Page 26 of Legacy of the Heirs (The Lost Kingdom Saga #2)

Caellum

A drenaline coursed through Caellum’s veins as he swung at the creature, targeting the line of his remaining soldiers.

The soldiers were quick to arrange into formation, their movements succinct and focused as they protected their king.

Caellum saw the fear in their widened eyes and felt uncomfortable at their speed to protect him, a clear show of their loyalty.

When the creatures arrived, Caellum pulled Sadira to him and searched for Sir Cain, who ran out of the shattered glass wall for the training yards.

Caellum assumed he was raising the alarm for the resting soldiers and guards. He hoped he was quick.

Channelling all his pent-up anger, Caellum fought with the added strength from his lineage, which aided every swing against the creature.

Nevertheless, he could not help but feel inadequate upon realising there was little else he could do to protect his betrothed.

Even if he had the powers gifted to those in the Garridon line, it was clear from the ease with which the creature broke through Sadira’s vines that the power was of little use against them.

They were not equipped for this; this attack could very well be the end.

The line of soldiers pushed ahead of Caellum, allowing him a chance to breathe.

They had worked in sync ever since the creatures landed, and this one creature in particular seemed intent on reaching him and Sadira.

Caellum glanced at the surrounding devastation and instinctively reached for Sadira, finding her hand.

A calm washed over him as their fingers intertwined, the feel of her silver engagement ring cold against his skin.

He grew more focused as he scanned the room.

Only two creatures remained: the one bombarding his soldiers and another targeted by Kazaar and Alvan.

Caellum frowned at the absence of the other creatures, yet he finally understood when he glimpsed the glint of gold in Kazaar’s hand.

A roar sounded from the creature before him, who swiped at Caellum’s men, brushing them aside in one swoop. Caellum backed up, and Sadira stumbled behind him.

“Caellum,” Sadira said urgently. He raised his sword.

This was it: life or death. A moment to prove himself strong or weak—to be a saviour, or a man who needed saving.

Weak . His father’s voice flashed through his memories, but Caellum was not beaten by those words.

When Sadira spoke his name again, Caellum wished to prove his father wrong and show his worth, if only for the woman behind him.

He swung his sword, grazing the creature, who reached for him with its talons.

Behind, Soren charged towards the beast, her wild braids flowing behind her while blood oozed from a slash across her face.

Crimson dripped off her silver Garridon armour mixed with the creatures’ black blood.

Caellum could have sworn it sparkled as she moved beneath the candlelight.

Snarling, Soren’s deep green eyes glowed as she raised her sword.

The creature had not yet seen her; it growled and lowered onto its front claws, which appeared more like knuckles that crunched beneath its weight when it lowered its head to their eye-level.

Caellum’s eyes locked with the creature’s, and instead of hollow crevices, it had eyes of dark black.

The beast’s movements were specific and composed compared to its counterparts, and it seemed intent on reaching them.

Amber rings glowed in its irises, and Sadira gasped.

Soren's approach slowed, though her sword remained raised as she advanced.

Caellum angled his head to check for Sadira, which was his mistake.

In mere seconds, the creature rose and towered over them, its claws glistening as it knocked Caellum’s sword from his hand, sending it skating across the room.

Caellum shifted to shield Sadira, and hesitation crossed her sister's face .

Soren looked at the creature’s raised claws and met Caellum’s gaze. Her eyes flitted to Sadira behind him. Stepping back from the creature’s reach, Soren lowered her sword and called her wolves to her side.

“Soren!” Caellum screamed as the creature swung.

Soren disappeared as a wall of trees shot up before him, shattering the stone beneath his feet.

The wood splintered as the creature swung again, offering Caellum a split second to grab Sadira and lunge from the path of death.

Caellum fell atop her, peering into Sadira’s bright green eyes that glowed.

She had saved them. Him. She had saved him.

Caellum tried to catch his breath as he gazed down at Sadira beneath him and gulped at the flush in her cheeks.

