Bride of Alvar (Redemption Saga, Book 1) Chapter 34

A silence covers the room.

I hold my breath and my eyes fix on Alvar. He’s not alone. I want him to know he’s not alone.

A human man dressed in expensive clothes stands. “Many of us have been suspicious of this from the beginning, your Majesty.”

Alvar motions his hand. “Come forward, Lord Calbir.”

Lord Calbir rises and walks up the center aisle of the cathedral. His hand rests on the holster he wears, but once he stands before Alvar, he kneels and kisses Alvar’s hand. There is a gasp that goes through the crowd of people.

“I know of the magic, it runs rampant in this world,” Lord Calbir explains, loud enough for everyone to hear. “A Fe collar is a treacherous device. I remember the days when Saul reigned over us. He placed a Fe collar on my own daughter. When I received her from his harem after he was banished, there was nothing left of her soul. She’d done things without choice or struggle that haunted and terrified her. She killed herself just three months after returning home. We couldn’t bring her back.”

Another man rose from the crowd, yet another human nobleman by the looks.

“I too have heard of this kind of magic, but that does not change the fact that King Alvar is a Cursed and has no right to rule,” the nobleman objected. “The Cursed are named so because they are the descendants of vile humans who brought a curse upon themselves by the Lord of Light for their corruption, they do not belong to themselves, they belong to fire and death. They are only produced by those who are despised by anything holy or good. If what King Alvar says is true he has terrorized us since Saul’s rule ended, by taking on his true form and flying in the skies above our city and leading us in this deception.”

A few other people second what the man said, there is much murmuring.

A sylph noble rises and shouts above it all, “If what he’s saying is true, Alvar has given us the ability to flee by his information. We shouldn’t waste one more second here in this cathedral!”

Lord Calbir speaks once more, this time to the people, “I shall lead you, we shall prepare for a battle.” He speaks once again to Alvar, “Your Majesty, we must have permission to destroy you.”

“With all my heart I grant it,” Alvar says without flinching, he brings Lord Calbir to his feet and offers his own weapon to Calbir. “Take this. A symbol of my passing of command to you. Lead my army against me. I cannot guarantee that you will succeed, but I hope because of Saul’s stay on Earth he will have lost some of his skills in using my body to kill others. Find a place of safety, do not tell me the location of it and prepare.”

Lord Calbir takes his gun and nods his head solemnly. “Of course, your Majesty. The Lord of Light shine on you for the kindness you’ve shown in warning us. May He grant you passage to Paradise.”

Lord Calbir turns and walks back down the aisle, and many of the people start to follow him toward the exit

“Kindness!” the angry nobleman whom had spoken against Alvar shouts and throws over a lamp stand down. “Why not try to kill him now? Before Saul comes and controls him?”

“Have at me, Lord Vessin,” Alvar states, he steps forward and removes his shirt.

My eyes widen. Whoa, what is he doing? Is he actually going to have his people take shots at him now?

Lord Vessin charges forward and fires his gun. The first shot hits Alvar’s bared chest, a wound forms and he writhes in the impact, but it heals almost immediately and his eyes blaze a fiery red. Alvar is transforming in front of his people! He’s making it clear to them just what they’re going to be up against.

Screams ring out. Lord Vessin continues shooting. Alvar’s beast form screeches in the pain of it’s changing bones, the windows in the cathedral shatter, his body crushes the podium as it expands.

Lord Vessin’s expression changes to one of fear. “He’s going to kill us all right now!” There are screams from the remaining people.

“Silence!” Alvar roars. “I am not going to kill you. I’m just showing you what you’re up against. Use every single weapon against me. See how powerless they are against a Cursed. Saul had a blade he enchanted that could harm me, his sorceress made it for him. If you can create such a weapon, you have the greatest chance of succeeding.”
“Then let’s kill that Earth queen of his, for all we know, she’s pregnant with his Cursed child,” Lord Vessin exclaims and his eyes glare scorchingly at me. I shiver. He means it.

Alvar’s great wretched wings raise and he launches himself forward so his great head is inchest from Vessin’s body. “Harm her, and you’ll more than regret it. She has nothing to do with this, she did all she could and sacrificed much to take part in a plan I’d hoped would save you all, show respect to her!”

I don’t know why, but I am blushing at these words. Even with the appearance of a monster, Alvar is my beloved and this strikes my heart.

Lord Vessin snorts in disgust and stomps out of the cathedral. What looks to be his family and a few others follow close behind him.

Lord Calbir leaves with everyone else.

Once they’ve gone, Alvar collapses, his great body filling up most of the cathedral. He curls his wings against his back and rests his head down the center of the aisle. I get up from my seat and approach him, my hand runs along his rough scales until I’ve reached his face, my hand trails along the scar and I touch that ugly twisted face of his Cursed form and stare into glassy crimson eyes. I press my face to his. A tear the size of my palm falls, wetting my cheek.
“Why are you doing this?” He asks, his voice a whisper and yet it rattles the ground. “Why are you touching me like I’m–I’m not a monster?”

“I love you,” I say and press my face harder, reaching my arms around and holding his face in my embrace. I startle when he changes shape beneath me and suddenly I find myself against the sturdy chest of my love.

“You are everything to me, Lucy,” Alvar says and holds me against him tightly.