-42
ASLAN’S POV
Aurora touched my soul once more through her kindness. There could be no one else like her. I was determined to help her find all the happiness in the world.
“How the hell did you switch the babies though…” Aurora’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Aslan gave me the locket to his sanctuary. I put it around Tiara’s neck when I took her from you and teleported to the sanctuary. Raina was already waiting with our baby there… If only I knew Zizi could kill…”
“Don’t you think we should tell her about Tyson before he burns the whole forest down?” Raina said abruptly.
Letting out a deep sigh I said, “Tyson took whatever you said to his heart. He wanted us to give you Tiara and tell you that he is dead.”
“Why would he do that?”
“He loves you, Aurora. He doesn’t want to be the one who brings problems in his life…”
“This is very difficult for him, Aurora. In the decades we lived together, our brother has never done anything for someone else. Excluding the time he killed the Dark Queen to save me.”
Aurora’s eyes widened in realization as she asked, “Don’t tell me your mother was the Dark Queen!”
“Yes, she was so…” I asked shrugging my shoulders.
She jumped to her feet abruptly and said, “I want to meet Tyson right away!”
I was slightly stunned by her sudden demand but complied gladly. They had to talk it through if they wanted to give Tiara a happy family.
AURORA’S POV
Everything fell into place, the moment I found out that their mother was the Dark Queen. I understood why Tyson killed his mother.
All the bitterness I had for him vanished and my heart ached for all that he had to endure as a child. He deserved a chance to start over.
Teleporting into ‘The Pearl Palace’ I found him sitting on a bench in the garden.
“I don’t want to talk to anyone.” He said without even looking back.
“But, I want to talk to you, Tyson.”
His head snapped up. My heart shattered on seeing the pain and grief in his eyes.
He looked away quickly and said, “I have decided to wrap up my operations here and go back to Typhoon. Just give me a couple of days, It will be as if I never existed.”
Sitting beside him, I asked, “Is this your final decision?”
“Hmm… I was drawn to Earth by my greed. I wanted to obtain ‘The Heart of magic’ and become the most powerful creature in the world but now…”
“What do you want now, Tyson?” I asked placing my hand on his shoulder.
He raised his head and opened his mouth but didn’t say anything. After a few moments, he shook his head and said with a faint smile, “It doesn’t matter. I just want you to know that I won’t interfere in your life or… Tiara’s anymore.”
Then he jumped to his feet and started walking away. So, typical of him. I couldn’t restrain myself from calling out, “Self-centered as ever!”
He spun around faster than lightning and grasped my shoulders. His eyes flashed red as he said, “I am willing to leave everything I have built and go away so that YOU can live happily, yet I am self-centered.”
I pursed my lips and glared at him. “Yes.”
“Would you mind explaining?” He gritted out through clenched teeth.
“Because Mr. Pighead, You decided everything on your own as usual. Did you ask me what I want?”
He staggered slightly and his hands slumped to his sides. “Isn't this what you want?”
Drawing a deep breath, I said, “I said some harsh words earlier but that was because I didn’t know the whole truth. Now that I know why you killed your mother and Tiara is safe. I want her to have a complete family.”
The veins on his head popped and he clenched his hands into a fist. “I don’t think this is a good idea, Aurora. My presence will only bring more troubles… you will never find peace and happiness if I am around…”
I cupped his face and forced him to look into my eyes. “All your life you craved for your parent’s love. I became an orphan when I was five… You know how painful it is to live without a complete family. Is that what you want for Tiara?”
He shifted uncomfortably and said, “I know that but…”
I grasped his hand in mine and said, “Together we can make this work, Tyson.”
“You think so…” He said in a choked voice and pulled me into a hug.
I buried my head in his chest and said, “We will build a world for Tiara which is full of love and happiness…”
CALEB’S POV
“I knew you would never let me down.” The Dark Lord said turning the stone over in his hand.
“Now that you have what you wanted, I hope you will leave me and my pack alone,” I asked, bowing my head.