Relief filled her eyes as she reached for his face, but upon realising his position, Caellum cleared his throat and rose, offering her a hand.

She clung to his chest while he searched for the creature, but it did not stand behind the pile of splintered wood.

Soren did. Her expression was unreadable as she stared at Caellum and Sadira, who, still embracing, stared right back.

This was war, and all three knew it. Soren had declared her intentions.

Anger brewed in Caellum’s chest as he thought of Soren’s willingness to sacrifice her sister’s life to secure the throne.

Turning, he looked for Elisara but found Kazaar instead, piercing the Sword of Sonos through the beast’s skull before him.

Alvan rose from the ground beside Kazaar, coated in a mixture of blood: red, black, and a shimmering liquid Caellum could not comprehend.

Kazaar offered his hand to Alvan and patted his back as he rose. Alvan grinned. They were nearly there, and only one creature remained. Alvan’s grin fell, and he shoved Kazaar aside.

“No!” Alvan screamed, the sound so raw it sent shivers up Caellum’s spine, emulating the panic and pain only heard about in stories.

Alvan made to run past Caellum and Sadira, but Kazaar grabbed him, locking his arm around his blood-spattered chest to keep him back.

“No!” Alvan screamed again. With four of the five creatures defeated, the room fell silent.

Sadira turned, the fabric of her gown catching against the shards of broken glass.

Her face paled. Caellum looked behind him and grabbed Sadira, guiding her back towards the others.

The creature had chosen a new target, redirected by Sadira’s defence.

It stood and faced them all. The creature panted heavily on its hind legs, and in the clutches of one clawed hand, poised perfectly around her neck, hanging mid-air and choking for breath, was Larelle.

“No,” Sadira breathed.

Tears pooled in Larelle’s gaze as the creature’s hold tightened, yet behind her eyes was a look of resolve and determination—a queen who accepted her fate. Larelle’s voice cracked as she spoke in forced breaths.

“I, Queen Larelle of Nerida…” Caellum pulled Sadira close as they edged towards the others who gathered before the creature in the centre of the room.

Elisara gripped Nyzaia’s arm, who frantically scanned their surroundings.

Following her lead, Caellum searched for a distraction and checked the gardens outside, hoping for a miracle of more arriving soldiers, to no avail.

There was no way out. “… declare, in witness of my fellow rulers.” Larelle gasped, and Caellum looked at Kazaar, who held Alvan back with one hand while gripping the Sword of Sonos in the other.

They needed to find a way for the creature to drop Larelle.

He looked at Elisara, who also explored the room.

Their eyes met as Larelle continued, “That upon my death—”

“No!” Alvan yelled again, struggling against Kazaar.

“Larelle, you are not dying!” The creature shifted on its feet and jerked its head in different directions, narrowing its amber-ringed eyes on each of them.

Larelle offered Alvan a sad smile, watching only him.

She struggled to open her mouth again but managed to force the words.

“That upon my death, Lord Alvan shall rule the realm of Nerida until my daughter is of age.” A tear fell down her cheek.

“Larelle, please!” Alvan whimpered. “PLEASE!” He screamed, frantically looking at everyone else in the room.

Slowly lowering into a crouch, Caellum’s eyes remained locked on Elisara’s as he reached for a sword in a dead soldier's hand and angled it in a way she would recognise. He jerked his head towards the creature and tapped his arm. Elisara nodded. Positioning the sword, Caellum prepared to throw it towards the creature’s arm, knowing Elisara would use her power to guide it.

“Look after her,” Larelle sobbed. Tears streamed down her face as her eyes stayed locked on Alvan. Sadira sobbed beside Caellum, her hand over her mouth. “She loves you as much as she would have loved her father.”

Caellum raised his arm while the creature angled it’s head at Alvan and threw the sword.

He saw the moment Elisara caught it on the breeze, but the creature saw it too.

With a shattering scream that matched Alvan’s, shards of glass rattled on the floor as the creature launched through the remains of the shattered ceiling with Larelle still in its clutches, disappearing into the darkness of the night.