SPELLBOUND

Beatrice' impossible speed and strength had kept them hanging on for a long time. Vera gritted her teeth again and placed her hand on the tentacle. She can't give up when everyone was fighting with everything they had. She can't rest while her mother-in-law was fighting to the extreme without any moment of reprieve. She needed to hold on. At least, Azure was not riddled with injuries and still had some strength to fight back. No matter what happens, she needed to keep fighting along side everyone.

"Vera!" Beatrice tackled the girl that they both were flat on Azure's back. A smoky projectile had suddenly shot at Vera. Her reactions were not fast enough but queen Beatrice was there to save her. Again. This had already happened more than once. Their situation worsened as Beatrice was starting to get overwhelmed from protecting Vera and zipping around, cutting the tentacles off from different areas of the dragon.

Beatrice was certain now. These tentacles were truly focusing on Azure or Vera. It was as though whoever was controlling these nasty things were aiming for them all along. She couldn't ask for help as the other who had tried to come aid them were now also dealing with the other tentacles.

The situation was becoming hopeless. The dragon was also getting weak as it had been struggling and kept pulling away to keep themselves from getting pulled forward. It was already so incredible how this Azure was able to hold its ground for this long. But... the dragon has a limit too. And she could feel that limit was so close now. What should she do?

There was one thing left to do in her mind. She needed to get Vera off Azure. That's the only way they could get out of this situation.

"No... Azure! Hold on. Please! I'll continue healing you." Vera was trying to heal the dragon again, trying to make it recover its strength. Vera had almost drained herself dry using up what little reserve of power she had. Helplessly, Vera and Beatrice could only keep at it as Azure started to get dragged towards the core.

The next time Beatrice jumped to protect Vera against two tentacles coming at her, she lost her sword. So she had no choice but to use her nails to slash the tentacles before they could wrap themselves around Vera and take her.

Beatrice screamed as she twisted and turned like a blur. Her nails lengthened and bled as it slashed against the tentacles.

? With her, she had decided. They needed to leave Azure now. As much as she hated the thought of abandoning the dragon that had put in so much fight with them, she could not just watch as her daughter-in-law get harmed or even killed!

'No. I must find a way to get Vera off Azure!' Beatrice told herself firmly as her eyes darted around, finding a way to go about it. They could no longer hang on as the tentacles were hellbent on getting them into the core.

"Vera! Queen Beatrice!" Azrael flew in from behind with Sweetie. His other teammates were not there as he had already let them off on the ground where it was relatively safer.

"Azrael, don't come over! It's too dangerous. These tentacles are aiming specifically for the dragons. Since you've escaped them, don't get Sweetie caught up in it!" Vera ordered him. However, it was obvious from her faint voice that she was not in a good condition.

Looking meaningfully at Azrael, Beatrice held onto Vera's arm, planning to use this chance to jump off and leave the dragon. She had seen Azrael's small nod in response, understanding what she wanted to do. If she did not seize this short window of opportunity, it would be too late. They were very near the core.

Felling Beatrice pulling her away, Vera widened her eyes.

"No! I won't leave Azure to fight alone!" Vera leaned her body back, digging her heels down as she lifted the other free hand to clamp it down on Beatrice's wrist. Shaking her head, she flashed a watery smile at her mother-in-law. "Please... don't make me abandon him." Her voice was trembling as she pleaded Beatrice to let her go. Her large blue eyes were clear and unclouded, showing that she was not confused and knew what she was talking about.

"Vera, dear... How can I let you be? How would I answer Gida���" her voice broke here but her eyes continue pleading with Vera. How could she just stand aside and watch as her son's beloved woman get swallowed by that dark core? There was no telling what might happen in there.

Tightening her grasp on Vera's arm, she used her vampiric strength to forcefully pull the younger woman along. She was fully intending and all set to jump across to Sweetie and Azrael who had aligned their flight parallel to Azure.

Beatrice did not wait anymore and took a powerful leap, sending her and Vera soaring to Sweetie. That was supposed to be the case. But a split second later, Beatrice realized her hand was empty. Whipping her head back, she saw Vera's outstretched hand with her fists clenched pointing towards her.

Vera had, at the last second, used her power move where she would blast the ice that her dragons create by clenching her fists. But since there was no ice, all it did was produce a propelling force that sent Beatrice hurtling to Sweetie even faster. Beatrice panicked and shot her arms out, but it was a futile attempt to grab onto Vera. She only saw her daughter-in-law's gentle smile and her mouthing out 'Sorry!' as both her and Azure were dragged swiftly towards the core.

"NOOO! Veraaaa....!!" Beatrice screamed as her last view was of Vera disappearing with Azure into the darkness.

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A/N: Just want to say thank you for all your patience guys. I think this book will soon end maybe this october or november. Update will stay weekly.