The Crown's Fire - Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Certain Security
Departing before sunset, Tarah felt a sense of deja vu as she once again found herself enveloped in the deafening silence inside the carriage with Ezekiel.

She stole glances at Ezekiel, who appeared lost in deep thought. Tarah could empathize with him. The day had been tense with events, and Devon’s disruptive behavior as he materialized himself on one of his spies threatened to overshadow the festivities at Cordon, notably the procession of his sister as the new queen of Cordon.

Suddenly, Ezekiel turned to her, catching Tarah off guard. She offered an awkward smile, realizing it was too late to avert her gaze.

“You seem lost in thought,” she remarked, breaking the awkward silence.

“My sister Mineah is cursed, and now her life… her bloodline is intertwined with Lady Jayra’s. I just wish I could do more for her,” Ezekiel confided.

“You know, there’s no such thing as coincidence; everything happens for a reason. Let me show you,” Tarah replied.

With that, she moved closer to sit beside Ezekiel and gently touched his hand, channeling her ability to share some of the visions she had seen, particularly those concerning Queen Xenia and Queen Mineah.

“This…” Ezekiel breathed, his gaze fixed on her with intensity. Tarah allowed him to witness the positive visions she had experienced, involving his sisters, himself, and his future interactions with his nieces and nephews from his sisters.

“You don’t need to worry, because, as I said before, both your sisters are in good hands. Their respective husbands will do everything in their power to protect them,” Tarah reassured him.

“You should focus on yourself more and ensure that the dragon spirit binds well with yours because that’s the only way for you to overcome any enemies that may come your way,” she advised.

For some reason, she wanted to lift his spirits, so she immediately changed the topic with a glint in her eyes. “I’ve never been inside Ebodia territories. I heard that your kingdom celebrates various festivals that outsiders enjoy. And there are so many attractions to visit that one would truly be mesmerized.”

Ezekiel smiled at her and replied, “That’s true. I’ll personally tour you around. But Zion is a great place too. I remember going there when I was young with my father. That Holy Temple at the peak of Mount Zion is truly stunning.”

“You’ve been to Zion?” Tarah gasped.

“Yes, that was fifteen years ago… Your kingdom held a lantern festival, and my father paid respect to the Priests at the temple. There was even a sword dragon dance, and the princess herself performed it at a young age…” Ezekiel recounted.

Tarah’s face paled, her voice trembling as she murmured, “But the temple is now ruined.”

She was the one who had performed that sword dragon dance, albeit with a veil covering her face. Despite her efforts, controlling her emotions proved challenging. The thought of Devon killing her parents, ruining their kingdom, and enslaving her people weighed heavily on her. It felt as though something was stabbing deep inside her heart.

“I’m sorry that I unintentionally brought it up,” murmured Ezekiel, reaching for her hand and gently squeezing it.

“It’s fine. It’s not like it’s your fault. Things happened…” Tarah muttered. She wondered if it was alright that they were so close to each other. Ezekiel held her hand and didn’t let go. It felt warm, and Tarah knew in her heart that Ezekiel’s presence like this gave her a certain security she had never felt before.

“Tarah, I’m planning to infiltrate Helion and kill Devon,” Ezekiel informed, prompting her grip on his hand to unconsciously tighten. She should have been elated, shouldn’t she? This revelation would have made it easy for her to deliver Ezekiel to Devon. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Tarah felt a tug at her heart. She never imagined her emotions for Ezekiel would be this intense by now.

“That’s dangerous,” she whispered. “You may have angel’s blood, but Devon is a pureblood Demon, the most powerful demon on earth… He’s the offspring of fallen angels who turned into demons…”

That was why Devon had managed to eliminate even his father and the remaining demons he deemed a threat during his reign.

With a roguish grin, he raised his hand to gently caress her cheek. “You make it possible for me to become powerful. With the dragon’s power within me right now, I’m confident I can take him down,” he whispered in his deep, confident voice.

That was true. She had nothing to worry about, right? After all, she had seen Ezekiel killing Devon in her previous vision. And she was doing everything in her power to ensure Ezekiel’s safety, no matter what.

Tarah didn’t respond, she simply bit her inner cheek as she met his gaze. His smile was filled with confidence and determination.

“If I killed Devon, I can free everyone… Those innocent lives he enslaved. I know there’s nothing I can do for your family, but let me avenge their deaths and bring justice. Let me free your people so you can return and visit your home in Zion whenever you want,” Ezekiel reasoned.

With his palm still cupping one side of her face, Tarah’s heart continued to race erratically as he gently caressed her cheek with his thumb. His palm felt warm against her skin. “I will make sure that you can return to Zion and visit whenever you want,” he promised.

Tarah smiled and said, “Thank you so much for your kindness, Your Highness.”

She gulped when she saw her own reflection in Ezekiel’s intense gaze. His eyes seemed to bore into her, making her feel like she would melt if he didn’t turn away. Then, his gaze trailed down to her parted lips. Tarah felt the world around her stop spinning as Ezekiel’s face leaned closer.

Anticipating what would happen next, she thought, ‘Is he going to kiss me?’ Holding her breath, she instinctively closed her eyes.