Nightmares
Ella ran through the dark forest as fast as her legs could carry her.
Fear crept into her heart, urging her forward.
She felt that if she stopped, even for a moment, death would catch up with her.
Behind her were not ordinary people.
They were demons.
They chased after her with hungry eyes, their gazes fixed on her like predators stalking their prey.
They wanted her blood.
Her breath came in ragged gasps as she pushed herself harder, but suddenly her foot caught on a fallen log.
She stumbled.
Then fell.
Pain shot through her body as she hit the ground.
A sharp cry escaped her lips when she tried to stand.
Her ankle was broken.
Panic gripped her.
No matter how hard she tried, she could not get back on her feet.
The demons were getting closer.
Closer.
Closer.
She wished someone would save her.
Anyone.
But no one came.
Trembling, Ella hugged her knees and squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the demons to devour her.
Then—
“Ahhh!”
Ella shot upright in bed, breathing heavily.
For a moment, she stared blankly at the ceiling above her.
A dream.
It had only been a dream.
Relief washed over her as she let out a shaky breath.
She was back in her room, lying safely on her bed.
The last thing she remembered was being with the demon.
He had told her about a woman named Katereen, and after that…
Nothing.
She couldn’t remember what had happened next.
Nor could she remember how she had returned to her room.
The door suddenly opened.
Tyla hurried inside carrying a bowl of water and a small cloth.
She dipped the cloth into the water, wrung it out, and gently placed it on Ella’s forehead.
Only then did Ella realize something was wrong.
She had a fever.
Her entire body felt cold.
She was already shivering beneath the blankets.
Was it because of the water she had been in with the demon?
Or had something else happened?
Before she could think further, Collins and Leo entered the room.
The king followed behind them.
Wait.
The king?
Wasn’t he supposed to be the demon?
Or had the demon already left him?
Her confusion deepened when she noticed the look on his face.
He was glaring at her.
Angrily.
Why?
Shouldn’t he be the one apologizing?
Had she done something wrong?
“I warned you about going outside, but you did,” he said coldly.
“Er…”
Ella blinked.
She had almost forgotten about that warning.
At the time, she had assumed he simply wanted to spend time with Selena in the garden.
Nobody had explained that the king carried a curse.
A curse that allowed his darkest side to emerge during every full moon.
“What happened to me?” Ella asked weakly.
“Why do I have a fever?”
“It took a lot of effort to bring you back,” Collins explained.
“You were soaked in dew water, and because you’re only a human with no powers, your body couldn’t handle it.”
“My lord, she’s getting colder,” Tyla reported worriedly.
“Get the Grazen and bring more quilts,” the king ordered.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Leo and Tyla hurried out of the room.
“He was brutal this time,” Collins said as he noticed the scratch on her left hand.
Ella had already drifted back to sleep.
“She witnessed the greatest shock of her life. I don’t think she’ll recover from it easily.”
The king remained silent.
“Did she see him kill the assassin?” he finally asked.
“I don’t know,” Collins admitted.
“I arrived after he had already killed him and was focused on her. I don’t know what he wanted, but he didn’t seem to have any intention of killing her. He even took her to the Forbidden Realm.”
The king’s expression darkened.
“Let’s begin the fourth level of training,” he said plainly.
Collins stared at him in shock.
“My lord, that’s a dangerous process. It could cost you your life.”
The king’s gaze settled on Ella’s sleeping figure.
His eyes lingered on her pale face.
“I don’t want this to happen again.”
His voice was calm but firm.
“I don’t want anyone to be hurt.”
“Are you sure you’re ready to merge with Zex?” Collins asked carefully.
His tone carried a warning.
The king had postponed this stage for years.
Now he was willing to risk everything.
But the king’s expression did not change.
He had already made up his mind.
If he could merge with Zex, he would remain conscious during every full moon.
Half would be himself, while the other half would be Zex.
If he survived that stage, he could move on to the final one.
The complete merging of their minds and powers.
Only then would he be able to restrain Zex’s actions and fully unite their strength.
“Yes.”
His answer came without hesitation.
“My mind is made up.”
Collins stared at him for a long moment.
Then a mischievous smile slowly appeared on his face.
“Wait.”
The king looked at him.
“Are you doing this because he almost hurt Miss Ella?”
The king’s eyes narrowed.
“Don’t tell me…”
Collins suddenly covered his mouth with one hand.
His eyes widened dramatically.
“You’re in love with her?!”
“What?!”
Leo and Tyla had just returned to the doorway when they heard Collins’ outburst.
The two exchanged shocked glances.
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Slow and steady footsteps echoed through a grand hall.
It was the castle ballroom.
The footsteps came to a stop before a man standing by a tall window.
He was dressed in royal attire.
A king.
His midnight-blue hair fell neatly over his shoulders, and even from behind, his presence was striking.
Another man stood before him.
Dressed in a knight’s uniform and carrying a sword at his side, he lowered his head respectfully.
“Your Highness, Number Six has been killed. The king went wild during the full moon and discovered him.”
A faint smile appeared on the king’s lips.
Then he turned around.
The knight froze.
The man standing before him looked almost identical to King Lockwood Randolph.
Almost.
Unlike Lockwood, this man wasn’t cold or expressionless.
A warm, charming smile rested on his face.
The kind that could easily make people lower their guard.
He was King Anderson Lockwood of the Washington Kingdom.
The fourth brother of King Lockwood Randolph.
“So he still hasn’t changed.”
A soft laugh escaped him.
“Prepare a ship.”
His smile widened.
“We’re sailing to the Moon Vile Kingdom.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The knight bowed and left.
Left alone, Anderson turned back toward the window.
His eyes gleamed with amusement.
“Brother…”
His smile slowly deepened.
“Welcome your worst nightmare.”