Chapter 623: Cold and dark

Klauz was suddenly standing right before Evie as if to block her from any harm befalling her. His magic was enveloped all over him now, his sword that seemed to be wrapped with wisps of shadows pointed forward.

"Klauz! Get your restriction magic off me! Now!" Evie demanded, her voice severe, shrouded with extreme fear.

"Tell me, it's Gavrael, right?" Klauz asked without taking his gaze and focus off their surroundings.

"Yes! That's why you need to let go of me now! Hurry!" She was frantic at the sudden increase of the intensity of that weird feeling.

He gritted his teeth. This was totally unexpected. He never thought that the troublesome prince could actually find them this quickly! And to think that it seemed… as though his awakening was already happening was the most shocking thing of all. How could that happen right now of all times?!! How had things progressed so quickly?!

Now he did not have a choice but to release the Light Queen. Doing this means he had lost the only chance he had to force her on their mating bond! Goddamn it! He was not sure if he could find another opportunity as good as before to carry out their mating bond. He had a sinking feeling that it would be impossible after this.

"Now! Klauz!" Evie yelled at him again with increasing urgency and he knew that releasing her was the best choice he had right now.

"Alright, I will release you. But promise me you'll work with me. We will kill him today. You're going to kill him now before his awakening is complete!" he was still trying to see if he could manipulate things to go his way – even if it was not according to his ideal plans.

He waited for her answer. She was right behind him so he could not see her facial expressions, but he could only hope this queen would choose the right thing to do. That she will not sacrifice everything, their realm, for the sake of one man.

"I promise." She finally replied.

Her answer made him draw in deep breath of relief. Then he released her from his restriction, knowing that he did not even have any time left to doubt her.

And he was right, as soon as he released her, the powerful obsidian lightning began hitting the ground… everywhere. There was not one spot that was spared.

The ground trembled with every heavy strike and the sky roared as a thick cloud of darkness descended until a figure was visible. A man with massive wings… shrouded with the kind of power so impossibly strong - an insane power that was not supposed to exist… Gavrael… the king of darkness!

"Step back, Klauz," the light queen's voice echoed from behind him. "Let me handle this."

A frown appeared on his face at the tone of her voice. It was no longer trembling with fear.

"No. I could never. If he kills you, it's all over." Klauz said with conviction. There was no way he would let the Light Queen handle this all by herself. Even though he knew that this queen was the fated one to kill this dark king, the disparity between their powers right now was just too great! She had not yet reached the point where her powers were able to rival his in a fair fight. If she faced him now on her own, she would be totally overpowered, and it would be a one-sided beating.

Klauz had a feeling that the Light Queen was not ready yet for a direct confrontation! There was no way she would be able to handle him! He was adamant at wanting to battle with her. At least with the both of them, there might be some hope yet.

"Just listen to me and step back!" She insisted, her tone becoming even graver. "Leave while I handle him or you will die here, Klauz!" Her last sentence ringing with strong conviction.

His eyes widened at her words. Her tone was so certain that he froze for a couple of seconds.

"Listen to me! He will never harm me but you… he's going to kill you. You're not going to die here, Klauz. You cannot die! Go, take your army with you, and wait for me to get in touch with you again. NOW! Don't let what you've worked so hard for countless of years to just end here in vain!"

He stilled. Her words rammed into his heart and mind with a bang. His grip on his sword tightened. But then his blue eyes flared with a fire so intense and dangerous.

"No." He answered without hesitation. "I'm not going to leave you. I don't trust that he wouldn't kill you. If something happens to you then everything that I've worked so hard for countless of years will be reduced to complete nothingness."

Dark magic enveloped him until he looked like he had turned into a shadow.

"No! Klauz!" she yelled but it was too late. In a blink of an eye, one powerful clash happened. Darkness against shadows.

Klauz held on for a moment, but it did not take long before he was blown back by the immense power that was pressing into him. He tumbled back yards away from where he was originally standing.

"Klauz!" Evie yelled as she turned to look at the man who had been thrown back. But when she looked back at the descending figure, her heart shivered.

Now that he was visible, Evie could no longer keep up her bravado. The sight of him… this familiar image she had seen before…

She could literally feel her heart and soul cracking like a breaking mirror. No… this cannot be happening. This was just another nightmare. This was not true. Right…? Unfortunately, the person who would usually be the one giving her comfort and wrapping her up in a warm embrace was the same one who was walking before her – cold and dark.

"Gav…" she uttered… no matter how much she prayed that this would be someone else, she knew in her heart that it was no one else but him. This… this was not supposed to happen! It was still too early for this! Why?! How…? How did everything end up this way?

Before she knew it, she was already walking towards him. Unguarded. Without any protective magic around her.

The majestic creature of darkness landed powerfully on the ground, but his deadly power did not stop her from advancing. She did not even think or pause in her move forward. The black lightning was hitting everywhere but her.

As she walked towards him, feeling this familiar darkness, she could almost feel the breaking pieces of her heart falling on the ground like shards of a broken mirror.

"Gav…" she called out once again in a broken and teary voice when...

His eyes finally lifted and met hers.