The Crown's Fire - Chapter 245

Chapter 245: A New Task
Ezekiel cuddled Katelina in his arms as she snuggled closely to him, her body still trembling with fear.

“I’m here by your side, Kate. I won’t go anywhere,” Ezekiel murmured, holding her tightly. He blamed himself for leaving her alone, knowing her nightmare had come when she fell asleep without him. He should have stayed, but no one else could deal with the witch and the dragon egg.

“I know. I’m sorry, Kiel… I worried you. Those memories are too much to take. I believe my lost memories will gradually come back to me, Kiel. I just hope it’s only you that I remember,” Katelina sobbed.

She couldn’t believe how much she had endured from Devon. It was all coming back: the physical abuse, the emotional trauma, the harassment…

Katelina felt her stomach churning in disgust and quickly moved to run outside to throw up. Ezekiel was right behind her, gently patting her back. He handed her some water and let her calm down before pulling her back inside the tent. “I’ll overcome this like I did before,” Katelina muttered to herself as Ezekiel fixed the strands of hair on her face.

“Yes, you will, and I’ll be by your side all the way,” Ezekiel reassured her. He pulled her close and carried her back to the bed. “Do you want me to sing you a lullaby?” he humorously asked. Katelina managed to chuckle as she replied, “You can sing?”

“Of course! You’ll fall in love with me more once you hear my perfect voice!” Ezekiel boasted.

“Alright, sing me a lullaby,” Katelina murmured. Ezekiel started humming, and she smiled as she snuggled closer to his chest.

“I feel so relaxed, secure, and comforted just by your presence like this. Thank you for finding me and coming back into my life even though I don’t remember you, Kiel,” Katelina sluggishly muttered, letting her heavy eyelids pull her back to deep slumber.

Ezekiel could feel Katelina calming through their bond, and her steady breathing indicated she had already fallen into a deep sleep. He took a deep breath and released a sigh of relief, kissing her head and inhaling her intoxicating scent.

Then his eyes darkened at the thought of Devon. He growled, vowing to find and destroy every last remnant of Devon, including his devoted followers. He would burn them all alive.

******

Meanwhile, at the hidden cave where one of the dragon eggs was concealed, a ritual was underway. The egg began to wriggle, its shell cracking until it burst open. Emerging from it was a black dragon, roaring with a high-pitched sound as it spread its small wings.

“Ah, look at you! You’re so beautiful!” a man wearing a half-mask hummed in admiration. He removed his mask, revealing brown eyes that glinted with a dark intensity. The baby dragon’s eyes mirrored this transformation, turning completely black.

“Come here, I am your master,” he coaxed, and the dragon obediently walked towards his open arms.

“Master, it’s so small. Will it grow quickly?” Tessa asked curiously from a distance.

“Hmm, it will, Tessa. In a few weeks, I’ll be able to ride it. I will train it well,” Merlot commented confidently. He leaned in to kiss the black dragon’s head gently. “I will call you Hades. Together, we will rule this world!”

“What about the other dragon eggs, Master? Two of the spies already brought them to Mistress Marla’s location,” Tessa inquired.

“That’s fine, Tessa. They are all destined to come into my hands,” Merlot said with a triumphant grin. Tessa nodded and quickly gathered all the items her master had used for the ritual.

“Ouch!” she cried out suddenly, touching something hot. Merlot hurried over and examined her hand.

“You’ve been contaminated with dark magic. Quickly, grab the purifying vial and drink from it. You must remain free from dark magic and stay inside the palace. I need you to closely watch the Queen Regent upon her arrival,” Merlot reminded her urgently.

Tessa immediately followed his instructions, drinking from the vial that could cleanse her body of any dark magic contamination.

As they prepared to leave, Merlot suddenly halted in his tracks, a wave of pain coursing through his body. “Damn this demon!” he cursed under his breath.

As the pain inside his head intensified, Merlot groaned and quickly retrieved a vial from his pocket. Without hesitation, he drank its contents, hoping for relief from the agony.

“Master, what’s wrong? Is the bloodthread acting up again? Can’t we do anything to remove it?” Tessa asked, her eyes welling up with concern. Merlot reached out and gently touched her face. “It’s too dangerous to remove it now from my system. Marla bound our lives together with this bloodthread. I have to keep it if I want to survive.”

It was his own fault for underestimating Marla, thinking her useless when she was anything but.

“But what if that demon manages to take control of your body, like Marla wants?” Tessa’s voice trembled as she spoke.

“That won’t happen. We’re already connected. At most, he can influence me, but he can’t fully control me because I lack demon blood like his,” Merlot explained firmly.

His expression hardened as he looked at Tessa and continued, “I’ve given you instructions on what to do if I fail to take my potion and Devon takes over. You’ll inject me with the antidote I’ve prepared to suppress him.”

Tessa nodded resolutely. “I’ll remember.”

Merlot gently patted her head. “Good girl. But rest assured, I won’t let that happen. I’ll make sure I never miss a dose to keep Devon’s bloodthread dormant.”

Tessa was a trusted servant whom Merlot valued greatly. He appreciated her loyalty and care for him.

“By the way, I have a new task for you,” Merlot said with a smile as he gently brushed Tessa’s lips with his fingers. She was a striking woman, and Merlot believed she would be perfect for the task he had in mind.

“What is it, Master?” she asked, curious about his request.

“I need you to gain King Ezekiel’s trust,” Merlot explained calmly. “It may seem challenging, but we must try. If seduction doesn’t work, we’ll find other ways to undermine his relationship with the future queen.”

Tessa nodded. She had always followed her Master’s instructions dutifully, and this would be no exception.