Chapter 291: Chapter 291 The Price
"What do you mean?" The injured said in between her ragged breath.
Young Princess Anastasia blinked as if pondering what to say next. "If the tree dies, there will be no future for your child... but... but if we can get the tree’s seed there is hope for the future." She shared glances with both women.
"What can will..." the lady groaned, her claws elongated out, digging into the soil. "... do."
I felt shivers running down my spine... it was like a foreboding that something bad was going to happen.
"Your lives to protect theirs." Young Anastasia said, her blue eyes swirled with desperation and impatient.
I turned to Princess Anastasia, and tears trickled down her cheeks.
"Did you really do that?" I said in a quiet tone.
She stepped forward, her hands trembling a little. "Pay attention."
I parted my lips, but I decided to follow her command.
The human lady’s eyes widened in horror. She protectively wrapped her hand over her belly. "What is the point of having the baby if he’ll become motherless?" She asked bitterly, gritting her teeth.
"At least they will live... that is better than them dying." The injured lady muttered under her breath.
The human lady’s lips quivered. She closed her eyes in defeat, rubbing her belly as tears dripped from her eyes.
The tree erupted in green flames, its bark charred and its leaves turned to ashes.
Young Anastasia rushed forward and channeled her magic to the tree, however, she got tossed away from the impact.
She spattered blood, her body trembled in pain, but despite that, she rose and channeled her magic again. But she slammed against the earth from the impact. The tree was resisting her magic.
More blood sputtered from her mouth. Her fingers clawed the earth, her body trembled. And her eyes burned with fear and guilt.
She turned to the two ladies, crawling towards them. She held the injured woman’s hand. "Emelia..."
I felt like thunder struck in my spot, my lips parted yet the words seemed to have disappeared. ’Emelia... Emelia Damon’s mate?’ My gaze fixated on her, down to her belly. ’This must be when she gave birth to Theo.’
’This explained the mixed feelings earlier... She was the mate Damon valued so much that he hated the idea of having another mate... maybe the reason he hated me too.’
"... I have to do the sacrifice now, if we stall for too long, we might miss the opportune time." Young Princess Anastasia said in a hurried tone.
Emelia growled in pain, her eyes changed to a gold colour. "What are you going to do now!"
The world seemed to stand still for a moment, and young Princess Anastasia looked at the two women with a sorrowful gaze. "We can bring the baby out..."
"No!" the human lady cried out in protest.
"The tree is dying. If it dies your baby and you would have no chance to live. And besides this must be fate, a fae, a lycan, and a human. Each from different races, all connected to nature, this is perfect... magic, strength, and humanity. This is what the tree needs!" she talked to herself almost like she had lost her mind.
Her trembling hands conjured a dagger, she stared at the two women. "I’ll not be the Chosen who failed to carry out her duty. It is an honour for both of you to give your lives to the tree." She walked closer to the women.
"So please... please... please let’s save the realm today. And as a reward... l’ll give you all a chance to live again." Young Anastasia cried, her hands tightened around the hilt of the dagger.
The human crawled back, and she held Emilia’s hands, who seemed unstrangely calm. "Emelia, we should run. The fae princess has gone crazy."
Emelia lowered her head, staring at her stomach, then she raised her head staring at the burning tree. "Would my child be safe?"
"Yes, he will be safe... I promise." Young Princess Anastasia said hurriedly.
Emelia’s eyes softened for a moment, her golden irises flickering weakly under the burning light of the tree. She gave a faint, tired smile, one that carried more pain than peace. "Then... do it." Her voice cracked as she spoke, barely louder than a whisper.
The human woman’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Emelia, no! You can’t..." She tried to pull her hand away, but Emelia squeezed it tighter, her grip surprisingly firm despite the blood soaking her dress.
Tears slid down Emelia’s cheeks, her golden eyes soft and full of sorrow. "If this will keep him alive, then I’ll do it. My life for his." She gave a shaky smile, her voice trembling. "That’s what mothers do, right?"
Her words cracked through the air like a whip. My chest constricted, and my stomach knotted painfully. My throat went dry, but I couldn’t look away from her face.
’This is so inhumane... How could she take lives because she wants to save a tree? What... Is this really what a Chosen means?’
Young Anastasia’s eyes shone with both grief and desperation. "I’m sorry," she murmured, her voice cracking. "I truly am."
Her trembling hand rose, the dagger flickering, its blade catching the dying green light of the tree. She took one slow step closer, her blue eyes darting between the women and the burning roots as if still hoping for another way. The earth shook beneath us, and the smell of smoke and raw magic grew heavy.
The human woman screamed and tried to drag Emelia away, but Emelia held on to her, shaking her head. "Stay with me," she whispered to her friend. "Please... stay with me."
Young Anastasia dropped to her knees in front of them, her fingers white around the hilt of the dagger. She pressed her forehead briefly to Emelia’s, her lips moving with words too soft to hear. Then she pulled back, her hands trembling violently as she lifted the blade.
"I’m sorry," she whispered again, her voice breaking.