Chapter 149 Marry your son??

Chapter 149: Chapter 149 Marry your son??

The accumulated light shimmered violently around them. For a moment, none of them could see anything. The brightness was so intense that Noah had to squeeze his eyes shut.

Then—everything changed.

The warmth of Lysander’s sanctuary disappeared. The familiar magical atmosphere was gone. The next thing Noah felt beneath his feet was cold marble. He opened his eyes.

And froze.

They were no longer inside Lysander’s dimension. Eugene, who had been standing closest to him, staggered backward as he looked around. His face immediately drained of color. "Oh no." His voice came out barely above a whisper. "We’re in the Quintorian Empire."

Noah’s throat tightened. "What?"

Eugene swallowed. "Right in the middle of the Imperial Palace."

Noah’s entire body went rigid. His mouth suddenly became dry.

How? How the hell had he done that?

That wasn’t supposed to happen. He had only been trying to use his magic. He hadn’t even understood what he had done in the garden. Yet somehow, instead of taking them somewhere safe, his power had dragged them directly into the most dangerous place possible.

The Emperor’s palace.

Noah quickly turned toward Lamia. The Phoenix witch looked just as confused. "How did I do that?"

Lamia stared around them. "I don’t know." He sounded genuinely frustrated. "I can’t pinpoint what happened." He closed his eyes and tried to sense the magic surrounding them. Nothing. His expression became even more troubled. "Oliver isn’t here." Lamia opened his eyes. "He would probably have been able to explain what happened, but I can’t." He sighed. "I’m still learning things I wasn’t raised with. There are aspects of this magic I don’t understand yet."

Noah’s heart sank. "So we’re trapped here?"

Damian immediately stepped forward. "Then there’s no reason to stay." He grabbed Noah’s hand. "The Emperor cannot see you." His voice was urgent. "I would rather die than allow that man to get his hands on you." Damian pulled Noah closer.

But before they could move—the ground opposite them shifted. Noah’s eyes snapped toward it. "What the—?"

The marble floor seemed to ripple. Then Noah looked beyond it. The enormous gates of the Imperial Palace were beginning to move.

And for the first time, Noah got a proper look at the place. He had never been this close to the Quintorian Palace before. It was enormous. Almost impossible to describe. Ten gigantic towers spiraled upward around the central palace, each one stretching so high into the sky that they seemed to disappear into the clouds. Massive structures surrounded them, connected by enormous bridges and glowing pathways.

The entire place looked heavenly. Yet there was something unsettling about it. It was beautiful in a way that didn’t feel human. Almost as if civilization itself had been pushed beyond its limits and rebuilt into something supernatural.

Noah couldn’t help staring.

Then—"INTRUDERS!"

An alarm suddenly blared. "INTRUDERS DETECTED!"

Noah’s head snapped upward. At the tops of the towers, movement appeared. Dozens of soldiers. Then hundreds.

And suddenly—Whoosh!

Arrows rained down. Except they weren’t ordinary arrows. Each one was as large as a spear.

Noah’s eyes widened. "Fuck!"

Before any of them could react, Lamia thrust his hands forward. A barrier exploded around them. The enormous arrows struck the shield. But instead of piercing through—they transformed. One by one, the weapons turned into flowers. The flowers rained gently around them.

Noah stared. He picked one up. "What the hell?"

Lamia didn’t answer. His expression was tense. "This place isn’t safe."

Eugene grabbed Noah’s other hand. "We can’t be here." His voice was trembling. "We shouldn’t be here." He looked at Noah desperately. "Please, Ashton." The old name slipped naturally from his mouth. "Let’s go."

Noah looked at him.

"Anywhere you want. Anything you want. We can do it later." Eugene’s eyes were filled with fear. "But not here."

It was obvious. He wasn’t simply afraid of the palace. He was afraid of what the palace represented. Bad memories. Pain. The Emperor. Everything Noah had been trying to escape.

Damian suddenly dropped to his knees. "I’m begging you."

Noah’s eyes widened. Damian grabbed his hand. "Please let us leave." His voice shook. "It’s dangerous for you to be here." He looked around. "The Book of Shadows is here." His grip tightened. "And you don’t even have your sword."

Damian’s eyes were beginning to water. "We don’t know what weapon he has that could kill you." His voice broke. "I’ll lose every breath in my body if I have to watch you die."

Lamia stood behind them helplessly. He understood. They couldn’t attack the Emperor without a plan. They had no idea what awaited them. And worse—they had walked straight into his territory.

"We can leave," Lamia said. He looked at Noah. "You’re not ready to attack him now." He glanced around the palace. "And anything involving strategy becomes dangerous when the enemy already knows you’re here."

But it was too late.

A strange ripple suddenly spread across the marble floor. Noah froze. The ground beneath them cracked open.

A roar exploded from above. The sound was so powerful that the entire palace seemed to shake.

Noah looked upward. A massive shadow passed over them. Then another. Eugene immediately grabbed Noah’s hand. Damian grabbed the other. They held him as if he were the most precious thing in the world.

The shadow grew larger. Closer. Closer.

Then the creatures finally came into view. Noah’s breath stopped.

Dragons.

Two enormous dragons descended from the sky. Their wings were gigantic, each powerful flap sending waves of wind across the palace grounds. Their scales looked darker than night. Their eyes burned with supernatural intelligence.

They weren’t ordinary creatures. These were ancient magical beasts. And judging by their size, they were old. Very old.

Lamia’s eyes widened. "We can’t fight those."

Noah looked at him. "What?"

"Dragons are incredibly dangerous magical beings." Lamia’s voice became urgent. "Some forms of magic don’t even work against them." He stared at the two beasts. "And older dragons like these are far more dangerous."

