{The Claim From Heaven And Hell}
In the privacy of Azriel's chambers, Luke worked quickly.
"Her body isn't used to the power of your scent... It can't handle it," Luke said.
"What do we do?" Charles asked, terrified for his brother.
Luke gave a faint smile. "Your Majesty, accept her."
Azriel was stunned. "You want Azriel to claim her? Do you know what you ask of him? He's half demon, half human..." Rose protested.
"If he doesn't, she dies here and now," Luke said plainly.
"She'll suffer if I do this," Azriel said, the darkness within him already reaching for her.
"And she'll die if you don't," Luke countered.
"Azriel..." Charles voice pleaded.
"She would hate him if she finds out about this," Rose argued.
"What she doesn't know wouldn't kill her," Luke said.
Azriel pondered the risks. "If he claims her, what would happen to the competition?" Rose asked.
"Well, the competition continues, but once it ends, His Majesty must marry her," Luke said.
"No, no, no, no I will not... I can't marry her," Azriel protested.
"If she dies now, you will be alone forever because the gods don't give second chances," Luke warned.
"Don't let her die," Charles said.
"Dozens of girls have died for the past few weeks, and you're worried about this insignificant girl?" Azriel asked.
"Because this insignificant girl is your ticket to freedom," Luke said.
"We aren't asking you to love her, we just want you to save her life."
Azriel paced, a man at mental war with his demons.
"But it takes two people to accept the claim."
"Yes, but this case is different," Luke said.
"I'd like to know if she could mouth the words," Rose said, walking to Anastasia.
"Guinevere, can you hear me?" Rose asked.
"Hot... I feel hot... My body," Anastasia mumbled weakly.
"Can you repeat after me?" Rose said.
"Yea," Anastasia said weakly.
Luke began the ancient ceremony. "I, Guinevere, take Emperor Azriel as my mate," Rose said. Anastasia repeated after Rose.
"I claim him as mine... He belongs to me and I to him. Let heaven and hell bear me witness," Anastasia replied with a shaky breath.
Azriel, the dark Emperor, said his vow, binding them in an eternal, dangerous pact. A bright light glowed from the both of them.
"Behold the beauty of the unknown... The genuine union made by the gods themselves. This is a claim that both heaven and hell shall bless. A claim that can never be undone," Luke announced.
Anastasia yelled from the pain. Azriel just stood, unbothered by the pain he felt, only worried about her.
He held her hand firmly to assure her that he was here. When it was over, Luke slit Anastasia's wrist and gave her blood to Azriel to drink.
Azriel did the same, giving his dark blood to Anastasia to drink.
"Two souls becoming one... One heart, one mind, one body," Luke said.
The ceremony was over, and Anastasia's breathing became stable. Azriel sat on the bed beside her, unable to believe what just happened.
He was married to this girl before heaven and hell, before the gods and hell's overlords. Her life would now be in constant danger.
"She needs at least one week rest; her body needs to recover fully before she can exercise it again," Luke said. Charles followed Luke outside.
Rose watched Azriel in awe, the way he was holding her hand as if it wasn't the first time.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Rose asked. Azriel remained silent.
"What do you plan to do about the competition? You know you can't eliminate the main event," Rose said.
"She mustn't know about this... No one must know about this," Azriel said.
"Why?" Rose asked.
"I have enemies in both heaven, hell, and earth. They won't hesitate to hurt her just to get back at me. So I have to do the reasonable thing by keeping her out of this," Azriel said.
"I understand. Would you take her back to her room?" Rose asked.
"No, she'll have to stay here until she finishes her treatments. Also, her maid can come help her when she's awake," Azriel said.
Anastasia slowly opened her eyes. "This isn't my room," she whispered to herself.
"You're awake." Azriel's voice echoed in the room. He stood up from the chair and closed the distance between them.
"What am I doing in the Emperor's room again?" she asked. Azriel stood close to her, keeping a safe distance.
"Did I sleepwalk into your room again, Your Grace?"
"How are you feeling?" Azriel asked.
"Like my body hasn't been used for days." Anastasia tried to sit up straight.
Azriel was by her side in an instant, gently placing his hands on her back and adjusting a pillow for her.
Anastasia felt that warm, fuzzy feeling in her chest again.
"That's because you have been asleep for three days," Azriel stepped away as he replied.
"What?" Anastasia's voice was filled with fear and disbelief.
"Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?" Azriel asked. Anastasia shook her head.
"I'll send for Luke to come check your condition."
Anastasia held his hand, stopping him. "Your Grace, I don't want to see anyone for now... My brain hasn't processed the information yet."
