Chapter 431: The Forgotten Past - XXV

[Music recommendation: Aaryan Shah - Fusion (Acoustic)]

Thunder crackled outside, illuminating the dark room, and another shock rippled through her broken form.

There on the floor lay the large, mangled remains of the faithful beast she knew better than anyone.

Paralysed by shock, she pushed herself up on shaky limbs and tumbled onto the floor. Though she possessed no strength, she dragged herself across the floor toward the severed piece lying apart from the rest of the body.

For a moment, she froze. Her lips parted and trembled as she hovered her hand hesitantly over the furry form.

"Ceri..." she whispered the name she had given him because of his cerulean eyes.

Her bloodshot, wide eyes fell on her beloved companion’s open, lifeless gaze. Gone were the vibrant blue eyes that used to look at her with such deep affection. All that remained was his severed head, discarded far away from his majestic body.

"My dear Ceri..." she called in a broken whisper. As soon as her trembling fingers brushed his fur, fresh tears spilled over, and Hera let out a devastating, soul-crushing scream, "Ceri!!!!"

She collapsed completely, burying her face against his head as she wept like a woman who had lost her entire world. In the depths of her grief, she remembered the very first time she had found him wandering through the forest, hiding timidly among the bushes. He had never left her side since. He was always there, guarding her, keeping her company, listening to her voice as she loved him dearly like her child.

Hera’s heart had already shattered into millions of pieces from the tragedy that had changed her life forever. As she cried for their lost future, she became increasingly aware of the dark corruption spreading rapidly from her neck across the rest of her body.

At that moment, she knew she did not have much time left.

And if that was the case... she would not let the love of her life... her Gavriel... be dragged down with her. Because if she did, they would win.

The ones who had betrayed them... they would win.

A thirst for vengeance burned deep in her veins for all she had lost in one night.

Her beloved companion, Ceri... her unborn child... and the future she had dreamed of sharing with Gavriel.

Something inside her snapped.

Just then, she felt a powerful gust of wind behind her, accompanied by the dark, familiar presence of a soul she could recognize with her eyes closed.

"Hera!"

Bellarios appeared behind her in his massive dragon form.

Slowly, Hera lifted her tear-stained face from Ceri’s head. She turned toward the dragon who was a part of Gavriel’s soul, and her heart bled at the sight of his massive crimson eyes glowing with unbridled rage.

Her expression remained hauntingly calm as she looked at Bellarios. The dragon’s agitated gaze dropped to her throat, and a ferocious growl reverberated from his chest upon seeing their mate mark corrupted by black, branching roots, the exact curse he had seen on the King and Queen.

"Who did this!" his form began to glow as suffocating, dark energy leaked uncontrollably from his massive scales. "I will destroy them!"

Raising his head toward the ceiling, Bellarios unleashed a torrent of red flames that blew the roof apart, letting the heavy rain fall over the ruined chamber. Yet Hera remained completely unfazed.

Once the flames died down, she parted her lips and whispered, "Kill me, Bellarios."

Bellarios stilled instantly and stared at her as though he had misheard her words.

"Kill me before it is too late. Gavriel..." Her voice finally broke at the sound of her mate’s name, fresh tears slipping free as she sobbed, "Gavriel must live."

Bellarios let out another furious roar that shook the entire foundation of Rios Palace. Guards and servants ran toward the commotion, but Bellarios incinerated them with a single breath of crimson fire, reducing them to ash before turning his gaze back to Hera.

"Please... I am begging you, just do it," she pleaded in a broken whisper.

"Never! You are our mate! I will never do that to you!" For the first time, Bellarios growled furiously at Hera.

More tears spilled from her eyes as she felt her chest split open. She could feel the agony he was suffering as their bond rapidly corrupted, but she also knew she was running out of time. Her bond with Gavriel was incredibly strong, and now that it had been defiled by another, the corruption was spreading far more aggressively than it ever had for the King and Queen.

"Please!" Hera wept, begging him with everything she had left. "Please just do it, Bellarios!"

Bellarios only roared louder in agony, violently shaking his massive head.

She knew he wouldn’t do it. She could feel in her soul that he would never strike her down.

But she needed him to.

Only death at his hands could ensure Gavriel lived without her.

So, hardening her broken heart, she lengthened her claws and sliced open her palm. Blood pooled within her cupped hand in front of Bellarios, who roared in protest, "What do you think you are doing?!"

He hovered close to her, but she raised a hand to stop him.

Closing her eyes, she gathered the last of her strength, only for her powers to flare up once again. White light enveloped her entire body as her steady voice echoed through the room.

"I, Hera Rios Valtherion, Crown Princess of the Underworld and mate of Gavriel Rios Valtherion, vow with my blood and life that I will return. I will return to claim my vengeance upon every soul who ripped my life from me, and rain a catastrophe upon them so absolute that the depths of the abyss will tremble at my name. Accept the vow of your queen, Underworld!"

With those words, she turned her palm and let her blood drip onto the floor. The moment it touched the ground, the realm shook violently. Her blood shone bright red before its power shot straight into the overcast sky, turning the full moon blood-red.

Hera opened her eyes and saw what had happened. A bittersweet smile touched her lips as she realised her vow had been accepted.

Then she looked into Bellarios’s enormous eyes and whispered, "I’m sorry to make you do this."

Her voice came with immense difficulty. "I promise... we’ll meet again in my next life. You’ll recognise me, won’t you?"

As more tears streamed down Hera’s face, Bellarios let out an animalistic cry, so primal that she cried harder, feeling his pain. Yet she closed her eyes and raised her trembling hand towards the dragon. Her powers flared as she gave her final command.

"Burn me, Bellarios...!"

Yet Bellarios let out another agonising, guttural roar as he felt his body slip from his own control. Hera was forcing her command into his mind.

With every ounce of his will, he tried to reject her magic, but Hera raised her second hand, a pillar of brilliant light shining upon her as she cried out, "Listen to my command Bellarios! Burn me now!!"

A heavy, scalding tear slipped from Bellarios’s massive eye.

Unwillingly, his jaws parted, and with another anguished roar, blazing red dragon fire erupted from his chest.

Right before the flames engulfed her, Hera smiled gently at the dragon and whispered, "I love you, Gavriel... live for me." Then, the inferno consumed her completely.