Lamia immediately raised his hands. He began casting. A spell formed.

Then—BOOM!

An invisible force slammed directly into him. "ARGH!" Blood sprayed from Lamia’s mouth. He was thrown backward and crashed against the marble.

"Lamia!" Noah rushed toward him.

Lamia struggled to lift his head. His expression was filled with horror. "The Book of Shadows..." He coughed. "It’s everywhere." His eyes widened. "They’re using its magic."

Noah’s stomach dropped.

"We can’t leave." Lamia shook his head. "The magic is interfering with mine." He tried to stand. "If I use another spell against it, I could die."

Eugene’s face became pale. He looked at Noah. "Ashton." His voice was urgent. "You brought us here with your magic." Noah stared at him. "So try again."

The roar above them became louder. The dragons were descending. "They’re coming down!"

Noah’s mind raced. He had done it before. He had opened something. He had teleported them. So why couldn’t he do it again?

Noah closed his eyes. He tried to feel the same sensation. Nothing. He tried again. Nothing.

The roar was now directly above them. Noah could feel the wind from the dragon’s wings. He tried harder. Still nothing.

His frustration exploded. He ran both hands through his hair, purple strands falling between his fingers. "I don’t know how I did it!" His voice cracked. "Eugene, I don’t know!" He looked at his hands. "I’m so fucking useless!" His breathing became heavier. "Goddamn it! All of this power and I can’t even control it when I need it!"

Lamia’s weak voice broke through. "It’s not your fault."

Noah looked toward him.

"The person behind this..." Lamia struggled to breathe. "They’re using the Book of Shadows professionally." His eyes narrowed. "They’ve used my own magic against me." He coughed. "If I try to break through it again, the spell could consume me."

Noah shuddered.

The dragons were almost upon them.

Then—BOOM!

The first dragon landed. The impact shattered the marble beneath its enormous claws. Dust and debris exploded through the air. The beast was so enormous that its body occupied nearly half the ground. It was almost as tall as the lower portion of the palace itself.

Noah’s eyes widened. And then he saw the rider.

A young woman stepped down from the dragon’s back.

Noah stared. "What the fuck?"

Eugene’s voice echoed beside him. "Emily?"

Emily looked directly at them. But there was something wrong with her. Her expression was cold. Empty. Almost lifeless.

Eugene took a step forward. "Emily, what are you—"

Lamia immediately covered his mouth. "Don’t."

Eugene frowned.

Lamia pointed toward her eyes.

Eugene followed his gaze. Then his expression changed.

Emily’s pupils were black. But deep purple light glowed from inside them. Like something was controlling her from within.

Eugene’s eyes widened. "No..."

Noah stared too. Damian followed his gaze. "What happened to her?"

Lamia’s expression became grim. "The Book of Shadows." His voice was quiet. "It’s controlling her."

Noah’s heart pounded.

Before he could ask another question—a voice thundered across the palace.

"Look who decided to pay us a visit."

Noah froze.

The voice continued. "My lovely son."

His blood ran cold.

"And his Alphas."

A figure appeared high above the palace steps.

Damon Ashborn. The Emperor.

He descended slowly.

Beside him walked another figure. A slender woman wearing a heavy black cloak. Her face was hidden.

But what she carried immediately caught Noah’s attention.

A gigantic dark book. Its cover was covered in strange demonic drawings. Ancient symbols. Deep runes. The kind of markings that seemed to move when Noah stared at them too long.

The Book of Shadows.

Noah’s heart stopped.

The Emperor stopped several feet away from them. His gaze settled directly on Noah. "Right on time." His smile was disturbing. "Especially since I’ve already prepared the coffins for your Alphas."

Noah’s face went pale.

Damon’s smile widened. "Isn’t that right?" He stepped closer. "Welcome back to the Quintorian Empire, Ashton Lane."

Noah’s body went rigid.

Damon spread his arms. "I know your mission." His eyes gleamed. "As the new Pureblood, you intend to destroy me." He laughed. "Good luck."

The woman beside him lifted the Book of Shadows slightly.

"Because with one movement..." Damon gestured toward Eugene, Damian, and Lamia. "...your men could all be dead."

Noah’s heart hammered.

Then Damon pulled out something else. A necklace. Dark. Beautiful. And covered in strange runes.

He held it toward Noah. "Or..." His voice became strangely calm. "You can put this on."

Noah stared at the necklace. "What is it?"

Damon smiled. "It will seal your powers."

Noah’s eyes widened.

"Forever."

The words struck him like a physical blow.

"And once you’ve done that..." Damon’s smile became even more disturbing. "You will marry me."

Silence. Absolute silence.

Noah’s mind went blank. He staggered backward. Eugene immediately caught him.

"What the fuck?" Damian’s mouth fell open. "You can’t be serious."

Damon didn’t even blink. "Marry me." His gaze remained fixed on Noah. "That is the price."

Noah couldn’t breathe. His father? His own father wanted him to marry him? How could a father even say something like that?

Damon simply watched his reaction. "You want your friends and your mates to live?" He lifted the necklace. "Then sacrifice yourself."

Damian finally found his voice. "Your son?" His face twisted with disgust. "He’s your son! Isn’t that the biggest fucking abomination I’ve ever heard?"

Damon didn’t flinch. "Power is good." His voice was cold. "And to obtain power, I am willing to do anything." He looked directly at Noah. "Even marry my own son."

Noah’s entire body trembled.

Damon extended the necklace. "So, Ashton Lane..." His smile disappeared. "What have you decided?" He looked toward the three figures. "Will you let your mates and friends die?" Then his eyes returned to Noah. "Or will you sacrifice yourself?"