The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 242: Dark Crystals.

Chapter 242: Dark Crystals.

Ogain’s magical abilities had grown more refined with time, his power now gentle, intuitive, and deeply connected to her soul. Through the bond they shared, he could ease her emotional wounds without a word. All it took was her touch, fingertips moving on his black feathers, and the magic would ripple softly into her, weaving warmth into her veins like golden threads of sunlight through the mist.

"You’re sad... and silent," he whispered, his breath a breeze against her cheek. "If you don’t speak it, it will hunt you down like a shadow."

The griffin beside her stirred, feathers ruffling as it picked up the weight in the air, an unspoken ache that pulsed between them.

Ren lowered her gaze. "My husband’s aura is tainted with darkness... and my father is dying."

At her confession, Ogain responded not with words but with action, his magic surged, a comforting tide that washed over her chest, chasing the heaviness away. A breath escaped her lips, lighter now.

"Reneira," he said softly, "we must speak to your brother."

Agara, leaning nearby, added with a tilt of mischief and urgency, "If he already knows a mermaid, that would save us trouble, then I won’t need to go hunting for one and bind her with a spell."

Dear Hector,

I don’t know how to say this, but I only met your mother once, during a time when my dragon had fallen into a fever, and we were forced to rest in Sobis Village. She was working at the inn where I lodged. We talked... shared a meal... but when I awoke the next morning, she was gone.

I knew she was a half-blood, but I had no idea she was a princess, nor did I ever imagine she would carry my child.

I would like to meet you. To hear your story. To understand what happened... and how I remained in the dark for so long. Did your mother ever mention me? Did she tell you I existed? That you had a father?

The thought that I might have a son, my son, was something I never dared to imagine because I didn’t deserve to have more children, to be a father.

If you are willing, I’ll ask your sister to arrange a meeting. I remain deeply grateful to her, for stopping the crown prince of the Fae. I sense she, too, is curious about you... and that your life holds value to her, just as it now does to me.

The letter ended, and a smirk twisted across Hector’s lips. "Valuing my life? She doesn’t even feed me!"

From behind the stone wall, Daniella’s voice rang out, sharp and amused. "Food? You mean humans? Because last I checked, you drink our blood."

"Shut up, traitor!" he snarled, crumpling the parchment in his fist.

Daniella let out a mocking laugh that echoed like silver bells dipped in venom. "Your precious king ordered Victor to kill me, remember? I played my part, and followed every command, but he betrayed me in the end. He would’ve murdered Azrael... a Saint devoted to the gods. I’m not going to mess with the gods."

Her voice dropped, cold and taunting. "So tell me, Hector. If Nimoieth demanded your life... what do you think your precious king would do?"

The provocation hit its mark. Rage flared in his eyes, fangs threatening to descend.

"Daniella," he growled, voice rough with hunger, "shut your mouth or I’ll tear through this wall and drain you dry. I may be weak, but I still have enough strength to rip you apart."

Daniella gave a dramatic exhale, completely unfazed. "Bad boy."

"Both of you, shut up!" the guard barked, slamming his silver baton against the iron door. The metallic clang screamed through the corridor, sharp enough to rattle the bones. Hector clutched his ears with a groan of anguish. The hunger, it was consuming him from the inside out.

Hearing footsteps approach, Hector instinctively crouched deeper into the shadows of his cell. A familiar scent drifted through the air, subtle, elegant... her perfume. His sister had come. Now, he could count her footsteps to his cell.

The iron door creaked open as the guard unlocked it with a grunt. Two figures stepped in.

Reneira entered with quiet authority, her steps as fluid as wind over still water. "I’ve made a decision," she announced, pausing to gauge his expression.

"Just kill me and get it over with," he muttered bitterly, eyes narrowed like a cornered beast.

She tilted her head with a calm defiance. "Nope. Why would I kill my own brother? There’s a massive misunderstanding between us, Hector."

Her voice softened, but the undertone remained sharp, and measured. "Tomorrow, I’ll take you to see our father. And... we have a very kind aunt. She’ll be shocked to see you even exist." Then her tone darkened, just slightly. "But there are others, people sharpening blades in secret corners, who would rather see you dead, just because you’re the king’s son. Plenty of them despise our father."

She stepped closer, her eyes flickering to the crumpled letter in his hand. "We already executed one, Oka," she added flatly. "You know who he was."

The words lingered like smoke between them as she stood, statuesque and calm, watching him, watching the paper.

