The Crown's Fire - Chapter 236

Chapter 236: He’ll Be back
Katelina felt her knees buckle as she slumped to the floor, staring at the remaining three dragon eggs. Five were gone.

“No!” Levi gasped from behind. “Onyx!” Levi cried out and rushed into the adjacent chamber. Katelina sighed in relief when Levi returned with Onyx and Ember in his arms. Onyx quickly flew to her shoulder as soon as it saw her.

“I’ll gather the men and look for their trails,” Luis informed.

“There’s no need to waste resources. It’s too late to save the eggs. They’ve imprinted dark magic on them already,” Ezekiel interrupted as he approached Katelina.

“How do you know that?” Luis questioned with a furrowed brow.

“Do I need to explain myself to you? For all I know, I’m not sure if you can be trusted either,” Ezekiel retorted, and Katelina could feel his annoyance through their bond.

She grabbed Ezekiel’s hand and gently squeezed it. “Luis and Asura are the only ones I trust the most, Kiel. Jade, the green dragon, chose Luis as its dragonrider, and a dragon bond between them was successfully created with my spell.”

Ezekiel didn’t comment but explained through their bond, [I can read past memories once Khal’s claws touch the brain nerve of the person. I was able to release the hallucinogenic gas inside their brain and see through certain memories.]

Then he looked straight into her eyes and said, “She’s not the only spy inside your palace, Kate. There are more, including those in the temple at Mount Zion. They are Devon’s followers, the ones you thought were freed from slavery.”

“That’s impossible because we screened everyone and removed those with traces of dark magic,” Luis reasoned. Katelina strongly believed that too.

“And who did that? Who screened them, Luis? Are you a mage yourself to fully distinguish who has a trace of dark magic?” Ezekiel countered.

“It’s Priest Mauro… who made sure there’s no—” Katelina halted in her words, her eyes widening and her face paling.

“That can’t be…” she gasped, feeling her chest tighten.

“Mauro is a follower of Devon. He made a deal with the demon. He’s slowly killing the head priest, Saul. We have to go to Mount Zion now and get him in a way that he won’t suspect,” Ezekiel stated.

Katelina’s heart pounded in her chest as she absorbed Ezekiel’s words. The thought of betrayal within the temple, by someone she trusted, was almost too much to bear. But she knew there was no time for hesitation.

“We must act quickly,” she firmly stated. She looked at Luis and said, “Go get Priest Mauro and tell him that I asked for his presence. Tell him that the king of Ebodia is with me, and we need to talk to him about the upcoming wedding ceremony that will be held in the temple.”

Luis nodded in understanding and quickly left. Ezekiel looked at the three dragon eggs left and commented, “They took the green, black, brass, bronze, and copper ones.”

Katelina felt weak as she stared at the remaining three eggs, each with red, blue, and white metallic scales on their shells. “If we didn’t come and visit today, they were bound to get the remaining ones too,” Ezekiel pointed out.

That was true. She was glad that Ezekiel proposed this visit and that she decided to do it.

“I saw a black dragon in my dreams and I thought it was Onyx. I asked Luis to send word to you so I could inform you. The vision was brief, but the black dragon caused too much fire and destruction. There was a man in a hooded black cloak riding it. Could it be the missing dragon?” Levi hummed while looking at Onyx on her shoulder.

Katelina gently patted Onyx and then looked at Ezekiel as she inquired, “Will they manage to hatch those dragons? Because Mauro said they will only react to someone with the dragon rider’s blood.”

Ezekiel’s expression darkened. “If they have someone with dragon rider’s blood or if they’ve found a way to replicate it, they might. We can’t underestimate Devon’s followers. They’ll use any means necessary to achieve their goals.”

Katelina nodded in understanding. There were many changes happening now, including how dragons were choosing their dragon riders despite the fact that they didn’t have dragon blood. The dragons were evolving, and even spells were evolving too with how she successfully formed the dragon blood between Luis and his dragon Jade.

Ezekiel squeezed her hand reassuringly. “We’ll get through this, Kate. I will find more from this Priest Mauro, but like that servant, he will die once he’s under my hallucinogenic gas.”

Katelina’s eyes hardened with determination. “Do what you must, Ezekiel. We can’t afford to lose any more ground to Devon’s followers.”

Just then, Luis returned with Priest Mauro. The priest looked surprised to see them and the remaining dragon eggs outside their magical caches but quickly masked his expression. “Your Majesties, what urgent matter requires my presence?”

