Elizah made her way back to Jayden, standing with a soldier and flexing his fingers slightly.

“So, did they agree with your idea?” he asked her with a small yet hopeful glance.

“Yes. I managed to convince them enough, but I got some strange advice from Micah,” Elizah said thoughtfully.

“What was that?” Jayden asked curiously.

“He asked me to be wary of your mother, strangely like he noticed what she was doing,” Elizah said with a brow furrowed in thought. But she didn’t have much time to think further. There was the snapping down of chains on her wrists again. Elizah looked up to see the soldiers trying to drag Jayden and herself away from the council room.

They waited for a moment in the corridor where Noxaura stood waiting with a glare in her gaze.

“Well my son, it’s your turn with me. Would you be able to stand like your lov-,” Noxaura began.

“No.”

Noxaura rose an eyebrow at Elizah’s defiant voice.

“Who do you think you are?” Noxaura said with a raised brow, “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

“You will not lay a hand on him,” Elizah said as she raised her head to look Noxaura in the eye.

“Elizah---,” Jayden began, knowing that he could endure the pain that Noxaura could bring. He didn’t want Elizah to suffer again.

“No. As long as I live, I swore to protect you with my bloodbond and that I will,” Elizah answered without turning back.

“You’re scared inside aren’t you?” Noxaura asked with a short laugh.

“Don’t touch him.”

“I’m still his mother.”

“Either you take me. Or you have to kill me right here and then take him,” Elizah only glared. She was running on rage and fury. Her hand was curled up into a fist, and her blue eyes were ice-cold with defiance.

“You seriously are keen on death either way? I’m surprised,” Noxaura asked with a shrug.

Elizah didn’t move a muscle, and Jayden knew that arguing with the two women would be futile. Noxaura waited to see if Elizah would retort further.

“Liz—-,” Jayden tried again since Elizah had already faced enough pain.

Elizah turned momentarily before saying, “I made one promise to myself when we sealed the bloodbond. I swore that as long as I live, I will protect you from anyone I can. You are the face of the future of this island and the entirety of the Larkspear kingdom. You, and you alone have the strength to create a future of unity between magical folk and everyone else. I believe in you, Jayden Larkspear.”

Jayden was on the verge of kissing Elizah, but he was careful since Noxaura was standing and glaring down at the two of them.

“Well, I see you’ve made your point clear,” Noxaura said as she turned on her heel and whispered a command to the guards before strolling out into the corridors leading to the dungeons.

A moment of silence hung between them all, with the question being which one of them Noxaura had summoned for. Jayden reached for Elizah’s palm and squeezed it gently, and only smiled in concern at Elizah.

“You don’t have to do this,” Jayden said as they shared a glance.

“Consider it my thanks for everything you’ve done to help me all this time. I love you, Jayden. And I hope that never changes,” Elizah said as the soldiers took them down the corridor leading to the dungeons.

Jayden fought the urge to lash out in his fear and anger but instead just kissed Elizah carefully on her cheek.

“I love you too, my princess,” Jayden said softly as he saw her go to the inquisitorial chambers.

It was possibly going to be the end of the road for one of them.

There was a sharp tug on Elizah’s chains as she was dragged into the inquisitorial chambers, and no matter how much flame Jayden brought into his palms, there was nothing he could do to save his beloved.

Elizah watched Noxaura from the ground, where the guards threw her into the inquisitorial room.

“I’m quite surprised to see how determined you are,” Noxaura said as she turned to Elizah with her hands starting to fire up.

“I’d do anything for people I love,” Elizah said with a defiant look on her face.

“You’re quite different than I expected from you being Liran’s daughter,” Noxaura said and made her way behind Elizah.

“Is this about my father again?” Elizah asked, mildly surprised.

Noxaura passed as if she didn’t hear the question and illuminated her hands with flame.

“If the two of you are so proficient with your magic, then tell me, who was your teacher? “Noxaura knelt beside Elizah, and her blades of flame were so close to Elizah’s face that the heat radiating off them was extremely severe.

“Do you think I’d reveal the one person who actually chose to help us?” Elizah said as she glared.

“Fine. You chose on being stubborn. Two of us can play this game,” Noxaura said with menace in her voice and stuck her growing blade of flame into Elizah’s shoulder again.

Elizah let out a bloodcurling scream. They couldn’t bear the pain of flames burning her skin away.

“I don’t know her real name,” Elizah said and shouted as Noxaura retracted the blade from Elizah’s shoulder.

Elizah immediately clutched the wound that was spilling blood out rapidly, and her pain was starting to numb out into completely feeling nothing in her arm. It was limp, and no matter what Elizah tried to do, the arm was unmoving, cold and lifeless.

“What did you do to me?” Elizah asked hoarsely. She was almost falling with dizziness and agony passing through every part of her. She was sobbing in pain.

“One more word than required. You’ll lose a leg next until you die,” Noxaura said with a short laugh as she pushed her blade of flame into Elizah’s neck. It wasn’t deep, but there certainly was pain. She dragged her finger of flame around Elizah’s neck, and Elizah gritted her teeth to resist the urge to yell out at Noxaura.

“Where are the amulets?” Noxaura asked with her voice menacing.

Elizah was caught off guard for a moment, and she was undoubtedly confused. For a fact, Jade had never explained any amulets to the two of them.

“I don’t know what in spirit’s name you’re talking about,” Elizah managed in a small voice.

“You liar. Tell me what you know. You can’t feign ignorance about everything I ask. You ought to have a breaking point,” Noxaura pushed. The blade of flame had now made its way to Elizah’s cheekbone and stopped at the point.

“I really don’t know anything, please,” Elizah begged. This was her last resort. She had no other option.

“Then you’re of no use to me,” Noxaura said with a flick of her wrist. Her flames made a deep cut across Elizah’s cheek before Elizah screamed, and she fell flat to the ground.

Noxaura walked out to summon the guards before she walked off, utterly unfazed by everything she had just done. She was one step closer to victory and one step closer to reaching her dream of ultimate immortality.

Micah packed up his meagre belongings and helped his mother do the same. Roxanne wasn’t ready to leave the house that she had lived in for so long, and she had no idea where she would go.

“Need any assistance?” Micah heard a voice appear at the door and looked up to see his aunt Levi there.

“Aunt Levi, what are you doing here?” Micah asked with confusion and noticed that they looked different from the last time they had seen each other.

“I got word of what is happening, and I came here as soon as I could. I was at the trial this morning,” Levi said with a sigh.

“Oh,” Micah said, “Is there any way you can help her?”

Levi shook their head.

“I am only here to escort you out of the city. I know a place far from here. It’s where I usually stay. That is the safest place for the two of you,” Levi said and gestured to the small carriage outside the cottage.

“Thank you, Levi,” Roxanne said, and Levi embraced Roxanne gently.

“About Elizah, there is no use in worrying. She will be fine,” Levi said, and Micah gave them a curious look before walking to the carriage and putting all of his faith in Levi’s words.