AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The man who had slaughtered hundreds in his quest for power.
The man who was rumored to have sacrificed innocent souls for his own selfish gains.
I knew what they said about me. I knew the rumors, what was true and what was false, and I did nothing to deny those claims. They simply helped me in the end.
Ruling with fear was a far more powerful tool than ruling with kindness. I’d learned that again and again over the years.
I was king for a reason.
“Now,” I continued, my tone becoming much harsher and unforgiving. “You will respect your king or suffer the consequences, but I can assure you, I will enjoy you either way.”
“You’re not my king,” she replied through gritted teeth.
I smirked.
This was going to be fun.
CHAPTER 4
Helheim
Aria
The Dark King.
I gulped, terrified, even though I tried to remain strong.
This was madness. This had to be a dream. Maybe I was losing my mind, or I was hallucinating because I was so hungry, but something was wrong. This couldn’t be happening, shouldn’t be happening.
I just had to calm down. Then I could get my head on straight and think my way out of this mess or wake up, whatever I needed to do to figure my shit out.
I looked around the throne room, my eyes widening as I took it all in. The whole place had a malevolent feel to it. The walls were made of cold black stone, towering high and covered with sinister-looking runes etched in a glowing blood-red color. Thetwisted designs seemed to pulse with an evil sort of magic, and my heart pounded even harder.
Magic was things the nobles dabbled in, not the poor folk like me. I’d never really been around it before.
It was unsettling to say the least.
Dominating the center of the chamber was the Dark King’s throne. Chiseled from sharp, glistening obsidian, it loomed tall and imposing, its dark surface catching the light from the flames that flickered along the walls and around the base, but I quickly turned my gaze away back to him as he stepped toward me. I had more pressing matters to worry about than the king’s throne room and the evil magic it contained.
“I am your king,” he growled, the sound like a rolling bout of thunder in the middle of a hurricane.
I shivered, fear gnawing at my insides, but I clenched my fists, refusing to let it show. I would not give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. I would not bow to this evil king’s demands no matter what.
I would be strong.
“Why have you brought me here?” I demanded, my voice trembling but firm.
The Dark King regarded me with those piercing violet eyes. He was tall, his presence overwhelming, and his gaze seemed to strip me of all my defenses, but I remained strong and fisted my hands at my sides.
I couldn’t let him get to me. I wouldn’t.
“You are brave, I’ll give you that. But bravery alone won’t save you.”
I felt a surge of anger, my fear momentarily forgotten. “I’d rather die fighting against you than live as your prisoner.”
He reached out, his hand brushing against my cheek, and I flinched at the coldness of his touch. Recoiling, I took a step back, glaring at him as I did so.
“We’ll see about that,” he murmured, his voice a chilling whisper. “Your spirit may be strong, but even the strongest can be broken.”
