Mrs. Blackwood continued to fan herself, looking smug. 'We are coming with you to Star Valley, and I will make sure that the emperor marries my daughter,' she said. 'My wife, you mean,' Markus said, his voice firm. Mr. Blackwood walked over and stood toe to toe with him. 'Not if I have anything to say about it,' he said, his tone threatening. Markus felt trapped. He knew that as long as this alliance was in place, his in-laws would never stop trying to put a wedge between him and Celeste."So enjoy your 'so-called wife' while your marriage lasts, because this will be your last," Mr. Blackwood said, passing the letter to Markus. Scales lowered her head and nuzzled his shoulder, sensing his anxiety. Markus's shoulders trembled, and he felt torn between anger and fear. The emperor had not yet made his decision, so there was still a chance that this alliance could fall through. But if it didn't, he knew that his marriage would be in danger. Celeste was a strong and independent woman,
The emperor nodded, and a servant ushered the Blackwoods to their rooms. Another servant led Aviva and Celeste to their own rooms, while Markus was left standing alone in the throne room. The silence was deafening, and he could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm and focused. He needed to be ready for whatever came next.Celeste's eyes were red and puffy, and her voice trembled as she spoke. "I can't do this, Markus," she said, her voice breaking. "I don't want to marry the emperor. I don't want to be a bargaining chip in this political game. I just want to be happy, and I can't be happy if I'm forced to marry someone I don't love." She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed. Markus put his hand on her shoulder, wishing he could take away her pain.Markus opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. What could he say to make this better? He was just as lost and confused as Celeste, and he fe
The emperor smiled, a cruel and satisfied smile. "Then it is settled," he said. "You have until the end of the week to prepare for the duel. May the gods have mercy on your soul."Markus nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. He had just agreed to a fight that could very well cost him his life. But he knew he had to do it, for Celeste.It was clear to Markus that the emperor was playing a dangerous game. He had given Markus the illusion of choice, but in reality, he was forcing him into a deadly situation. It seemed that Uriel had no intention of honoring their original alliance, and was only using it as a way to manipulate and control him. But Markus refused to be a pawn in the emperor's game. He was determined to find a way out of this, for himself and for Celeste.Markus had no choice but to face this unknown warrior in a fight to the death, but he was determined to find out everything he could about his opponent. Perhaps there was some weakness he could exploit, some way to gain
The emperor's gaze was cold and calculating as he considered his options. He could dissolve the alliance, casting Celeste aside like so many other women he had used and discarded. Or he could simply dispose of Markus, silencing the one who posed a threat to his power. No matter what he chose, it would be a cruel and selfish decision, made without regard for the people whose lives he held in his hands. His arrogance and entitlement blinded him to the human cost of his actions.As Markus watched Aviva and Roman, a knot of tension and anxiety formed in his stomach. He had seen them together before, but never like this. Something was different, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. Roman's usually confident and arrogant demeanor seemed to have softened, his face betraying a hint of vulnerability. And Aviva's expression was a mix of joy and sorrow, her eyes betraying a deep sense of longing. What were they talking about? And why did it seem so important?The words that finally cam
As he spoke, Roman's hands began to glow with a fiery light, and he balled them into fists. The fire crackled and flickered, illuminating his face with a terrifying intensity. He took a step towards Markus, his expression grim and resolute."You're wrong about me," said Markus, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not as weak as you think."With those words, the two men charged at each other, fists raised and ready to strike. The air between them seemed to shimmer and spark with energy, and the temperature rose with each passing moment.As they neared, Markus dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding a blow from Roman's flaming fist. The heat was almost unbearable, and he could feel the sweat pouring down his face. But he knew he had to keep fighting, for if he didn't, all would be lost.Roman swung again, this time connecting with Markus' shoulder. The pain was excruciating, but Markus gritted his teeth and kept moving.With a snarl, Roman extinguished his fire fists, knowing that phys
The guards scattered, some of them shouting in alarm, others simply staring in shock. Aviva was the only one who remained calm, watching the scene unfold with a look of steely resolve. She knew that Roman was capable of great destruction, but she also knew that he was capable of great compassion.Uriel struggled against Roman's grasp, but he was no match for the strength of the god of thunder. He could feel the heat of Roman's flames against his skin, and he knew that if he didn't do something soon, he would meet a painful end."You can't do this!" Uriel cried, his voice high with panic. "You'll be no better than me if you kill me!"Roman's eyes narrowed, and he brought his face close to the emperor's. "Maybe so," he said, his voice low and menacing. "But I'm not the one who murdered my own father."Roman released his hold on the emperor, stepping back and letting him slump to the ground, defeated. "I am not a murderer," he said, his voice shaking. "But you have forced me to confront t
Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood came home from their journey, even though they had failed to break up Markus and Celeste's relationship. However, they had managed to save Celeste from a marriage to the cruel and ruthless Emperor Uriel, so their trip was not entirely in vain. This left them feeling both disappointed and relieved. Celeste's golden circlet glimmered in the sunlight, a symbol of her new-found freedom. She turned to her love, Markus, and kissed him, a sign of her deepening affection. But her father, Mr. Blackwood, could see the cracks forming in their relationship, the seeds of doubt and uncertainty taking root. Could their love survive the test of time, or would it wither and die under the strain? Mr. Blackwood softened his expression and then frowned. "I have to report back to work for a debriefing," he said."Already?" Mrs. Blackwood said. "I understand." She turned back to her work.Mr. Blackwood nodded and headed out the door. As he left, he could feel his wife's eyes on him
Mr. Blackwood took a deep breath, exhausted by the uphill battle he was facing. He was tired of trying to find suitors for Celeste, knowing that none of them would be able to protect her from the dangers that threatened their family. He knew that his only hope was to draw Markus into the spy organization, where he could be properly dealt with.Mr. Blackwood organized a party to celebrate their escape from Emperor Uriel. But Markus was suspicious of his motives. It turned out that Mr. Blackwood had arranged for Markus to fight to the death against Roman, a dangerous opponent.Mr. Blackwood knew that Markus was most comfortable in a war zone, so he arranged for their fight to take place in a war zone. This gave Markus an advantage, but it also put him in serious danger. Mr. Blackwood was willing to do anything to achieve his goals, even if it meant putting someone else in danger. This made it difficult to know if Mr. Blackwood was a hero or a villain. The situation was complicated, and