Thrown Into Fire: The Sacrificed Princess

signifying we had left my grounds, I could see the blood splattered at the steps leading to the Crystal Palace. There was n

whispered, as if speaking too loud woul

t of her uniform tight in her hands. "His Majesty has requested the pr

a small ceremony, a novice priest having done the ceremony. Calling the funeral 'small' was an understatement. I was the only one in mourning. No one cared

ed into the deepest parts of my brain. He spoke no words for me, had no condolences for the woman he once lay with. He didn't care to even give my mother a proper headstone.

f before my brother's captor? The sheer nerve was enough to make my blood boil, but any hatred I

, struggling in place as they tried to maintain their heartbeat. From the lack of color in their lips and the raspiness of thei

nd knees at the sudden shove. I looked behind me, only to find the maid had scurried

a loud, accusatory voic

et. None of them dared to look up, each of them trembling in terror. In the center of the hall was the Imperial Family of Valeris, standing and staring at me. It had been long since I had

, the whole

led me through the small crowd of my siblings. "My youngest daughter has finally arrived– you see, she is of weak stature

y, accentuated by swirls of black tattoos that crawled up from his hips to his collarbones, up his neck and face and down his shoulders and arms. Large, scaly horns sprouted from the top of his head, curving slightly backwards and ending in sha

. He was held up by the collar of his tunic, his armor long gone. The remaining fabric on

ning his attention to King Aelric. "You an

please, come closer!" I was jerked to stand in front of the king, his hands digging into both of my shoulders as he held me far from him, pushing me closer to the b

never let go of Orion, the unconscious prince being dragged across the ballroom floor as if he were a simple rag doll a child carried around. He looked pathetic, truthfully. If the situation were

nless they moved. I shut my eyes tight, afraid to look at his face. He continued to hoist me up, and I fought to keep my toes on the ground. My jaw clenched at the pain of my entire weight being held by just my head, and I struggled to continue to allow air to pass in and out of me. It wasn't his grip that caused my lack of brea

d, his hand resting on my neck now. I gasped in horror, eyes flying open to find his face just inches from mine. He p

and needed his grip off of my neck. I tensed at the feel of the smooth, yet rigid scales on his forearm, but I couldn't dwell on the sensation for too l

to the bottom of my body before returning to meet with mine once

for my well being when I had been rushed out of my home to run barefoot on gravel and sharp rock, nor was there any care for me when

hing but a thin piece of fabric when all others are dressed in layers that would drag them into the

my father behind me. His stare burned into the back of my skull, waiting for me to tell the

ing worse than death," he threatened, voice just barely above a

reat Dragon! Like I

eft cried out in horror, only to find herself struck in her chest with a spear made of... shadows? The weapon had no physical body, looking out of place in its surroundings. Ripples of dark smoke radiated off of it, yet was sharp enough to plow through

to pull back Orion's arm and contort it in unnatural ways. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Aelric shrink back, biting his lip as he shook with not only

ist me with standing, the queen brushing my hair out of my face as she cooed at me, telling me everything will be alright. The princes and princess even whispered wo

finally choked out. The king'

at me in a whisper. "Wh

if she was the one with her arm broken in several spots. Her hands flew to cover her mouth, tears

he Great Dragon you are adored! Tell him you will be overjoyed to have his hand in marria

ited my body. I watched as my sister and brothers fell beside the queen, groveling just as she did. I felt

meone else would thrive. I had only hoped to forever evade their eyes and no longer plague their thoughts. I preferred when I had re

meet his. "Will you kill me, now that you know

uld feel anything right now, I would've been devoured by the sheer cruelty and amusement this beast before me had. The

torm had finally come to an end. It was hopeless. There would be no fight against this monster. His laughter faded away into the background, my vision blurred as I could no longer focu

a! Astr

e look of pride sparkling in his eyes. Behind him, Orion was being cradled in his mother's arms, his sib

e side like a small sack of potatoes. I heard cries of shock erupt around me- both the royal family and the nobles were distraught to see th

are

been clear on my face as he laughed once again when he looked down at me. Mockery and pity swam in his eyes as he grinned. The curl of his lips made my st