Chapter 26

~Calea~

"You traitor!" Calea slaps Javall, "How could you do such a thing!" She screams at her former lover. This is why she left the Magic Society. They could be more ruthless than Dragons, and she found a purpose in Nivillia. Kamari.

When that girl looked into her eyes, she felt an instant bond, one compared to a mother. The haunting fact that she couldn't have children of her own made her all the more attached. "You're disgraceful!"

"Am I Calea!? Or is it you?!" Javall had escaped Nye's ruthless attack by the portal he created, but Calea knew where to find him. He stayed in the castle in the underdwelling. Javall's deadly green-eyed gaze made Calea's brows narrow, "You left the magic society for this?" He gestures to the castle, "You could have had so much more with me."

Calea shakes her head, "I would never be able to have a child with you! Your reign would die!" She shouts. Javall's lips were thin. "We could have had a surrogate. Have you not thought of that?"

She did. But maybe the problem wasn't the surrogate. Having a child with Javall would make her a permanent citizen forever. It wasn't something she wanted. "I did." Calea shakes her head. "But I did not want to stay in your Paldania; the magical community is corrupted, Javall!" Calea's tears stream down her face. "Kamari is all I have! And for all I know, you've killed the last thing I loved most in this world."

Javall's eyes turn glassy, "So you never loved me?" 

"Don't do that. Don't you dare make this about you!" She points her finger at him. "You and Browen are in this together, aren't you? What does Paldania get out of this merge?" Javall's jaw clenches. " It's none of your concern. And since you insist that you aren't part of my Kingdom and more so that you have no love for me, I suggest you leave."

"Fuck you!" She screams. "I've given my blood, my life, my tears to Paldania, and it has sucked my soul out of me." She pauses, then swallows hard, "And it has changed you. The man I used to love, he isn't you, not anymore."

Javall's knuckles turn white, "You should think about who you're alliance is, Calea. Because when Browen gets here, he'll ask me to point out those who still believe in Kamari's rule," he steps forward, hovering over Calea; and in a grave voice says " And I doubt he'd go easy on you." Calea stands her ground, although her body shakes in anger. "You would have me killed?" Javall stares at her, his eyes softening and deep longing within them.

"Marry me." 

Calea's face turns white, "What?"

"He won't touch you if you're my wife, my Queen." Javall grabs her shoulders. All I want, all I've ever wanted, is you. And I'm not going anywhere without you, Calea." Javall's eyes darken. "Even if I have you use drastic measures…"

This used to be the man she would do anything for, but somewhere along the line, he grew into someone she couldn't stand beside anymore. Everything in Paldania became chaotic, fueled by the need to be the most powerful Kingdom. And Calea wanted no part of it. She left, leaving no note, nothing. And the anchor Javall sent in his heart for her now felt lethal, toxic even.

"Don't tell me no, Calea." Javall's relentless gaze locks her in place, "I'll charm you into it if I have to." Calea shakes her head, "You are awful." Her voice cracks. Against Javall, her magic did nothing. Kamari had been pregnant when Javall stabbed her, and Calea didn't know if Dragons grew that fast, but she prayed to Kadea to work a miracle. Keeping herself alive would be the only way for her to help Kamari. And she would do it for her. Calea's love never faltered for Kamari, even when she found out about her mother's decision and on that dreaded night when she saw the effects of what her mother had done to her. Calea was still young when it happened, so it was hard for her to wrap her head around.

Calea had survived leaving Paldania. She had made a life here in Nivillia, attached herself to Kamari, and grew a bond with her. Calea didn't know she wanted to live if she didn't have either. She broke her heart and pride as she said, "I'll do it. I'll marry you." Calea wiped her tears. 

Javall lifts her chin to look at him. He shakes his head, "You will blood-bind to me." Calea's heart drops to her stomach, her eyes wide, dread making them slightly shake. "You never said I had to do that."

"I'm not stupid, Calea. Your love for Kamari could take you away from me. And I won't have that. I'll protect you, give you whatever you want within reason, as long as you bind yourself to me." Javall holds her face between his hands. Calea feels her freedom slip away. Javall could bring her back to Paldania. The blood-bind made it excruciating for her to be apart from him. Calea could die if she strayed too far or went somewhere he didn't want her to go. It would seal her fate. 

None of his options appealed to her. They sickened her, and she wanted no part in them, but for Nivilla's sake, she was the only one who could step in to save it. Calea refused to think Kamari couldn't survive. No, her husbands wouldn't let that happen. Especially Nye, and no matter how much she loathed him, she knew he would keep her safe and kill for her. That gave Calea peace, enough for her to go through with this, she grabs the dagger from Javall's hand, and cuts her palm. Javall takes it from her and does the same; she pinches her eyes closed as they seal their hands together, binding her fate to him as he chants. When he finishes, she snatches her hand away.

"Happy?" Calea wraps her arms around herself. Javall lays a hand on her cheek, and all she can do is slap him away. "As long as you cooperate with me. I will be."

Obedience. The word made her soul blaze with hate. The Magical Kingdom of Paldania thrived off of it. No one knew that more than her. "Browen will be here soon; he'll tell the people of Kamari's death at the hands of a traitor.

You. Calea thinks to herself.

"Paldania and Nivillia will rule as one; merging two powerful Kingdoms will make us unbeatable," Javall says with a sickening smile. He had gone mad, and Calea could see it in his eyes: the poison of Dark magic. It controlled him, not the other way around like people thought. Calea never messed with the stuff, it acted like a drug, the more they used the more they craved it. 

"You would trust Browen as King? He could have us both killed." Calea had known Browen since Kamari's father's reign. He treated her mother like rat shit. Javall smiles, "Browen knows what I can do to him, more or less what my Kingdom can do to him if he decides to have me killed."

Calea swallowed hard, she didn't know how she could help from the inside of Nivillia, but she wouldn't give up, she couldn't. Her last hope was if Kamari could come back and defeat Browen and Javall, and that would be no easy task. Two of Kamari's husbands were helpless to magic, but Aneth could fight it. And from what Calea had heard, Kamari and Aneth's bond wasn't strong enough. He had not challenged Nye or Koa for the lead of the pride.

She had to stay strong for Kamari's sake and hope that somehow she could rise up again. After all, a Dragonborn had the right to the throne, and no one else.

Please, for the sake of all I've given, let my sacrifices not be in vain…