The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 171: They are trying to kill you.

Chapter 171: They are trying to kill you.

If Angels could cry, it was the time to sob.

Ren’s eyes shimmered with tears. Her poor aunt. All this time, she had borne the burden alone, burying her emotions to protect House D’Orient from scandal. And worse, she had endured the torment of being separated from her lover.

She barely had time to process the revelation before her gaze dropped to the woman’s hand, and Gods, the wound was fresh, blood still welling along the cloth, she could tell there was a jagged tear in her flesh.

Her brows knitted as she strained to catch their words, a chill creeping down her spine. She hated eavesdropping, but this time, it was pure chance. Not deliberately to have fun at all.

And when the women headed out, shadows moved.

A sharp crack of twigs underfoot shattered the moment. Their heads snapped toward the sound just as three assassins emerged from the shadows, fanning out to surround the cottage.

Steel in their hands glinted in the moonlight.

Aunt Eve and the wounded Madame Helene rushed out of the cottage, and suddenly, daggers sliced through the air toward them.

"Take those bastards!" Ren roared as they charged into the night.

Arkilla struck swiftly, taking one down to the ground, and slashing the assassin’s throat without hesitation. Blood sprayed across the underbrush as the lifeless body crumpled to the forest floor. The shifters made quick work of the other two, but as one raised his blade to finish the last, Reneira’s voice rang out.

"Keep that one alive. I want to know who sent them."

But even as she spoke, the assassin bit down. A sharp click, and he convulsed. Foam bubbled at his lips as the poison from his false tooth did its work, choking him into silence.

"This piece of crap!" Arkilla cussed him.

Aunt Eve turned just in time to see the horror behind her, one of the daggers had found its mark, buried deep in Helene’s chest.

"No!" she cried, her voice was raw and broke the silence. She dropped to her knees, arms catching Helene as her body gave way.

Ren whipped around at the scream, rushing to them. "Stay calm! I’ll remove the dagger and heal her."

"Can you?" Aunt Eve’s voice trembled. "Can you save her?"

"I can! Just hold her still! It is painful."

Reneira’s right hand gripped the dagger’s hilt and yanked it free. Blood surged from the wound, but she pressed her left palm over it, releasing a surge of magic. A brilliant white light burst forth, enveloping the injury in its glow.

Helene was barely conscious, her breath shallow. But her eyes clung to Aunt Eve’s face, and her hand remained locked in hers.

"Leave me... run!" Helene’s voice trembled, barely more than a whisper.

Aunt Eve shook her head, firm but gentle. "Don’t speak. Look, my little Reneira is here. She’s a healer."

Helene gave a weak nod, a flicker of a smile crossing her lips. Reneira was a perfect woman now.

Ren had known Helene, though never like this, not as her aunt’s lover. She had only recognized her as one of the many spies Aunt Eve kept hidden throughout the city. She remembered seeing her once or twice as a child, just another quiet face in the shadows.

Now, that face was pale, her breaths shallow, and the truth hit Ren with a crushing weight. Her aunt’s desperation, the grief etched in every line of her face, and her wrinkles grew deeper, it was unbearable to witness.

After several tense minutes of focused healing, the wound finally closed beneath the steady glow of white magic. At that moment, Rail approached, his tone grim. "The assassin is dead."

Helene, weakened by the blood loss, slipped into unconsciousness.

Aunt Eve clutched her to her chest, sobbing softly. "Do not leave me..."

Ren gently touched her aunt’s arm. "She’s alive. Let her rest. She’s lost too much blood."

Rail stepped forward and bowed slightly. "May I carry her for you?"

Aunt Eve hesitated, then gently released Helene and gave a nod. Rail lifted the unconscious woman into his arms, and paused, his nose wrinkling at a sharp, acrid scent.

"My Queen," he said, "her hand isn’t cauterized properly. It’s still bleeding."

Ren moved quickly, helping her aunt to her feet before taking Helene’s injured wrist in her hands. Concentrating, she ensured the wound was fully healed before turning back.

"I’ll take care of Lady Helene," she said softly.

"Thank you, love. For everything," Aunt Eve murmured, her voice thick with emotion.

Ren gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, and together they left the forest.

Back at the castle, they brought Madame Helene to Gloria’s chamber, a secure wing close to Arkilla, where she would be safe.

"Aunt Eve," Ren said gently as she adjusted the blankets, "I’ve given her a potion to replenish her blood. She just needs sleep now."

With a nod of agreement, they stepped out of the room and into the living space. Aunt Eve wiped the tears from her cheeks, her fingers trembling.

"We need to talk about this," Ren said quietly.

Aunt Eve nodded, the weight of the moment settling heavily on her shoulders. After everything that had just happened, there was no more room for secrets.

"Why did you leave alone?"

"I don’t trust anybody. The Kalia family is moving against you," she confessed. "They mean to secure Dankin’s claim as sole heir to the Seven Kingdoms. To that end, they’ve arranged a marriage, Araben and the Crown Prince of Al-Delone."

Ren stiffened, her jaw tightening. So that was their plan. To paint her as a threat. To wield her identity as a witch like a blade and burn her with it.

How utterly foolish of them.

"Aunt Eve, let them come," she said, her voice cold and as solid as steel. "I’m ready. Just... tell me what happened in that brothel. I didn’t catch much of it."

Her aunt hesitated, eyes flicking away. That was so unfortunate.

Ren had already confided in her about the changes, ever since being pulled from the Dreamland, her powers had evolved, deepened, and shifted in ways even she didn’t fully understand. So Aunt Eve’s silence wasn’t surprising. It was something else.

Something deeper.

What was going on that made her this terrified?

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