Chapter 210: Chapter 210 Blood and Tides
Phoebe’s POV
I locked eyes with the intruder, refusing to blink as I watched the creature advance toward me.
The beast moved deliberately, confident I couldn’t call for help.
I scanned the room desperately, searching for anything to use as a weapon, though I knew my odds of surviving a direct confrontation were practically nonexistent.
My only shot at making it out alive was getting Samuel and Justin’ attention—they were positioned just outside my door.
But how could I reach them?
I slipped out of bed, backing away from the beast while edging toward the flower vase.
The moment it lunged at me, I hurled the vase and bolted for the bathroom.
I slammed the door shut just as the creature reached me and turned the lock.
From the other side, I heard Samuel and Justin shouting my name after the crash.
"My queen! Are you okay? What’s happening in there?!"
Samuel’s voice cracked with worry, and when another loud crash echoed through the room, his patience snapped. "I’m coming in!" he declared.
Soon after, the sounds of battle erupted from my bedroom as Samuel and Justin engaged the intruder.
The vicious snarls and furious roars made me shake uncontrollably. I pressed my back against the door, wrapping my arms around myself, praying the fight would end soon.
I clung to hope that Samuel and Justin would emerge victorious—after all, they had the numbers advantage.
Then I heard it—a thunderous howl of agony. Even through the door, I could tell the beast was suffering immense pain.
But which beast? The intruder? Samuel? Or Justin?
——
Joe cradled Upton’s lifeless form, tears streaming down his face as he mourned his twin. He doubled over and released a heartbroken roar.
Upton’s body continued bleeding out where one of the royal warriors had struck a fatal blow. A crimson pool spread beneath him, his healing powers no match for the mortal wound.
"No! No! NO! NOT MY BROTHER!" Joe’s sobs echoed across the battlefield, though Upton wasn’t the only fallen warrior.
Fiona sat motionless on the sand, stunned by the carnage surrounding her. The slaughter was overwhelming.
They had to move fast before reinforcements arrived.
This desperate fight for survival had cost them dearly, but they’d managed to eliminate all the royal warriors sent after them. Still, they couldn’t survive another assault if backup came.
Fiona walked toward Reginald, who stood frozen, staring at the setting sun. He remained perfectly still, having just watched his mother die protecting him.
’Take care of your mate, take care of your child.’
Those were Tiara’s final words through their mindlink before the light faded from her eyes.
She’d died never knowing the child in Fiona’s womb wasn’t even Reginald’s.
But Reginald couldn’t retrieve her body—they’d been in the thick of battle. He hadn’t even gotten one last embrace because they’d needed to move quickly, splitting up the royal warriors to create a chance for survival.
"Reginald..." Fiona approached him from behind, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her cheek to his back. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for your loss."
Reginald glanced down at Fiona’s arms encircling him.
He felt like karma had caught up with him for what he’d done to Draven. He’d lied to Fiona about burying her brother, and now he couldn’t even hold his mother one final time.
Reginald covered her hands with his. "We’ll get revenge for your father, your brother, and every warrior who died here. We’ll survive this and return to destroy the king."
Fiona tightened her hold on him. "We’ll avenge your mother too."
The sun disappeared, painting the sky in brilliant shades of red—the most beautiful sight Fiona had witnessed during these months as a fugitive.
"Move out now! Get up! We need to reach that ship if you want to live!" Royal Beta Allen barked, urging them to abandon the bodies and flee.
Without time for proper burials, they carried their fallen to the sea and let the ocean claim them.
Joe stood in silence, watching the waves carry away his twin brother’s body.
He let the water soak his legs as he whispered a prayer for his brother’s peaceful passage to the afterlife.
’We’ll meet again, brother... we’ll meet again.’
He clenched his fists and turned to leave.
The others followed suit after watching the sea take their fallen comrades.
In the distance, their ship waited—their only escape route from this kingdom to reach Valerium.
The port was a short distance on foot, but shifting into their beast forms would be faster, despite their exhaustion making it difficult to maintain the transformation. They couldn’t afford any more delays.
Alpha Sterling approached Reginald, his voice dripping with venom.
"This whole disaster happened because of your sister. Your sister who led those royal warriors straight to us. I’ll kill her the first chance I get, and I don’t care what you think. I’ll kill you too if you try to stop me."
Reginald met Alpha Sterling’s gaze with ice-cold eyes, his voice turning dangerously dark. "I won’t stop you. Do whatever you want with her. She’d better pray she never crosses my path again." He grabbed Fiona’s hand and ordered her to shift.
Both transformed into their beasts and raced toward the waiting ship.
