The Shattered Kingdom

The river ran backward on the day the Queen vanished. The Schatten Queen faded into the shadows, leaving remnants of magic to wreak havoc on the traitors who betrayed her mate. Before she passed through the portal, she cursed the land with a dark and unbreakable spell. Her fractured soul would never recover from King Xavier's death, but Queen Amala's revenge would live forever in the hearts of the survivors.

Tendrils of magic flowed through the forest and the village, slowly stealing the resources from the land.

Eloise stood by the edge of the river and felt the magic pierce her soul. The pain radiated throughout her petite frame, leaving her breathless, gasping for air to fill her lungs. Reaching out to Ash, she fell to the ground and looked up at the dark clouds rolling in.

The end of time waited around the corner.

Ash ran to her, feeling the effects of the magic bearing down on his broad shoulders. "Eloise, stay with me. We need to flee this cursed land."

Shaking her head, she whispered, "I don't have the strength."

Lifting her, Ash held her in his arms and glared at the river. How did the Queen's magic alter the flow of the water? Could he reverse it?

His magic wasn't strong enough.

"You are the Queen's daughter. If anyone can break this curse, you can."

"No!" She screamed in agony as the curse tightened around her heart. "My mother's curse is unbreakable."

"But it was spoken out of hatred. Can't love break the spell?" he asked, needing to believe that hope still existed. Even as he asked, he already knew the answer. The forest surrounding him had gone silent. The leaves on the trees turned from emeralds to rusty browns and ambers.

Fall would soon turn to winter.

The wild roses withered as their pink petals fell to the ground, and the birds in the sky stopped singing their songs.

Turning his attention back to Eloise, he begged her to reconsider. "My love, you need to try to break her curse. Perhaps not alone. What if I chant the spells with you?"

Resting her head on his shoulder, she could barely find the strength to speak to him. Knowing she would soon pass to the Netherworld, she resigned herself to her fate. "I can't. My strength has failed me."

Closing her eyes, she remained in his embrace, feeling her soul slipping away. Soon, she would know if the tales of the Netherworld were true. Or perhaps...

It was an endless void, full of desperation and misery.

Time passed slowly as she clung to Ash's hand. The distant river continued to flow away from the village, and the air grew heavy as the dark magic continued its path of destruction.

Shivering, Eloise let go of his hand. Moments later, she whispered, "I'll see you on the other side."

Ash felt the power of her words as he looked into her sunken eyes. His love wasn't long for this world if their circumstances didn't change.

Tired of being the victim of betrayal and dark magic, he raised his hand and screamed at the top of his lungs, trying to weave harmony back into the cursed land. Ash felt like he chanted a thousand spells, but when he fell silent, the river still ran backward.

Closing his eyes, Ash listened for a sound of hope, but the forest remained silent as the malignant curse blanketed them.

Lying beside Eloise, he placed his jacket over her chest and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. As the midsummer moon danced in between the clouds, Ash closed his eyes, fearing that he'd wake alone in the morning light.

How to break betrayal's curse? Love must be the answer!

But was it?

Before the sun rose over the horizon, he heard the familiar rumble of horse's hooves pounding on the dry earth. As the horses entered the clearing, he watched the dust clouds form around them. Leather boots hit the ground, and the Queen's soldiers surrounded them.

Separated from Eloise, he tried to protest, but an unnamed soldier tossed him over a horse, and they raced away from the river into the forest.

Was hope truly lost?

Time passed slowly as he entered a dreamlike state. Images of Eloise faded, and he was transported to another world, where he heard the Queen laughing with her advisors. She was proud of her curse.

As if she saw Ash standing in the center of her court, she turned to him and stared into his soul. Throwing back her head, her laugh ricocheted in his mind.

Waking up, he reached out for Eloise, but he was alone in a large bed somewhere in the castle. Jumping up, his bare feet hit the ground. Ash looked around to get his bearing straight before racing out to find Eloise.

Nothing else mattered! He needed to save her!

Running down the hall, he opened the first door he found, but she was not there. He opened the next. And the next! But he could not find her anywhere within the caste, yet he knew she was still alive. His soul would fracture the moment she passed into the Netherworld since they were fated mates.

It was time to claim her. Perhaps his love would save her from the curse.

Entering the King's court, he brushed past the guards and ran to the dais in the center of the room. Eloise's broken body was on display for all to see. The kingdom waited for their new queen to rise.

But what if she didn't? What then?

Stepping up on the dais, he leaned over and kissed her sweet lips, knowing that if love wasn't the answer, he'd be thrown in the dungeon for the remainder of his days.

The guards caught up with him, pulled Ash off of the dais, and threw him to the ground. As a heavy boot connected with his ribcage, he heard Eloise cry out, "He is my mate! Leave him alone!"

As Ash's world gave way to the darkness, he heard Eloise's voice weaving her magic.

Hours later, he woke up in her bed, uncertain if his lingering memories were from a nightmare or reality.