Chapter Four
Blair’s POV
Grant left the Darkwood, consumed by rage and the frustration of leaving empty-handed.
After that, the situation across the continent rapidly deteriorated.
Without my blood to suppress it, Grant’s Dragon Frenzy grew worse. He became increasingly violent and paranoid.
Lacey’s illness also continued to worsen. Every day, she sobbed to Grant that only pure life force could save her.
Desperate to keep Lacey alive and control his own Dragon Frenzy, Grant began ruthlessly plundering the other races.
One day, he invaded the Wood Elf Realm and cut down the Heart of the Elder Tree. The next, he forced the merfolk to surrender the Siren’s Tear. Then he marched his soldiers into the Centaur Sacred Grove and stole the Oracle Stone their people had worshiped for generations.
Finally, he abducted hundreds of wood elf children and used a Draining Circle to drain their life force. He used their stolen life force to create the so-called Elixir of Life, which he and Lacey drank together.
Anyone who refused to obey was branded a traitor, and Grant sent troops to crush them. Many honorable Clan Elders within the Gold Dragon Clan tried to stop him, but he locked them away in the Vault.
In only a month, Grant had thrown the entire continent into chaos.
He had once ruled the Supernatural Council and made every race bow before him. Now they saw him as a tyrant who had lost his mind over a woman.
One day, the Captain of the Guard hurried in with a report.
“Your Highness, the leaders of the wood elves, the merfolk, and the centaurs are waiting outside the Ward. They’re asking to speak with you.”
By the time I reached the edge of the Ward, all three leaders were already there.
The leader of the wood elves was covered in blood. He had clearly barely escaped Dragonhold with his life.
“Your Highness, please help us!” he pleaded, his voice hoarse. “Grant has lost his mind. If this continues, he’ll destroy the entire continent!”
The leader of the merfolk stepped forward.
“If you’re willing to lead us, all three of our races will stand behind you with everything we have!”
I listened in silence, then answered evenly.
“We’ll need to discuss this further. Please leave for now.”
The three leaders tried to say more, but I had already turned away.
“Strengthen the Ward,” I quietly ordered the guards. “No one is to be allowed inside. The Silver Moon Pack will no longer involve itself in outside conflicts.”
If we stepped into this mess, the wolves would once again be dragged to the brink of destruction.
All I needed to do was build our strength in secret and watch from the sidelines as they headed toward destruction.
A month later, news came from Dragonhold that stunned the entire continent.
Grant planned to hold an unprecedented Blood Moon Rite in Dragonhold Square. He intended to cure Lacey completely and prove that his power stood above everyone else’s.
He sent a Council Summons across the continent, ordering the leader of every supernatural race to attend the ceremony in person. Anyone who refused would be declared a traitor to the Council and executed on sight.
I knew the show was about to begin.
Since I had already severed all ties with Grant, I had no intention of attending in person. Instead, I watched the farce through the eyes of a Scrying Raven I had left in Dragonhold.
On the day of the Blood Moon Rite, Dragonhold Square was packed. The leaders of every race had been forced to attend. They were furious, but none of them dared speak out.
Grant stood on the raised platform in elaborate golden armor, looking proud and triumphant.
At first glance, he seemed to have regained his former confidence. Up close, however, the exhaustion in his eyes was impossible to miss. His life force had already been severely depleted.
Lacey stood at the center of the Altar in pure white ceremonial robes even more extravagant than the ones she had worn at the Ascension Ceremony. She looked every inch a saint.
“Today, I will use the purest power in this world to cleanse my Consort of her affliction!” Grant declared with a wild laugh. “Then I will use this rite to reach a new level of power and become the sole ruler of this continent!”
He raised his scepter and activated the formation on the Altar.
At the exact moment its light reached its peak, the ritual suddenly changed.
The sacred golden light twisted into a sinister dark red.
Standing at the center of the Altar, Lacey let out a chilling laugh.
“You fool! You absolute fool!”
She turned around. Black demonic markings spread across her once-innocent-looking face. Her golden hair turned bloodred, and a pair of enormous batlike demon wings unfolded from her back.
The wild excitement vanished from Grant’s face. He stared at the unfamiliar woman before him in disbelief.
“Lacey? What happened to you? Where’s your Light Magic?”
Lacey kicked Grant to the ground, then planted her foot on his chest and laughed viciously.
“Did you really think I would marry a fool like you?” she mocked. “Here’s the truth. I am the Princess of the Abyss!”
