Cora was overwhelmed with emotion. She wished her grandmother was still here she had so many questions that needed answers. Had she known the Blood King was in her study the whole time? Did her parents know? What was she saying about Thessionia being overrun by darkness? Why did the King of Shadows want revenge on the Blood King? Did they know each other personally? Shouldn't everyone that knew him be dead by now?
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj22Bzk17eR
She sat in the nearest chair.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOMWjsN112
Prince Lyon placed a hand on her shoulder. "You seem preoccupied. Should we talk another time."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgNp8nudhA
Cora shut the book. "No, I just got distracted for a moment."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvOlIdKgpN
"Unfortunately I'm all out of tea."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMqy2GSS5U
Cora felt a small twinge of disappointment but she understood. "Don't worry about it, you've had a rough couple of days."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy1mxYpMXA
"Maybe this will make up for it," he placed a small opened box in front of her. Inside was a silver bracelet covered in diamonds in the center there was flower that appeared to be made completely out of sapphires.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbldc1y7Wa
"It's beautiful! I can't accept this. I mean you're the prince. I shouldn't even be allowed to talk to someone like you." She was rambling again.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSd7CpmSMC
"I am no more important than anyone else especially you."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVuVndwNhl
Technically that was false but, Cora understood what he was trying to say. She slipped it on. "Thank you."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr6KUixxQk
You're most welcome."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASWkKwCY8V
Cora gazed into his eyes expecting to feel bubbly inside like she always did around him. Nothing. She felt nothing. She used to dream about falling in love with a handsome prince and here she was and she felt nothing.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5PcREao3k
She glanced at the clock on the back wall. She had to leave soon. "I need to go," she whispered refusing to meetups gaze.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPfqMLOEnb
"Go ahead then."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXzy2mOYgs
She checked out the book then left for the den. She and her friends were going to stop the Tibicenas once and for all.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uc4LR5eYR
She trudged through knee deep snow until she was deep into the woods. She had no clue how people could live in this climate.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlkx1ViqkM
The den was a huge cave made entirely out of ice. It was so dark Cora couldn't tell exactly how large it was. The longest icicles she had ever seen clung to the ceiling. They were sharp enough to impale someone upon contact. She heard the faint sound of howling. She was unsure if it was the wind or something else. Val, Scarlet and Ray were standing outside of the mouth of the cave. Zyler seemed to be captivated by something in the distance.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCs3vh5g6wP
Ray ran up to her the moment he saw her. All Cora wanted to do was jump into his arms and she didn't care who was watching. After her last encounter with Prince Lyon she knew for certain she had feelings for Ray.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnHmTQ49YK
Once he was only a few steps away she tackled him to the ground. They both landed in a pile of fresh snow. Cora had landed on top of him their lips were only a few centimeters apart. She felt his warm breath on her face.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuoKPNbkMr
"My apologies," he tucked a strand of her long blonde hair behind her ear. "Lily never did anything like this and I'm not sure how to react."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAkMNy80Rc
"Just be yourself,"
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAlTTuprOp
Their fingers tightly intertwined.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPjfwyUOW8
Val loudly cleared her throat. Her cheeks blushed slightly pink. She was clearly uncomfortable.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAohk4jjEZ
Scarlet on the other hand seemed to be enjoying the spectacle.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ129gHSpOvw
The pair quickly got up and shook the snow off their clothes.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zJNqozvO1
Val opened her notebook and began skimming the pages. "I put together a strategy to help us inject all of the Tibicenas with the antidote. Can someone go get Zyler so I can explain the plan to everyone?"
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7OlygZmXZ
Cora regained her composure. "I'll go get him."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RVQeAEbo6
Zyler sat on a rocky ledge on the side of the mountain watching the sun rise.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgiwyqk9va
Cora sat beside him but he refused to look away.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE9I7Dpk4p
The view was truly breathtaking. The entire sky was painted painted vibrant shades of pink and orange. There were stretches of snow covered trees for as far as the eye could see.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISu8zKSnKm
Zyler was the first to break the silence. "You know they say that the sunrises on Mt. Nevado are some of the most beautiful in the world? I never thought I'd see one with my own eyes though."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXo3oDT4XN
Cora wasn't used to Zyler being so serious. "Why not?"
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5vB08Irne
"I grew up in a crowded orphanage in western Thessionia. I had nothing not even a name. There wasn't enough food to go around. I was sure I was going to die there. One day a family decided to adopt me. Neither of them made it into the Prestige Program so they didn't have much money, but it was riches compared to what I was used to. They treated me like I was their own son. I made I promise that I would help them out in anyway I can. I worked days and nights in a factory so we could keep our home. My mom has always wanted to watch the sunrise on Mt. Nevado to see if it was really as beautiful as people say it is. I want to remember everything about this sunrise so I can tell her all about it."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13dJhtKbTd
"It's breathtaking." Cora replied.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXKIoXK0hW
Zyler nodded. "Maybe, if the mission goes according to plan I'll be able to take her myself with the reward money."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKL7tDPbe4
She had almost forgotten about the mission. "Val wants explain the plan to us."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZrI0FSamZ
The duo returned to the rest of the group where Scarlet was grilling Ray with questions.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LvLO3vxh0
"How long have you and Cora been together?"
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOv5DSiGTjl
"We met about a week ago and we've hardly been apart since then."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykKXaWz2zy
"I can't believe Cora has a boyfriend and a cute one too!"
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaGWLKonib
"It's not that surprising." Cora grumbled. She had gone on a few dates in high school but never a serious relationship. Warrior training always came first. Ray wasn't even technically her boyfriend.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhM4QmmWoF
"You shouldn't be surprised. Coraline is a lovely lady. Anyone would be lucky to have someone like her." Ray said.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v0A8rHqw2
Cora's heart fluttered upon hearing his complement.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4WZ2jFWmE
"Now that everyone is here I'll explain our plan. Zyler made us flashlights so we'll be able to see inside the cave. Scarlet has created an antidote.They won't hurt her, it's our job to hold them off long enough for her to inject them. Zyler and I created these stub collars they will immobilize the Tibicenas without harming them. We have no idea what's waiting for us inside so it's important to proceed with extreme caution," Val said.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4MuBIySLE
Zyler handed out the flashlights and collars.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN1z2mnxyR
The group stared into the darkness. Each person to afraid to take the first step.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHZKS5o6LX
Scarlet ended up being the first one to enter the cave. She motioned for the rest of the group to follow her.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPR93HBA9Dw
They walked through the icy caverns. It was dead silent.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWW39FPgFdH
Ray tightly squeezed Cora's hand.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FZYB4npgu
A several pairs of eyes gazed at them trough the blackness.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6mJlVWn8f
They let out a loud growl which made Cora's heart nearly burst with fear. She didn't hesitate to jump in front of her friends ready to defend them.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJwlhmwvJ9
There in front of her stood the most frightening creature she'd ever seen. It towered over her. It had black fur that blended into the darkness and two eyes the color of fresh blood. It's fangs were sharper than her sword. This was the Alpha.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EVLv2DxCU
It mauled at her chest but she sliced open
it's neck with her sword.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSRlV2QPeo
The Alpha grabbed her by her injured shoulder with its teeth. She tried to fight back. It threw her head first into the ice wall.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPStt0QALzQ
Her mouth filled up with blood and she could feel her consciousness fading away.
ns 172.70.42.237da2
