“ze,” Thalia whispered, her eyes wide and disbelieving as she stared at him, almost unable toprehend 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.


    “Oh my God, ze!” 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 tion 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?” ze 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 zing with an intensity of fury that was frightening. “I hate you so much!”


    ze 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 oveying 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 aplete douche. And how could you just leave me to chase after that… that bitch, Arabe?”


    “Do you even have the faintest idea of the pain I’ve endured?”


    ze’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 red. “You can’t understand how it felt to be abandoned, left all alone. You, ze, 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, ze reached for her arm, a gesture intended to providefort. 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, ze conceded, “I understand, and I’m very sorry,” he murmured. “But let’s keep our voices down. Thest 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 ce. And now you’re telling me to keep my voice-”


    ze’s hand swiftly mped 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 andmanding. A sigh followed. “I promise I’ll exin 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,” ze repeated as if he could read her thoughts.


    With an eye roll, Thalia gradually rxed her body, ceasing her struggle against ze’s grasp. After what felt like an eternity, he finally removed his hand.


    She massaged her lips, shooting him an irritated re. “What the hell, ze?” 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,” ze exined, his voice hushed yet earnest.


    Thalia cast a nervous nce around their surroundings. “Risk of being caught by who? What’s happening?”


    ze 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,” ze stated firmly.


    Thalia shrugged, yet she was curious. “Fine, but where have you been all this time? Where’s your safe ce? And why the hell didn’t youe looking for me?” Her questions fired off one after another.


    However, ze 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, ze maintaining a vignt 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.


    ze moved forward, positioning himself at the entrance with Thalia by his side. Yet, one of the guards advanced, deliberately blocking their path.


    “Excuse me?” ze’s brows knitted together as he spoke up.


    “I’m sorry, sir, but we cannot allow anyone inside without proper authorization. She can’te in,” one of the guards stated firmly.


    “But she’s my sister. She means no harm!” Dismayed, ze 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 nce at ze, silently urging him toe up with a solution.


    Amidst themotion at the entrance of the Phoenix cave, Arabe’s attention was piqued. She heard everything and decided to take a look. ze and Thalia stood at the entry, the guards forming an unyielding barrier.


    Arabe’s inquiry cut through the tension, her presencemanding 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 yed on Arabe’s lips, her gaze softening as it fell upon Thalia. “She is wee. I recognize her. Besides, she’s ze’s sister. No need for her to feel unwee.”


    “Grant her passage.” Arabe’s gaze held a firmness as she countered the guard’s hesitation.


    “We apologize, Your Majesty,” the guard admitted, his stance rxing as he turned towards Thalia. “Our apologies for the dy. Please,e inside.” With a courteous gesture, they cleared the way, allowing ze 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?”


    “ze made his own choice to be here. I did not coerce him,” Arabe 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.


    ze stepped forward, his voice calm, “Thalia, please, calm down. That’s enough.”


    Thalia’s eyes narrowed, zing with fury as she locked eyes with ze. She clenched her fists tightly at her sides, her body tense and ready to pounce. However, before her rage could propel her towards Arabe, ze 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 Arabe. Among them was Orga, the formidablemander of the guard. He stepped forward, his vignt eyes scanning the surroundings for lurking threats.


    “Stand down, wolf girl,” Orga ordered, “Respect the presence of our queen.”


    Thalia’s re 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 nce at Arabe, Thalia hoped for some exnation, only to be met with an icy countenance that sent a shiver down her spine.


    “Queen?” Thalia echoed incredulously, her astonishment impossible to hide.


    Arabe affirmed with a nod. “Yes, I am the Queen of the Phoenixes.”


    Thalia’s mind reeled, struggling to process the revtion. Arabe as a queen seemed unbelievable, an imaginary cover.


    With an incredulous toss of her head, she burst intoughter, the sound dripping with sarcasm. “You, a queen?” she retorted, her disbelief palpable. “That’s quite the fairy tale.”


    However, herughter 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, ze said as he addressed Thalia’s skepticism, “It’s true, Thalia. Arabe is the queen.”


    “May we have a moment, please?” ze redirected his words to Arabe, his hand gently taking Thalia’s as he guided her away toward an adjacent room-the very chamber he and Arabe shared.


    When they reached, Thalia tugged her hand away from ze, and her frustration boiled over. “Why drag me away? What is this, ze? And how in the world did Arabe climb to queenhood?”


    ze met her gaze. “Thalia, you must understand. She holds immense power now, reigning as the Phoenix Queen.” He embarked on a detailed ount, recounting their journey to the Phoenix cave, the ambush by rogue assants, and Arabe’s astonishing defense against the ck figure. He described Arabe’s extraordinary ability to create portals, which had transported them to their current location.


    Thalia’s confusion deepened, her mind grappling with the iprehensible. “This is all so confusing. Arabe, a regr girl-”


    “-Who has transformed into an extraordinary leader,” ze interjected. “Thalia, change is often unexinable, and life has an uncanny way of defying expectations.”


    “Sometimes, I don’t understand it either. But that’s the truth of it,” ze 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.


    ze 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 n 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, ept you bing her mate. I would never, ever allow that to happen, ze.”Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    “Thalia…” ze 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 ze could utter another word, she turned around on her heel and departed, leaving him standing there, agitated and speechless.