The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness



48. The Night Before

~ ENRIQUE ~

The sound of the wind rustling in the trees and the occasional insect or bird fills the night. I am lounging on the roof, having drinks with Jose and Carlos. It is almost midnight and tomorrow the Blood Moon will be upon us. Just the thought sends a chill down my spine. It's my nerves mixed with a deep sense of foreboding. Things are in place for whatever may happen tomorrow, but why do I feel that we aren't as prepared as we think we are?

What hold does he have on me? And will Azarakh somehow be able to use me? Why and how? I am El Rey Carmesí, so why is he able to do so?

And then the nerve-racking moment to see if Kataleya is my fated or not.

"You know it's going to be ok, right? I know it will be," Jose remarks as he drinks his alcoholic beverage.

"Do you? How?" Carlos asks him sceptically; the tension has settled over everyone. I can't blame him for feeling on edge.

"Because we won't give up. We are all prepared. Everyone who needs protection is in an area bathed with light. All our warriors are ready and kitted up for battle. Why won't we?"

"Because they are playing pawns for a god we do not know?" I add as I refill my glass.

"A goddess at that. Women are trouble, just don't tell my madre I said that," Carlos grumbles.

I chuckle dryly, but the weight, like a boulder in my stomach, remains there. We have not found answers to many things, and we are possibly out of time. Usually on Blood Moons, we have a party where couples can possibly sniff out their mates, but this time there will be no merriment.

I exhale as I sit back. "You know your orders. Protect Mi Reina. If I do lose control, you know what to do, she's in charge."

"We know that, but can you not mark her?" Carlos asks.

I shake my head. "I'm not risking it. I can't. Not when we don't know what could happen. She is a queen, and she will be fine without my mark. She will have her family too and her pack by her side." I run my fingers through my hair.

"Why are you so sure that Azarakh will be able to take control?" Jose asks, placing his glass down with a little more force than necessary. He's the most positive right now.

"The picture, the prophecy of that child witch. It was clear."

"I know prophecies can be misunderstood." Carlos disagrees. I cock a brow.

"Pendejo, you seem a little too smart tonight," I remark

He chuckles before dropping his head back and looking at the sky. "Ah, you see, I can sometimes be smart. But really, I do think marking her might be a good precaution." He shrugs.

Jose shakes his head. "Not after what happened to Rhea, cabrón. I'm with Enrique on that one."

Carlos hangs his head. "I know, but I think she's taken the downside to this already."

I shake my head. "Like I said, it's not up for discussion. I am not putting her at any risk, especially since we don't know what could happen. If there is a risk or not."

"Ok ok, lo siento!" Carlos throws his hands up in surrender.

We fall silent for a moment before I get up. Kataleya is currently with her family after they had all finished putting the plan into place, alongside Jose, Carlos, and Marie. But there's something I wanted to do before the morning. Open the box my madre left for me.

"I'm going to head to bed soon. Get some rest too. Tomorrow is going to be a long night." I turn to Carlos." Cabrón, walk with me."

He looks surprised before he gets up quickly.

"Yes, boss."

I remain silent until I make my way down from the roof of the packhouse and walk down the hallway.

"I have one last job for you."

"Oh?" he asks, looking worried.

I sigh. "And you are not to tell anyone about it, not even Jose." His worry seems to increase, but he nods. This is a job I can't give Jose because he won't do what needs to be done... but Carlos is more gullible. "What is it?" he asks worriedly.

I pass him a small device. "If I lose control, or it looks like I am uncontainable or unstoppable, then you need to press the button on it. Open it like this... and then this button," I explain, showing him.

He stops in his tracks. "What will it do?"

I cock a brow. "It'll deliver a large dose of wolfsbane to my system, cabrón, what else? Enough to make me fall unconscious and everyone can move in," I answer smoothly, although it's far more dangerous than that.

"Ah! Clever, clever! No wonder you are alpha."

I smirk. "Obviously. So just remember, only use it if you feel that I pose a risk."

He nods, frowning as he slowly takes the device from me. "Does this mean you've put something inside of yourself already?"

"Not yet, but I will. Thank you, Carlos."

He looks up at me, "I don't want to have to use it, but I promise you, if I need to use it, I will."

"Good. Now get some rest." I'm about to turn away when he puts his hand on my shoulder. I look over my shoulder at him and he steps forward, hugging me.

"Take care of yourself, Enrique. We all need you."novelbin

I smirk slightly, "Yeah, I ain't going anywhere. I just found my luna."

He smiles despite still looking worried. "Yeah."

We part ways and I head to my bedroom, Kataleya isn't here yet. I take the box from Madre from the back of my wardrobe and sit down on the bed, looking at it. It's sealed with a strip of tape that goes all around it.

One that you can tell hasn't been opened or it would have damaged the cardboard box. Even now, I'm unable to bring myself to open it. The memories of Madre, of our family, are painful.

Letting out a sharp breath, I rip the tape off and open the box, getting it over with quickly. Inside is a black leather box. I force myself to slowly open it and look inside. There are two letters, both sealed with a wax seal, and six pouches.

"Madre, what is this?" I murmur quietly as I look at the two letters. Turning them over, I see one is addressed to

me.

To my beautiful son, Enrique' Her handwriting is so obviously hers, and suddenly it feels hard to breathe as memories rush back to me. Her teaching me to read and write. Her writing words for me to copy. Her writing in her journal as I lay beside her in bed, watching her...

I let out a slow, deep, shuddering breath as I look at the second letter. To my future daughter'

Kataleya.

I stare at it for a moment before placing it down on the bed beside me as I put the box down beside it and break open the seal on my letter. My heart is hammering as I try to compose my emotions as I begin reading her letter.

'Enrique,

Mijo, I just know you have grown into a handsome young man. My, look at those muscles! And look how tall you've become!'

I have to stop, my heart hammering as I look up. I can almost hear her voice in my head, as if she is speaking directly to me. As if she can see me right now.

I smile sadly, looking back at the weathered paper.

"That's the effect you wanted, right, Madre? You always had a way with words."

"Ah, you might have taken a mate! I am so proud of you. I may not know if she is your fated or not, but it doesn't matter as long as you are in love. You two must make a beautiful pair. How can you not when my son is so handsome? So brave, Enrique, I love you. I hope you know that. As I shared in the previous letter, if I had a choice, I wouldn't have left you."

First letter? My heart skips a beat as I look in the box. There's no other letter... I glance at the other one, but it's not addressed to me... with a racing heart, I look down at the letter again.

'If you are reading this, it means you succeeded in destroying the djinn and weeded out the one who betrayed us. was truly terrified that maybe, just maybe, you might not succeed. I hope what I was able to share with you helped find the traitor. I am so happy that you have done this. I knew that you would be able to do it. You are, after all, special, just like it was prophesied. I asked Hugo to give you this letter when you find your love.

I look up, scanning the room as if the walls might hold the answer. There's a big chunk missing. What letter? Where is it, and why do I feel it holds vital information? The packet was sealed, and unless Hugo switched out the packaging, which I doubt, it means that letter wasn't in here... but then where is it?