Eight days.
Eight long, silent and suffocating days.
Eliora jolted awake with a gasp, her fingers clutching the sheets as the echo of his voice lingered in her mind.
Mine.
His fingers touching her cheek. His breath warm on her lips. His body caging hers, wanting to claim her.
Every night she had the same dream that kept ending the same way, just when his lips touched hers, she'd wake up in a shock of heat and pain.
She placed her hand on her chest that was beating fast. "Eight times," she whispered. "Why… why do I keep dreaming of him?"
The pain behind her ribs felt like something inside her was pulling apart. She curled into herself, groaning softly.
No one had summoned her or even spoken to her. Food was simply left at her door and collected later.
Eight days of nothing but her thoughts. She didn't want to see him. She wasn't ready.
She was terrified of what she felt, but she was also bored out of her mind, lonely and now.... sick.
Her breath hitched again as another wave of pain hit. "What is happening to me?"
Just then, she heard a deep roar that shook the very foundation of the palace. The walls shook, even her window rattled.
Then she heard a loud crack from the courtyard, she rushed to the window just in time to see two mighty oaks fall.
Her heart pounded.
The King was losing control. Again.
Meanwhile, on the training grounds, there was chaos.
Zarek's beast was raging, his claws were glowing and his eyes blazing red as he fought the seers' restraints.
Flames landed on a mountain nearby, but everyone was too focused on the king to notice.
Six generals and Commander Aldric, were bracing themselves and holding him back with everything they had.
"Hold him!" someone shouted.
"He's breaking the barrier!"
"Strengthen the chains!"
Zarek roared, sending two soldiers flying. Only after several brutal minutes did his breathing slow.
Maelina walked closer to him, panting with sweat dampening her forehead. "Your Majesty, you cannot keep doing this."
He didn't answer. He glared at her, chest heaving, the mark under his shirt burning so fiercely every seer could feel the heat.
Maelina pressed, "Why do you still refuse to accept the bond? You are out of time. Both of you."
Zarek's eyes locked on hers, but he remained quiet.
"Why, Your Majesty?" she tried again.
His jaw ticked. "She isn't ready," he growled. "She doesn't want to see me."
Maelina raised a brow in disbelief. "Since when have you ever cared about such trivialities?"
"Since when I became tied to a weak human!!" he thundered, power erupting from him in flames.
Every beast dropped to their knees instantly.
Even Aldric bowed his head as the ground shopl.
Only Maelina remained standing, though barely, her knees quivered.
"You are tied to her because fate chose her. She was made for you." she whispered, "
Zarek's breathing deepened but he said nothing.
"You've felt it," Maelina added. "Her pain. Her fear. Her dreams. The pull between you will only get stronger."
She took another step closer. "You need to see her. Now. Before matters worsen."
He opened his mouth to speak, but she beat him to it.
"And before you say anything, let me save us the time. At this point, Your Majesty, only her touch will not suffice anymore."
Zarek's frowned, his eyes flashing red.
A deadly silence swept across the courtyard, because everyone understood exactly what she meant.
The bond was demanding completion and if he didn't go to Eliora soon…they would both die.
Zarek inhaled once and got up like he didn't nearly tear down half the courtyard. "Aldric," he called coolly, "what's next on my agenda?"
Aldric stared at him blatantly, as if waiting for him to admit something, anything, but the king's expression was carved from stone.
Maelina let out a tired sigh, shaking her head. "At this rate, Your Majesty, you will drop dead before admitting defeat."
Zarek did not even move his gaze to her. He called again, "Aldric."
Aldric's jaw clenched as he answered. "Your Majesty… the council has been waiting since morning."
"Then let's not keep them waiting."
.
.
The Council
The doors swung open and every council member jolted to their feet.
Their fear was thick in the air. They had all heard the roar and the earth crack, but they were forbidden from approaching when the king's beast took over. Only seers and soldiers bore that burden.
So they could only wait...and tremble.
Zarek took his place on the throne, and the room bowed in unison.
Councilwoman Haleen was the first to speak with concern. "Your Majesty, how do you fare?"
Before Zarek could answer, Aldric stepped forward, hands clasped behind him. "His Majesty is stable."
Haleen nodded in relieve, but the fear in her eyes didn't fade.
Then because fools existed even at the highest levels, Councilman Eirik opened his big mouth.
"But why is His Majesty still losing control?" he blurted. "He has found his soulmate. Shouldn't his beast be stabilizing by now?"
Haleen shot him a glare, but Eirik wasn't alone, his question gave others courage.
Councilwoman Lisa cleared her throat timidly. "Indeed, if the bond has manifested, shouldn't His Majesty feel calmer?"
Rowan added, "Is the bond unstable? That has never happened before, has it?"
And finally, the question everyone was afraid to voice, but desperately wanted to know,
"Your Majesty… is something wrong with the bond?"
Zarek sat perfectly still.
A suffocating pressure rolled off him. Aldric subtly stepped closer, ready to intervene if the questions pushed too far.
Because these people had no idea how close they were to dying.