CHAPTER FOUR: AMBUSH IN NOTHERIS

The gates of Notheris loomed ahead, tall and unyielding against the night sky. The flickering torches cast long wavering shadows on the walls making the palace rather ominous than welcoming.

Devasena tightened her cloak around her shoulders, her body stiff with exhaustion from the journey, she had been riding and fighting for two days, every inch of her muscles ached,her mind reeling with words she had heared from Zuriel and Irene.

She shook her thoughts away. No, she was not some reincarnation, she was Devasena, the first heir to the throne .

She nudged her horse forward and prepared herself. The guards barely spared her a glance before stepping aside .

A whisper of unease slid down her spine but she ignored it.

She had barely crossed the threshold when it happened.

A loud whistle cut through the air.

Then chaos.

A figure leaped from the shadows, steel glinting under the torch, it was aimed at her throat.

Instinct took over. She pushed herself side ways, barely escaping the strike. Her horse screamed as an arrow lodged itself in her flank and before she could react, the beast collapsed beneath her.

She hit the ground with impact that made her bones rattle in her body.

A second assasin lunged at her .

She rolled, unsheathing her dagger in a single fluid motion. The moment the attacker came within reach, she drove her sword in his back. A strangled gasp escaped his lips as hedropped lifeless on the ground. But before she could recover, another figure moved.

More shadows emerged from the darknes, too many.

She staggered on her feet, her heart hammering against her chest. This was not just an assasination.

It was an excecution.

From the figures that emerged, she could tell that they were the royal guards.

"Traitors." She spat gripping her sword tighter, "You serve the false heir?"

None of them spoke.

A mercenary lunged, his sword arcing towards her head. She ducked, twisting her body and slashed at his leg. He howled but another , took his place before she couldstrike again.

She was fast, but they were many, too many. Steel clashed, Devasena fought viciously, but for every man she cut down, more replaced them.

Then a blade slipped past her defense. Pain seared through her arm.

She hissed,stumbling backwards,blood already staining her sleeves.

Her body screamed at her to continue fighting but she knew the truth- she wouldn't last much longer.

She tried to run but she found herself trapped. The guards had formed a tight circle,cutting off her escape. One of them moved forward, the chief guard. He raised his sword, voice cold

"The prince sends his regards."

Devasena refused to close her eyes, if she was going to die, she would while looking her killers in the face.

The blade descended... Then darkness erupted.

The ground shook in acknowledgement of the force which hit it.

A sutfocating blackness swept through the courtyard swallowing everything in a dangerous void.

Then there were screams, but it wasn't from the men, it had no source.

The men began to convulse, their breath seizing with painful strains.

A chilling voice broke through the chaos.

"Tsk, tsk".

The sound of boots echoed through the yard. Slow, controlled, steady.

A figure emerged from the abyss.

Midnight black attire, unruly dark hair. Eyes like liquid shadow. Devasena's breath stopped. Zuriel.

He moved with unhurried grace, like the scene before him was of no consequence. The moment his gaze swept across the guards , they dropped their weapons. Their body trembled, eyes darting around like unseen hands were holding on tightly to her throat.

One by one, they collapsed. Alive- but unmoving. Silence fell over the compuond. Devasena froze, her dagger still raised, despite the overwhelming presence in front of her.

Zuriel stepped a few steps away, studying her with an unreadable expression. Then he let out a soft chuckle.

"You mortals are always so eager to die"

Her jaws clenched subconsciously "I had it under control"

His smik deepened. "Yes, i could see that"

The pain in her arm was burning now, but she could not show her weakness tot his man. "Why are you here."

Zuriels gaze drifted lazily around them "You tell me, little storm." His voice lowered, dangerously soft, "Why is your kingdom trying to kill you."

Her stomach churned.

She knew the answer. The false heir was done playing games.

Zuriel exhaled, his smirk disapearing. "You are bleeding." Before she could react he moved, too fast.

He was standing at a distance, but now he was in front of her, his hands brushing against her wound.

She flinced, not from pain, from him.

Heat spread from where his hand was, sending impulses through her body. Something dark built up between them. Something dangerous.

His eyes met hers. Too close, too knowing.

For time which seemed like forever, none of them moved.

Then he quickly retracted his hands and moved away.

Zuriel, stared at Devasena as a mocking smile apeared on his face, his voice full of amusement. "Well it seems to me like you have a decion to make."

Devasena's heart was heavy, her heartbeat loud in her ears.

Zurian had not only saved her, he had also made a statement. She had a choice, him or she dies in the hand of the illegitimate prince.

The false heir had underestimated her, but what happens if she had the prince of the Underworld fighting by her side.

But now, she had the devil to join forces with. And that made a difference.

But where he came from, what he wanted, how he knew her- these questions forced their way to her mind. Why did she always feel the way she had when she saw him. It was almost like shewas awaitinghim to emerge.

She should be scared of him, she should not have anything to do with this demon.

But there was a force that attracted him to her, she could not shake this feeling no matter how much she tried.