Page 151 of Of Realms and Chaos

“Asher, I know this is a lot to take in, but you will have time to chit chat with Theon later. It is important we get this out of the way. Vital, even. You cannot go on without learning what consequences await your disobedience.” It was a tone of indifference—of finality.

“No, do not touch her!” The prince latched onto the princess’s wrist, tugging her further into the bars, as if he could somehow spare her. He thought of the death angel who visited him. Stassi, she had called herself. She would save them. He knew it. As long as he kept the princess safe, then they would live.

“Malcolm, take care of that.” The queen ordered with a flick of her wrist.

A deep cloud of black shadows fell upon the mortal prince. From it, the demon came. He held the mortal’s hands behind his back, yanking his hair and forcing him to watch as the queen approached the princess.

“Remember, my flower, I do this because I care.” From the queen’s hand, a vine formed, small at first. Then it grew, finger-length thorns popping through the thick green plant. The princess watched, her eyes slowly dulling. She bent forward, bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs.

The princess felt the hopelessness and resigned herself to whatever came next. At least she had saved the ones she loved, she thought. When the princess tucked her chin, shielding her face, the queen spoke one last time.

“I love you, Asher.”

And then the queen lifted the vine, snapping it forward until it made contact with the princess’s back. A nearly silent cry escaped the princess’s lips, but before anyone could speak, the queen brought the vine down again. And again. And again. Each strike cut through the bandages that wrapped around the princess’s torso, shredding the final barrier that protected her skin.

The mortal prince jerked forward, trying to fight off the demon behind him to no avail. “Asher, hold on! Please, stop! Stop hurting her! Torture me instead! Please! Asher, hold on—hold on a little longer! Please!”

The Shifter walked into the mortal’s cage, covering his mouth and holding his jaw firmly in place. Tears ran down the prince’s cheeks, just as they did the princess’s—who remained nearly silent as her skin split and her blood flowed.

She was dying. She knew it, just as the others did. A part of her was thankful. What a heavy life it had been. Too heavy. Maybe this would be better. Death…it was a gift that she would accept. Her love—the prince of flame, water, air, and earth—would succeed. She had faith in that.

As the queen lifted her arm, poised to dole out the twentieth lashing, the princess had one final thought. Five whispered words slipped through her lips before her eyes closed and she went silent.

“May I return to Eternity.”

VI

Bonus Content

Mia

~ Mia is left reeling after the attack on Haven, where Asher chose Bellamy over her ~

The moment the ground beneath my feet became the soft grass of my gardens, I let out a fierce scream. Malcolm released me, opting to cover his ears as my lungs threatened to burst from the sheer force of my fury.

“Gods, Mia!” Malcolm bellowed, his eyes scrunched in pain as he leaned away from me.

I merely screamed louder, crafting a rock from thin air and hurling it at his head. The fist-sized jagged stone sailed through the space between us until it made contact with his forehead, sending his body careening backwards and causing a shout of pain to tear up his throat. I silenced myself and stayed put long enough to watch red blood begin pouring from his new gash as he laid sprawled in the dirt with the afternoon sun beating down on him, then I stormed away.

Malcolm was fast though, quickly portaling to me and wrapping his hand around my throat. Blood oozed from his once-bronze skin, the almost sickly hue making his eyes seem more foreboding as they stared into my own.

“This act of yours is getting old, darling Mia. You hit me. I threaten you. We fuck until we can barely breathe. Perhaps we need to find you a healthier coping mechanism.” His whispered words caressed my lips as he leaned in, his free hand going to my blood-soaked waist.

Perhaps he needed a reminder of why no male would ever match my strength—would ever be good enough to truly hold my heart like he wished.

I called upon my power, begging the world around me to do my bidding. The only time I would ever beg. With the rage of a thousand suns, of a million lifetimes, of a billion shattered hearts, I shoved my palm into Malcolm’s chest. His body flew backwards, a great rumble shaking the ground beneath my feet. And then, with perfect timing, the grass and flowers and dirt sunk into itself. Malcolm’s body landed in the newly formed hole, and without a second thought, I willed my garden to reconnect, unfazed by his screams as he was buried alive.

A guard’s black armor caught my attention as she sucked in a breath of surprise. I turned, facing her with my best queenly stare—not that my bloody dress and disheveled appearance screamed royalty. She quickly bowed, leaning so far forward that I worried her armor would force gravity to pull her down.

“Get someone to help you dig that male out. Once he is free, you are all to leave him be. He is a guest here, sadly.”

Her nod was sharp as she straightened up and ran to get help, the sound of her clanking, oversized armor slowly fading.

Hopefully he would not die.

Making my way into my beautiful palace, I hoped that no one would stop me to speak. Xavier was supposed to be in a council meeting, and we were due to have our quarterly audience with the wardens in three days’ time, which meant that everyone would be hard at work. If I could simply slip into my chambers, then I could be free of the exhausting presence of others and just let myself break. I could feel that weakness festering inside of me, the undeniable need to shatter calling to me like the sun willing a rose to bloom. Then I could become an eclipse, hiding the scorching star and once more casting shadows upon my heart.

Startlingly enough, my mother came to my mind as I rounded the final corner, the curved golden doors at the end of the hallway a welcoming sight despite the flash of tangerine locks within my head. Her pride at having a daughter, just as every Mounbetton for generations before her had, was even more rewarding than any form of love could have been. She taught me that males were dim, unreliable, and pathetic. I was never to love, especially not a male. I would marry for the sake of having a cock on the throne to appease the masses, but it would be I who ruled—I who conquered.

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