Tyrant's Obsession With The Heiress

Highly Recommended Listening: [Never Give Up On Your Dreams—By Thomas Bergersen & Two steps from hell]

With the word spread out to the leaders of each region, Lady Karina mounted Onyx's back while Sparx hopped onto her shoulder.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so free and unburdened by the dilemmas that came with Orpheus' invasion.

She always loved the crisp, sweet air of the Spring region, especially having the breezes in her hair whenever she rode on Onyx's back.

The black horse beast was powerful, with strong muscles that made each gallop intimidating but also exhilarating.

A part of Lady Karina was held back by guilt, knowing she shouldn't have been relishing in the peace of the sanctuary when her people were suffering under the hands of the Van Merikh knights.

Did she have any right to indulge in such freedom?

She shook her head out of her thoughts, but her distress did not go unnoticed.

Sharing a magical bond with Onyx, the black horse could sense her unruly emotions even if she tried to bury them deep within.

Lady Karina might have handled herself strongly, but the truth was that she had been crumbling on the inside all along.

Onyx half turned his head as he galloped forward, offering something akin to a smile to Lady Karina.

No matter how short-tempered the beast was, he always seemed to reassure her when her anxiety was at its peak.

"You are home, Rina," Onyx said, looking forward again as they passed through lush fields with other beasts riding behind them. "The darkness of the outside will not hurt you here."

And truer words had never been said.

She loved the sanctuary with all of her heart for it was part of who she was.

It was her resting place.

Lady Karina laid her thoughts to rest for the time being.

For now, although she didn't have the slightest idea as to how she would move all the beasts to a safer location, she needed to inform them of the situation outside the sanctuary.

Her fingers firmly gripped Onyx's mane to steady herself as he picked up pace, proving to be the fastest amongst the current herd of beasts.

The sudden burst of his skills made lighthearted laughter erupt from Lady Karina.

Onyx was always competing to be the best and he would give anything to earn his mark above Soran's.

However, as usual, his efforts proved to be in vain.

As they neared the gates of the Spring Region's city, Soran was already awaiting their arrival next to the two live rock dragon sentinels.

Onyx neighed in defeat, halting just a few inches before Soran, holding a challenging glare in his eyes.

"Once a foal, always a foal," Soran remarked with nonchalance, known far and beyond for his little regard for being expressive. "Do you have no regard for the lady on your back? Ride with precision, not recklessness."

Follow current novℯls on ƒгeewёbnovel.com.

Lady Karina chuckled, receiving the aid of Soran's paw to dismount Onyx.

The black horse beast snorted, never quite seeing eye-to-eye with the snow sabertooth tiger.

"Come now; this is not the time for us to bicker," Naeryn issued a gentle warning as she came up behind. "Excellent job, Soran. I see you have gathered all the leaders."

Soran bowed his head respectfully in response.

The rock dragon sentinel guards greeted Lady Karina with a bow, opening the gates to allow her and the rest of the beasts entry.

Bloomvale, as it was called, was a city that sat gracefully amongst smaller peaks. It was built with grand temples and halls, with several stone bridges winding into the city over a water canal.

There were soft pink and lilac blossoms that crept along the stone structures while lesser beasts roamed the skies above.

Lady Karina had been delighted to return to Bloomvale, as she recalled she often spent days in the city alongside beasts until her duties to Moonveil above would need her urgently; then only would she leave.

It wasn't long before they made their way into the council hall, which was an open space built with the foundation of white pillars and gold designs.

After Soran, Onyx, and Naeryn, two other mighty beasts followed into the hall, each representing their own region with the exception of Naeryn, who represented the Winter Region.

The third beast, the representative of the Spring Region, was a leviathan beast.

Since the council hall was built on a surface of water, there were large canals leading inside and around the main platform to accommodate his presence.

His name was Aurelios, a serpentine beast with iridescent scales that held a soft green and pale blue colour.

His head emerged from the water canal on the right, greeting Lady Karina with a bow of his head.

Meanwhile, the solar drake of the Summer Region flew in with his golden scales that gleamed somewhat like molten metal.

His body itself radiated what was known as sunfire and his eyes were like orbs of burning stars.

"Ignius," Lady Karina uttered his name, waving her hand until he settled gently on a large stone crest throne that was reserved for him on the left.

"My Lady," he greeted back, his voice thick and yet gentle. "It is always a pleasure to see you."

The final representative was from the Autumn Region.

Amberis was a beast with the body of a deep russet lioness and the wings of a great owl, holding feathers with the shades of copper, crimson, and twilight violet.

A truly magnificent griffin.

"We have been informed that there is unrest above the sanctuary, Karina," Amberis stated, taking her seat to the right on a large nest-like seat woven from vines and branches.

Lady Karina stood in the middle of the council hall with Soran on her right and Onyx on her left as she addressed the four beasts.

"I do not wish to alarm everyone but these are dire times and I do not know if the sanctuary will remain protected and safe for long," Lady Karina shared her thoughts.

Her nerves were on fire and while she tried to think of ways to safeguard the beasts, her mind still drifted off to Orpheus.

She was truly going mad

Mad because her first thought was, what would it have been like if she could show something as beautiful as the sanctuary to the man?