Castle Savoyar. Part 1.

We continued galloping for about a quarter of an hour in complete silence. Sebastian remained serious and focused, not paying any attention to me even when I fell slightly behind. He kept his horse steady and waited for me to catch up, not turning towards me.

Then, abruptly, he veered off the road and into the forest, stopping at a small clearing. For the first time, he looked at me with a stern gaze and commanded, "Tell me."

I was taken aback by his tone and demand, but still looked him straight in the eyes, and with a smirk, I asked, "Tell you what, Your Highness?" Inside me, anger was boiling. How dare he order me around after everything that had happened? He, too, assumed he had the right to command me. Sebastian sensed my rage and decided to ease the tension, dismounting his horse and offering me his hand.

"Alex, my dear, what did the king say?" Sebastian spoke in a softer tone.

That one word, "dear," broke through all my defensive barriers. I grabbed his hand and jumped off the horse, clenching my fists and stepping back a few paces from him. Turning away, I hissed, "Dear? After everything, you dare to call me dear?" Then, I turned back to face him. If looks could kill, I would have incinerated Sebastian with the fury in my eyes.

"Do you want to hear a story? A story about a king who gives a choice: beheadment or becoming his puppet? Or a story about a count who thought the Keeper would be useful not just for protection, but also in his bed? Or perhaps, a story about a prince who, while having a beautiful fiancée in his bed, decided to play with me? Which story do you want to hear first, Your Highness?" My words were laced with anger and despair. Sebastian remained motionless, looking at me, his expression becoming increasingly severe and tense with each of my words.

After a few minutes, he spoke, his voice hoarse and low, "Alex... I... My connection with Alicia... it's all complicated and entangled. I can't explain everything to you right now. If what you said about my father is true... I need time to figure this out, but I won't be able to help if you don't tell me what the king said." He spoke resolutely, but tension was still evident in his eyes.

Listening to him, I felt his inner struggle. Anger and resentment mixed with the desire to trust and reveal everything that had happened. I sensed my anger starting to subside and realized that I needed an ally. He had pulled me out of the boarding house, and maybe in this situation, Sebastian would think more maturely or, at the very least, save me from the count and his insinuations. I exhaled, trying to sort through the swarm of thoughts, and looked into the prince's eyes, trying to gauge how sincere he was right now or if it was just another game. A bad ally is better than another enemy. I made a decision.

"I will tell you everything, Sebastian," I said calmly, trying to restrain my emotions. I recounted the king's plans and the literal encounter with the count near the cabinet. Finishing, I exhaled; the cards were on the table, and it was up to Sebastian to help me or destroy me.

For a while, Sebastian remained tense and silent, looking towards the forest. I watched him in silence, as if my life depended on his next words. Well, why "as if"? My life did depend on it; I wasn't planning to submit, and Sebastian knew that, even though I hadn't told him, I was sure he knew.

"Let's go. We have a few more hours to the border. I need to think," Sebastian said, bringing his horse close to help me. I nodded silently and mounted the horse.

We rode in silence for a few more hours. At the border of the Forest Kingdom, Sebastian dismounted and helped me down. He stood silently for a few minutes, attentively looking at me as if making a decision. Then he rubbed his nose, closed his eyes, and said, "I won't be able to go against my king's will. Do you understand?" He looked at me intensely. I nodded, and he continued.

"The situation with the count can be dangerous, but I'll deal with it. I'll find a replacement for him," he waited for me to confirm that I understood.

"What do you mean? Explain," exhaustion and tension had already clouded my mind. I didn't understand what exactly Sebastian meant, whether it was the count's control over me or his bedchamber implications.

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Sebastian shook his head, trying to gather his thoughts. "Lindwood... he's very cruel and powerful. He's used to getting what he wants, and he will have power over you. If he demands what you mentioned, you won't have a choice, he won't back down. I'll try to find a replacement for him," his fists clenched as he spoke.

I stepped back, feeling both anxious and offended. "And what am I supposed to do if you can't convince the king to replace him? Are you suggesting that I should resign and warm his bed? I'd rather walk into Crowly's jaws than let him touch me," I looked at Sebastian, shock mingling with anger and revulsion. Did he really suggest that I should submit to the count's power, saying I wouldn't have a choice? Maybe I misunderstood him, or did he really send me to Lindwood's bedchamber?