Azriel sighed in exhaustion. "Alright, I'll tell him to wait a little longer."
"Stay with me," Anastasia couldn't stop the words from coming out.
Azriel looked at Anastasia, then to their hands joined together.
Anastasia quickly withdrew her hands. "I... I'm sorry, Your Grace," she muttered.
Azriel placed his hand on her hair, ruffling it slightly. Anastasia's body tensed up, and Azriel pulled away.
"It's alright, I'll stay." He pulled a chair close to the bed.
The air was filled with unspoken tension. Anastasia stared at the ceiling to break the suffocating silence.
"What happened to me? I would like to know everything," she said.
"The night we searched for Adeline, you fell off a cliff. I saved you just before you fell to your death. The next day you fainted; the wizard said it's because you've been exhausting yourself. Perhaps you've been straining yourself for a while because your vitamins are low," Azriel lied, protecting her from the dark truth of their bond.
"How is Adeline? Is she alright?" Anastasia asked in concern.
"She's fine; she has been waiting anxiously for you to wake up. She keeps saying it's all her fault," Azriel said.
"But it wasn't her fault, I was the one who pushed her away when I needed her the most," Anastasia said, tears falling.
Azriel used his fingers to gently brush the tears away. "She understands that now," was all Azriel could say.
"Why did you save me?" Anastasia asked. Azriel's fingers paused.
"Because Adeline would be hurt if you didn't survive, and I can't let that happen," Azriel said.
"No one has ever saved me before. It feels good and terrifying at the same time. I wish I could be saved like this in the future," Anastasia said with a weak smile.
"I'll protect you from now on," Azriel said, his promise a dark vow.
"Your Grace, there's no need to waste your time on an insignificant girl like me," Anastasia said casually.
That word insignificant stung Azriel more than it should.
"I promise I'll protect you with my last breath," Azriel cupped her cheeks and kissed her on the head.
He slowly stepped away, realizing what he had done.
"Rest now, don't stress yourself for now." Azriel sat back on the chair.
"Why am I in your room?"
"We found you in the servants' building; you collapsed on the ground. The wizard said it's faster if I brought you here for treatment. If I had taken you to your room, you might not have survived," Azriel said.
"Thank you, Your Grace," Anastasia said, their eyes meeting again, the magnetic pull intensifying until the door flew open, causing them to snap back to reality.
"She's awake!" Charles yelled.
"What is wrong with you, Charles? Can't you knock? What if she was naked in here?" Azriel asked, a possessive growl in his voice that sealed their dark, shared destiny.
"There's no way she would be naked and you'd still be inside here," Charles said, stepping into the room, his eyes scanning the scene with a mixture of concern and his usual sardonic amusement.
Rose and Luke followed him in. Rose, Azriel's sharp, observant stepsister, immediately assessed the situation.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, her gaze landing on Anastasia, who was propped up in the large, luxurious bed.
Luke, the royal wizard, stretched out his hand to feel Anastasia's temperature, a professional, clinical gesture.
But Anastasia flinched violently, shrinking away from the touch.
"It's fine, he's the royal wizard," Azriel said in a low, assuring tone, his presence a dark anchor in the room.
He hadn't left her side all night. Anastasia sat obediently still, allowing Luke to press a cool hand against her forehead.
"She seems fine for now," Luke pronounced, retracting his hand.
"How's her night fever?" Rose pressed, her eyes flicking to Azriel.
The air was thick with things unsaid, secrets hovering just out of Anastasia's reach.
"It wasn't that serious yesterday," Azriel replied stiffly.
"Did you feed her the medicine I gave you?" Luke asked, pulling a small leather satchel tighter around his waist.
"Yes, but she threw up a few of them, though," Azriel admitted, a muscle in his jaw twitching.
Anastasia watched them talk about her health like she wasn't in the room, her very existence debated by people who were, somehow, deeply connected to her plight. She felt detached, strange, and wrong.
"I don't feel good," Anastasia said in a whisper, a sound barely above a breath, yet loud enough for everyone present to hear, cutting through their clinical conversation.
The effect was instantaneous. Azriel was by her side in a flash, his cold mask dropping.
"Are you alright? Do you feel discomfort anywhere?"
"I... I... want to throw up," Anastasia managed to gasp out. Luke quickly brought a bucket to her face, and Anastasia violently purged everything in her stomach.
When she was done, she wheezed for air. Luke gave her a glass of water, which she drank slowly.
"What's happening to me?" she demanded, her voice raw.
"You just need to rest," Luke said placatingly.
"This is more than exhaustion. My body no longer feels like mine. What aren't you telling me?" she accused, her eyes darting between their guarded faces.
