The moment Cross finished speaking, he reached for my hands.
“We need to prepare.”
Before I knew what was happening, he was already pulling me toward the door, his fingers wrapped firmly around mine as though every second suddenly mattered, but I didn’t move.
My feet stayed planted on the floor.
Cross took another step before realizing I wasn’t following him.
He stopped immediately and slowly turned back to face me.
His red eyes searched mine.
“Are you not going to explain what’s going on?” I asked quietly.
One of his brows lifted.
“What do you want me to explain?” he asked, genuinely looking confused.
I stared at him in disbelief.
“Don’t tell me you still want to leave me in the dark. Are you not going to say anything about the red moon, the siren, how we are going back to Earth?”
The words came out sharper than I intended.
I wasn’t trying to argue with him again.
I simply wanted answers.
He couldn’t suddenly decide we were leaving and expect me to blindly follow him without understanding anything.
“If you are going to keep quiet and keep things away from me, then count me out of all these.”
As I spoke, I slowly slipped my hand out of his.The warmth between our fingers disappeared.
Cross lowered his eyes for a moment before letting out a long, tired sigh.
It sounded like someone who had been carrying a burden for far too long.
For a few seconds, he remained silent.
I could already tell he still didn’t want to tell me everything.
“I’m waiting, Cross.”
He closed his eyes briefly before opening them again.
“The red moon is a sign of the Third Siren.”
His voice was calm.
“It isn’t just a loud piercing sound. It is a siren of destruction. For years, Larvana has suffered in the hands of the Third Siren. It comes with floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, collapsing kingdoms and countless deaths.”
He paused.
“It’s hell.”
The way he said those last two words sent a chill through me.
I had never seen someone describe suffering so quietly.
There was no anger, only exhaustion.
“I’m so sorry about that.”
Cross gave a faint nod before continuing.
“There are three sirens. The first two are merely warnings.”
His gaze drifted toward the window where the red moon still stained the night sky.
“But once the red moon appears, the Third Siren is much closer than anyone can imagine.”
His expression slowly darkened.
“We have suffered for years. Only I can stop it temporarily, but every time I stop it, it drains almost all of my essence. It leaves me weak and bedridden for days.”
I quietly listened.
He was someone who had spent years sacrificing himself for everyone else.
“I was sealed away inside that tomb. I couldn’t stop the Third Siren anymore, now it’s back and only the crown can help me stop it again, even if it’s only for a little while.”
My chest tightened.
I couldn’t even imagine carrying something like that alone.
“So your people have really suffered and endured a lot.” I spoke softly.
“It must have been painful watching everyone go through so much while knowing there was nothing you could do.”
Cross didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he simply looked at me.
He looked surprised.
Not because I had offered sympathy, but because it seemed like he wasn’t used to receiving it.
For the first time since we’d met, it felt like there wasn’t a wall between us and he was finally letting me see the weight he carried.
A small smile appeared on my face.
I was happy, not because of everything happening but because he finally trusted me enough to explain.
That alone meant something.
I folded my arms thoughtfully.
“So what exactly do you plan to do? Even if we want to go back to Earth, using your essence would take a lot out of you.”
Cross nodded.
“Like I said, I have another way.”
“Okay.”
He stepped closer.
“When the Third Siren is close to awakening, it doesn’t just bring destruction or chaos immediately.”
His eyes remained fixed on mine and I frowned.
“It tears holes between worlds. The barrier between Larvana and Earth weakens until it is forced open.”
He slowly continued.
“If we can reach that barrier before it closes, we won’t need to use my essence.”
My eyes widened.
“So we’re using the Siren to get to Earth?”
Cross shook his head.
“We’re taking advantage of the chaos it creates.”
I nodded slowly.
It actually made sense and I was ready for it.
“Then let’s do this.”
The words came out before I even realized it. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
The thought of finally seeing Earth again filled me with excitement.
I missed home, the normal food.
I missed my apartment and boyfriend.
Cross smiled at my reaction.
“It’s not that easy.”
My excitement immediately disappeared.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“The barrier doesn’t stay in one place. It constantly shifts.”
“So how do we find it?”
“We need a rift Compass, It points toward dimensional rifts.” He answered.
I blinked.
“Where do we find that?”
Cross hesitated before he said another word and his expression noticeably changed.
The confidence disappeared.
Instead, something almost like annoyance crossed his face.
“Someone has it.” He sighed quietly.
I noticed the way his jaw tightened.
Whoever this person was, Cross clearly didn’t like them.
“I’ll take you back to your room.” He turned toward the door.
“When the compass is ready, I’ll come get you.”
I immediately shook my head.
“We are going together.”
Cross stopped.
“I don’t want to be left out anymore.” I looked directly into his eyes.
“If this concerns both of us, then let me be there.”
For a long moment, he simply stared at me.
Then, a helpless smile appeared on his lips.
He reached for my hand again.
This time, I willingly placed mine in his.
“Let’s go.” I said.
Cross’s smile lingered for a brief moment before he intertwined our fingers again.
“Let’s go.” He replied.
I nodded.
Together, we left the study room, leaving behind the countless books scattered across the floor.
