I woke up to realize I was in my room. I felt filled up with more energy than I knew what to do with.
I recalled what happened last night and dwelled on the shadow of the terrifying beast I had seen behind the King before I passed out.
The beast looked exactly like the tattoo I had seen sprawled out on his back but just like the life version. It was made entirely of whips of smoke and looked hollow.
The King's eyes had looked so different, she could feel the raw power seeping out of them. It matched the description of how the now-extinct deities looked, ''He can't be a deity, they all perished centuries ago' I thought.
But he felt so familiar…like I knew him…" My trail of thought was cut off as Ava burst into the room looking as happy as usual.
"What do I have on my agenda today?" I questioned as I walked towards her.
"Princess Lyra…you have a large bruise, no it's a mate mark on your neck." Ava slowly pointed out, looking shocked.
"I rushed to the floor-length dressing mirror to take a look. "The heavens! You have to find a way to cover this up, Ava!" I panicked.
"Did you find your mate, my Princess? Finding one's mate is a good thing you don't need to hide it" Ava lectured excitedly but my face only turned even whiter.
I walked slowly to her and gripped her shoulders firmly "The mating mark stays between you and I. And you will cover it up for me." I said firmly as I stared blankly into her eyes, never leaving her until she nodded in affirmation.
"Now what are we doing today?" I questioned as I plopped down on the dressing chair.
"There is a one-round fighting tournament today. If you are lucky you only get to fight one opponent." Ava replied, already back to her cheerful mood.
"Let's get ready then," I replied before heading to the bath.
Ava had to go out and get me a different armor as what I came with was not going to hide the mate mark.
I stood in front of the mirror staring at the body-hugging warrior armor. "People are going to laugh at me, have you ever seen a fairy dressed up in a body suit for battle? Where are my wings going to branch out from?"
"This is all I could get my hands on in such a short time my Princess," Ava said hopping from one foot to the other. "Or you could put on your fairy suit and we would find a matching scarf to wound around your neck." She suggested.
"Let's do that then." I agreed. The last combo ended up being better and we both made our way down for breakfast, which the King didn't show up for before heading underground, where the tournament was to take place.
The stadium was filled up and I recognized some high-ranking members from different clans they were probably out to spot talents. I noticed those from the Fairy clan and threw a sparkle flower their way but they only frowned and looked away.
I chuckled, I always loved teasing them. Ava led me forward to where I would be sitting.
It didn't take long for battle eggs to be broken and the line of fights to be arranged. My battle with a bear clan was very far away into the day and I sighed.
I soon noticed where the King was seated up above us all and I couldn't help but feed my eyes on how perfect he was and time seemed to fly.
The King could feel her intense gaze on him but he didn't look her way to acknowledge her presence.
The sun soon came up in the sky and he finally relaxed a bit. He had noticed how strong Lyra became after drinking his blood last night, it had taken a little more strength than normal to break free from her last night.
He had carefully planned for her battle to take place at noon, so the sun could weaken her. He even arranged for her to fight with someone from the bear clan, so her display of strength wouldn't be noticed.
The last thing he needed now was putting her in the spotlight even though he could force them to keep shut the darker forces wouldn't as fairies weren't known for their strength and he was still trying to figure out just what exactly she was.
I was already feeling tired and sleepy when I heard my name being called to the stage.
I was sweating buckets before I even got to the stage but I still remembered to secure the scarf around my neck before the referee gave the signal to battle.
After my battle with the heir from the bear clan where I had lost woefully and that annoyed me, I couldn't understand what exactly was going on with me. I felt so exhausted that I hurried out first when the announcement of the winners was going on to go take a rest in my room.
I hadn't even rested for long when Ava came to get me for dinner, I would have loved to skip but the fear of hunger got me up.
At the dining, I was seated across from the King, and my eyes were glued to him as I ate but he didn't even look my way. "Was he avoiding me?' I thought and felt a prang of pain in my chest.
My eyes dropped down to state at his slightly exposed chest. He was putting on a high-collared vest so I wasn't able to have a view of his neck.
I soon noticed the King standing up and excusing himself. I waited a bit before following suit, I felt people's questioning gaze on me but I couldn't care less.
I walked down the hallway wondering where he disappeared and even tried catching his scent as I rounded the corner.
I opened my mouth to scream as a large palm clasped firmly over my mouth and pulled me behind a statue. A secret passage I thought as I saw the entrance close behind me.