Dark mind

"She will be perfectly fine. Do not worry. Everything will be just fine. She will wake up. Just breathe In and out." Ashton repeated each of his words twice to Cyrus, who was sitting next to him and drinking a cup of hot tea without saying anything.

They were in the castle's enormous sitting room, which was lavishly designed and comfortable with a large fire place that gave the room warmth.

Hearing no reply from Cyrus, Ashton turned to him frowning. "Are you serious? You are not worried about you parrot.. I mean wife?" He didn't know why he was surprised, he was supposed to be used to Cyrus' personality.

"Why should I? She won't die," Cyrus spoke flatly and placed the cup on its saucer which was on a small table next to him.

"Yes... But still, she is your wife." Ashton said trying to make a point.

Cyrus glared at him. "Do not poke your nose where it's not supposed to be Ashton Petrov," He hissed and Ashton nodded rapidly.

"Are you going to kill her?" He asked, his voice and expression serious.

"Yes," Cyrus replied nonchalantly.

"Won't you think about the rift it will cause between you, Charlotte and Sergio?" Ashton asked curiously.

"I do not care." Cyrus scoffed and stood up.

"I have been poisoned countless times by those I trust and I have killed them all." He ended his words with a small chuckle then asked, "What makes Isabella any difference?"

"We all know she is in love with you. You suddenly getting married has gotten to her for sure." Ashton said and shook his head in disbelief.

To him, Isabella had made a very dumb move by wanting to kill Sage and worst of all, in front of Cyrus.

Jealousy was capable of making beings think so low.

"Is it a good idea to have Mirabella treat your parrot?" Ashton asked and also stood up.

"Hm. She won't do anything even though she wants to." Cyrus replied, sighed deeply rubbing his forehead then asked, "How are my guardians?"

"Safe and healthy. They will return tonight." Ashton replied.

Ever since Ashton returned back to the castle, Ares, Venus and Snowflake had been away because Cyrus had told them all to stay away for a while, from Sage.

"Cyrus!" A familiar female voice suddenly called, voice filled with pain and fear.

Cyrus eyes narrowed at the entrance of the room seeing Charlotte who had red puffy eyes as a sign that she had been crying.

She ran towards him hurriedly and immediately got on her knees wanting to plead to him for her daughter's life but Cyrus, walked around her and out of the room without saying a word to her.

Ashton was about to bust into laughter seeing how dejected Charlotte looked after Cyrus harshly ignored her but he controlled himself and walked away, out of the room.

He caught up to Cyrus and began walking behind him, expecting him to mention the important upcoming meetings he had, but it appeared that Cyrus had something much more important to do.

The hallway was dark, quiet, depressing, and unusually cold, as if they were outside.

Ashton squinted at Cyrus's shifting shadow which was much more darker than his.

It was odd even for Cyrus.

"What is..." He wanted to ask but Cyrus interrupted him.

"I am leaving the castle for some weeks." Cyrus unexpectedly informed.

"What?! Not at this crucial period your majesty!" He exclaimed in shock and appeared in front of Cyrus with his head bowed.

"My guardians will come with us." Cyrus uttered calmly.

"Us?" Ashton's brows rose up in surprise.

Cyrus maintained his dull expression and Ashton gasped. "Your parrot! But she looks sick and the mark of.."

He blinked, felt his back hit the wall and Cyrus' cold grip around his neck before he could finish his words.

Rage and suspicion were visible into those ice blue eyes of Cyrus and his cold grip tightened around Ashton's neck making him believe that he was going to go to hell that moment.

"How do you know about the mark?" Cyrus interrogated sternly.

Ashton's eyes moved around rapidly then focused on Cyrus. "I don't know, I just sensed it." He lied.

Cyrus increased his grip and Ashton bursted out coughing and gasping for air. "Your shadow and the increasing cold!" He shouted.

Cyrus's brows rose up, his eyes blazed with silver and he looked at his shadow on the wall. "Hm?" He titled his head to the side moving his gaze to Ashton's shadow which made him realize that Ashton was right.

"How does that prove that I marked her?" He asked and released Ashton's neck.

"The eternal winter drives on your emotions.. most times, and the mark of lust is not only going to affect her but you." Ashton explained rubbing his sore neck in discomfort. "You shouldn't have..."

"Do not get involved." Cyrus interrupted with a snap and walked away.

Ashton groaned in pain as he rubbed his neck that felt frozen. The ice dragon that he served was a very unpredictable being. Ashton was aware that the fire mage detested Cyrus and he was also sure that Cyrus knew the consequences of creating the mark of lust.

"What on hell is going on in that dark mind of his?" Ashton muttered to himself.

...

"You are not allowed to go in your grace," A deep manly voice was heard.

"I just want to see her!" Charlotte shouted with a commanding tone.

Sage tried to open her eyes, but she couldn't. She could barely move her body but managed to raise her hand, which was immediately grasped by someone.

Out of impulse, a large flare appeared above her palm and she heard Mirabella gasp.

"It is Mirabella, my queen." Mirabella informed and released Sage's hand.

The flare above her palm vanished and she sighed deeply.

Her powers were useless to Cyrus who could easily avoid her attacks and defend himself effortlessy. He was a pain in the neck.

Sage was trying her best not to regret her decision of getting married to Cyrus in order kill him. She was now stuck with a mark that would not go away and involved in matters that were linked to him.

Isabella had tried to kill her... Jealousy? Sage was enraged.

She struggled to open her eyes and let out a loud grunt until she saw a yellow light. She closed her eyes and inhaled slowly, slowly opening them again, her vision blurry.

"You will be okay." Blurry Mirabella spoke with assurance.

"Of course I will." Sarcasm filled her voice. Even though the poison was gone from her system, the mark of lust was draining her energy.

Her vision finally cleared, and she could see Mirabella and the rest of the room clearly.

"Where is Cyrus?" She asked Mirabella sternly.

Mirabella was about to reply when,

"Let me see her!" Charlotte screamed at the guards in front of the room's entrance.

"You are not allowed to see her." One of the guards said calmly.

"Do not let us use force on you." The other guard growled.

Hearing all this, Sage got off the bed and walked towards the direction of the room's entrance.

Mirabella grabbed her arm making her halt and said, "Don't go."

"Why?" Sage asked confused.

"My sister poisoned you, Cyrus is going to kill her and mother is in a very emotional state at the moment." Mirabella replied and Sage's eyes widened in shock.