Tempting The Dark King [Enchanted World Series Book 2]

Chapter 19

By the time the meeting was over, Lyrah was exhausted. Everyone was buzzing with curious questions about her and the Jinn King. She didn't mind answering the questions but she was also glad that no one asked her intimate questions especially concerning what is happening in the Realm of Spells. Adorable little girls asked questions about her favorite color and if she was ever going to visit their school and help out in the community. Of course that was expected of her but she couldn't see herself doing that any time soon until Rhol cracked down on what was really happening in the Realm. Now that Lyrah looked closely at the people of the Realm of the Dark, they were no different from the ones back home. Though they were afraid for their lives, they also had hope and faith on their king to keep them safe. She believed Rhol was doing his best to keep them safe...even if that meant that he had to take his place among his warriors on the battlefield. Lyrah couldn't help but worry—why did the black abomination have more effect on him than anyone else? He got poisoned twice but the second time she felt as if it was pulling him towards the darkness, wanting him to embrace it. He never talked about it but Lyrah felt she needed to ask him. What was that all about?

“Are you ready to return to the Black Fortress?” His voice cut through her thoughts as she went around greeting the members of his court who were present for the meeting.

“Already?” She looked up at him with a frown.

Rhol's eyebrows arched up. “Is there anything else that you want to do?”

Lyrah bit onto her lower lip and turned to Zafrina who was watching them a few meters away. Sometimes the female's close scrutiny produced goosebumps on Lyrah's skin but she doubted if the female wished anything ill for befall on her. “I would like to see more of the city and since you still have a few people to talk to, I thought I would take Zafrina with me.”

“Dirani peeta--” Rhol's warning growl was cut short by Lyrah's groan.

“Oh, come on. What can possibly happen to me when Zafrina is around? I mean the only reason she is the second in command is because she's exceptional, right?”

Rhol's jaws clenched together as his eyes bore into hers. Finally he sighed and nodded. “Fine, but take care of yourself at all times.”

Lyrah grinned and did something that got both of them awkward, she leaned in and placed a kiss on his cheek. Her face flashed scarlet as everyone around them tried to hide their grins. “Thanks—uhm--see you in a bit.”

Rhol nodded then coiled his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer then whispered. “Keep your mischievous streak in check because if I have to come and save your skin again...” the warning went on unheard but Lyrah was pretty sure the punishment was going to be severe.

She pushed away and looked at his smoldering eyes. Her heart leaped in her ribs and she swallowed hard before she tried to smile but failed and instead she nodded and walked away.

As she approached Zafrina, she saw the other female roll her eyes and stand up straight.

“I had a feeling whatever you told the king had something to do with me.” Her expression had Lyrah smile.

“Oh, come on.” Lyrah smiled. “It's not so bad getting stuck with me for several hours while the king concludes his meeting here, is it?”

“You are the one to say that because you never get stuck with yourself, do you?” Zafrina looked over Lyrah's shoulder and gestured for two more warriors to join them. “So, where are we going?”

“Shopping!” Lyrah exclaimed and led the way out.

“Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?” Zafrina muttered as she followed Lyrah out.

“My king.” Rhol turned around and he was surprised to see Stef and Leon, the two remaining Nosferatu Aryan brothers. He frowned when he saw how pale Stef's face was. He looked like he was in a lot of pain.

Leon's eyes darted up about the crowd and he was distressed so he sent a low wave of energy into the air, making everyone a little uncomfortable. He was risking being identified within the hall so Rhol quickly grabbed the young male's arm and led him away to the private quarters behind the hall.

Once inside, Rhol snarled and snapped at them. “What the hell!”

Suddenly, Stef's legs buckled under him and he staggered on to the floor with blood running down from his nose. Rhol's eyes widened as he rushed to pick him up.

“What happened, Leon? Did you encounter the Ghouls again today?” Rhol asked him.

Leon had always been the introvert and from what Rhol could see, the young male was retreating from reality. He was going back to that dark spot deep within him where he felt safe. The last time it happened in the Black Fortress, due to his telepathic abilities, he broadcast out a lot of his distress and everyone got jumpy and paranoid for a while. Now, it was about to happen again.

“Leon!” Rhol's tattoos burst out from his back and latched onto the male. One snapped against his cheek, trying to bring him back to reality.

