The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness

- KATALEYA -

It's much later, yet Enrique has not returned. Soon the pack members begin returning and there is nothing we can do to keep them away for any longer without alerting the guardsmen or Enrique. The chefs needed to cook, too. I missed helping and I stopped in to say hello to them all. "You should head back, Sky. I want to stay a little longer," I say quietly when I exit the kitchen.

She raises an eyebrow but doesn't question me, which I appreciate since I want to do a little searching upstairs in the closed-off quarters.

Since I can't be sensed, it will be better if I go alone. I know Enrique wouldn't like me to go there, but we don't have time to waste, and since he isn't back I can make use of my time and try to locate the Ash Stone. We have to start somewhere. Going upstairs, I quietly sneak up to the unused area of the packhouse.

Planting my hands on my hips, I look around.

Right, so anything that contains a rock could be the Ash Stone, so I'll begin by separating those things. This is a place that includes many of Enrique's childhood memories, there is a high chance that the Ash Stone could be amongst these things. I work slowly, making sure not to mess things up and placing everything back exactly where I moved them from. A little while in I take one of the sheets that had slipped off a pile of books and begin dusting the items gently with it as I go.

I wish I could arrange these things nicely rather than have them piled here, discarded like memories wanting to be forgotten. What pictures there are of the full family are of when Enrique was very young. The pictures of him from around six years and up are only of him and his mother. A woman who looks thinner and haggard as the years have gone by.

Sadness washes through me and I feel for her. She was another victim to the Djinn, suffering as she stayed beside her mate... There's a journal or two that I place aside, wondering if they may include something of importance, but I think I'll ask Enrique for permission before reading those. And if he doesn't allow me, then perhaps he can check them himself.Visit J o bnib.com to read the complete sentences for free.If you are not reading this novel on Jo b nib.com, some paragraphs are incomplete. I'm barely through a quarter of the items when I hear a door bang in the distance and I pause. That one is definitely Enrique. I pause, wondering if I should go speak to him about what I learned, but I'm not sure... if Rhea is there with him, then I definitely can't say anything. I'm still hesitating, wondering if I should go tell him or just sneak back to the villa as it is getting dark outside.

I place the crystals and one strange-looking rock I found in a box to the side when a shadow falls over me, my heart thumps as I spin around raising a brilliant pink barrier in a flash just as I come face to face with a gold eyed God.

"Trespassing is a crime, or were you not taught that?" he whispers dangerously as I slowly lower the barrier I had raised between us.

I'm so used to sensing people, that Enrique's knack for always remaining so silent takes me by surprise every time.

"Where is your luna to be?" I ask, ignoring his question.

He frowns. "I put her to work," he growls in irritation. "Why do you want to know?"

I pout innocently. "I was only showing interest. You don't sound so happy about her and you're not even mated yet," I say slyly.

He glares. "A luna who will obey me. What more can I ask for?"

"True, she's a good little robot." I nod in agreement.

He steps closer, raising an eyebrow. "Cut the chit chat... what are you doing here, trespasser?"

I look down at the items I had separated. "Well, I learned something about the Ash Stone. It can be any kind of rock, something that you may already possess. Your great-grandfather found his in the tower of this very home, a place he was super fond of. Each King's Ash Stone can be a different size. Your great grandfather's was set in a ring, a ring that he had in his possession since he was a child. Your fathers' was much larger."

He's watching me sharply, but since he doesn't say anything I continue.

"So, I thought perhaps something here might be yours. We are looking at it being any kind of stone, so I separated any rock that I found up here in hopes maybe one might be yours. But there's still so much to look through."

I look up at him, giving him a smile in hopes he doesn't get angry, but he remains silent. Yet, the way he's looking at me, I become very self-conscious.

"Stop looking for it," he says quietly.

I look into his eyes sharply. "No, you need the Ash Stone to control the guardsmen... I just want to help, Enrique."

"I didn't ask for your help. Leave now," he replies icily, turning his back on me, but his heart is thundering.

What did I do wrong?

"I only want to help-"

"And I said leave!" he snarls, turning back towards me. "Don't you fucking get it?"

I do...

"Ok then, just use what information I shared and keep looking for anything that contains a rock that belongs to you," I whisper, my pink eyes meeting his gold.

His nostrils flare, his jaw twitching as he looks away, and I look down at the crystals I had just placed aside. "I made sure to put everything back where I picked them from, and I remember where I got these from if you need me to return them to their place." "Just leave, Kataleya. Don't make things fucking harder," he growls, our eyes meeting fleetingly before he looks away once more.

I want to cup his face, look deep into his eyes and tell him that I remember his confession, but instead, I simply nod. "I'll leave. Just take note of what I said please."