Sebastian's eyes blazed with anger as he grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me, saying, "You foolish girl! I will cut him into pieces and feed him to the Crows if he dares to touch you. Alex, do you see this?" He raised his hand with the artifact. "You're mine, do you hear me? As long as the ring is on you, you're mine, and no one is allowed to touch you! No one, do you hear?"

His eyes were fiery, as if a tempest was about to burst forth. Sebastian tightened his grip on my shoulders and passionately kissed me, biting my lip, which made me taste blood.

"Have you lost your mind?!" I tried to push him away, tormented by pain. Sebastian slightly loosened his grip and wiped a drop of my blood from his lips, pressing it against the stone on the ring. The lava-colored stone, which had turned dark, returned to its original color.

"I activated the beacon in the ring. When your blood touches the stone again, I will be able to see and hear what you do. The ring will also be easier to find, as it won't block attempts to locate it," explained the prince, wiping his lips.

I looked at him with confusion. "Why did you do that, Sebastian?" I asked, touching my already healing lip – yet another ritual.

He sighed and tried to soften his tone. "I'm trying to protect you, Alex. I'm ready to do whatever it takes to prevent anyone from harming you. Trust me, I'll do everything possible to find a way out," he said, then glanced at the sky; it was already evening, and the sun was descending towards the horizon.

I looked in the same direction and remembered that he had promised to return to lunch with Alicia. Sadness tugged at my heart, but I forced a small smile and said, "Looks like you missed lunch with your future bride." Without looking at Sebastian, I headed toward the horse.

However, before I could climb into the saddle, I was abruptly pulled off it. Sebastian pressed me against his chest, holding my hands, suppressing any resistance. "She will forgive me when she finds out I was with my future wife," he whispered into my neck, covering it with kisses. "My little jealous one. My sweet tigress, my beautiful princess," he continued to kiss my neck, and I didn't resist. It was as if the elves had turned off my brain, and I simply enjoyed Sebastian's kisses and his strong embrace. At that moment, I didn't want to think about his fiancee or the king.

We remained in each other's embrace, forgetting about time; in that moment, nothing else mattered but his lips on my skin and the passion that consumed both of us. It's uncertain where his caresses would have led and how far we would have gone this time, surrendering to the growing desire, but the sound of a magical alarm interrupted us.

At first, it was faint, but with each passing second, it grew louder. It was an unusual sound, different from the familiar tolling bells that everyone in the Borderlands knew from childhood. This time, the ringing sounded louder and more resonant.

"Breaching!" I pulled away from Sebastian and covered my eyes, feeling the power penetrating me. Inside me, the connection to the Rift awakened, and I felt it pulling me as if an unheard call echoed in my mind. There was a clear link between my power and the Rift, and I knew what was happening at the edge of the Rift, as if I were inside one of its portals.

It was as if the Rift had become a part of me, and now I could observe everything happening at the boundary, as if I were right at its center.

Suddenly, it struck me: it wasn't me observing the transition; somehow, I saw the same as the monster that was about to break into our world. Horror engulfed me, and as I opened my eyes, I could accurately describe who and how many creatures would emerge through the Rift.

Sebastian had been watching me all this time. With confidence, I stepped away from him, not saying a word, and leaped onto the horse, drawing my swords from the artifact bag. Now mounted, I looked the prince in the eyes and said: "Warn the King. A breach in the Rift, level six!" I impatiently circled my horse around Sebastian.

He nodded and smiled, saying, "Your eyes are shining. But, my little guardian, the breach is only at level five." He was already about to leave, but I shouted after him, "No longer! Sebastian! It's the SIXTH level! Warn the King!" Without waiting for his response, I spurred the horse and let it gallop. There was no point arguing with the prince; I wouldn't have believed myself if I hadn't seen what I saw.

I mercilessly urged the horse towards the Rift. Let them not understand, let no one believe in my power now. I know what I am capable of and what I saw. The Rift had awakened. This time, it wouldn't be just a battle; judging from what I witnessed, it would be a massacre. And if I endure, no one would ever dare doubt me as the Guardian. I must endure.