Reborn to Marry the World-Ending Phoenix Chapter 06
Elara’s POV
I turned slowly.
Draven stepped from the shadows, massive dragon wings unfurling in moonlight, casting everything into darkness. At least a dozen fully armed dragon knights stood behind him.
His eyes went wide. “Elara… it really IS you… you’re alive…”
Moonlight hit his haggard face. Those features that once made my heart race now only turned my stomach.
“Figured it out too late.” I yanked back my hood, silver hair whipping wild. “That substitution spell was bleeding me dry anyway. Never expected it to last forever. Just didn’t think you’d catch on this fast.”
Arrows nocked, magic crackling. Power hummed through the air on both sides.
Draven’s eyes locked on me. “Do you have ANY idea. how long I held your corpse? A whole MONTH…”
“Disappointed?” I sneered. “Wish you could’ve watched me die in that hell yourself?”
“I NEVER wanted you dead!” He took a step forward, desperate. “Those potions were just-”
“Just to make sure Seraphina’s brat got born first?” I cut him off. “For some bullshit inheritance law, you murdered our child.”
His face went white. “The baby… no… that can’t be…”
Seeing that pathetic hope flare in his eyes, sick pleasure twisted through me.
“STOP LYING!” He lunged, grabbing my arm hard.”
Where IS the baby? TELL ME!”
Too strong. I stumbled forward, off balance.
A vine exploded from the ground like a striking snake, whipping Draven backward.
CRACK!
He slammed into a tree, blood spraying from his mouth.
Father materialized from the darkness, murder blazing in his eyes. Magic spheres burst to life throughout the forest–the whole woods bright as noon.
“Touch her again and DIE!”
Draven staggered up, shock written across his face. ” Aldric? Aldric Moonwhisper? What the hell are YOU-
“Protecting my daughter.” Father’s voice could’ve frozen fire.
“Daughter?” Draven spun to me, completely lost.” You… how…”
“Elara Moonwhisper.” I straightened, every word deliberate. “Aldric Moonwhisper’s only daughter. Heir to Shadow Forest.”
Draven’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull.” Impossible… you were… you can’t be…”
“What?” I laughed. “Think I was really some nobody orphan? Some random whore who crawled out of the gutter?”
Draven’s legs gave out. He crashed to his knees, trembling violently. I could see it all clicking–my magic, my bearing, the way I carried myself… every clue screaming the truth he’d been too stupid to see.
“Why hide it?” His voice cracked. “Why not just TELL me?”
“Remember twenty years ago?” Father’s voice cut like a blade. “Your grandfather’s little decision?”
Draven went even paler.
“The Night Battle.” My voice stayed level. “Your grandfather swore he’d send dragon knights to help us fight the demon invasion. He broke his word.”
“Three thousand elven warriors died.” My voice started shaking. “My uncle. My cousins. Countless clan members–slaughtered because of that betrayal.”
“Afterward, your grandfather was so eaten up with guilt, he swore the Moonwhisper family could ask for ANYTHING.” I stared him down. “As compensation.”
“I could’ve married you openly.” I continued. “Big political alliance. All the respect and status that came with it.”
“But I hid who I was.” I looked straight at him. ” Because I didn’t want a political deal. I wanted you to love ME. Just me.”
Draven looked up, despair drowning his eyes. “Elara…
“And what did you do?” Cold laughter. “Treated the woman who actually loved you like garbage. Like a toy to break whenever you felt like it. Threw me in a side palace, let your whole family treat me like dirt.” “How was I supposed to KNOW-” His voice broke.
“Know and then what?” I cut him off. “Would you have loved ME? Or just the Moonwhisper name attached to me?”
His mouth worked. Nothing came out. He just knelt. there, shaking like a leaf.
“I know the TRUTH now!” He suddenly jerked his
head up. “Seraphina… she was the traitor! SHE leaked Kael’s battle plans! That baby was a bastard from a Shadowclaw spy!”
I stared at him. Face blank.
“I killed him! Seraphina’s dead too!” Desperate now.” I avenged you!”
“Avenged me?” I scoffed. “You killed them because they USED you. Not for me.”
“That’s not-” He scrambled. “I did it for-”
“SHUT YOUR MOUTH!” I roared. “Don’t you DARE feed me that self–righteous garbage!”
Draven flinched hard. Tears streamed down his face. ” Please… Elara, please forgive me… for the baby’s sake.. .just one more chance… I’ll be better, I SWEAR, I’ll—”
“Forgive you?” Cold smile. “You actually think I’d EVER forgive you?”
I raised my message crystal. “Bring her.”
Moonwhisper warriors emerged, dragging a blood- soaked woman between them.
Lyra.