"I heard what was happening in Silvermoon, so I returned immediately," Vangelis said as he sat beside Fiona, his presence heavy with authority.
The moment he did, Fiona's eyes darkened, the deep red of her irises intensifying like burning embers. A shudder coursed through her as she exhaled sharply, her fingers curling into fists. "She is my twin—the one I locked away from birth," she admitted, her voice laced with a mixture of regret and defiance. "They told me she was born first, two months before me but she carried a curse. Her body absorbs and harbors bad omens, and the only way to contain it was to imprison her."
Vangelis's jaw tightened. "I'll assemble five thousand warriors. We can't afford to let this war drag on."
But Fiona shook her head, the fiery glow in her eyes unrelenting. "No. This fight is mine. I was born for it, and I must see it through."
"You don't have to do this alone," Phoenix interjected after a long silence, his voice calm yet edged with something deeper—something possessive. His electric blue eyes burned with intensity as he met Fiona's gaze. "We can't afford to lose you."
Before anyone could respond, the door flew open with a resounding crash. Roxanne staggered into the room, blood trickling from her nostrils, fresh bruises marking her skin.
"What happened to you?" Fiona rushed to her, her heart pounding as she reached out, her fingers brushing over the raw wounds.
"I fought Hazel," Roxanne rasped, her breaths uneven. "Most of our warriors… they're down."
A chilling silence settled over the room. The battle had already begun.
"You can't, and you know it," Fiona responded, her voice strained but resolute.
"Even if I die, at least I will be counted among those who fought for the palace", she said bitterly. That was better than living as a powerless vampire, a forgotten shadow with no place in history. Her gaze dropped to the floor,her heart heavy with unspoken burdens. A silence stretched between them, thick with emotion.
Vangelis finally broke it. "Never say you're not important," he said firmly. Without hesitation, he lifted her into his arms, his grip strong yet careful. "I'm taking you to the healer."
As he climbed the stairs, Fiona's body ached, but something far more unsettling stirred within her. It boiled in her veins like molten lava, an unspoken, irrational rage. Her red eyes flickered dangerously as she glanced at Roxanne—too close to her husband, too familiar.
Roxanne, lying in Vangelis' arm, wore a mischievous grin, her amusement barely concealed.
Phoenix cleared his throat, drawing Fiona's attention. His gaze was intense, unwavering. "Promise me you'll come back to me," he said, his voice laced with something deeper—something raw.
"I'll try," she murmured.
"Don't try," he countered, his tone darkening. "It's a command. You will come back." His hand rested on her shoulder, firm yet possessive.
Fiona's blue eyes flared with defiance as she swiftly shoved his hand away. "You don't own me, Jade. You have no right to command me. You are not my husband," she snapped.
Phoenix's smirk returned, but there was an edge to it, a challenge. "But I kissed you first," he murmured, stepping closer. "Tried you first. Broke your maiden first. I had you before your husband ever did."
Fiona's breath hitched, her heart pounding against her ribs. "Don't talk about that here," she whispered harshly, glancing toward the stairs. "He's around. I've never been this afraid before."
Tears welled in Fiona's eyes, her voice trembling with a weight she could no longer hide. "This is my life. I fear I might not come back. Even if I defeat Hazel the others will kill me."
Phoenix's expression softened with concern, his gaze never leaving her. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, his voice gentle yet filled with a quiet urgency.
Fiona took a shaky breath, her body tense with the gravity of her words. "I'm a hybrid—born of a witch and a vampire. All hybrids and witches were eliminated 35 years ago after the witches attacked Silvermoon, right after the peace treaty was signed." She paused, her voice faltering as she fought to keep her composure. "If I assume my witch form, I'll be assassinated, despite being the queen.The worst part is that I can't assume into my witch form."
Her eyes flickered with pain, her next words bitter and laced with regret. "The only way I can stand a chance against Hazel is to embrace my witch form. But that's a death sentence for me. My very existence has been a danger to everyone."
Phoenix stood frozen for a moment, the weight of her words sinking in. He wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but he knew that this was something deeper than just fear. It was the burden of a lifetime, and she was carrying it alone.
"The only way I can fight her is by embracing my witch form," Fiona admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "She doesn't have her vampire or wolf abilities, which gives me an edge. But if I do this, I'll be exposing myself to death. My existence has always been a danger to everyone. My mother and father died because of me. Roxanne… she can't even shift into her vampire form because of me."
Before she could say another word, Phoenix cupped her face and captured her lips in a tender kiss. It was slow, filled with unspoken emotions—a desperate attempt to anchor her, to remind her she wasn't alone. When he pulled away, his forehead rested against hers. "I'm always here for you," he murmured.
Fiona took a shaky breath, then reached for the locket around her neck, unclasping it before pressing it into his palm. "This will tell you if I'm in danger," she explained. "It glows red when I'm in trouble and goes dark if…" She hesitated, unable to say the words. "If I die."
Phoenix tightened his grip on the locket, his jaw clenching.
"It's glowing green now because I'm safe," she continued. "But if anything changes, you'll know. Just… don't tell Vangelis. I need him to stay strong no matter what."
She looked up at the stairs, her blue eyes filled with quiet determination. "Take care of my cousin… and Vangelis… if I don't come back."
Phoenix swallowed hard, his grip tightening around the small pendant. "You're coming back," he whispered, but deep down, the fear of losing her clawed at his chest.
"You will come back… and I trust you, Sapphire," Phoenix said, his voice firm yet filled with something deeper—something that made Fiona's heart pound against her ribs.
For the first time, she saw his genuine smile, and it left her breathless. Her heart was stamping like a war drum, caught between fear and the undeniable pull he had over her.
Phoenix stepped closer, his gaze never leaving hers as he placed his hand over her chest, right above her heart. "You can do this," he murmured. "Because this side… it originally belongs to me."
The moment his words settled into her soul, a surge of power erupted from within her. A mighty pair of golden wings burst from her back, unfurling with a brilliant glow. Her crimson eyes flared, then shifted—morphing into an electric blue so intense it crackled with raw energy.
Her gown dissolved, replaced by gleaming golden armor that wrapped around her form like it had been forged just for her. In her grasp, a ceremonial staff materialized, pulsing with an ancient power.
The air around them vibrated, the very essence of magic bending to her presence.
Phoenix stepped back, admiration flickering in his eyes. "Now, you're ready."