Not waiting for a reply, I turn and leave, heading down the hallway swiftly. I reach the bottom of the staircase when the front door opens and Rhea enters. Her eyes fall on me and she tilts her head before she closes the gap between us, her eyes glowing. "El Rey Carmesí is mine," she says, her aura radiating around her. I cross my arms, trying not to let my annoyance show. "And why are you telling me that?" I ask casually, not letting a hint of emotion show on my face. "Because I know you want him."

"Even if that is the case, why are you so concerned?" I ask.

"He has promised to make me his luna. He will not accept you."

"Oh, I'm sure he won't, especially if there's an incentive not to..."

She narrows her eyes. "What are you insinuating?" she asks. Her aura keeps growing, but it has no effect on me, even if it does bring back memories of the wolves that once kidnapped me.

"I'm not insinuating anything, I am simply stating what I see... If you are so certain that he will not choose me, then you have nothing to fear... right?" I ask, staring her in the eye, letting my own aura exude around her. "So, you will try to take him from me."

"I did not say that. I only claim what is mine, and you said he is yours, correct?" I say, my eyes glinting dangerously. "You do not want to mess with me, prophesied queen. I am not weak!"

I smile, "You call me a prophesied queen... yet you, who is born to serve a king, dares to think we are equal?" I feel a sliver of guilt for saying that, but right now she keeps annoying me with her remarks on how Enrique is hers. "He will soon mark me as his luna."

I raise an eyebrow. "Yes, I will be attending the ceremony to witness it. I'll see you then," I state, walking past her when I pause at the door. "Oh, and before I leave, let me share a fun fact with you. Even a fated mate can't remove the mark of a ruler from one's neck." "What are you trying to say?" she asks, spinning around to face me and for once there's a change in her heartbeat.

I laugh lightly. "Nothing, I was just saying, imagine if a prophesied ruler happens to mark him, there is no way you would be able to override it. Have a good evening. I'll see you at your Luna ceremony." I blow her a kiss before I toss my hair over my shoulder and exit the packhouse.

I think I hear a low chuckle from somewhere and blush wondering how many people might have witnessed that. Enrique, you really are making me fight for you. I pout.

I am just outside when suddenly I stop, feeling a sense of dread washing over me. My vision blurs and my stomach sinks, realising what is happening.

My vision clears and I'm back in that crypt, with words and symbols etched into the wall. The stale smell and the darkness overpowering my senses. I look around, my heart thumping as I wonder where the lead Crawler might be.

'The connection remains... he hisses, making me spin around, raising my barriers instantly. They illuminate the darkness, making him hiss.

'You have stepped into your power...

I freeze, a chilling realisation dawning on me. For the first time, I can understand him clearly, but I also know he is not speaking a language I am meant to know, yet it is one I understand.

The darkness is beginning to wrap around me, and suddenly my lips burn as if they are on fire.

What is this?

But I don't even flinch as I turn and locate the Crawler that sits in the corner of his home. For the first time, I am in control in his presence.

"What do you want from me?" I ask, tasting blood in my mouth. The pink glow of my barrier surrounds me, keeping the darkness at bay despite the burning sensation on my lips continuing to get stronger.

He hisses as he looks at the glow that surrounds me. 'What do you think? You belong to me!'

"I don't."

'You are the Asheton Queen, and I am Azarakh, King of Azgara. You will be my queen, and together we will lead our army through the barrier when the time comes. Our god will be so proud." Army through the barrier?

My stomach churns, but I remain passive, not letting him see how I feel.

The darkness is growing, tightening around my barrier, but I hold strong. I can't tell what he's thinking, but I can see that

sinister smile fading as he continues to try to bring my barrier down. I'm here. This is my chance to ask him whatever I need to.

And maybe finish him.

"Who is your god?" I ask, curious despite the dangerous situation I am in.

"Become mine and I will show you."

I look at him, repulsed at the very thought. "I will never be your queen," I say icily.

"Even if I looked like this?" he asks, and to my horror he transforms into Enrique. "See, I can be the one you desire."

My heart thuds as he smirks at me with Enrique's face and I step back, my barrier faltering. That's all he needs as powerful tendrils of darkness seep through the crack in my barrier and I'm thrown back.

My eyes blaze as I try to fight back, but my power doesn't work. Is it because I'm not fully here or because it is beyond our world? I don't know.

I struggle, trying to reinforce my breaking barrier.

"The time is nearing, Asheton Queena, and then You Will Be Mine." Those are his last chilling words before I'm propelling backwards and my back hits the ground.

I gasp, the wind knocked from me as I roll over onto my stomach, coughing up blood onto the grass.

I stare at my hand full of blood, his words ringing in my head.

Turning, I stare at the gates of the packhouse remembering the young witch's prophecy. That moment is getting closer, and what will happen is in our hands... Will we allow the darkness to conquer us or will the light win? That isn't even a question I should be asking, because the light will always win.

Dante said I came into power earlier than he foresaw. Surely that means we can pave our path to success, and I know for certain that all of this will be going down on the night of the Blood Moon.