The Crown's Fire - Chapter 112

Chapter 112: I Know
Ezekiel hummed as he made his way to see Tarah. He left the wedding ceremony promptly after it ended and skipped the after-party, eager to spend time with her. Along the way home, he had picked up some special steamy buns for her, knowing she would love them.

A smile unconsciously played on his lips as he imagined Tarah enjoying the buns to her heart’s content. Her appetite rivaled that of his two sisters, a trait he adored.

“Your Highness,” Cora greeted him in the hallway.

“Where is Tarah?” he inquired directly.

“She mentioned she would rest and take a late afternoon nap in her chamber. She also asked not to be disturbed,” Cora reported. Ezekiel nodded and continued his walk through the palace.

“I wonder if she’s still asleep,” he mumbled, pausing in front of Tarah’s door. “That’s odd,” he remarked with a furrowed brow. Normally, he would have caught a whiff of Tarah’s scent from this distance, but there was nothing.

Ezekiel knocked on her door and called out, “Tarah,” but received no response. He pushed open the door and entered. “Tarah!” Although her faint scent lingered in the room, she was nowhere to be found.

[Tarah!] he called through their bond several times but there was no answer.

In that moment, Ezekiel swiftly called for Cora and instructed her to search every corner of the palace for Tarah. With determination, he hurried toward his secret garden, hoping to find her there, but she was nowhere to be seen. He even scanned the rooftop of the palace, but she was not there as well.

“Have you found her?” he questioned Cora when they saw each other in the hallway.

She shook her head. “No one saw her leave after she entered her bedchamber. Could she have teleported?” she speculated.

Ezekiel cursed inwardly. It was a possibility he hadn’t considered, and he hoped that was the case. “Summon Lurio immediately,” he ordered with gritted teeth. Having Lurio create a portal would be the quickest way to search for her. She probably returned to the hotspring. The alternative way to arrive there fast was transforming into his dragon form which wasn’t advisable within Ebodia’s borders at this time. He tried calling her through the bond once in a while but there was still no answer from her.

“Did she leave any note?” Cora inquired. “I didn’t check,” Ezekiel replied tersely. With each passing second, Ezekiel could feel the tightening of his chest intensify. The agony of not knowing Tarah’s whereabouts was akin to hell itself.

With that, Cora rushed to Tarah’s bedchamber, with Ezekiel close behind. He watched as Cora searched for any sign of a note, but found nothing. They were about to leave when a portal suddenly materialized before them.

Tarah stepped out of the portal, and Ezekiel breathed a sigh of relief. He dimly instructed Cora, “Leave us, Cora.”

Cora excused herself politely, and as soon as the door closed, Ezekiel turned to Tarah and asked, “Where have you been?”

****

Tarah’s eyes widened in surprise as she entered her bedchamber to find Cora and Ezekiel waiting for her. She had returned earlier than expected, but why was Ezekiel there? Wasn’t he supposed to be out until late at night?

His somber expression made her gulp as he dismissed Cora and then questioned her about her whereabouts. Tarah felt a wave of gratitude that she had managed to freshen up in the hotspring and change into a new dress before returning, otherwise, Ezekiel might have detected Devon’s scent on her again.

“I just went back to the hotspring, Your Highness,” Tarah replied hesitantly.

Ezekiel remained silent, his gaze fixed on her for a long moment before pulling her into a tight hug. “Don’t ever do something like this again without informing Cora or leaving a note. I… I was so worried… I thought I had lost you,” he murmured, his embrace tightening around her, conveying his fear and relief all at once.

“I’m sorry I made you worry, Kiel,” Tarah murmured weakly. Ezekiel gently pushed her away and cupped her face, his thumb caressing her cheek with tenderness.

“I attempted to reach out to you through our bond, but you didn’t respond,” Ezekiel remarked, his tone tinged with concern.

Tarah parted her lips as if to respond, but no words came. She struggled to find the right thing to say and ultimately remained silent. She restrained herself from revealing to Ezekiel that she had deliberately severed their connection, knowing that Devon’s heightened sensitivity might detect any disruption. It was a gamble she couldn’t entertain, especially considering the formidable bond she shared with Devon due to the Tophet Bloodchain Spell.

“Tarah, I know about the Tophet Bloodchain Spell,” Ezekiel suddenly revealed, causing Tarah’s face to pale. Before she could respond, Ezekiel silenced her with a gesture. “Shh, don’t say anything. I understand your situation, and I know your loved ones are probably in danger because of that spell.”

“I’m sorry,” Tarah whispered, her lips trembling. Mixed emotions overwhelmed her. She didn’t know how Ezekiel had discovered the truth, but she felt a sense of relief that he now knew.

“I will break that spell no matter what, Tarah. I will kill Devon and set you and your loved ones free,” he vowed, his voice firm and resolute. Tarah couldn’t contain her emotions any longer as tears streamed down her face.

He pulled her into another hug, gently stroking her hair as they held each other close. Tarah lost track of time in his embrace, finding solace in his comforting presence. Eventually, she broke the hug once her emotions had settled.

“Come, I brought you some special buns,” Ezekiel said with a warm smile, guiding her to sit in a nearby chair. Everything still felt surreal to Tarah, but a glimmer of hope flickered in her heart.

“Here, try one,” Ezekiel offered, handing her a bun. Tarah couldn’t help but chuckle at his thoughtfulness. “Thank you,” she said gratefully, taking a bite of the bun.

A sense of lightness washed over her, despite the weight of their circumstances. Though she couldn’t divulge every detail to Ezekiel, what mattered most was that he now knew she was under the demon king’s spell against her will.

She ate her food slowly, thinking about the future and the strange visions she’d seen, not to mention Levi’s talk about her destiny. He mentioned she would marry someone, but when she asked him what the man looked like, Levi couldn’t provide any specific details, just that he was handsome.

She glanced at Ezekiel, who was watching her closely. “You should eat too,” she said to him. He seemed calm and collected, not asking her any questions. Tarah wanted to know how he knew the truth, but she was afraid to bring up the topic of that spell after what happened to Levi when she asked Wizard Lurio and Queen Dana about it last time.

Ezekiel reached for his magical pouch and retrieved a journal, handing it to Tarah. As she opened it, she gasped. “This…”