Leon blinked several times at the sudden attack on him and focused his eyes on Rhol. “He's here.” He whispered in utter terror.

“Who is here? Leon! Stef?” He turned to the male on the floor and Stef's eyes had turned over in his head. His body was jerking as if he was having a seizure and more blood gurgled out of his mouth.

What the f**k was going on?

“Who the f**k is here, Leon!” Rhol snarled at him.

“The last High Priest of Aidan—Rowan.” Leon answered clasping his hands over his head. “He is very strong that he has been able to attack both Stef and I using our abilities. He can attack anyone who is able to manipulate energy....I can feel him close by.”

As if on cue, someone screamed on the other side of the room. Rhol felt dread settle deep inside his chest as he got up and went to see what was happening. Of course Rowan was also part of this situation if it had anything to do with the Dark Energy. He was the one who first tempted Aidan to embrace it in order to become the most powerful male in the enchanted world! Even after the destruction of Aidan and his army and the imprisoning of the Dark Energy, Rowan disappeared into thin air. Everyone believed he had died in the attack but there was no actual proof.

Was he the one trying to bring the dead back to life and altering the pure energy with the dark arts? He must have help from sorcerers. Fallen Mage and Bachu'anes made the worst enemies!

Rhol arrived into the hall and found several of his Mage warriors together with some of the Members of his Court and a few remaining people jerking on the floor, blood seeping out of their bodies like rivers!

Rhol's body ran cold as he felt he saw the black and brown clothed male with overflowing white hair standing in front of him eyeing the fallen people with malice that was bordering with insanity.

Rowan!

The male looked much older with his deathly white skin pulled hard against his bones. His mouth was pulled back in a snarl and inside were a pair of nasty-looking fangs. His hands had black claws and the way his body was twitching and jerking, Rhol knew the dark arts had already taken over his body. Where had he been all this time?

Several Jinn warriors had surrounded him with their tattoos already detached from their bodies ready to attack the menace but Rhol dreaded the outcome. A cruel smile appeared on Rowan's face as he thrust his hand into the air. The first Jinn warrior to attack was rendered immobile in the air. He screamed in agony as his body was lifted from the grounded and suspended above the other warriors. Suddenly a shredding sound echoed in the hall and the Jinn's roar sent every small hair on Rhol's body stand up.

Rowan and ripped away the Jinn's tattoos from him and they were reduced to a black inky substance oozing down the warrior mingled with his blood.

Rowan smashed the warrior's body on the wall and the sound of cracking bones was as loud as ever. The smell of fear overwhelmed Rhol as people screamed and scrambled out towards the exit. Rhol threw his head back and roared in retaliation. Absolutely no one was allowed to hurt anyone under his watch and protection—but there were so many people around him wanting his attention.

Although he was still trying to figure what was happening, Rhol wasn't going to stand there and watch while his people got slaughtered like a bunch of animals. He removed his blade and flashed right in front of the male killing his warriors.

As he was about to stab the male, Rowan shifted away, his robes obstructing Rhol's attack on him.

“Rhol, just the male I was looking for.” He purred, his raspy voice sending ripples of dread down Rhol's spine. Rowan grinned and his fangs glimmered in the light. “Long time no see.”

“Rowan! What are you doing here?” Rhol tried to attack the male again but Rowan was quick at avoiding Rhol's attacks. During that same time, the other warriors also attacked him and Rowan slashed his blackened claws against then, decapitating some and severely injuring the rest.

Bile rose up Rhol's mouth as his warriors dropped down on the ground one by one.

“I have a message for you, Rhol. Your time is getting closer.” Rowan answered. He looked down at his bloody claws and licked away the blood then grinned up at Rhol. “By the way, did you like a little present I left for you at the Ghoul cave? I helped you clear up some of the pests, you should thank me.”

“That was a mass killing using the dark arts. What are you planning on doing? What is all this?” Rhol demanded.

“Oh, this is bigger than you and me, Rhol. The show has yet to begin and guess who is the main actor of it?” Rowan held his hand up and pointed at him. “You are.”

“I will never be part of your plot, Rowan!” Rhol barked and attacked the male with everything he had. Rhol slashed, punched and kicked catching the male now and then but still Rowan was a little too fast for him.

