CHAPTER 235: CHAPTER 235 THE WITCHES’ REALM (11)

Seraphina’s eyes glinted with a sharp cold emotion. The Golden tree, usually referred to as the Sacred tree, was once the heart of all magic, and it had withered because of the Witches’ greed.

And the Chosen, was the only one who could harness the tree’s magic, distributing it across the four corners of the world. The Chosen’s duty was to protect the Golden tree and give their life if required.

Now that both options are gone. The Golden orb was out of reach, the witch’s last choice was the Lycan King.

"Then I’ll go to him myself. If the Queen must live, I’ll tear the magic out of his bones if I have to." Seraphina’s nails dug into her palms.

Gwen chuckled, her eyes turning serious. "This is the Lycan King we are talking about. Do you think you can kill him? Just you?" She scoffed. "Don’t forget that he is immune to witches’ magic."

Seraphina scoffed. "Just admit you are scared."

Gwen tilted her chin. "I don’t run into a battle with just brute strength, sometimes you need to use your wisdom."

"Are you trying to call me foolish?" Seraphina’s voice was sharp and condescending.

"No, I’m older than you Phina. I experienced the war a century ago. The Lycans are not something a witch should pray to encounter... especially Damon Blackthorn. I’m only trying to tell you to think before you act."

A knot formed in Seraphina’s chest. She knew she was being hot-headed now, but how could she not be when the Queen might die anytime? There was no time to devise a plan.

"What should we do then?" Seraphina asked with gritted teeth.

"I got some information that Damon Blackthorn is here in our realm." A devilish glint flickered through her eyes.

"Is it authentic?"

Gwen nodded her head.

A smirk formed on Seraphina’s lips. "That means we have the upper hand. Let us not waste any time, the universe is on our side."

"I’ll devise the plan, and tomorrow at midnight we shall execute the plan."

......

(Damon POV)

Since we entered the witches’ realm, I had this strange knot in my chest. A strong feeling that something was going to happen.

I have left my pack for more than a month now, Beowulf had grown restless. If the Bloodmoon pack should attack now, they would find out about my absence.

And that would be the end of my pack. My eyes stared at the ceiling, my heart raced in my chest, my skin crawling with unease.

I turned to Rhydian, but he seemed to be asleep. My eyes narrowed at him. ’Where did he go during the daytime?’

Despite him looking like a nice guy, my gut told me he was far from that. And I couldn’t let my guard down.

I turned to Aeris, my gaze softened. My heart clenched, aching from the pain of making her sad again.

I didn’t know what came over me when I called her Ember. I wondered when she would get her memories back.

It was the day I dreaded the most, but I needed to face my fear and mistake. I knew she would despise me and might never forgive me... but I want the whole of her, not a fraction of herself.

"I wonder why that fae brought us here when he could easily take us back to our pack," Beowulf grunted.

"I wonder if the reason he gave was true? We need to get in contact with Elder Dominic, we need to know the condition of the pack." I mindlinked him.

"And how do we do that? We can’t just get in contact with them now." Beowulf sighed. "I hate this place, I feel like my senses are getting foggy. The magic in this realm is so impure that it makes me sick."

"Bear with it, in two days... We will finally leave this damn place."

My eyes moved around the room, landing on Aeris’s face again. Her silver white hair spread all over the pillow.

Her long lashes rested on her upper cheeks. Her pale skin captured the half-moonlight seeping through the window.

"When do I get to play White again?" Beowulf asked with mischief dancing in his eyes.

I rolled my eyes at his shameless question. "Hopefully not soon." I teased.

He grunted. "You are just jealous she likes me better than you."

"Did she tell you that?"

"I can tell." He rolled his eyes at me.

Silence reigned supreme in the room. I focused, listening to her heartbeat, which was calming and soothing.

Beowulf fell quiet after that but was awake, and I could still feel his unease pressing against my mind. He never stayed this alert unless something felt truly wrong.

I glanced toward the window, watching the flicker of torchlight outside the hostel wall. The witches’ realm may have looked peaceful, but I wasn’t fooled by it. It feels like something big was about to happen.

And it was close.

I turned my head and looked at Aeris again.

She looked peaceful like this, but I couldn’t ignore the tension clinging to her even in sleep. Her fingers twitched slightly. A crease lingered between her brows.’ Maybe she was dreaming, or remembering who she once was.’

I sighed in exasperation. I hoped we would leave the witches’ realm without any events.

I wanted to reach out and hold her, to tell her everything, even the things I hadn’t admitted to myself.

But I didn’t.

I couldn’t.

Because I was the reason she split in two. Ember and Aeris. And whatever thread still tied her to me was getting thinner by the day.

I exhaled sharply and pushed myself off the bed.

The floor creaked beneath my feet as I crossed the room, heading toward the door. I needed air. I needed to clear my head.

The hallway outside was quiet, almost too quiet for a night. Only the flickering flame of the wall lanterns accompanied me as I stepped out into the cool night.