Chapter 262

262 Slaying The Shadow Within

Three nights ago, Lucien in his dying state was laid underneath the Tree of Life. His lower half was immersed inside the Cleansing Pond to draw benefits from the pond water.

The purification effect of the pond put the poison in Lucien’s body to sleep. It halted the deterioration of his body and stopped the passage of time for him. To completely eliminate the poison and save Lucien’s life, Ronan needed something a lot stronger.

He did not want any divination, he had said. All he wanted was to save his mate.

No matter how small the possibility was, or how arduous the task was, Ronan was willing to do it.

“Anything,” he begged. “Anything to revive Lucien.”

The High Seer had only one solution for Ronan Silverback.

“Three nights from now, when the full moon is shining high up in the sky, I will give you a special blade, made from the essence of the moonlight during the full moon. This blade carries the power of the Moon Goddess at its peak,” the High Seer explained.

“You can use this blade to cut the poison inside your mate’s heart, or to cut his lifeline and sever the connection between the two of you.”

“I want to cut the poison,” Ronan had said right away while squeezing Lucien’s hand. “How do I do that?”

.....

“Pray. Use these three days and nights to think about the love and connection that you share with your mate and with all your heart, make the decision to eliminate the poison inside your mate’s heart.”

“I don’t need three days or three nights,” Ronan said. “I don’t think I can love Lulu more than I already do. If he can’t make it, I too won’t last for long.”

A thin smile spread on the High Seer’s lips. “That is the curse of the fated mate connection. Thankfully, this blade could also sever the relation between fated mates.”

“Should you fail and end up killing your mate instead, you will at the same time end the fated mate connection between the two of you and you will be free from the curse.”

Ronan shook his head.

“If Lucien dies, I will follow him into the grave. With or without the curse.”

The High Seer gave a little nod.

“If you are determined, you have nothing to lose. Be here three nights from now.”

“High Seer, can I ask for a favor?” Ronan quickly asked before he was dismissed.

“Do what you need to do,” the High Seer said. “I allow it.”

“Thank you,” the Alpha said in response.

Of course the High Seer knew what Ronan wanted to ask.

She also knew what would happen. Her silence neither discouraged nor encouraged Ronan. Even if Ronan did not know whether his plan would work out or not, it was something that Ronan had to do.

He should have done it months ago instead of listening to Lillian Woodland.

Should Lucien end up leaving this mortal world, Ronan would make sure that he did not go alone.

Ronan would not rest until he sent all those who hurt Lucien to hell. Only then would he dare to follow Lucien in the afterlife.

In the present time, after everything had happened, the Alpha had exhausted all of his confidence.

Without caring the least for his pride, Ronan sobbed uncontrollably with his hand still clasped around the silver hilt of the blade.

“Lulu... No, why is there so much blood...”

Ronan wanted to staunch the flow of blood from Lucien’s left chest, but the High Seer grabbed his wrist.

“Don’t,” she said. “Have faith, Alpha Ronan.”

Ronan scoffed to himself.

“Right now, I trust everyone more than myself.”

He messed up so many things that he was not sure that he could do anything right anymore.

“Have faith in the Moon Goddess,” the High Seer corrected him. “Let go.”

Despite her old age, the High Seer had a strong grip. She pulled Ronan to his feet. Lucien’s body slipped from Ronan’s embrace and sank to the bottom of the pond. The knife was still embedded in his chest.

Soon, his blood bathed the entire pond in red color.

Ronan was no longer able to see his mate.

Panic rising in his heart like a tsunami, Ronan turned to the High Seer and asked, “Did I make it?”

“Let’s wait and see,” she answered.

Ronan obliged and waited by the pond side.

The redder the color of the pond water became, the more discouraged the Alpha became.

He would never be able to forgive himself if he failed this task. He did not even know how to apologize to his mate when they met in the afterlife.

Just then, a wisp of dark smoke rose from the surface of the pond.

“Alpha Ronan!” The High Seer suddenly shouted. “Scatter it with your claws!”

The initially thin smoke became denser and formed a skull. It let out an ear-splitting cry. Ronan slashed through it with his claws, ripping the unknown entity into pieces. It dissipated into the air.

The High Seer smiled.

“Congratulations, Alpha Ronan.”

At the end of her words, the Cleansing Pond was engulfed in a blinding golden light. Ronan had to cover his eyes and squinted through his fingers to see what was happening.

The red color slowly disappeared. The blood was gone, the clear pond water was restored, and Lucien lay still at the bottom of the pond.

The knife in his chest had disappeared, and so did the stab wound.

Ecstatic, Ronan rushed to the edge of the pond, intent on stepping inside and dragging Lucien out.

“High Seer, can I...?”

Ronan was unable to bring his question to the end. His mouth dropped open in amazement when he saw what was happening.

A sudden breeze blew through the clearing, whipping leaves off the tree and made them swirl above their heads. The flames inside the lanterns shook erratically, trying their best to survive despite the strong gust of wind.

The wind came from all directions and started to dance around the High Seer. It lifted her bangs and exposed her forehead. The intricate symbol on it lit up and her turquoise eyes began to glow.