The Crown's Fire - Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Risking My Safety
Tarah’s heart raced as she noticed Ezekiel’s darkened expression directed at her.

“Your Highness?” she ventured cautiously.

“Are you hurt?” he inquired, his gaze penetrating.

Tarah’s eyes widened in alarm as she hurriedly sank deeper into the hot spring, realizing her mistake. She had forgotten to heal the bruises inflicted on her by Devon, some of them likely leaving a mark on her exposed shoulder.

“Please turn around. It’s nothing,” she replied, attempting to dismiss his concern. “They’re just a few scratches from some bugs.”

Ezekiel flinched at Tarah’s response, but his frown remained etched onto his face as he turned away. Seeing his reaction, Tarah inwardly cursed and swiftly healed her body, ensuring that there were no traces of Devon’s handiwork on her body.

“A bug? Haven’t you learned your lesson? You nearly died because of a bug,” Ezekiel huffed in irritation, his frustration evident in his tone. “Why do bugs seem to have it out for you anyway?”

Shrugging, Tarah rose from the hot spring, only to stiffen as Ezekiel suddenly turned around and embraced her.

“Your Highness?” she gasped, taken aback by his unexpected gesture.

“Seer Tarah!”

A stranger’s voice echoed from a distance. When she turned her head, she spotted soldiers not far behind Ezekiel.

“Return! I’ve found her,” Ezekiel commanded, his loud and deep voice cutting through the air with authority. “Inform everyone to return to their positions!”

Ezekiel’s current position shielded her from the soldiers’ view, leaving Tarah holding her breath before they inevitably left. Despite the urgency of the situation, she couldn’t ignore the familiar sensation that washed over her whenever she was near him.

Tilting her head slightly to meet his gaze, she softly whispered to him, her cheeks flushed crimson as she felt his intense stare bore into her. “They’re gone, Your Highness. You can let go of me now.”

However, he seemingly never heard her as kept holding onto her. “Are you certain the bug that bit you wasn’t poisonous?” he questioned, his skepticism evident in his expression.

“Yes, I’ve already healed myself,” Tarah assured him.

As he subconsciously glanced down at her shoulder, she hastily pulled herself away from his embrace, her heart pounding with mixed emotions.

“Hurry up and get dressed!” Ezekiel grunted, turning away abruptly.

Nodding, Tarah swiftly retrieved a new dress from her magical pouch and wore it. Once she was done, Ezekiel turned back around, his gaze settling on the spot where she had left her previous dress. “Are you planning to leave that here?” he inquired.

Tarah released a frustrated sigh. Typically, she would destroy the clothes that Devon had touched, but doing so now would raise suspicion. Instead, she decided to carry it with her and dispose of it later. But before she could reach for the dress, Ezekiel grabbed it first. Then, with a flick, Tarah blinked in astonishment as she watched the fabric ignite in his hand, turning into ashes before her eyes.

“The dress…” she gasped, her lips parting in disbelief.

“It stinks. I’ll get you a new one to replace this,” Ezekiel remarked, his scowl deepening.

Tarah found herself unable to comment, taken aback by his somber demeanor.

‘What’s wrong with him?’ she wondered silently as she trailed behind him as he began making his way back to camp. ‘Why does he seem so angry?’

Despite her concerns, a small smile tugged at Tarah’s lips. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that Ezekiel could wield Vulcan’s power with ease now. It was a testament to the success of the life and death bond. Once the merging was complete, Ezekiel would have full control over the dragon’s power, just as she had seen in her vision.

Along the way, Ezekiel abruptly halted in his stride, causing Tarah to bump into his back as she was lost in her own thoughts. He then turned around to face her, his expression stoic and intense.

“Did you do something to me while I was unconscious?” he asked directly, catching Tarah off guard.

“What do you mean?” she replied innocently, feigning ignorance.

“Vulcan’s spirit is merging with mine, Tarah, and we both know that’s not possible without some kind of spell or ritual,” Ezekiel pointed out, his gaze unwavering.

Tarah realized she couldn’t evade this question, knowing how sharp and clever the prince was. She hadn’t anticipated him sensing the merging process, but she supposed Ezekiel’s perception was simply exceptional, allowing him to discern everything happening within his own spirit.

Tarah took a deep breath as she mulled over her options. She didn’t need to lie to the prince about everything except for any factors that could jeopardize Levi’s health and safety. Besides, she simply needed to ensure she didn’t act or speak in a way that went against Devon.

Reaching out, she touched Ezekiel’s arm, intending to show him the vision she had witnessed involving him wielding the dragon’s power in the future. But before she could do so, Ezekiel spoke.

“You should know that attempting to access my past memories now would be in vain,” he said calmly. “The dragon’s power is too strong, emanating directly from its spirit. I can shield myself from mind reading and past memory reading as well now.”

Tarah couldn’t suppress the amused smile on her lips. “And you should also know, Your Highness, that I’m touching you like this for that purpose,” she replied. “You see, I not only have the ability to see the past and the future, but apparently, I can also show others the things I’ve seen as well.”

Without hesitation, Tarah then channeled her energy, allowing Ezekiel to witness the future she had seen where he wielded the dragon’s power and emerged victorious in battle against his enemies. Of course, she carefully excluded any visions that involved Devon, particularly the scene where Ezekiel killed the Demon King, mindful of its potential impact on Levi.

As the vision unfolded before Ezekiel’s eyes, Tarah watched him closely, waiting for his reaction.

“You desired this power to protect those you love and care for,” Tarah began, her voice soft yet resolute. “I’m sorry if I took it upon myself to ensure that the dragon spirit merged with your own while you were unconscious. It seemed like an opportune moment while Vulcan’s soul was distracted. I didn’t inform Queen Dana about it because I knew she wouldn’t risk your safety with such an unnatural procedure that had never been attempted before.”

“You’re correct, my mother wouldn’t jeopardize my life for this,” Ezekiel commented, his gaze never wavering from hers. “But you took that risk… risking my safety. Why would you do that, Tarah? For what reason?”

His voice was laced with a mix of disappointment and curiosity, something that Tarah didn’t really know how to respond to.