed his lips to my forehead, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You're not alone anymore, Ravena. No one will hurt you again. I swear it… on my soul."