Agara stepped forward, standing beside Reneira with a steady presence. "Let me make one thing clear," he began, voice calm but unwavering. "If your father had known you existed, he would have come for you. But he would’ve kept you hidden... in secret... until the time was right."

He glanced at Hector, whose narrowed eyes flicked up to meet him. Reneira, too, seemed intrigued, curiosity flickering behind her calm gaze.

"Why?" Hector snapped bitterly. "Because he hates his bastards?"

Agara shook his head. "No. In truth... you’re the only one."

He paused, then continued with careful weight in his voice. "After he faced the dragon disease, he became infertile. You and your sister are the only children he ever had, or will ever have. So yes... he could very well love you."

He let that settle before adding with cool gravity, "But love isn’t the point. He would have kept you away to protect you, from the knives that slip through the dark, aimed at royal throats while they sleep."

The words were blunt, almost cruel, but necessary. Agara knew the brutal nature of human royalty too well, and Hector needed to understand it.

"Now," Agara said, stepping back, "make your choice. Tell us what happened. How did you end up with Luther? Help us uncover the truth. We will hear you whenever you are ready."

Then, turning to Reneira, he placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "Let’s go, Niece. He needs time to think."

As they turned to leave, Hector’s voice echoed through the cold cell. "What happened to the enemy who broke your bones?"

Ren paused mid-step, understanding instantly who he meant. Her voice was cool, unwavering. "I forgave her once. But she tried to stab me from behind... and poison me... I forgave her again, but she killed many innocents." A breath. "So I let her die."

Without another glance, she strode toward the exit. The guards swung the door shut and locked it behind her with a heavy clang.

Hector stood motionless, eyes narrowing with a storm of thoughts. Why had his mother hidden everything from him? All she’d ever said was that his father was a strong man, someone she hadn’t truly known until it was too late.

But now, the illusions shattered.

None of it mattered anymore. The woman who murdered his mother had confessed. And worse, King Benkin had given the order. Kill the woman. Kill the child.

Ren returned to her chambers in silence, her expression unreadable. Inside, Lora was already preparing a bath, the steam rising gently from the water. The warmth in the air was soothing, Lora had anticipated exactly what her lady needed.

"Bringing you here was the best decision I’ve ever made," Ren said softly, a rare note of appreciation in her voice.

Three days ago, she’d asked her husband to bring Lora, her trusted maiden, and he had answered without delay, sending Siamon to retrieve the girl through a portal.

Ren slipped out of her clothes and stepped into the bath, the warmth enveloping her aching limbs. Her thoughts drifted back to the memory of Hector’s cell, how frigid and hollow it had been.

"How does he survive that cold?" she wondered, sinking deeper into the water. "Does he even remember what warmth feels like?"

"No, he cannot."

The deep voice brushed against her ear like a warm melody, rich and pleasant.

Lora jolted, nearly dropping the sponge. "Your Highness! I didn’t see you there."

"I just arrived," Kai said with a soft smile. "You can leave us now, Lora."

The maiden bowed quickly and slipped out, her footsteps fading behind the closing door.

Ren extended an arm toward him, water shimmering on her skin. "You must be exhausted. Come, join me."

Kai hesitated. He shouldn’t have come, not like this. Desire coiled in his spine, slow and electric.

"I only came to check on you," he murmured, voice tight with restraint. "I need to return to my study."

But as he turned, Ren rose from the bath, gliding toward him with purpose. She caught his arm, her hand glowing faintly. "I know what’s happening to you. Wait, I can reduce a little of the darkness in your aura."

Kai froze. He didn’t understand why, but at that moment, he couldn’t move.

"Wife..." he whispered, "what are you up to?"

Ren slipped on her robe, water still clinging to her skin like moonlight to silk. "Come."

She guided him to the sitting area of their chambers. "Sit down."

He obeyed, eyes shutting tightly, willing himself not to look at the damp curve of her figure, the robe hugging every inch.

"In Nimoieth’s second notebook," she began, "there were spells to extract darkness from a person’s aura, to turn that darkness into crystals. Nimoieth intended to use those crystals to forge a dark weapon... but I can repurpose it. Slowly, I can draw out what’s inside you, keep you balanced."

She paused, eyes searching his face. "But I can’t remove the roots. I can only ease the weight until we find a way to break the dark core that is shaping inside you. Will you trust me?"

Kai’s chest rose and fell, and then he smiled faintly, letting the tension soften in his expression.

"I trust you with my life, little wife."