CHAPTER 210: _WOE TO THE STORMBORNS!

Aurora’s POV

*****

"Ugh. Why couldn’t Kyren go on this errand instead?" She scoffed as she stepped out of the palace and into the night.

The new moon shone above, painting the courtyard with its gorgeous silver light.

Aurora subconsciously wrapped her arms around herself, sighing lightly.

She could’ve found one of the palace doctors to ask for a heat suppression pill... But they had all been given a day off today once the ball began.

Many of them were probably back at that event hall dancing their hearts out with their partners.

Yay for them.

The next best option now was heading out into the streets of Moon Haven and quickly buying the pill.

Hopefully the boys don’t have too much fun without her...

.

.

"One heat suppression pill, please." Aurora finally found a store open and stepped in, ignoring the gawking from a few civilians on her way in.

The store was filled with several shelves and lit up with a dim golden light.

At the very end of it was a desk. Standing behind the desk was a woman in her late fifties, definitely the owner.

"Oh, your highness." The woman smiled broadly, her eyes lingering on her gown for a bit. "I was just about to close for the evening."

Aurora rubbed the back of her neck when she got in front of the desk before placing her hands on it. "Sorry, but it’s urgent. Do you have the pills?"

The woman pressed her lips into a thin line for a couple of seconds but soon nodded. "Sure. They’re stored in the back room. I’ll go get them."

Aurora watched as she turned around and walked through an entrance with colourful beads dangling like a curtain.

With the woman gone, the princess scanned her eyes around the store.

There was only one more customer left, a man who had his back turned away from her. He brushed his fingers through the fruit section, silent.

Eerily silent.

Or was she overthinking?

Aurora blinked at him for a bit before finally looking away. Staring was rude and she might just be overthinking things.

"I knew I should’ve gotten a drink before leaving." She muttered to herself, drumming her fingers on the desk.

She waited for the woman, each drum of her fingers on the desk mirroring a second or two in her head. Seconds soon turned into a few minutes and a few minutes soon felt like eternity.

The heck?

"Hello?" Aurora called out impatiently. "I told you it’s urgent for goddess’ sake! Please, can you hurry up or should I find another store?"

Silence.

Aurora became anxious, her jaw tightening.

She couldn’t just go out and search for another store because in honour of the ball, all stores were already closed.

Simple folk who couldn’t attend were either laughing and drinking in the streets or huddling in their homes with loved ones, watching the broadcast from the event hall.

This store being open was honestly a surprise now that she thought about it.

When Aurora couldn’t wait any longer, she curled her fists beside her body and was just about to turn around the table and storm into the inner room.

But then—

"Just be a little more patient, princess Aurora." A voice chimed behind her, forcing her to freeze mid-step.

Her blood chilled and dread surged deep into her bones. There was something unnatural about that voice. Almost guttural.

Slowly, she turned around, squinting at the only other person in the store.

The man had turned to face her as well, except he had his head lowered and his arms seemed limp beside him.

"Don’t take this the wrong way," Aurora tilted her head, trailing her eyes from his legs to his head. "But could you mind your business? Or better still, help me call her out while you’re at it."

Silence once again.

The man stood completely still and his head remained lowered.

Aurora’s body chilled as she took a step closer out of curiosity. "Hey, buddy. Are you cool?"

No response.

"I could’ve sworn you spoke to me just now." She went on, taking a few more steps forward. "Or are you trying to play some kind of game? Because trust me, I’m—"

Her words died in her throat when the man finally raised his head.

His eyes glinted with a sickly yellow light and his mouth was parted in a snarl. But that wasn’t the most jarring part. The most jarring part was... His face.

Aurora took several steps back until she hit the desk, and even then, she shook her head with trepidation.

It couldn’t be.

Staring at her now was a face she both missed and never wanted to see ever again. A face belonging to someone she thought she’d never see again.

"M–Magnus?" Her voice rolled out in a croak, thick with disbelief. "How... How is this even—"

"Your Magnus is long gone, Aurora." The man spread out his arms, his lips curling into an unsightly grin. "In his place stands a harbinger of woe."

The lights in the store flickered erratically just then, adding to the unease creeping through Aurora.

She didn’t know what the heck was going on but she knew one thing for sure. This bastard was right.

He’s not Magnus.

"Why the heck are you wearing my dead mate’s face?!" She sneered, her Aura already bursting out of her with a soft silver light.

Her hair flowed around her like she was underwater and her claws threatened to burst out of her fingers.

And the man?

He just kept grinning at her, taking a single step forward.

"The letter the Dark hand sent you twenty days ago was no mere coincidence, princess." He raised his chin. "You and your brother have poked your heads around deeper than we can allow."

Aurora frowned.

This is about that?

"Listen, if you don’t step away I won’t be able to control what happens next." She warned, meaning every word.

There was a long, eerie silence, adding to the tension in the store.

Both sides stared at each other—Aurora uncertain on whether he’d strike first or if she should act first.

And then—

"You have no control at all." The man finally muttered, pointing his right hand at her. "Woe to the Stormborn family!"

The air around them hissed after that declaration.