The Prince

They came for us before sunrise.

Hundreds of soldiers surrounded the castle.

Their armor was silver.

Their swords glowed with blue light.

I stood behind Elias.

One soldier dropped to his knees.

“Your Highness.”

I looked at Elias.

He didn't look like the strange man I had met in the rain anymore.

He looked like royalty.

Cold.

Powerful.

Untouchable.

A woman walked toward us.

She wore a silver crown.

The same woman from my dream.

His mother.

She looked at me.

Then at her son.

Her face turned pale.

“Elara.”

I froze.

“You know my name?”

She looked at Elias.

“What have you done?”

Elias stepped between us.

“Mother.”

“You brought a human here?”

“She is under my protection.”

His mother looked at me with something between fear and sadness.

“You don't understand what you've done.”

“What did I do?”

She whispered:

“You opened the door.”

“To what?”

She looked toward the sky.

“To a war that has been waiting for three hundred years.”

That evening, I learned the truth.

Elias's father was dead.

His uncle, King Darius, had taken control of the kingdom.

But Elias had escaped before he could be killed.

The throne technically belonged to him.

And Darius wanted him dead.

“You cannot stay here,” his mother told me.

“Why?”

“Because Darius will use you.”

“I don't understand.”

She looked at Elias.

“Your son has made a terrible mistake.”

Elias stood.

“I don't regret it.”

His mother closed her eyes.

“You love her.”

It wasn't a question.

Elias said nothing.

His mother looked at me.

“Then you must understand something.”

“What?”

“The last human who came to Aetheria was executed.”

I felt cold.

“Why?”

“Because humans and our people were forbidden from mixing.”

“Why?”

“Because the last time they did…”

She stopped.

“What?”

She looked toward the ancient symbol engraved on the wall.

“The worlds almost died.”

Chapter 10 — The Choice

That night, Elias found me alone on a balcony overlooking the kingdom.

“You're afraid.”

“Yes.”

“Of me?”

I looked at him.

“No.”

“Then of what?”

“Of losing you.”

He stepped closer.

“You won't.”

“You don't know that.”

“I do.”

“How?”

He took my hand.

“Because I've already lost everything else.”

I looked at him.

“Your kingdom?”

“My father.”

“Your family?”

“My home.”

He touched my cheek.

“And now I have you.”

A horn sounded in the distance.

Elias turned.

His expression changed.

“What is it?”

He looked toward the mountains.

“They're here.”

“Who?”

His voice became quiet.

“My uncle's army.”

The castle bells began ringing.

Soldiers rushed through the courtyard.

The sky darkened.

And somewhere beyond the mountains, thousands of lights appeared.

An army.

Coming for him.

Elias looked at me.

“Stay behind me.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

“Elara.”

“If they're coming because of me, I'm not hiding.”

He stared at me.

Then smiled.

“You have no idea how dangerous you are.”

I smiled back.

“You're the one who brought me to another world.”

He laughed softly.

Then he pulled me close.

And whispered:

“Whatever happens tonight…”

“Yes?”

“Don't let them take you from me.”

The castle gates began to shake.

Once.

Twice.

Then they broke.

And the first soldiers entered Aetheria.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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