That girl is going to make a real difference, and I know she can defeat the darkness. She just has to believe in herself first. Luckily, the sword will help guide her.
The king looks at his wit’s end, and there’s no mistaking the desperation in his eyes. He knows he is losing the battle. Even some of his councilmen are starting to look at him suspiciously, and it won’t be long until they all lose faith in him.
I had my own suspicions about him too, but I was too polite to accuse him of anything. He really did disappear for a while back in the human world, and I wonder...
What was he up to?
Belle is visibly glowing. Her skin, hair, and eyes radiate with light, and I’ve never been more in love with her. She is the woman of my dreams, a true work of art, and I just want to bow down to her.
Also, there’s an odd scent about her now, and my nostrils flare, trying to distinguish it. She always smelled pleasant, like roses, but the scent has strengthened. There’s also the distinct smell of a new book.
Has the sword given her a new signature scent? The essence of Belle? It’s alluring, and it makes me want to put my seed inside her.
Everyone at court regards her with awe, and I try to rein in my lust, keeping my wits about me.
No wonder my uncle is losing his nerve. Belle’s power and scent radiates off her in waves, and his time is almost up. His reign of terror will soon be over. Ever since he defeated us, the Abyss has fallen into chaos.
Too many humans are giving in to the darkness, and now we have a surplus amount of lost souls wandering the Abyss. The wraiths are multiplying by the dozen, and even the monsters are feeling the mounting pressure.
We always thrived off negative human emotions. I always exploited their feelings of pride, but there aren’t too many prideful humans around anymore. Humans are becoming less smug, less cocky as the days go by.
I’m simply starved.
But even Grey is starting to feel the effects. His emotion was fear, but there’s just too much fear these days. It’s overwhelming him.
The king speaks up. “Well, well, it appears you only went and proved me wrong, Isabel Hardgreaves. It seems humans truly are worth saving. You even managed to save a couple of hundred in the process. Well done.”
His voice is mocking, yet Belle still gushes with pride. While it’s an emotion I usually feed upon, with her, it’s noble. One she has earned through hard work. I only ever exploited the toxic kind of pride. Like the man who’s too afraid to admit that he needs help because he has too much pride or the woman who can’t tear her gaze away from the mirror.
The king rises from his throne, stepping down the steps, and my gut clenches when I spy his sharp teeth. “However, let’s see how you fare in a final challenge. Isabel Hardgreaves, I challengeyouto a fight.”
There come several gasps. Madoc and Grey look ready to rip our uncle to pieces, but Belle’s confidence reassures me. She’s got this. If she can defeat the Void, then she can certainly defeat the king.
However, I’m shocked to my very core when Belle makes her bold announcement. “Deal. And the winner getsyourthrone.”
Total silence spreads through the court. Belle just challenged our uncle for his throne, and it has sent shockwaves through the entire room.
Even the king looks speechless, and for a moment he almost seems to call it off, but he doesn’t want to look like a coward in front of his court. Also, he was the one who challenged her.
To back away from a challenge that he instigated would be a real knock to his pride, and I know a lot about pride. He would not only lose the faith of his subjects, but he would be humiliated by a simple human woman.
I glance down at young Alice beside me and smile. The girl looks terrified for Belle, but I try to reassure her.
“Don’t worry, Alice. Belle has got this. You will be free in no time.”
She peers at me with those blue eyes, and there’s no denying the hope.
Belle truly is a testament to her race. That’s the first bit of light I have seen in the young teen’s eyes ever since she arrived, and I know Belle will be able to defeat my uncle.
It looks as if he was never prepared to help her after all, and I’m looking forward to witnessing his downfall.
If only he had offered to help her from the start. But of course, he has too much pride.
Too much pride can be a toxic thing after all.
Chapter nineteen
Belle