Predatory Marriage

Ishakan gazed ahead, his face expressionless. There was nothing left of humanity in Cerdina. Black veins stood out in her skin and she was pale as wax, with more black veins running starkly through her arms, her neck, even her face. Her eyes were pits of darkness.

“Have you become a monster?” Ishakan asked.

Behind him, the Kurkans swallowed dryly as they looked at her. She was a shambling mess. This rampage had been predictable from the beginning; there would never be an end to her quest for power. They had even expected that she would be able to endure the backlash of breaking her spells.

They had not expected her to eat her own father’s heart.

Ishakan glanced at the red line on the back of his hand. She had probably meant to cut it off. Though it was only a flesh wound, it was proof that she was powerful enough now to harm even him. There was a possibility that he could die.

Leah had seen that wound on the back of his hand, and at the moment she had looked as if she wanted to cry. No, Ishakan had no intention of leaving her a widow.

He had never considered defeat. Leah was the only person that could defeat him. But considering that Cerdina’s power might have rivaled a god, he was prepared to accept a little damage. He even concluded that he might have a few new scars, when this was over.

I don’t like that.

Ishakan smiled. He wanted to be a stronger man for Leah. He wished she would trust him, no matter what they faced. But she was going to see his naked body many, many times in the future, and if he came back with scars, maybe that would make her remember unpleasant things.

Ishakan moved his injured hand out of the way. He would have to do his best to take as little damage as possible.

“Genin.”

At his order, she handed him the longsword strapped to her back. The sword was a deep red, as if it had already been soaked with blood. As Ishakan wielded it, Haban and Genin moved into position on either side of him. The other Kurkans lined up behind them.

The sorcerers formed themselves into a semicircle with Morga in the middle. At a wave of his hand, each one drew out a sorcerer and sliced their forearms. Their blood did not drip to the floor. It floated up into the air, forming a magical pattern. – Posted only on NovelUtopia

As one, all of the Kurkans’ eyes gleamed at the prospect of battle.

<You will die.> Cerdina spoke in that strange voice. She had smiled, watching these preparations, and as she spoke, her words echoed in the ears of all the Kurkans there. Ishakan’s eyes narrowed, but his smile did not falter.

Walking forward, he dragged his sword along the floor, moving toward Cerdina without hesitating.

“Toma witch.” He had been waiting for this moment for a long time. The euphoria of battle was growing in him with every step. His golden eyes glittered. “Today will not end with a warning.”

***

Mura ran without looking back. Rapidly, they left the hall behind, though Leah’s wedding dress made it a little difficult for her to move.

“Mura, put me down.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t do that.”

“I don’t mean to go back,” Leah said as Mura raced onward. “I just want to do something about this dress.”

When she finally persuaded her, Mura set her down. Leah stepped out of her heels and then lifted the skirt of her dress at the level of her knees.

“Could you tear it off for me?”

Immediately, Mura ripped away the cloth, and gave Leah a moment to look around. The sky was covered in thick black smoke, and it felt as if they were all alone in the world.

Lifting a stone, Leah handed it to Mura, who immediately understood and heaved it into the smoky barrier. The instant it touched it, it vanished without a trace.

“I don’t think we can go outside,” Mura muttered, frowning.

The entire palace was in Cerdina’s hands. No matter where Leah went, she would be in danger. Once they had confirmed it would be impossible to escape, Mura immediately suggested an alternative.

“We’ll go to the safest place in the palace,” she proposed. “There are Tomaris that will help us.”

The hidden Toma would conceal Leah from Cerdina’s eyes while Ishakan confronted her. They were hiding in the palace’s main garden. It wasn’t too far from the reception hall, but it was far enough that they might be safe.

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