Chapter 31 Darkness

Anna Marie

"No!" The distress in her voice carried through the black clouds above.

Thunder and lightning illuminated the blurry ground below them. It was no longer flaming and she could no longer see Zachary's melting body.

He was naught but ashes now. Though she didn't care what happened to that fucker. Knowing he was dead was enough for her.

"Little chef," the man she was holding for dear life whispered his plea once more. "We are going to fall."

"Then we fall. Together. We die together, Lucas. I am with you all the way." She whispered with conviction, tears blurring her image of him, her eyes never leaving his.

If this was the price of their love then so be it.

"I love you, little chef. Forever."

He was saying goodbye. His glowing dragon's eyes were dimming. His heart, beating alongside hers was slowly fading.

"Lucas, please. Hold on!" She cried out. "Don't!"

He slowly blinked. Trying to stay awake.

Anna Marie was barely holding, too. Her feet were sliding. "Arrrgh!" She shouted to the heavens. "Goddess, help me! Help us!"

-Let go, human. Trust your heart.

Her dragon spirit.

-What shall I do?

-Surrender. To fate. You need to trust the bond, human.

Her body stiffened forward again. She looked down. It was pitched black with almost no bottom on site.

A huge possibility they would fall any minute and die. Her whole body flattened against the flat surface of the rock, her shoes long gone and she was slipping towards the edge slowly.

Face set and uncompromisingly hard, Lucas was grimly looking up at her. Waiting.

"I love you so much. Do you trust me?" She asked.

"With all of my heart, sweetheart." He answered with no hesitation.

"Close your eyes." And he did. His tears falling for her. Accepting.

Her amber eyes closed with his loving image imprinted on her memory. The last vision she wanted to see and she let gravity do its job.

Then they were falling and falling. A long way down. Cold air stirred around them. Blanketing them.

The dragon queen brave as ever didn't flinch nor did she scream.

It felt like an eternity. She was expecting them both dead as soon as they reached the bottom of the pit.

Neither happened. Lucas had his arms around her and she was hugging him to her securely.

Their bodies landed on the dull and gloomy ground gently.

Stunned, she held her soulmate before her and slowly guided him so he rested his injured body on her lap. He was unconscious, however, he was breathing. Barely. She could see it now, the lower portion of his body was covered in blood.

She had to do something to heal him.

"Welcome, Your Majesties." A soothing male voice uttered from the dark.

Startled. She looked around her and couldn't find anyone on site. In a shaky voice, she asked. "Who are you?"

"I am here to save the Dragon King."

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Michael

The Royal Beta

"Where the fuck are they?" They tried to follow Lucas and Rie as fast as they could, they were delayed by the ghouls appearing out of nowhere.

"There!" Michael and Lucifer both saw two figures fighting at the edge of the cliff. And watched in horror when both fighters fell over the edge.

Lucas and Zachary.

"Fuck! Hurry!" Sprinting, they managed to climb the rocky mountain without any accidents, only just. The terrain was tricky with hot air blowing from the hot condensation of the lava from beneath.

Barely making it to the top, they lost sight of them. No Anna Marie and Lucas.

"Where are they?" Lucifer went closer to the edge. Impossible. No lowest ground can be seen and no molten rocks to greet them.

"What happened?" Michael asked. Puzzled.

"They had help. He is here." The Demon King answered. Hope reflected in his black eyes.

"Who?"

"My twin brother. Our High King and...

The King of Angels."

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Anna Marie

"Who are you? Show yourself!" She wouldn't know what to do if she was about to face another strong enemy. She could fight to the death though.

Lucas was badly injured and unconscious. She had to protect him.

"Do not fear me, Dragon Queen. I am here to help. Come closer." Again, he projected an aura of calm.

Settling her soulmate slowly on the ground, on wobbly legs, she got up and move closer to the voice.

"How do you know me?" Rie was getting closer.

"I know all of you. Though I couldn't do much from my cage. I still want to help. Your mate needs purging of the poison coursing through his veins." A flicker of light made him visible.

