Chapter 121
“Blaze,” Thalia whispered, her eyes wide and disbelieving as she stared at him, almost unable to comprehend that he was truly in front of her.
After countless days of worry and fear, the sight of him alive and well flooded her with a profound mix of joy and relief. Without a second’s hesitation, she rushed toward him and leaped into his arms, tears flowing down her cheeks.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.
“Oh my God, Blaze!” The fabric of his shirt muffled her voice.
Her arms wound around him, cinching tight as if she could make up for all the distance and time that had separated them. But beneath the surface of her elation simmered a torrent of anger, an emotion that soon surged to the forefront. She pushed him away abruptly, a growl escaping her lips. “What the hell?”
“W-what?” Blaze stammered, taken aback. Yet, instead of the response he had hoped for, Thalia’s clenched fists found their way against his chest.
“You’re an idiot! You’re cruel!” she spat, her eyes blazing with an intensity of fury that was frightening. “I hate you so much!”
Blaze caught hold of her hands, his grip gentle yet firm, halting her assault. “Thalia, please, calm down,” he begged.
“Calm down?” She hissed through clenched teeth, a hint of sarcasm overlaying her seething anger. “Is that the new word for the ‘cool guys’ now? Because from where I’m standing, you’re acting the part of a complete douche. And how could you just leave me to chase after that… that bitch, Arabella?”
“Do you even have the faintest idea of the pain I’ve endured?”
Blaze’s expression softened as he glimpsed the anguish nestled within her eyes. He genuinely believed in her hurt. “Thalia, I’m so sorry. I never intended for any of this to hurt you.”
“You’re missing the point entirely, aren’t you?” she glared. “You can’t understand how it felt to be abandoned, left all alone. You, Blaze, are my only family. And now I’ve been left feeling abandoned all over again, all because of one person you can’t seem to let go of!”
Tentatively, Blaze reached for her arm, a gesture intended to provide comfort. But Thalia flinched away. “Don’t touch me,” she spat, her voice a venomous hiss. “Right now, I despise you, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive you.”
Stepping back, Blaze conceded, “I understand, and I’m very sorry,” he murmured. “But let’s keep our voices down. The last thing we want is to attract attention.”
“Sure, we don’t want to attract any unwanted attention,” Thalia mimicked him with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “Your recklessness got us into this mess in the first place. And now you’re telling me to keep my voice-”
Blaze’s hand swiftly clamped over her mouth, silencing the unspoken words she was about to unleash. Thalia fought against his grip, her fingers digging into his hand, even resorting to trying to bite him to break free from his hold.
“Stay the hell still, Thalia,” He rumbled in her ear, angry and commanding. A sigh followed. “I promise I’ll explain everything once it’s safe. Right now, focus on staying calm. It’s for your safety.”
For my safety? Thalia’s inner thoughts sneered. Shouldn’t he have thought about that earlier?
“Just please,” Blaze repeated as if he could read her thoughts.
With an eye roll, Thalia gradually relaxed her body, ceasing her struggle against Blaze’s grasp. After what felt like an eternity, he finally removed his hand.
She massaged her lips, shooting him an irritated glare. “What the hell, Blaze?” she hissed in a hushed whisper. “Why the hell did you do that?”
“I’m sorry, Thalia. I needed to keep you from shouting. It’s a risk we can’t afford to take,” Blaze explained, his voice hushed yet earnest.
Thalia cast a nervous glance around their surroundings. “Risk of being caught by who? What’s happening?”
Blaze hesitated briefly, his eyes scanning their surroundings before he spoke. “Janice and Alessia are here,” he said in a low voice. “We’re not sure if they’re allies or threats. We need to be cautious.”
A puzzled frown creased Thalia’s brow. “Janice and Alessia? Seriously, they’re harmless. Why are we hiding from them?”
“Everyone’s a potential threat until proven otherwise,” Blaze stated firmly.
Thalia shrugged, yet she was curious. “Fine, but where have you been all this time? Where’s your safe place? And why the hell didn’t you come looking for me?” Her questions fired off one after another.
However, Blaze didn’t answer her questions. Instead, he grasped her hand, wordlessly urging her to follow. Together, they made their way toward the entrance of the Phoenix cave, Blaze maintaining a vigilant watch over their surroundings.
When they reached the cave’s entrance, Thalia’s gaze was drawn to the stationed guards. Something about them seemed off, their demeanor unfamiliar. She wondered if they might be werewolves, but their scent contradicted that assumption. Their eyes bore into her with suspicion, their expressions unyielding.
Blaze moved forward, positioning himself at the entrance with Thalia by his side. Yet, one of the guards advanced, deliberately blocking their path.
“Excuse me?” Blaze’s brows knitted together as he spoke up.
“I’m sorry, sir, but we cannot allow anyone inside without proper authorization. She can’t come in,” one of the guards stated firmly.
“But she’s my sister. She means no harm!” Dismayed, Blaze said as he tried to persuade the guards.
“I’m sorry, sir, but we must follow protocol,” the guard replied.
Thalia bit on her lower lip, and a pang of hurt shot through her as she was denied entry into the cave. She cast a hopeful glance at Blaze, silently urging him to come up with a solution.
Amidst the commotion at the entrance of the Phoenix cave, Arabella’s attention was piqued. She heard everything and decided to take a look. Blaze and Thalia stood at the entry, the guards forming an unyielding barrier.
