Cora was overwhelmed with emotion. She wished her grandmother was still here she had so many questions that needed answers. Had she known the Blood King was in her study the whole time? Did her parents know? What was she saying about Thessionia being overrun by darkness? Why did the King of Shadows want revenge on the Blood King? Did they know each other personally? Shouldn't everyone that knew him be dead by now?
150Please respect copyright.PENANAuYyjdZm6dx
She sat in the nearest chair.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAtr8fsyMgjR
Prince Lyon placed a hand on her shoulder. "You seem preoccupied. Should we talk another time."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAtKXDDrDqQw
Cora shut the book. "No, I just got distracted for a moment."
150Please respect copyright.PENANADYlPx6egua
"Unfortunately I'm all out of tea."
150Please respect copyright.PENANADUVV3Uld4d
Cora felt a small twinge of disappointment but she understood. "Don't worry about it, you've had a rough couple of days."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAOOuPnuyLwj
"Maybe this will make up for it," he placed a small opened box in front of her. Inside was a silver bracelet covered in diamonds in the center there was flower that appeared to be made completely out of sapphires.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAAhRUMIfuxa
"It's beautiful! I can't accept this. I mean you're the prince. I shouldn't even be allowed to talk to someone like you." She was rambling again.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA9vDlD39fRe
"I am no more important than anyone else especially you."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAAKce7o6O4f
Technically that was false but, Cora understood what he was trying to say. She slipped it on. "Thank you."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAMw9zEcYXyK
You're most welcome."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAsZ48nxztVu
Cora gazed into his eyes expecting to feel bubbly inside like she always did around him. Nothing. She felt nothing. She used to dream about falling in love with a handsome prince and here she was and she felt nothing.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAixPDYwR1Xy
She glanced at the clock on the back wall. She had to leave soon. "I need to go," she whispered refusing to meetups gaze.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAFunalKAv1F
"Go ahead then."
150Please respect copyright.PENANA9JGUMMRQmG
She checked out the book then left for the den. She and her friends were going to stop the Tibicenas once and for all.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAm7bPYh6Xf2
She trudged through knee deep snow until she was deep into the woods. She had no clue how people could live in this climate.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAWOkBVhK4Bm
The den was a huge cave made entirely out of ice. It was so dark Cora couldn't tell exactly how large it was. The longest icicles she had ever seen clung to the ceiling. They were sharp enough to impale someone upon contact. She heard the faint sound of howling. She was unsure if it was the wind or something else. Val, Scarlet and Ray were standing outside of the mouth of the cave. Zyler seemed to be captivated by something in the distance.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAxh7rbMfj4K
Ray ran up to her the moment he saw her. All Cora wanted to do was jump into his arms and she didn't care who was watching. After her last encounter with Prince Lyon she knew for certain she had feelings for Ray.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAG1j1o8eD5U
Once he was only a few steps away she tackled him to the ground. They both landed in a pile of fresh snow. Cora had landed on top of him their lips were only a few centimeters apart. She felt his warm breath on her face.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAmHlzn31qCv
"My apologies," he tucked a strand of her long blonde hair behind her ear. "Lily never did anything like this and I'm not sure how to react."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAc8eBpualGn
"Just be yourself,"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAUjGdlh2rSz
Their fingers tightly intertwined.
150Please respect copyright.PENANANydFdjaaDN
Val loudly cleared her throat. Her cheeks blushed slightly pink. She was clearly uncomfortable.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAvLV57psvqh
Scarlet on the other hand seemed to be enjoying the spectacle.
150Please respect copyright.PENANArSH2Qa6ThA
The pair quickly got up and shook the snow off their clothes.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAJs0TAc3uuc
Val opened her notebook and began skimming the pages. "I put together a strategy to help us inject all of the Tibicenas with the antidote. Can someone go get Zyler so I can explain the plan to everyone?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAkMU4oviwYh
Cora regained her composure. "I'll go get him."