She gasped. The silhouette of the man before her looked exactly like the Demon King. Except he had the whitest of blond hair and the kindest baby blue eyes. So gentle and soft. He was watching her. Then his angel wings unfurled. Shining in its clean whiteness.

"You're an angel." She whispered.

"Yes. I'm trapped here for thousands of years by the Dark Death Angel." He raised his arms and she saw the thick black shackles on his wrist and ankles.

"Let me free you!" Rie ran towards him.

"No. Don't touch the chains. I may be here but only in spirit. My physical self is trapped somewhere in the deep recesses of hell. Only a druid can help connect me from my body. Here, open your hands." Doing so, she watched as he placed some white feathers on her palms. "Spread this on his wound and it will help extract the poison. He should be well in a few minutes. Go now."

"But what about you?" Her brows furrowed. She should help him.

"Do me a favor? Tell my brother to find the last druid so he can free me. Please?" He pleaded. He was slowly fading.

"Of course. He is here you know."

"I know." His faint answer. Then he was gone.

A faint groan near the entrance jolted her from her shock. Lucas!

She dropped on the ground beside her mate and inspected his wounds, the surrounding skin was getting black and she could almost see the outline of his bones. Crushing the feathers, pieces of it fell on the severe gashes, he groaned and twisted in pain.

An acidic smell of blood spurted and she let it flow. The poison.

After a while, Lucas's breathing turned to normal, the gaping flesh healed, closing completely with no traces of scars.

"My love? Luc?" With trembling fingers, she caressed his cheek down to his jaw.

His eyelids fluttered then opened. Then he was looking at her with wonder in his beautiful hazel orbs.

"Sweetheart." He whispered.

Anna Marie sobbed and flung herself in his open arms. "I thought I'm going to lose you!"

"I'm here...I'm here..." He murmured. His hands running up and down on her back, reassuring her.

"Don't you fucking dare do that to me again! You idiot!" She shouted at the same time slapping his chest. He grunted then he chuckled. "Don't laugh at me!" She heaved a deep and shaky breath. "I couldn't lose you." Embracing him to her tightly once more. Sobbing like there's no tomorrow.

"Sweetheart..." Speechless. He nuzzled her neck instead. Raining kisses.

Small hands caressed his smooth naked back...wait...Lucas was naked?

Separating their bodies a few inches --he wouldn't let her move further-- she glanced down. "You are naked."

"Hmmm, you don't want to know what I'd do to you when we get home. Punishment for your stubbornness awaits you, little chef." He murmured huskily. His lips on her skin.

She shivered. Even in this dire situation, she still wanted him. Cupping his face, she captured his lips, kissing him deeply. He groaned. Molding her body down to his, he met her with hunger.

"You guys still need rescuing?" Lucifer asked. Amusement laced his question.

Lucas growled. "Perfect fucking timing!"

Anna Marie giggled at his disgruntled voice.

Thank you, guardian angel.

***

"Where are Xavier and Mish?" Rie looked around her after a fierce and welcoming embrace from her sister Anna and her mentors, Alexie and Olivia. Her sisters-in-law and their dragon mates were busy burning and clearing the area from the dead bodies of their enemies. While Lucas was being inspected by Esmeralda for any more signs of poison.

"You wouldn't want to know," Anna answered. The same color of amber deep brownish eyes looking back at her sadly.

"She knew?" Rie questioned. Alarmed.

"Courtesy of Ruby the whore." Alexie spat out the words like venom.

"Don't worry. They will figure it out." Olivia assured them.

"She might hate us." The Lycan Queen grumbled.

"Anna Michelle is sensible with a backbone of steel. I know. We got it from you." She embraced her lycan sister, hoping she was right. Then she remembered something. "Where the fuck is Ruby?"

"That bitch just got her ass handed to her by Esmeralda. She's transported to an undisclosed location for interrogation." Alexie confided with satisfaction.

"Damn! I would have loved to set that witch on fire." Rie said. Anticipation and more filled her.

"Get in line, sister. We each have our pound of flesh to collect from that maggot." The Lycan Queen snarled.

-Yeah. Soon.-

The most useful thing to do at the moment was to go home and take care of her dragon king.

As her prerogative goes, he was the top on her list.

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