Sargon lay in bed sweating profusely. His body ached to the touch. It all came along so suddenly after visiting the hidden room. . A witch's chamber was disguised beyond the inner walls of his castle, the castle he grew up in, the castle he was the king of. Yet, he had no idea it was there. He wondered if how his body was reacting was a result of being led to the secret space.
Aurian revealed to him that she was part witch, after all these years. She was witch and a wolf combined. She hid her scent of a witch so she would be accepted by the kingdom. His father didn't agree with her having to hide it, but he did not challenge her. If he accepted her, his kingdom would have to as well, but she knew what she felt was best and he supported her.
She would often use her secret room to practice her spell work but as the years passed, she visited the room less and less. In fact, the last time she visited the room was when Alaric was a child, and she placed a protection spell over him. Everyone was healthy and the kingdom was thriving, so she had very little reason to visit the room. The less magic she did, the easier it was to hide who she was.
Sargon wondered how his parents could keep this from him for so long? Did they not trust him enough to tell him the truth? Maybe it was safer if fewer people knew the truth.
He now understood why his mother was so encouraging when she spoke of Marie, but he wondered why his father was so upset. He should have been more understanding. He would have a conversation with his father when he was ready.
Finding out that his mother was a witch made so many things make sense to him. He knew why he would be mated to a witch. He was part witch himself. It must have been why she made him feel like no other woman has made him feel before.
Now, more than ever, he needed to have her back. He needed to find a way to protect her. There was a reason they found each other. There was a reason they were mated. He couldn't lose her.
"Something else is happening at this very moment. Be still, my son." Aurian said as she placed a cold cloth on his forehead.
She lit herbs near him and watched the smoke disperse throughout the air. Placing her hands on his heart, she closed her eyes as he endured the pain running through his body. His wolf grew angrier as the pain increased. His eyes changed colors from gold to red as he forced his wolf to stay within.
"Mother, what is going on?" He growled as Aurian remained quiet with her eyes closed.
After a few moments, her eyes shot open.
"Sargon, she is breaking the bond!"
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"Why does this hurt, so much?" Marie cried as her body contorted in pain.
Her hands were bound at her sides for her own safety, or so Sybil said. The coven had dressed in black coverings and formed a circle around her as they chanted. Marie was dressed in white with a ritual peace of bones, herbs and things she couldn't recognize hung around her neck. She was lathered with a mixture of herbs and oils that were needed to help break the bond.
"You are fighting it, Marie. I told you it would hurt if you were not ready. Now you must bear the pain until you are ready to release it. Let it go!"
"I am ready! It shouldn't hurt like this! Take it away!" She screamed as tears coated her face.
"Stop fighting it! If you die, he will die as well." Sybil confessed as Marie's heart sank.
"You never said that."
"It should be obvious, dear. You are still connected. If the bond is not completely broken, it will affect him. Now do what you must to break this bond. Here, let me help you." Sybil growled.
Suddenly, images of Dezerae and Sargon flashed through her mind. They were at an event, hidden away together, hungry for each other. It reminded her of her first time being intimate with Sargon. Her chest burned as she focused on the visual. A woman interrupted the two before they could finish.
"No!" That's not real." Marie whispered, refusing to believe he cared about that woman. Sybil was using him to control her. This did not happen.
Marie couldn't see anyone around her anymore. There was only darkness and the images of Sargon and Dezerae in her view. Sybil controlled what she could hear and see.
"It is real, Marie. This is what they have always been. This is what he really wants. This is what he needs. Look at them. Look at the passion between them." She said as another image flashed before her.
It was of Dezerae straddling Sargon in her room, wearing only under garments. It was the same vision she saw when she completed her own reveal spell. She should have left him alone from then. Sybil was right. This is what he wanted. If he didn't, none of these things would have happened between them. He couldn't help it.
Another vision was shown to her as sweat poured out of her body, dripping all over her skin and soaking her clothing.
Sargon held a child. She could see Dezerae standing near him, smiling. It was their child, but how could this be?
"This is the future, Marie. I have seen it. This is where his true happiness lies. They will join kingdoms and create a powerful heir. That is their fate." Sybil said sadly, as if she cared about what Marie was feeling.
Marie knew it was the truth. The two worlds would never become one.
The mark stung her, sending a tingling sensation through her weakened frame. The urge to dig her finger nails into her own neck and scratch it away was so intense that she was grateful to be restrained.
The physical pain Marie felt grew numb. She no longer had the desire to fight it any longer. She wanted it all to be over. She needed it to be over. She was a fool to think he would choose a witch over a princess.
She screamed a painful sound from the depths of her soul, that could shatter glass if it was near her. Her breathing became labored and her body suddenly fell limp as she hung by the restraints on her wrists.
"It is done. Do not worry, Marie. You will begin to feel better soon. The mark will fade completely, and you will feel as though you never cared for him. He will be a distant memory. You have your heart back."
Marie raised her head slightly then returned her gaze to the floor.
"Remove her and take her to the room." She instructed as the witches complied.
Marie's legs buckled as soon as she was released. She didn't have enough strength to even carry her own weight.
"I have her." Nicholas spoke as he lifted her away from the other witches, draping her legs over one of his arms and supporting her back with the other. Marie fell into his hold as she drifted in and out of consciousness.