The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 76: Your tears shred my heart.

Chapter 76: Your tears shred my heart.

Thorns lashed mercilessly at Kai, tearing his clothes and leaving raw scratches that wept crimson trails down his skin. Yet he hardly felt the sting, consumed instead by the scorching fire erupting within his chest, it was a maddening inferno ignited by her pain. What made her so sad that he could feel it so profoundly?

How in the gods’ names had she wandered into this cursed garden?

Returning from Alvonia, he’d reached for Reneira through their mind link, panic gripping him when silence answered. Without hesitation, he followed her fragrance, propelled by fear, anger, and a substantial dread he’d not known since he’d last entered this damned place.

"Find her," he growled, releasing Shadow into the tangled gloom. "Burn this garden to ashes if you must."

Charging into the darkness, vines and roses twisted and lunged, sensing the threat, but Kai cut them away ruthlessly, heedless of the sharp agony they caused to his body. This was nothing compared to what he went through in his entire life. Halfway in, Shadow’s voice broke into his mind, urgent and sharp.

"Come quickly, to the fountain."

Kai’s heart lurched. A stabbing pain shot through his chest, stealing his breath as he sensed Shadow’s shock. Nothing could have shocked his demon to the day. "Reneira!"

A blast of magic slammed into him, staggering him back. But suddenly, the hostile vines recoiled, parting swiftly as if bowing before him. He didn’t pause to question, surging forward in a blur of movement, finally spotting her trembling figure near the fountain.

Her dress hung in tatters, her porcelain skin smudged and marred with dirt and roughness of the place. Before she could collapse, he caught her frail body, crushing her protectively against his frantic heart.

"What in gods’ mercy are you doing here, wife?" His voice trembled, fear and fury entwined with a tenderness he’d denied far too long. It was as if he’d wandered decades in darkness, only now tasting sunlight again. She was the warmth of his life, she was home, and he’d nearly lost her. He was about to hand her over to that wicked King, her cruel true father who let his daughter suffer and be accused. Gods knew what he was going to do with her later.

Ready to slay all the kings of the seven kingdoms if it meant shielding her from harm, Kai felt rage burning anew, especially toward Luther; the devil foolish enough to covet what was his. Reneira was his wife, his mate, his lifeblood. She was everything that the gods bestowed on him after taking a lot from him.

The emotions he’d desperately buried surged forth unbidden, intense, and undeniable to show itself with thirst, in his eyes, in his blood. Shadow felt it too, rejoicing even beneath the weight of his curse. For days, Kai had been a fool, evading these feelings, avoiding her.

She softly wrapped her arms around him, murmuring against his chest, "I healed your mother’s garden. Will it suffice as our wedding gift?"

"Uhumm..." Kai let out a pained groan, overwhelmed by the sheer purity of her heart. How could she always, always pierce through his dark, tainted soul with such ease?

He pulled back, cupping her weary face, and he whispered fiercely, "Reneira, you are my heart, you possessed my soul. Everything I’ve ever desired lies in you. You’re mine."

The raw sincerity in his voice tore at Reneira’s defenses. Tears broke free, hot and unrestrained, burning her scratched cheeks. She’d expected her magic to consume her here or burn her to ash, yet the vines had embraced and shielded her, channeling her strength to make sure she wouldn’t take the burden all alone. And now Kai’s words revived her spirit, gently mending her heart.

He tenderly brushed away her tears. "Your tears shred my heart. Don’t cry, love." His lips pressed gently against her eyelids, brushing kisses that promised eternity.

A sudden, gentle breeze caressed them, carrying whispers of gratitude:

"Thank you..."

"Farewell, princess."

"You have freed us."

Kai stiffened, drawing Reneira protectively closer. "Who are they?"

"Your mother’s servants," she whispered softly. "Over twenty souls were bound to the vine and the rose after Luther assassinated them. They’re free now."

Hearing Luther’s name from her lips ignited fresh rage. "Never say his cursed name again."

Reneira pulled away defiantly, eyes blazing. "I despise him. Your twisted brother murdered my ancestor, and kidnapped you...I’d gladly kill him myself!"

Kai blinked, taken aback by her fierce declaration before a mischievous smirk curled his lips. "Wife, you’ve grown daring," he purred, stepping closer.

She held out her arm, halting him. "I smell awful."

"Oh, gods! Wife!" Ignoring her protest, Kai seized her wrist, pulling and yanking her against him. His hand cradled the nape of her neck possessively as his lips claimed hers so fiercely and desperate to leave them breathless. Sucking and kissing her so hungrily. His heart thundered, Shadow howled joyfully, savoring love’s intoxicating warmth for the first time in centuries.

Reneira melted into his embrace, her fingers clutching his chest, savoring every delicious shiver running down her spine. He was kissing her with his whole heart, sending delicious tingling warmth throughout her skin.

A playful giggle rustled among the rustling roses. "Your friends are heading this way."

Being distracted and falling into a trance made Ren entirely deaf as the heat in her ears clogged her faculty of hearing. Dazed, Reneira barely registered the words until Rail’s mocking voice shattered the tender silence.

"Oh, I didn’t realize Your Highness was so shameless." He cleared his throat.

Flushing crimson, Reneira buried her face in Kai’s chest. Kai shot Rail a lethal glare, possessively gathering her into his arms.

"We’ll talk later. Just look at her."

In a flash, he carried Reneira away, leaving stunned silence in his wake.

Arkilla’s heart clenched painfully. "I failed to protect her."

Rail swallowed anxiously. "We’re doomed. He won’t forgive easily."

Agara snorted dismissively, eyeing the ominous flowers nearby. He was curious and had so many questions to ask from Ren, but for now, the girl’s life was his priority. "The Devil’s Heart, the myths were true. The Devil’s grief birthed flowers capable of killing and healing alike."

Taking Rail’s sack, Agara carefully harvested a few blossoms. "Be careful. The stems carry deadly poison."

"Three should suffice," he muttered, quickly returning to the infirmary.

Brewing the petals into a bitter elixir, Agara forced it gently past the human girl’s lips.

An hour later, her eyelids fluttered weakly open, panic choking her sobs. "He lied to me... I don’t deserve to live..." she whimpered repeatedly, her voice breaking in anguish.

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on fre ew𝒆bnovel.com

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.