《 EIGHT 》

"What happened!" I exclaimed as I got into the castle, with now a fully clothed Austin at my heels.

Another chamber maid looked at me with horror and pointed down the hall. I turned my head.

Death to the Queen of Summer.

My throat closed up and immediately I felt the presence of my brother and Marcus. "What the fuck does that mean?" Marcus asked, fury admitting from him.

"It means that whoever wrote this, wants Diana dead" Taron replied, glancing at me.

I touched my stomach. "Well we won't allow that to happen, do you hear me?" Austin snapped.

Marcus moved towards the wall, he hissed. "What?" I asked, walking forwards.

Marcus turned his head to look at me, his canines lengthening. I stepped back as a dark look crossed his face. "It's spelled out in blood" he growled out.

My eyes widened and I looked at Taron. "Someone's hurt or worse, start searching" I ordered.

He nodded and disappeared as I turned back to Marcus. "Can you tell who it is?" I asked, frowning.

He closed his eyes briefly before leaning forward and touching a finger to a letter. He lifted it to his mouth and Austin pulled me back. Marcus turned away for a moment as his arm dropped back to his side. "Its fae, whoever's bleeding is fae" he said harshly.

"Marcus?" I asked.

"Go, I'll be fine, just give me a moment" he said.

"Thank you" Austin said, pulling me away.

We started to walk away from Marcus but I looked back to see his red eyes staring back at me. I turned to Austin. "Saorise!" I called out as Austin frowned.

No answer. I frowned. Normally, she would be at my side in seconds. I hadn't seen her since I asked her to lead the.. "No" I said, paling.

I froze. "What?" Austin asked, confused.

I turned around to face Marcus again.. to ask him to track her down but Caelan was standing beside him, something silver against Marcus's throat. I swallowed heavily, Austin turned as well.

I raised my hand slowly. "Killing you was always my intention but finding out you were with child put a wrench in the plans" Calean said, cocking his head to the side.

"How" I asked.

"Well you see, at first I thought I couldn't kill an innocent unborn child.." his smirk widened.
"But then I thought, oh wait.. I can" he finished.

Austin growled. I raised my other hand in defense. "Where is Saorise?" I asked, dreading the answer.

"I think you and I both know the answer to that one, Diana" Caelan replied.

My stomach rolled at the thought of one of my best friends lying on the floor, choking on her own blood. "How could you?" I asked, stepping forward.

Austin moved with me. "I have to protect my own people, and you stirring up trouble in the mundane world will reach us, so it's best I eliminate you before it requires a war" he snapped, his eyes flashing white.

"It is not my intention for what is happening in the human world, they made that decision on their own.. I am trying to keep my court safe, surely you can understand that" I said in defense.

"Why yes I do" was all he replied.

Marcus hissed as Caelan moved the silver object across the Vampire's throat. Smoke sizzled from Marcus's throat and he writhed in pain. The Winter Prince just grinned.

"I've been watching you for sometime.. it's interesting to see how your mind works.. you're married to a werewolf.. yet find yourself in the vampire's embrace often" Caelan said.

Austin glanced at me. "Step away from Marcus" I said, hoping to sound dangerous.

"Why? Do you care about him?" The Prince asked, smirking.

I felt my magic surge into my hands. "I said, step away" I growled.

Marcus cried out as the silver object dug into his skin, burning it. My chest heaved as I tried to control my anger.
"The vampire or the wolf?" Caelan asked.

I flung my hand out and a ball of magic lobbed towards him, he flicked his finger as if he was shooing away a fly and the magic missed. "C'mon queen, you can do better than that" Caelan snarled.

I raised two hands, doing a finger dance Taron had taught me and I blew my breath across my hand, blowing it towards the murderous fae.
Somehow, it didn't affect him.

Caelan's eyes dropped to my stomach as a cruel smirk crossed his face. "In fact..." he trailed off before suddenly the silver object was flying towards me.

In those few seconds.. everything changed. Marcus used his vampire speed to get out of the Prince's grip and rip into his neck.

The silver object plummeted towards me and I raised my hands to protect me. Than it all fast forwarded and I opened my eyes when nothing hit me.

I gasped. "No!" I screamed.

Austin laid on the floor, spread at an awkward angle because he had jumped in front of me. Red liquid seeped from his clothing, staining the floor. Blood dribbled down his chin as he stared up at me.

I got on my knees immediately, trying to sit my husband up. Austin just coughed, coughing up blood.
"No no, no no Austin.. you're going to be okay, you're going to be okay" I muttered as I pressed a hand around the silver object, trying to stop the blood.

"Diana" Austin coughed.

My eyes moved to his face, his eyes wide and open. He was scared, fear lit up his eyes. "What?" I whispered.

He lifted his hand gently to touch my cheek. "I want you to be happy" he choked out.

Tears dropped down my cheek and fell upon his face. "No, you can't leave" I said, pain and hopelessness filling me.

His blood now stained my skin. "Move on, be happy" he whispered.

Everything was caught in my throat. Everything I wanted to say. I wanted to thank him for sticking with me, for being my husband and the father of my unborn child. I wanted to tell him that I loved him that I always had but I didn't have that kind of time. His hand fell from my cheek, falling to the floor with a thud as his shuddering body went still.

"No no no, please dont go!" I cried out, shaking my husband body.
His eyes were still open and looking at me.

"Diana, let go" I heard Marcus's voice.

It was faint and I turned everyone out.
"I love you" I whispered, leaning over Austin and cradling his body against mine.

I didn't care if his blood stained my clothing. I was as never going to get my husband back. My child was never going to meet their father and that thought alone sent body wracking sobs through me.

I couldn't breathe and everything seemed to crash down around me. "What happened?" Taron's calm voice asked.

It was silent for a moment. "The King is dead" Taron said quietly.

I whimpered, holding Austin's body tighter. No, he couldn't be dead.
"Diana, sister.. you have to let go" Taron said gently as he replied my hands away from my husband.

I felt numb. "Marcus, take her to her room" Taron said as I felt an arm loop around my waist, pulling me upwards.

Marcus carried me bridal style back to my room where he laid me down upon my bed. The room felt so big how that Austin was gone. Reminders of him were everywhere.

Marcus was backing out of the room but he froze at the sound of my voice. "He's not coming back, is he?" I asked, staring at a blank spot on the duvet.

Marcus didn't answer, it confirmed everything.

The King was dead.

A/N

OH SNAP!
Bet you didn't see that coming!
And no.. there is no resuscitation for Austin. He's truly gone..

Take a a moment to remember the King who loved Diana.
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Remember,

AUSTIN
R.I.P
05/09/2018

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Lots of love, T xoxo