Arabella’s inquiry cut through the tension, her presence commanding attention. “What’s the matter here?”
The guards snapped to attention, their demeanor shifting instantly. “Forgive us, my queen. The gentleman here is seeking permission for his sister to enter,” one of them responded, his tone adopting a more formal air.
A soft smile played on Arabella’s lips, her gaze softening as it fell upon Thalia. “She is welcome. I recognize her. Besides, she’s Blaze’s sister. No need for her to feel unwelcome.”
“Grant her passage.” Arabella’s gaze held a firmness as she countered the guard’s hesitation.
“We apologize, Your Majesty,” the guard admitted, his stance relaxing as he turned towards Thalia. “Our apologies for the delay. Please, come inside.” With a courteous gesture, they cleared the way, allowing Blaze and Thalia to enter the cave.
Once inside, Thalia’s appreciation twisted into anger. “You! What’s with the regal title? Are you now a queen? When did that happen?” Thalia’s inquiry trickled with noticeable annoyance, her attempt at masking her frustration abandoned.
“Never mind that why did you keep my brother away from me? Are you deliberately putting his life in danger? Is he nothing more than your pawn?”
“Blaze made his own choice to be here. I did not coerce him,” Arabella said.
Thalia’s face twisted into a scowl, “You’re just a self-centered, selfish woman who cares only for herself. How could you strip me of my brother so heartlessly?” Her words brimmed with a seething rage.
Blaze stepped forward, his voice calm, “Thalia, please, calm down. That’s enough.”
Thalia’s eyes narrowed, blazing with fury as she locked eyes with Blaze. She clenched her fists tightly at her sides, her body tense and ready to pounce. However, before her rage could propel her towards Arabella, Blaze swiftly intervened, his strong grip on her arm pulling her back from the brink.
In a seamless response, three wingmen appeared seemingly out of thin air, forming a protective shield around Arabella. Among them was Orga, the formidable commander of the guard. He stepped forward, his vigilant eyes scanning the surroundings for lurking threats.
“Stand down, wolf girl,” Orga ordered, “Respect the presence of our queen.”
Thalia’s glare intensified, her inner struggle evident, but she begrudgingly took a step back. She had encountered many challenges in her life, yet none as imposing as this mysterious winged man. Casting a searching glance at Arabella, Thalia hoped for some explanation, only to be met with an icy countenance that sent a shiver down her spine.
“Queen?” Thalia echoed incredulously, her astonishment impossible to hide.
Arabella affirmed with a nod. “Yes, I am the Queen of the Phoenixes.”
Thalia’s mind reeled, struggling to process the revelation. Arabella as a queen seemed unbelievable, an imaginary cover.
With an incredulous toss of her head, she burst into laughter, the sound dripping with sarcasm. “You, a queen?” she retorted, her disbelief palpable. “That’s quite the fairy tale.”
However, her laughter was short-lived, extinguished by the intensity of Orga’s gaze. A sudden silence fell over her as the reality of the situation began to sink in.
Leaning in closer, Blaze said as he addressed Thalia’s skepticism, “It’s true, Thalia. Arabella is the queen.”
“May we have a moment, please?” Blaze redirected his words to Arabella, his hand gently taking Thalia’s as he guided her away toward an adjacent room-the very chamber he and Arabella shared.
When they reached, Thalia tugged her hand away from Blaze, and her frustration boiled over. “Why drag me away? What is this, Blaze? And how in the world did Arabella climb to queenhood?”
Blaze met her gaze. “Thalia, you must understand. She holds immense power now, reigning as the Phoenix Queen.” He embarked on a detailed account, recounting their journey to the Phoenix cave, the ambush by rogue assailants, and Arabella’s astonishing defense against the black figure. He described Arabella’s extraordinary ability to create portals, which had transported them to their current location.
Thalia’s confusion deepened, her mind grappling with the incomprehensible. “This is all so confusing. Arabella, a regular girl-”
“-Who has transformed into an extraordinary leader,” Blaze interjected. “Thalia, change is often unexplainable, and life has an uncanny way of defying expectations.”
“Sometimes, I don’t understand it either. But that’s the truth of it,” Blaze answered. “I know you don’t understand, but I suppose with time, you would. Nevertheless, could you stop attacking her? She hasn’t done anything wrong.”
A scoff escaped Thalia’s lips, and she lifted her gaze to him, a challenging expression crossing her features. “Are you genuinely serious right now?” She crossed her arms defensively.
Blaze nodded. “Yes, I am,” he affirmed, his gaze not leaving hers as she rolled her eyes in response. “Listen, Thalia, I’m being serious here. I only want what’s most beneficial for all of us. She’s not a wicked person; I can assure you of that. And before long, I plan to mate with her. I’m merely waiting for the ideal-”
“Hell no!” Thalia growled, cutting him off, “I can manage not engaging in a fight with her. I can even handle ignoring her, pretending she doesn’t exist. But I will never, under any circumstances, accept you becoming her mate. I would never, ever allow that to happen, Blaze.”
“Thalia…” Blaze started, only to be abruptly interrupted by Thalia.
“You would have to kill me before I would ever agree to you mating with her!” Thalia bristled with anger. Before Blaze could utter another word, she turned around on her heel and departed, leaving him standing there, agitated and speechless.