Rara pulled tight on the cloak wrapped around her shoulders. With each step, the earth was scorched under her feet.
How dare this spirit request her like this. She thought of little Merrit's face. She'd grown fond of the children Ni had with Lage. Worse Ni's face, a grimace of agony.
This would end here and now.
She approached the clearing making no effort to be quiet.
"I knew you'd come," The voice sounded relaxed.
Rara gritted her teeth, "What do you want?"
"I thought I'd made myself clear," He mused.
Rara felt him put a hand on her back and she spun around. Instantly both of her hands ignited with flames.
"You're going to regret everything you've done to us!" She screamed. She threw fire at him over and over again. To her despair, it did not make a single burn on him.
"Feeling feisty today?" He grinned.
"No," She turned away, "I am not feisty," She spun back around to face him, "You'll never touch my family again!"
He flicked some ash toward her feet, "Only if I get what I want."
"What do you want?" Rara spat.
"You," He smirked, "As my wife."
"You'll never get that, try again," She felt more and more anger building up.
"If you walk away Rara then I will tell everyone how you tricked Ni," Ilor promised.
Rara froze, "How did you know about Oribella."
Ilor just smiled.
"Ni loves her and will love her the same! I will never be yours." Rara screamed.
"How about this then," Ilor no longer looked friendly, "I will burn each of your nieces and nephews one by one."
That's when Rara saw Riva, Nerio and Coret.
"I will start with these three and then I will go finish off the rest," He smiled, "Then I will get started on Ni and Kithel."
"YOU MONSTER," Rara roared. She stomped the ground sending a shockwave. He fell but was back up on his feet. Rara charged him fire spewing from the ground around her.
He raised his hands and sent fire her way.
It was all useless, they could not hurt each other with fire. Rara realized who could get hurt though.
"Aunty Rara! Help!" Riva screamed.
The lava was pooling on the ground.
"So what will it be Heir of the Earth?" Ilor said.
Rara looked between the children and him.
"Let them go," She said.
"So you'll be mine?"
"Just let them go!" She was pleading now.
The scene seemed to calm down as Ilor released the three shaking children. They rushed into Rara's arms.
"Run back home to the castle," She instructed, "Tell Lage and Kinntho what has happened."
As she watched the three children sprint off Ilor slid a hand through her hair.
"We are destine to be the most powerful couple ever to live," He whispered. "You wanted to be Queen, while now you will be."
Tears fell from Rara's eyes.
"I will never fully be yours," She whispered.