“You have no choice!” Rowan snarled back spurting out black blood. “If you want your little mate to wake up alive another day, you have no choice!”

Rhol's eyes widened. This is what he was afraid of. This was the weakness that he was trying to avoid all of his life, the day his mate's life was in danger because of him. Finally he understood why he didn't want his mate there. Fury unfurled deep inside him to the point that he couldn't even reason. All he wanted to do was to rip the male in front of him into pieces and bathe in his blood! How dare he threaten his mate's life? Rhol was not leaving that hall until Rowan was dead! The fury engulfed him, the blackness bleeding over his eyes. He heard himself growling like a mad dog. His tattoos slithered away from him and solidified behind him, their slick crystal form gleaming in the light and promising nothing but bloodshed.

“That's it, Rhol.” Rowan took a step back. “Let out the darkness you've always kept locked away. Embrace it and take your position amongst us.”

Rhol shook away the whispers inside his head. “No!” He rasped and attacked the other male.

Two of the spiky tentacles shot forward and stabbed into Rowan's body. He was fast but Rhol was faster. The tattoos curled around Rowan's body and pulled him forward. Rhol's shook away his braid twisted it around his arm. His tattoos forged a spiky armor around the braid. He smashed the armor on Rowan's chest and the male's body went sailing to the other side of the room and crumpled down like a broken doll.

Rhol didn't expect him to get up but Rowan chuckled and stood up. His broken bones snapped back into place and he wiped away the black blood running down his chin. “Is that the best you can do?”

“I'm just starting!” Rhol went on to attack Rowan again but the male flashed away.

 “I'm not here to fight with you Rhol—but do know this, you are not strong enough to take me on...yet.”

Rhol eyed the male with loathing and disgust.

“You can get stronger than that but you have to accept who you are.” Rowan told him.

“Don't you dare f**k with me or my mate or I will bring the fires of hell to your doorstep.” Rhol warned.

“I'm counting on that.” Rowan hissed as his body began to disintegrate in front of Rhol. “I will be seeing you again soon.”

“No!” Rhol wanted to follow Rowan's energy trail but suddenly it disappeared as if it had never been.

Rhol looked around and there was so much blood and destruction around him. Someone must have called the ambulance because soon enough people were being moved towards the hospital. Rhol was glad Lyrah was nowhere close to that place.

“My king, allow me to attend to your injuries.” Someone asked.

Rhol looked up at the female then down to his hand and that was when he realized that he was also injured. He nodded and the female began cleaning up the cuts and bruises of his hand.

“My King.” Seygon came forward looking as bad as he did. “The Aryan brothers are been taken to the Fortress infirmary as we speak. Also, I have sent warriors to get Eve as well.”

“Good. Contact Zafrina and make sure Lady Lyrah is taken straight to the fortress instead of coming here.” Rhol stated. The fury was still burning so strong inside him. He always felt fury before. He knew his temper never always scored top marks for being easily controlled but he had never lost reasoning during one of its moments like the way he did when Rowan threatened to harm his mate if he didn't comply with whatever plans the psycho had for the enchanted world. He looked down at his fingers and they were trembling. His mind was also a little fuzzy. He needed to calm down soon.

“Yes my king.” Seygon bowed and was about to leave when Rhol stopped him.

“How many warriors have we lost today?”

Seygon's eyes darkened with sadness. “Four Mage warriors, seven Jinn warriors. The civilians had weaker minds and a total of ten Mage were lost to us. About twenty civilians are being treated in the hospital and are doing well.”

Rhol nodded lightly. “Let's back to the Fortress. We need a crack on this before it gets worse.”

“Yes, my king.” Seygon went off to make sure the convoy was ready to make its way back.

Rhol was anxious to return and make sure Lyrah was alright. He didn't know how much Rowan's abilities affected people who were not in the hall. Lyrah was very susceptible to energy waves and he had a feeling she might have realized that something evil was lurking around. He just hoped she didn't try to locate it, for her own safety. Now that Rowan threatened her safety, Rhol had no choice but make sure she was always watched over. Rowan had just declared war on him and the people of the Realm of The Dark. Rhol was not going to let the male get away with it. He was going to bring out the big guns and hunt him down like an animal!

Rhol's eyes darkened with undiluted fury and anger as he made his way out of the city hall.