Katelina gritted her teeth and asked, “How is Priest Saul?”

Mauro looked disheartened and said, “I’m afraid there’s no more hope for him, Your Majesty. Like I said, it’s just a matter of time.”

“I’m sure you can’t wait to be formally appointed as the head priest, Mauro.” She wryly murmured before signaling Ezekiel to do what he must.

Ezekiel didn’t waste time, and Katelina simply hugged Levi, pressing his face to her stomach so he wouldn’t see the scene.

“Your Majesty, what is going on?” Mauro inquired in a pained voice as Ezekiel’s hand gripped his neck. Katelina saw Khal’s claw appear on his hand and pierced Mauro’s neck. She didn’t respond and let Ezekiel proceed. There was no sound or anything, but Katelina saw how Mauro’s veins slowly turned black and soon his body disintegrated into ashes.

It was the first time she saw Ezekiel wipe someone out so easily without a trace.

“Luis, look for all servants with a serpent’s tattoo on their nape. There are five more inside the temple right now, and six in the palace. Three are assigned to the kitchen, one in the garden, and two more assigned to cleaning the chambers,” Ezekiel informed.

Luis quickly nodded without waiting for her signal and said, “I’ll go now and make sure they are all captured!” Katelina looked at Ezekiel proudly. He was so reliable. He petted Onyx on Katelina’s shoulder and teased, “Are you the one in Levi’s dream, Onyx?”

Onyx growled, [Of course I’m not! I will only listen to my dragon rider and no one else!]

[Even if it’s me? The flame mate of your dragon rider?] Ezekiel questioned.

The banter between Ezekiel and Onyx somehow made Katelina feel at ease despite the disturbing incidents just now. Five of their dragon eggs had fallen into the hands of their enemies, and they could no longer retrieve them.

“We need to go soon, Kate. I have to do something and give instructions to my men,” Ezekiel commented.

“Can I go with you? I promise I will behave well, big sister. Can we and Ember and Onyx come? I’m scared,” Levi murmured, and Katelina could feel how her brother’s body was trembling.

She might not remember her sufferings because she lost her memories, but her brother had endured trauma as well, according to Asura. It was no surprise for Levi to be scared after finding out that Devon’s followers were still active, lurking around to spy, and even stealing dragon eggs.

“I’m scared that they will get me again, big sister, and use me so you’ll do everything they say. You may not remember it, but the Demon King… he… he always used me so you’d do everything he wanted against your will,” Levi sobbed. He was crying now, and Katelina’s heart ached to see her little brother in this state.

Her eyes welled with tears as she murmured, “Don’t be scared, my love. I will stay with you and I will not leave your side, Levi. Big sister will protect you well.”

Ezekiel’s expression softened as he watched the siblings. He gently placed a hand on Levi’s shoulder. “You’re safe with us, Levi. We’ll make sure nothing happens to you.”

Katelina nodded in agreement. She was honestly torn, but she felt that Levi was safer with her and Ezekiel, including the dragon eggs.

“You and Onyx can come with us, Levi. We’ll stay together,” Ezekiel reassured him.

Levi gave Ezekiel a curt bow and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Ezekiel smiled warmly. “Hmm, but I’m already your brother-in-law now, Levi. How about you call me brother-in-law from now on?” he coaxed as he gently caressed Levi’s hand.

“Hmm, I will,” Levi obediently nodded. “Come now, Levi, and I will help you pack some things.”

Levi sniffled and nodded, “Thank you, big sister.”

Ezekiel glanced at Katelina and said, “I’ll go and take care of what needs to be done here. I’ll be back to get you and Levi, including the dragons. Do you want to inform your officials about the dragons and the eggs, or should I do that instead?”

“Please do it,” Katelina answered. She was sure that her inner court, including the people, would feel more secure if Ezekiel were the one informing them about the incident today and the dragon eggs and their hatching.

“Sis…” Levi suddenly muttered as she held his hand and led him to his chamber.

“What is it, Levi?” she asked, sensing the tension in his voice.

“He’ll be back to get you… But something seems off…” Levi hesitated.

“Who are you referring to, Levi?” Katelina muttered, her heart starting to race.

“Devon… I’m sure it’s him. I saw him just now. It’s just a brief vision… Something is different in him. Sis… I’m scared,” Levi mumbled.

Katelina pulled him into a tight embrace, trying her best to comfort him despite her own heart beginning to cloud with fear.