I Welcome Your Rejection: Angel Kings’ Proud Mate novel Chapter 69

Ira’s POV

Lior and Linda slide past the fog after keeping us waiting longer than necessary. One look at them answers the question why they hadn’t gotten here hours ago. Linda has her fingers, tongue and lips all over Lior. She is like an hungry animal, gripping and licking. He quickly pushes her back after the cable boat stops.

She still takes hold of his hand after they get off, gazing at me like I have intentions to steal him.

Instead I lead the way towards the tomb. Everyone follows.

“Wait… is that a tomb? I don’t think we should go there,” Linda exclaims.

Everyone keeps walking, ignoring her.

There are unlit torches by the heavy door which has no locks. The heads of the torches are shaped like crescent moons. I think we will need them to see inside the tomb.

“Do you sense anything dangerous yet?” King Tiras asks Ronen.

“Not out here. But there is definitely a trap inside,” King Ronen answers.

Tiras lits our torches with his fire. The shape of the crescent moon becomes even clearer with bright flames surrounding it. It’s an intriguing shape for a torch, as the moon lights up the night just like torches do.

Ronen picks me up by the waist and sets me down several steps from the door. I stare at him questioningly. Are we not going in?

“Stand far from the door until we figure out what dangers lie inside,” he says.

I shrug my shoulders. I do not want to die before saving my father anyway.

Adon opens the tomb’s door wide. It is pitch black inside, like no light is bouncing in even with the door open.

Tiras gets closer and holds his torch closer to the darkness of the tomb. Nothing changes. It’s like the torch’s light cannot illuminate the darkness of the tomb.

“That’s really strange. How can fire not illuminate darkness? The spell must be heavy,” Lior says.

I agree. Above all surprises I thought we might encounter, darkness that cannot be illuminated by torches is the strangest. How does anyone ever get inside?

“Can you see even a little inside, your majesties?” Aruin asks.

“Only a little. The darkness is too thick,” Tiras replies.

“The trap isn’t far inside the tomb. I can sense it’s closeness now that the door is open,” Ronen says. “We cannot step inside without clear sight.”

We are not turning back! Not without my father. Not to wait for Luminis to be freed and come after us.

“There must be a way. Lysandra cannot have just abandoned them in the tomb forever,” I say. “Let me figure it out,” I say.

“You’re always acting like you know everything and no man likes you,” Linda outright grumbles.

“Perhaps I am right, even now,” I say, having suddenly figured out where the trap lies in the tomb.

The moon-shaped torches – they are symbols that hint at how to see in the strange darkness of the tomb. They cannot light the place, but they are clues.

What words can I use to tell my friends that there was a way we will be able to see in the strange darkness of the tomb without the torches? It sounds insane, right? I am sure they will doubt my wisdom now and even refuse to let me be the first to test my theory against the darkness if the tomb.

“I will lead the way,” Ronen says, dumping his torch aside so he step into the tomb without it.

No one stops him as we are aware that his intuition warns him of danger. His eyes close at the doorstep and he immediately confirms my claims. “They are right. We can see through the dark with eyes closed.” He chuckles.

Tiras gets closer pecks my forehead for the a hundredth time. “Your brains are incredible. You’re special in every useful way,” he says before joining his brother at the tomb’s door.

“Who isn’t useful?” Linda scoffs in a low voice.

“You will have your time to shine, dear. Be patient,” Lior urges.

There is a hint of tiredness in his voice, like he is getting impatient with her bitterness too. Of course I do not believe that he now loves her. She is his foolish puppet. I wish her the best but fact remains that his plans are to use her.

“I am an easy woman to love, am I not?” she asks Lior. “I do not carry grudges and anger in my heart that spoil space meant for love.”

“Of course, you’re easy to please,” he affirms and she delightfully giggles.

Again I focus on the mission ahead and not her annoying laughter. There are good reasons why I have grudges and anger in my heart. The love for my father whose life is at risk in Lysandra’s captivity is one of those reasons. I am also not ashamed that I am yet to fully forgive the angel kings. The scars of their punishment are yet to heal so I haven’t taken too long.

I get closer to the tomb’s door and Tiras takes hold of my right arm. “Watch your steps, honey. There isn’t much space to walk on,” he warns.

I close my eyes and finally see.