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Prince Adrian

Adrian

Iryen’s viciousness stunned me into silence.

The way she commanded Ithra’s body—forced her to deliver each agonizing slice to Draven—was nothing short of divine carnage. It was graceful in the most violent way, a symphony of vengeance played with unflinching precision.

And, fuck , it chilled me.

Not just because of what she did.

Because I’d felt it before.

The same effortless domination, the same icy grip tightening around my mind the day she bent me to her will without even blinking. The memory shot like ice down my spine, sharp and familiar. But this—this wasn’t the same girl.

She wasn’t my princess anymore.

Not just the rightful queen of Aetheria. No. She was something more .

A goddess.

A vengeful , blood-soaked goddess cloaked in wrath and grief and unrelenting fury.

I couldn’t look away. Wouldn’t even if I could. There was something feral about her power, something raw and old. And it stirred every part of me—lust, awe, reverence, dread. It was like watching a storm take form in a woman’s body, beautiful and devastating all at once.

Though beneath the thrill and pride, unease twisted inside me.

Could this consume her? Could she wield this darkness for too long before it started wielding her?

I’d seen what vengeance did. How it hollowed you out and left you bleeding from the inside.

I saw it in her eyes, the glint of something not entirely hers.

A madness whispering behind the lull. If she let it keep whispering, it wouldn’t just be Draven who shattered.

It’d be her. My Woman. My mate.

And that , I couldn’t allow.

No matter how magnificent or terrifying she became, no matter how deeply she reveled in this moment of righteous fury, I wouldn’t let her lose herself to it.

As much as I admired her strength, her sheer command over this chaos, I was here to protect her, not just her body, but her soul.

I could tear kingdoms apart, drain oceans, annihilate everything that breathed, but I couldn’t let her destroy herself .

Not for them.

Not for justice.

Not even for revenge.

So I warned her.

Begged her, almost. Quietly. In my mind, in my soul. Not out loud. No one could hear the way I ached for her to stop.

“Don’t let that bastard take any more from you, love. Don’t let this be the price.”

And she heard me—not just with her ears, but with the thread that bound our souls—she paused. She pulled herself back from the abyss.

She didn’t break. She chose to pull back from the edge.

But not before making sure her mark seared into the bones of the guilty.

First, she unraveled Ithra’s mind, layer by fragile layer, until nothing but a hollow echo remained behind those wide, terrified eyes.

Then, with her father’s trident in hand, she drove it straight through Draven’s chest. Clean. Final. Absolute.

And at that moment, I saw her. Truly saw her.

Not a girl.

Not a queen.

Not even the woman I fell for.

But a predator basking in the final, exquisite breath of her prey.

A siren born of rage and sorrow, carved from sea-foam and ice, dark and divine.

The dangerous, alluring creature whispered in legends and feared by men.

I felt pride swell in my chest. She had avenged her parents, delivered retribution in a way only she could.

And, fuck me, I loved nothing more.

She had avenged them.

Her parents.

Her bloodline. Her kingdom.

She had done what no one else could.

For a heartbeat, I let myself believe this was over.

But the ocean doesn’t grant peace so easily.

I turned my head—just for a second—watching the court in my periphery when it happened.

Shards of ice ripped through the water. Fast. Precise.

Cruel. They buried into her skin like knives.

Her body jerked. Her mouth opened in a silent gasp.

Crimson bloomed like petals in the water, and I smelled it instantly—iron and agony.

And then—her eyes. Those bright, stubborn emeralds locked on mine… then flicked over my shoulder.

No .

I didn’t think. Didn’t breathe. I just moved. Spun. And saw Thalor. That smug, rotting bastard. Grinning.

A growl tore from my chest. It was low, guttural—something not entirely human. My rage snapped the leash I didn’t even know I’d been holding. And before I could even register what I’d done, a golden whip of lightning crackled from my palm, slicing through the water like judgment itself.

One clean strike.

His head hit the floor before his body realized it was dead.

The traitors have fallen. And all I felt was fury.

But she—

My head whipped back. She was falling too.

Her eyes—fading. Her skin—going pale. My pulse roared in my ears, louder than any painful cry I’d ever screamed. She collapsed just as I reached her, cradling her delicate form in my arms.

