Supernatural Villain (Supernatural Captivity #3) - Avery Song Page 0,97

to the pressure of rulership. I'm sure she hadn't taken it all in yet, but as the clock continued to count down, she was beginning to realize she was going to be a true queen and have the task of caring for an entire kingdom on her hands.

With the knowledge of the past, I wondered what would happen afterward. Who would be chosen to even live in these lands? I also wondered how we'd balance our lives when everything was over.

Once Wilfried was out of the picture, the truth was out to the world, and peace returned to our lands, what would become of our careers and future with Cassandra?

Another thing to add to the jar of unanswered worries flooding my mind, but I had to push them to the back end and focus on the gem before me.

"You're doing an amazing job," I whispered. "I know this is a lot. Adapting to all of this while having the urge to help our world before chaos breaks at the hands of Wilfried."

"I think I'm most afraid of how I'm going to take care of a kingdom on my own," she quietly confessed and lowered her head as she looked to our shoes- her heels and my white shoes sparkling thanks to the looming glow of the lanterns' flames.

"I'm going to have to start from the ground up. Yes, there's a foundation that was revived after being left behind suddenly, but it doesn't mean I have those who are loyal enough to make the kingdom grow. If I try to find that outside of this kingdom, they may have ill intentions and simply want the privilege of having access to this place. I think that's what scares me the most. Those who wish nothing but to see this kingdom fall again trying to sabotage me."

She lifted her head to look up into my eyes, and all I wanted to do was hug her tightly for the strength in her eyes didn't portray the fear and worry that leaked off her voice.

"This kingdom faced the ultimate consequence of being a prison of death. Those who ventured in never returned, not because it was the land's wishes, but because of someone's selfishness that brought the entire kingdom down with a lingering curse. How many years have passed before the very truth was finally investigated? It just angers me and makes me want to be so protective of this place that's now mine."

She took an inhale and let it out as she closed her eyes. "I wasn't born when I perished in that very throne room. My parents died in one another's arms, while their kingdom rotted and mourned their deaths while being discarded from the rest of the world. Their murderer waltzed around the world with the title of king, ruining the lives of those who meddled with his hidden agenda. Now that the truth is starting to be unraveled, the first to run to these lands will be the selfish ones. People who seek nothing but refuge because they can feel the approaching rise of war. These lands that were belittled and cast away are now the lands many will wish to seek salvation from, and when I think about that...it upsets me down to my very core."

Her eyes darkened then as her face hardened to mask the true anger boiling within her.

"Those who truly seek a place of safety and have something positive to offer to this kingdom would stay away because they'll think they're not valued enough. Not worthy in comparison to those of greed who flaunt their power like the very man who’s trying to further manipulate their minds. Since I acknowledged I was about to rule a kingdom, that was one of the many things running through my mind, and I can feel the kingdom's desire to not only thrive but protect those who deserve to be protected," she explained. "It's not like this kingdom is safe from the Great Summoning, but now that I have such a rare clean slate to start fresh, I want to make sure I do it right."

Moving to face her, I stood there with my hands by my sides as she stood firmly before me. I was being intimidating on purpose, my eyes raking down her body as I tried to find some sort of weakness in her conviction. It was what we fae royals did when confronted with a conflicting task. You'd face someone who was more intimidating, and they would