150Please respect copyright.PENANASKYTjoQXdj
Zyler sat on a rocky ledge on the side of the mountain watching the sun rise.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA7okJ2kTKYl
Cora sat beside him but he refused to look away.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA4aTTHsEr01
The view was truly breathtaking. The entire sky was painted painted vibrant shades of pink and orange. There were stretches of snow covered trees for as far as the eye could see.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAsD1QBYT4wD
Zyler was the first to break the silence. "You know they say that the sunrises on Mt. Nevado are some of the most beautiful in the world? I never thought I'd see one with my own eyes though."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAeJtTXsRXH4
Cora wasn't used to Zyler being so serious. "Why not?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAYEO5EKegck
"I grew up in a crowded orphanage in western Thessionia. I had nothing not even a name. There wasn't enough food to go around. I was sure I was going to die there. One day a family decided to adopt me. Neither of them made it into the Prestige Program so they didn't have much money, but it was riches compared to what I was used to. They treated me like I was their own son. I made I promise that I would help them out in anyway I can. I worked days and nights in a factory so we could keep our home. My mom has always wanted to watch the sunrise on Mt. Nevado to see if it was really as beautiful as people say it is. I want to remember everything about this sunrise so I can tell her all about it."
150Please respect copyright.PENANA1WNDSvPWRY
"It's breathtaking." Cora replied.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAJLHeflYfEB
Zyler nodded. "Maybe, if the mission goes according to plan I'll be able to take her myself with the reward money."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAooguioPIVw
She had almost forgotten about the mission. "Val wants explain the plan to us."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAvFIXtBULmJ
The duo returned to the rest of the group where Scarlet was grilling Ray with questions.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAYuIuDGRTcC
"How long have you and Cora been together?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAzEvSltJGuu
"We met about a week ago and we've hardly been apart since then."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAt7Obs2BB77
"I can't believe Cora has a boyfriend and a cute one too!"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAuYhfdHkKrC
"It's not that surprising." Cora grumbled. She had gone on a few dates in high school but never a serious relationship. Warrior training always came first. Ray wasn't even technically her boyfriend.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAW0VfflBCfE
"You shouldn't be surprised. Coraline is a lovely lady. Anyone would be lucky to have someone like her." Ray said.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA1DgC1rOpnj
Cora's heart fluttered upon hearing his complement.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAw3Cy4I1KYD
"Now that everyone is here I'll explain our plan. Zyler made us flashlights so we'll be able to see inside the cave. Scarlet has created an antidote.They won't hurt her, it's our job to hold them off long enough for her to inject them. Zyler and I created these stub collars they will immobilize the Tibicenas without harming them. We have no idea what's waiting for us inside so it's important to proceed with extreme caution," Val said.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAQjRemmQaGe
Zyler handed out the flashlights and collars.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAqfncnBgSDF
The group stared into the darkness. Each person to afraid to take the first step.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA4jy9eJYqCk
Scarlet ended up being the first one to enter the cave. She motioned for the rest of the group to follow her.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAs5zr15CS6Y
They walked through the icy caverns. It was dead silent.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAqN67MHldJT
Ray tightly squeezed Cora's hand.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAo9iNx7TU5v
A several pairs of eyes gazed at them trough the blackness.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAKuMPeBjaDY
They let out a loud growl which made Cora's heart nearly burst with fear. She didn't hesitate to jump in front of her friends ready to defend them.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAiBmZ6eGxez
There in front of her stood the most frightening creature she'd ever seen. It towered over her. It had black fur that blended into the darkness and two eyes the color of fresh blood. It's fangs were sharper than her sword. This was the Alpha.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA10bhfSFUwU
It mauled at her chest but she sliced open
it's neck with her sword.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA38fum5NWXz
The Alpha grabbed her by her injured shoulder with its teeth. She tried to fight back. It threw her head first into the ice wall.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAbJMv4lDDWZ
Her mouth filled up with blood and she could feel her consciousness fading away.
ns 172.69.6.217da2