“It doesn’t work that way, Caleb! I have bound your life to mine. Till the time you are alive, you will be my source of power. You can’t leave even if you want… However, if you continue supporting me I will spare Meredith and her baby…”
I was taken aback by his statement. I shook my head and asked, “Baby…”
“Yes, she is pregnant with YOUR child…”
“Where is she? I want to meet her…”
“She is alive at this moment but if you refuse to follow any of my orders… you know what I can do…”
My blood boiled at his statement. I had betrayed Aurora to get this stone for him yet this is how he repaid me.
I gulped down my anger and pride. I tried to ask in an even voice, “Haven’t you got everything you wanted?”
“Nah! This is just the beginning. I will use this stone to defeat the dragon king, then the witches. Soon, I will become the supreme power!”
His evil laughter made me shudder. I licked my dry lips and gulped. God knows what I had unleashed on the world by giving him the stone.
AURORA’S POV
I watched Tiara as she turned over and smiled in her sleep. Letting out a deep sigh, I looked around the room. Green fields stretched in one direction while a beautiful blue lake in the other direction.
When I entered the Typhoon Palace my eyes hurt to look at the dazzling gold walls, furniture, cutlery; practically everything was made of gold here. I had to use magic to make this place bearable.
Tyson complained slightly but then let it slide. I had decided to accompany Tyson to start a new life at Typhoon.
The landscape here is quite different from Earth. There are more open spaces for dragons to shift. Beautiful lakes and gardens adorn the backyard of the palace. The only thing I don’t like is their obsession with gold.
With the amount of gold here, I could practically buy the whole of Earth three times over. On the positive side, Tyson has become less paranoid and I have started feeling safe here too.
“Aurora!” Tyson’s voice boomed as he entered the bedroom.
“Shhh…” I whispered, motioning towards Tiara.
He gave me a regretful look and sat beside me. He looked down and cleared his throat before saying, “The residents of Typhoon want to see their King, Queen, and their little Princess.”
He paused and looked at me uncertainly before continuing, “I might have organized a ceremony of sorts… but if you don’t want to attend… I will tell them that their Queen is unwilling to meet them. “
I crossed my arms and asked him, “Why didn’t you ask me BEFORE making the announcement?”
“Ummm… this is important Aurora. The Dragons are growing restless. You know how the Dark Queen was… So…”
I squinted my eyes and completed the sentence. “So they want to see how evil I am.”
Holding my hand he said, “It is not like that, Aurora.”
His face was so serious that I couldn’t help but giggle. “It's okay, Tyson. I understand. We will be ready.”
He leaned forward and kissed me lightly on the forehead before getting up to leave.
“Tyson…”
“Hmm…”
“I have something to give you,” I said displaying the stone in my hand.
His eyes widened and he exclaimed, “Bloody Hell! Where did this come from?”
“This is the real ‘Heart of Magic’ The one that Caleb went after was fake. I want to give this to you.”
“Where the hell did you find a fake stone in midst of that dense forest?”
“Magic!” I said, shrugging my shoulders.
“Please, Aurora. Don’t joke. This could be serious.”
I slung my arms around his neck and said, “I am not joking my dear Dragon King. Once I found this stone, I could do magic even in the Mystic Land.”
“That was all indeed a test… you could save yourself and the stone using magic…”
“Yes, hun and you passed it with flying colors.”
“Why are you giving this to me now?”
“You are free to do whatever you like with it…”
“Cool! With this stone, I will go back to the Earth and defeat all the werewolves, witches, and seers. Soon, I will be the King of the whole world.”
My heart sank when I heard his words. I don’t know what I had expected. Anyway, I couldn’t go back on my words now.
Loud guffaws sounded in the room waking Tiara. I picked her up and rocked her to console her. “Go on your world-conquering expedition. Don’t disturb my angel’s sleep!”
He moved closer and whispered, “Look at your face… You look like you have lost the battle of your life…”
Exhaling deeply, I said, “That I have, Tyson…”
He hugged me from behind and whispered close to my ears. “I was just joking, Aurora. I have everything I need. Why would I go on some stupid world conquest?”
My lips stretched in a wide smile and I turned around to kiss him. He responded feverishly and his lips moved against mine roughly.
My tongue had just pried open his teeth when Tiara started wailing. Giggling softly, I pushed him away and we got busy attending our adorable princess.
.