If The Crown Fits (Book 2)

Chapter 16 The End of King Corona

Chapter 16

"The King is dead!" Someone yelled.

The fighting seemed to stop. Or more like it was over. I looked around us to see that most of the men were down. Some were dried up and shivering as Custard ate what seemed like smoke. The more Custard ate, the more energized felt. Are their essence actually giving me back my used up magic?

As I continued to wonder, I was suddenly engulfed in an embraced. "You're okay!" Ren cried. "I was so worried when Nora told us that you were facing a dangerous man and that Ace is hurt." As soon as the words left his mouth he paused from hugging me. "Wait, where is he?"

"It's PRINCE!" Ace grunted, still kicking the body of the dead king. With his good hand, he pointed the dagger at him. "You better keep that in mind if you want to live."

Ren gulped and nodded. Nate came next and he stood beside Ace. He grimaced at his current state. "You look...well...?" He said uncertainly.

"And you are LATE!" Ace snapped. "Where's my sister!?"

Nate raised his hands as if in surrender. "She's safe. She's with Prince Zeraph."

Ace's eye twitched. "She's what?!" He yelled. Then with his good arm he grabbed Nate's collar. "You let her hand out a boy, who's the same age as her?!"

"It's fine. They actually get along pretty great. Prince Zeraph can protect her." Ren said and I feel like I want to punch Ren for being so dense at times and saying the wrong words. It's like he can't read the atmosphere.

"What did you say?" There was venom in Ace's voice as he said it.

"Brother!" It was Prince Zeraph. He was running towards his older brother with Nora following right behind him. The young prince crouched down beside his brother.

"Zeraph?" Prince Meruem croaked and smiled weakly. "You're well. I'm glad."

Prince Zeraph was crying as he held his hands to his brother's wound. "I'll...heal you brother. Just you wait." He sniffed. Prince Zeraph drew water around him and directed it to his brother's gapping wound. It glowed into a bright light and where the wound previously was, is now a scar left by their father.

"Prince Meruem, Prince Zeraph." It was the same man who announced the death of the king. As soon as Prince Meruem was on his feet, the rest of the conscious soldiers of the Atla kingdom bent down on one knee.

"My father is dead." Prince Meruem confirmed. "I, as the crown prince, will serve as the king in acting until I am rightfully crowned."

"King Meruem!" The soldiers all said in unison.

Prince Meruem looked at his dead father in understanding. There was a brief look of sadness in his eyes before he looked up at the soldiers. "Arrest the remaining rogues. Bring the injured to the sea witch to get healed and...-" He looked down at the corpse of his father. "Carry my dead father back to the palace." He said sadly. "And from now on, we will no longer associate ourselves with the kingdom of Tereau."

Prince Zeraph came to Ace. "Prince, may I heal your wound? But I cannot heal your shoulder. I am not that strong yet." The young prince said sadly.

"I can help with that." Nate grinned and without Ace's permission, grabbed his shoulder and snapped it back into place. There was a sickening crunch as Nate lodge the bone back into it's rightful place.

Ouch. That looks painful.

Ace glared at Nate and used both hands to grab his collar. "Thank. Now I can strangle you freely with two hands."