"It's just a new disease, and you caught it," Rose said smoothly, her composure perfect.
"My chest hurts, my... I want to... I don't know what I want anymore," Anastasia said in mounting frustration, tears blurring her vision.
"I am trying my best to treat you, you have to be patient with the process," Luke said, carefully choosing his words.
"I need a hug, Your Majesty," Anastasia whispered to the formidable man beside her.
It was Rose who walked up to Anastasia and hugged her, her embrace surprisingly warm and firm.
"I know it's terrifying, but we're all here for you."
"Thank you," Anastasia said, leaning into the comfort.
"Get her something light to eat before taking this medicine," Luke instructed, pulling a new, dark vial from his bag.
"I will inform her maid to bring food," Charles said. Luke and Charles left the room, leaving Rose and Azriel.
"Do you need anything?" Rose asked.
"No, Your Highness, I'm fine," Anastasia replied with a lazy smile, feeling momentarily secure.
Rose left with Azriel to her castle, and a heavy silence fell in the room.
A knock sounded on the door. "Come in," Anastasia barely said.
The door slowly opened. Hannah walked in with a tray in her hand. She placed the tray on a table, then rushed to Anastasia and hugged her, tears in her eyes.
"Oh, thank goodness, Anastasia, I thought I lost you."
"I'm sorry for making you worry," Anastasia said.
Hannah explained that she took care of her during the day, but the Emperor took care of her in the night, watching over her, wiping her face in the morning like she was a fragile glass he didn't want to break.
"Forget about that, you need to eat something," Hannah urged.
"I don't have the appetite."
"Please, you need strength... please, eat something!"
"No," Anastasia said, stubborn.
"Don't make me shove the spoon down your throat. You know I won't hesitate to do it," Hannah threatened gently.
"I don't feel like eating."
"At least take a glass of water," Hannah reasoned, but Anastasia was adamant.
The door opened, and Azriel entered the room, his presence immediately dominating the space.
"What's going on here?" he demanded.
Hannah stood up, bowing her head to the ground, avoiding his eyes.
"Good morning, Your Majesty, I'm trying to feed my lady, but she refuses to eat," she said respectfully.
Azriel looked at the food, then at Anastasia—a silent scolding without words being used.
"You may leave now," Azriel said to Hannah.
Hannah fled the room without looking back. Anastasia could only cry internally.
Azriel picked up the tray and sat beside her. He picked up a spoon, but Anastasia stopped him.
"Your Grace, I'll do it myself," she said.
"Sit still and don't disobey," Azriel commanded, the dark authority in his voice leaving no room for argument.
Anastasia sat quietly as Azriel fed her the soup himself, with a patience that felt entirely out of place for a ruthless emperor.
He wiped her mouth each time the soup spilled.
"Your Grace, I'm full," Anastasia quietly said.
"Have a glass of water," Azriel said.
"I don't think there's room for water," she replied.
"Just a sip."
Anastasia took a few sips of water. Azriel placed the tray on the table.
"You need to rest," Azriel said calmly.
"Your Grace, do you have activities today?" Anastasia asked, desperate for a distraction.
"Well, I have to meet the council to discuss the welfare of the country. Besides that, I don't think I have any activity," Azriel replied.
"I see... I think I need to go to class today," she mused.
"That wouldn't be necessary. You are granted a pardon by me to stay in bed till you recover. This won't affect your points in any way."
"You're different from what I've heard," Anastasia observed, studying his profile.
"Really, what did you hear?" Azriel asked, a hint of dark amusement in his eyes.
"That you are a ruthless king. A king who has no regard for anyone. A king who makes his enemy die a slow and painful death."
"You don't know me so well; that could be true," Azriel said, his voice flat.
"That may be true, but I've watched you from afar. You love your family. You're taking care of me, even if it's because of your niece. This is the side your enemies haven't seen. This is what makes you a human."
"Aren't you afraid of me?" Azriel asked, a flicker of vulnerability showing in his cold eyes.
"I would admit when I came here I was terrified of you. But when I watched you from a distance, I understood that you're a man who loves his family, and that isn't weakness; it's strength."
"You've been watching me?" Azriel asked in surprise.
"It's more like observing... I know I can't win this competition, but from what I've seen proves that you're a good ruler."
"Why are you here then? Why did you come to my castle for this competition if you knew you wouldn't win?" Azriel asked, leaning closer, drawn in by her fearless honesty and the unspoken mystery that bound them together.
He still couldn't find the girl named Anastasia in the castle records, and yet, she was right here, slowly, inexorably, claiming his cold, dark heart.