Reborn to Marry the World-Ending Phoenix Chapter 05
Elara’s POV
The second I opened my eyes, I grabbed my stomach.
Flat. Empty.
“The baby…” I tried to sit up. My body wouldn’t cooperate.
“Don’t move.”
That voice. I turned my head.
A man sat beside the bed–mid–fifties, silver hair tied back, eyes exactly like mine.
Aldric Moonwhisper. Most powerful elven lord in Shadow Forest.
My father.
“Father?” My voice cracked.
He nodded, hand touching my forehead gently. “You‘ re safe now.”
I looked around. Not Ashwing Palace. The elven healing sanctuary. Vines wrapped around white columns, air thick with herbs.
“How did you find me?” Gareth’s death flashed through my mind. “Gareth… he couldn’t reach you…”
“The old contact point moved six months ago.” Father sighed. “Our people screwed up, didn’t tell you, But when guards reported some young soldier looking for the old address, I knew right away only you knew that place.”
My throat closed up. “Gareth…”
“I know what he did.” Father squeezed my hand. “I’ll take care of his sister. She’ll go to Moonlight Academy. Best education. She’ll never go hungry or cold.”
Tears spilled over. That kind guard died for me.
“When I got there with my men, you were barely breathing.” Father’s voice shook. “Those bastards tortured you… thank god our healers made it in time with the life spring…”
“What about Draven-”
Father’s laugh was bitter. “He thinks you’re dead. I cast a substitution spell, left a fake corpse in that hell. Our scouts say he’s been crying over it.”
I wanted to ask more, but a worse question clawed up. “My baby? Is he ”
Father’s face went still.
Long silence, He stood slowly, walked to the corner.
When he turned back, he held a small bundle wrapped in moonlight silk.
“Elara…” His voice broke. “I couldn’t save him.”
Everything shattered.
“No… no no no…” I shook my head. “That’s not—tell me that’s not-”
But he placed the bundle carefully in my arms.
My hands shook as I pulled back the silk.
A tiny face, purple–blue. Eyes closed. Lips black. So small. So fragile. Like he was just sleeping.
“NO-!”
The scream tore out of me. I pulled him close, that cold little body.
“Those damn potions stopped normal labor…” Father choked out. “Plus the heat in that inferno… he was trapped too long. By the time we found you, he was already-”
“He was scared, wasn’t he?” I couldn’t breathe through the sobs. “Mama wasn’t there… he wanted out… wanted to see me… but he couldn’t… he thought I didn’t want him-”
“Don’t.” Aldric knelt down, hand on my hair. “Don’t do this to yourself. He didn’t suffer. He went peacefully.”
I held my dead baby, feeling something inside me die too.
This little life was all I had. My only hope through that year in hell. My only reason to keep breathing.
Now he was gone.
“I told you NOT to marry into that savage royal family! “Father shot to his feet, fist slamming stone. Magic crackled. “I KNEW they’d never treat you right!”
It all came back–four years ago, the kingdom celebration.
I’d snuck out of Shadow Forest, wanting to see the world. Ended up at Ashwing’s grand festival. Massive crowds. Then chaos–terrible stampede. I went down, about to get trampled.
A strong hand yanked me up.
Draven.
Those dragon eyes. I was gone.
When I got back to the forest, I fell on my knees before Father, crying, begging him to let me marry that Dragon King.
“I warned you then.” Father’s eyes filled with pain. ” Told you dragons couldn’t be trusted. But you cried and said you’d marry him or die.” He looked away. “I went soft. Convinced the old Dragon King to agree…”
“It’s my fault.” I–clutched my child. “If I hadn’t been so stubborn… if I’d just listened…”
“NO!” He spun around. “They did this! THEY killed your child! Now they’re going to PAY!”
I don’t know how long I cried. Eventually there were no tears left.
I kissed my baby’s cold forehead one last time, then wrapped him back up.
When I spoke again, my voice was dead calm.
“Help me, Father. I need revenge.”
Father watched me for a long moment. Something like pride flashed in his eyes.
“Good. I’ll teach you everything. Make you strong enough to burn that kingdom to the ground.”
One month later. Deep night at the border.
I crouched in ancient tree branches, watching the dragon knight patrol through moonlight. Twenty elven warriors hid in the forest around me, waiting for my signal.
This past month, I’d thrown myself into training. Archery, magic, tactics, intelligence… I’d absorbed everything the Moonwhisper family could teach me, planning revenge on Ashwing’s royal family.
“Target patrol on schedule.” Father’s voice through the message crystal.
“Everyone ready.” I kept my voice low. “Remember- Draven alive. Everyone else is fair game.”
In the moonlight, a dozen dragon knights patrolled the border. Completely unaware.
“Now.”
Arrows cut through darkness. My warriors surrounded them from every side.
“Contact!”
“DON’T MOVE! Drop your weapons NOW!”
Battle erupted. I stayed hidden in the trees, watching coldly as enemies fell. These people watched me get tortured and did nothing.
Five minutes. Then silence.
“Clear.” Thalia reported up to me. “But… Draven’s not here.”
I frowned. Intel clearly showed Draven would personally inspect the border tonight…
“So you ARE alive.”
That voice.
Behind me.
I froze.