I caught her just before she hit the ground, cradling her fragile form against my chest. Her blood swirled between us. Her breath faltered against my skin. I held her tighter than I thought possible, like I could force the life back into her with the strength of my arms alone.

No. No, no, no.

Not like this.

Not now.

“Don’t you fucking leave me, Iryen.” I whispered, my forehead resting against hers as I cradled her in my arms. Cold fear wrapped around my ribs like a vise.

“You are mine. My mate. My queen. My reason. And I will not survive this world without you in it.”

I can’t lose her. Not like this. Not now.

“Lead me to her room,” I barked, my voice sharper than intended. The panic clawing at my chest made it hard to sound anything but desperate. Sienna, though not directly addressed, answered without hesitation. “I need a healer.”

“Follow me,” she said, her voice quick and controlled despite the urgency. She turned to Kieran, already moving. “Call the royal healer and make sure no one sees you.” Without a word, Kieran vanished down the hallway.

As I carried Iryen in my arms, her fragile form pressed against me. The crimson staining her pale skin burned into my mind, a haunting image I couldn’t shake. My thoughts were a tangle of panic, fury and guilt.

I should’ve killed him sooner.

I should’ve been faster.

I should’ve shielded her.

I should’ve fucking known.

Following Sienna through the maze of corridors, an ornate golden double door with delicate wavelike patterns appeared. Every step felt like an eternity, the oppressive silence pierced only by our hurried movements and the faint, ragged sound of her breathing.

She couldn’t slip away from me. I wouldn’t let her.

Sienna pushed the doors open, and without hesitation, I rushed inside.

The room’s golden glow was a blur as I moved to the bed at its center, carefully laying Iryen down sideways with her back to the balcony.

The vibrant emerald sheets contrasted starkly with the shards of ice and blood streaking her skin, the sight carving itself into my soul.

I sank beside her, hands clenched so tight with hers I felt the bones grind.

“Come back to me, my love. Please.”

I didn’t care how it sounded. Begging wasn’t beneath me, not for her. Never for her.

I’d seen her break before. But this? Watching her fall like that? Watching the light drain from her eyes, the blood seep from her skin— gods , I could still taste it in the water.

I never truly believed in deities, but now I fucking beg whoever exists above—her goddess—anything to prolong her time with me.

If she died…

No.

I wouldn’t survive it.

I need her. I can’t live without her.

I won’t.

If today is the day, she draws her last breath—it is also mine.

“I won’t let you leave me again, sweetheart.

” My voice came out in a low, broken rasp.

Panic laced every word, despite my effort to sound steady.

I leaned closer, brushing a strand of blood-matted hair from her face.

The silvery strands now coated crimson splinters in my chest in silence. A deep ache that leaves my soul hollow.

“I swear to God,” I whispered, my chest tightening as I stared at her pale features, “I’ll hunt you down through eternity if you give up on me.” The words hung between us, a desperate plea and a vow all at once.

Kieran doesn’t take long to rush inside, followed by two other sirens. Their curled brown hair framed identical ebony faces, and onyx eyes gleamed with focus. Everything about them mirrored, down to the flowing white tunics to their green tails.

Twins.

Instinctively, I moved, positioning myself between them and Iryen, hands raised, ready for any attack they might attempt.

I was losing my mind. Restless. Agitated.

Shaking with something I couldn’t name. It scraped against my bones like broken glass and fire.

I couldn’t sit still. Couldn’t breathe right.

My skin itched from the inside out, like my soul was trying to crawl out of me just to get to hers.

My heart hammered against my ribs, too fast, too loud, like it was trying to crack open my chest and escape the panic swelling inside.

Everything hurt.

Not just emotionally. Physically.

My muscles ached with the strain of holding it together, of keeping my power from lashing out in every direction.

Lightning snapped at my fingertips like it wanted blood.

My jaw clenched so tight I swore I heard something crack.

But I didn’t care. Pain was a welcome distraction from the worst kind— the not knowing .

“Those are the royal healers, Adrian,” Sienna said quickly, gesturing toward the pair. “Alyssa and Lina.”

I let the tension ease from my shoulders, though not entirely. Nodding in acknowledgment, I kept my guard up. Trust wasn’t something I could afford right now, not when Iryen’s life hung in the balance.