The heavy doors closed behind us with a soft thud as we stepped into the quiet hallway.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
The silence wasn’t awkward, it felt peaceful.
Our footsteps echoed against the polished black floor as we walked deeper into the palace.
Crimson flames burned inside tall silver braziers lining both sides of the corridor.
Paintings of former demon kings hung high on the walls, their eyes seeming to follow us wherever we went.
Eventually, we reached a different part of the palace.
At the very end of the corridor stood a gigantic black gate.
It was unlike every other entrance I had seen since arriving in Larvana.
The gate was forged from dark metal and covered with countless ancient carvings that resembled twisting vines and sleeping dragons.
Large chains wrapped around both doors, while sharp iron spikes rose from the top like the fangs of a beast.
Several heavily armored demon guards stood before it.
Each held a long spear with silver blades.
The moment they noticed Cross approaching while holding my hand, every one of them immediately stiffened.
“King Cross?”
They lowered themselves into respectful bows almost instantly.
“What brought you here, Your Majesty?” one of them asked carefully.
Cross didn’t slow down.
“Open the gate.”
His calm voice carried authority.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The guards hurried forward and pulled the enormous chains aside.
The heavy gates groaned loudly as they slowly opened inward.
A cool breeze rushed past us.
Cross stepped inside without hesitation and I quickly followed behind him like a lost chick following its mother.
The moment I crossed the gate, my eyes widened.
The place was so beautiful.
It almost didn’t look like Larvana anymore.
The destruction outside the palace seemed completely absent here.
Endless gardens stretched as far as I could see.
Flowers unlike anything on Earth bloomed everywhere.
Crimson lilies, silver roses, blue vines that floated gently above the ground, and glowing blossoms that opened and closed as though they were breathing.
Tall crystal trees glowed beneath the blood-red sky and tiny glowing insects drifted lazily between the flowers.
The soft sound of flowing water echoed nearby.
As Cross took another step, a familiar voice drifted through the garden.
“So the Demon King finally decided to pay a visit after all these while.” The source of this chapter is g.com.
I turned immediately.
A demon slowly rose from among the flowers.
He had blended into the garden so perfectly that I hadn’t noticed him until he spoke.
The moment I saw his face, recognition flashed through my mind.
Wait, I knew him.
“Buttins.” Cross whispered.
My eyes widened again.
It really was him.
The same demon who had tried to poison my mind against Cross.
A chill ran down my spine.
His golden eyes locked onto mine and he smiled.
The way he stared at me made my skin crawl.
Without saying a word, Cross stepped directly in front of me.
His broad shoulders completely blocked Buttins’s gaze.
“You’re always hiding her from everything.” Buttins said with an amused smile.
“People would think it’s protection, but it’s purely obsession. You know that, Cross.”
I looked between both of them.
Neither smiled or even blinked.
The air itself suddenly felt heavier.
“Why are you here?” Buttins asked.
He casually knelt beside a large field growing strange dark plants.
The plants stood almost waist-high with thick black stems and broad silver leaves that glowed under the moonlight.
Growing at the top of each stem was a large bulb shaped like a closed flower bud.
The bulbs looked smooth, almost glass-like, with dark silver veins running across their surface.
Rows upon rows of them stretched across the field.
I recognized them, they are called Shadowbulbs.
The name somehow suited them perfectly.
Buttins held a curved harvesting knife before carefully slicing one of the bulbs.
The blade scraped awkwardly across it and nothing happened.
He frowned.
He tried again and the bulb split unevenly, spilling thick black-silver sap onto the ground.
The liquid quickly soaked into the soil.
“Tch.” He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“I ruined another one.”
His frustration was obvious.
“I need the Rift Compass.” Cross said bluntly.
Even I blinked.
That definitely wasn’t the right way to ask someone for a favor.
Buttins slowly looked up, then he laughed.
“I knew you were here for something.”
He tossed the damaged Shadowbulb aside before picking another.
“Anytime you step into this place, you always want something.”
“Can you give it to me or not?” Cross asked.
His voice remained completely flat.
I quietly tugged at the sleeve of his coat.
He glanced at me.
I gave him a tiny look that practically screamed, ‘Be nicer.’
He completely ignored it.
“The Barrier.” Buttins murmured.
“Are you trying to leave Larvana before the Third Siren arrives?”
“It’s none of your business.” Cross replied.
“Just give it to me. When I’m done, I’ll return it safe and intact.”
Buttins chuckled.
His eyes drifted toward me again.
“How about you, Imogen? What do you think? Should I give it to your husband?” He smiled.
I almost answered instinctively.
Before I could open my mouth, Cross subtly squeezed my hand.
Just enough for me to understand and not give a reply.
I remained silent.
Buttins laughed.
“That’s it. He is always your mouthpiece.”
He shook his head before returning his attention to another Shadowbulb.
Once again, he sliced it and the bulb split incorrectly.
More black-silver sap poured uselessly onto the soil.
His jaw tightened.
“I need something in return.” He continued struggling with another bulb.
“Let’s use each other, Cross. Just like old times.”
A long silence followed.
Cross didn’t answer.
He simply stared at Buttins.
The hatred in his eyes was so intense that I suddenly realized these two weren’t ordinary enemies.
What could be between them?