I yelped as Danu jumped out of the window with me clutching his shirt. The heat and the redness of the outside world hit me like a rock. My eyes dried out of seething temperature. It was like war erupted in this serene kingdom. I would never believe Axel was dead. That wicked queen had to scheme some dark plans against him.
"Lend me your wings!"
Danu demanded, and before long, a huge pair of angel wings fluttered behind his back. I couldn't hold my astonishment. It was freaking angel wings! Feathery and pure white like snow. Danu was an angel dragon, the last descendant of his blood. Mind blowing! The feathers of an angel dragon looked fluffy but were as sharp as spears and as deadly as his talons. They were fireproof but could soften when the owner ordered them too.
"Queen, hold onto me tight," he warned me with a soft voice as it rumbled in his chest. He brought me to reality as his enchanting wings threatened to steal my consciousness again.
Before I could shower him with questions, Danu sliced the sky above and forced a yelp out of me. He engulfed me with his marvellous wings and shielded me from the dire scene. The pressure in my ears arose like something flooded inside them.
I lost all my strength as I nuzzled into his chest while the green-haired dragon flew and dodged some obstacles with ease.
The smell of the metal and burnt woods filled my nostrils as I tried my hardest to shook them. I felt as Danu bent his neck to check on me. The discomfort hit the pinnacle when I couldn't open my eyes. They watered due to burning heat and smoke.
I wanted to fight, cry, and fucking kill anyone who had caused the flames in my kingdom. In OUR kingdom. It was ruined. Only a thing that consoled me was that I knew about Axel's tremendous powers. He could reestablish the whole forest with a wave of his graceful hand.
I had no clue how many hours we had flown, but I sensed when Danu decreased his speed and started to decelerate.
"We are here, your majesty," he murmured against my head with a tenderness that left me awe-struck.
How could this ruthless warrior that fought and fled me simultaneously express so much gentleness?
Danu's ashy wings that had curtained me slowly started to uncover. I dared to flutter my lushes open.
Danu was simpering down at me. His eyes looked swollen and reddened. My warrior was depleted, trying his hardest to protect me. I felt useless even though I had manifested formidable powers.
"Can you walk, my lady?" His voice was more fragile as his attempts to hide his shaky hands didn't go unnoticed on me. A small plea flickered in his question, and I caught the hint in his dull eyes. Danu was exhausted but ready to carry me wherever I pleased.
I turned my head around, and my breath was caught in my throat as my aghast gaze landed on a massive group of people staring at me like injured puppies. It seemed we were in some kind of cave full of wounded citizens.
I faced Danu again and nodded softly as he warily lowered me to my feet. I was too ashamed to face my people.
"Danu, what happened?" At last, I dared to ask a question that tormented me this whole time.
Danu sighed and slid his hand in his green locks. Some of the shorter ones covered his eyes. The bags under them making them puffy. Danu was truly a bewitching man. He could charm any woman with his glorious looks that made any of his movements gracious.
"I think you know. My lady, we know everything."
My eyes widened at his statement, but I ordered myself to preserve a calm façade. Exactly how much did he know?
"Follow me, my lady," Danu placed his large hand on my lower back and instructed me through the crowd. People scrutinized me as they split into two to let us pass through them. I felt so vulnerable, especially in my transparent robe that poorly covered my now tanned body.
The teary eyes of children had me disturbed to an extent I felt like killing myself. What kind of monarch couldn't protect their people?
Danu wrapped his wings around us to create hindrance between me and the judging eyes of the harmed people that became victims of the atrocious war. I didn't dare to ask where were the rest of the population. I knew.
I didn't know for sure, but everything smelled of war. It was appalling.
At the end of the cave, there were instilled doors that led to different rooms. Danu guided me to the last one as I warily stepped inside. The room had a long table in the centre and some smaller ones for remedies and the poisons.
Danu pulled a chair out for me. Light orbs glimmered and shone above us.
As I took my place, I sighed with impatience. What the hell had broken upon us?
Danu leaned with his back on the bookshelf across me and crossed his arm on his broad chest. His eyes were dark and gloomy as they were directed to the floor.
"Yesterday, a wave of people approached the capital. That thing had intruded in our territory, and somehow we weren't informed."
His eyes were facing down while I bore into them, for early answeres. My questions flooding my mind.
"Axel, Ash, and Grey headed for the hotspot. Thanks to you, Axel started manifesting his abnormal powers. But it needs some time until he fully refills them. "
"I knew he was alive!" I jumped from my seat as longed, craved relief surged through me. Axel was alive! I breathed in deeply and shut my eyes as I slumped down in my chair. Smile dancing across my face as I couldn't suppress the delight I felt.
"We would have all been dead if he wasn't." Danu gritted his teeth at the last words, and his bottled-up pain and heartache for his friend slipped from his tremoring lips and glossy eyes. I was convinced he loved Axel just as much as I did. I still had to uncover all my husband's kindness gifted the people who admired him so much. I still had to grasp all of his deeds. Axel had to fucking live!
"Aren't other kingdoms supporting Axel?"
Danu sighed and shot me a simmering gaze. His nostrils flaring while his eyes told a dark story.
"Those fuc- bastards had sided their forces with that fu-evil shit!"
"How?" Don't fucking tell me Axel was fighting all alone!
"Every kingdom that creature had conquered joined it. Illusion or fear, but they will be executed. Sorry, Rebel-" His eyes softened in the last.
"So River kingdom too? Let those traitors burn."
Danu's eyes parted more while I glared at him without actually being mad at him.
They weren't my family anymore. These people: Axel, Grey, Ash, Harley, Fuliko, and Danu were. Wait.
"Where is Fuliko?" The little fox wouldn't survive on its own! What if Silver took advantage of Axel's absence and killed him too?
My eyes searched for answers in Danu's red ones. Suddenly, the wooden door creaked and stole my attention.
"Did someone call me?" I snapped my head to a little reddish thing that fearfully cropped up. His head slid from behind the door.
"Fuliko!" I jolted up and raced to the fox as I hoisted and hugged him. "Thanks, Lord, you're safe!"
Axel adored Fuliko, and so did everyone. He was a bunch of sunshine, sweets, and fluffy toys! He was only a person as pure as he looked.
Fuliko's eyes widened with surprise. His little paws hesitantly found their way on my shoulders.
The pink hearts appeared above his head and floated in the air as Fuliko's eyes were out of this world. I laughed hard, and Danu accompanied me. Fuliko, the master of emotional animations!
"Finished treating our people?" Danu approached us and patted the fox. He nodded and grinned with pride.
"Rebel, he will never say it to ya, but he wants to be set down," Danu informed me with a warm smile he offered Fuliko.
"No, no," Fuliko countered. If he wasn't this red, we would detect a blush on his cute cheeks. He was polite not to hurt my feelings. Aw!
"Oh!" Shame crept to me as I realized Fuliko was small in size, not in age. I placed him carefully and apologized, "I'm sorry, Fuliko."
"No, no," Fuliko awkwardly waved his hands, "Queen shouldn't apologize to a servant like me."
I couldn't help but smile at his cuteness. I would burst from it!
"From now on," I addressed both of them, "Call me Rebel when we are alone. And don't give me that awkward look, Fuliko."
"Order is an order," Danu said and gestured for us to sit.
I took my previous place while they settled across me. Fuliko shifted in his seat uncomfortably as Danu stared at me thoughtfully. Past amusement wiped off his face.
"Rebel, I already mentioned-"
"Yes," my jaw clenched, "You know everything." Now I was reading his mind.