025 MAGIC KINGDOM (PALACE OF HOPE)
025 MAGIC KINGDOM (PALACE OF HOPE)
The Private Healing Room
The private healing room of the King of the Magic Kingdom was full of tension. The air was thick with incense smoke, the bitter scent of herbs, and whispers of old magic. Several healers moved quickly around the room, their faces drawn with worry. They had been working without rest ever since the King was brought in…unconscious and barely breathing.
King Alexander’s life was hanging by a thread.
His mate, the Grand Witch of the palace, stood like a storm in the corner of the room. Her eyes glowed with power and rage as she watched the healers surround the bed where her King lay motionless.
“Nothing must happen to him,” she said in a firm, threatening voice. “You hear me? He is your King. Your job is to save him!” Her words cut through the silence like a whip
The healers flinched at her tone but nodded. They didn’t dare speak against her. Instead, they began chanting again….ancient spells of healing passed down for generations. Their palms glowed with energy as they tried everything they knew: magic potions, elixirs, crushed herbs, and incantations. But the King still lay cold and pale, his chest barely rising with shallow breaths.
Some of the healers exchanged worried looks. They were running out of time.
In their hearts, they knew the truth. The King was fading. Despite all their efforts, his soul was slipping away. And though they dared not speak it aloud, they believed he had brought this fate upon himself.
He didn’t belong on the throne. Not truly.
The Magic Throne wasn’t one to be taken by force. It was bound by destiny. For centuries, it had chosen its ruler. But when the former King died, Alexander claimed the throne by sheer power…and fear. No one had been able to stop him. Not with his dark and dangerous mate by his side. The Grand Witch was powerful enough to destroy anyone who stood in their way.
And she had. Many times.
But even Lycans, with their long lives and strong bodies, could still die if they crossed the wrong power. Especially one as ancient and mysterious as the one that now hovered over the King’s soul.
“This is all we can do for now,” one of the healers finally said, her voice low and respectful. “Whoever he fought with… that person wasn’t ordinary. The energy left in his body…it’s ancient. Something we haven’t felt for centuries.”
“Enough,” the Grand Witch snapped, cutting the woman off sharply, “I didn’t bring you here to tell me what I already know. Tell me what I need to hear.”
The healer bowed her head quickly. “Forgive me, Your Highness. I meant no disrespect. I was getting to the point.”
She stepped forward, choosing her next words carefully. “There is still a chance to save him. But we need something that belongs to the one who attacked him. Anything…a piece of clothing, a lock of hair, a ring. Anything touched by that person’s energy.”
She paused before adding, “Until then, we’ve done all we can. We’ve slowed the damage. But if we wait too long, it may be too late.”
The Grand Witch said nothing for a long moment. Her face gave away nothing, but her heart was racing. She had known this day would come. She had warned Alexander. Begged him not to go. But he didn’t listen.
025 MAGIC KINGDOM (PALACEOF HOPE)
+25 BONUS
He had been determined to visit someone, his messenger. A woman he once loved. A woman who had once been his mate before fate pulled him away and led him to the Witch.
The Witch had always sensed something between them, something left unfinished. Maybe that’s why she hadn’t wanted him to go. Maybe it was jealousy. Or maybe it was because she had seen the signs, signs that danger was near. The Humans had been growing bolder, reaching toward the Kingdom’s borders with greedy hands and cunning traps.
She had feared that if he left the palace walls, he might never return.
Now, that fear had become her reality.
The healers packed up their things in silence, sensing her turmoil but knowing better than to speak it aloud. One by one, they left the room, the heavy door clicking shut behind them.
Alone at last, the Grand Witch turned her attention back to the King. She sat beside him, her elegant hand holding his cold one. His skin had lost its usual warmth, and it frightened her more than she would admit.
“You fool,” she whispered under her breath. “Why didn’t you listen to me?”
She brushed his damp hair back from his face and sighed deeply. The strong King who once made the world tremble now looked fragile and small.
Suddenly, the soft buzz of a phone vibrated through the room. The sound echoed off the walls like an unwelcome intruder.
She stood quickly and moved to the corner, where her black handbag rested on a vanity table. Her long fingers dug into the bag until they found the phone. She glanced at the screen.
A name appeared. Her jaw clenched. She didn’t answer. Instead, she turned the device off and tucked it back into the bag. Then, without another word, she left the room.
The hallway outside was quiet except for the guards stationed by the door. As she stepped out, their heads lowered in respect.
She didn’t return the greeting.
Her voice, cold and commanding, broke the silence. “Make sure no one enters that room without my permission,” she said. Then her voice dropped, edged with something more dangerous. “Not even the King’s former mate. Kala.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” the guards replied in unison, bowing low.
She walked away, her robe swirling behind her like a storm cloud. Her thoughts raced. Her heart burned. If she didn’t find something soon–something to link the King back to the one who did this…she would lose everything.
But she wasn’t ready to let him go.
Not yet.
Not ever.
