Alexandre POV:

After Queen Lydia and Princess Estelle left, I couldn't help but feel bad for Estelle.

Not only was she always put in a position to cover for her brother, but she seemed to get the short end of the stick when it came to her parents.

I suppose it was because James was the oldest and more was expected of him, but no matter what Estelle did, her parents never seemed impressed with her.

The only time I'd ever seen even the slightest hint of them being impressed, was when the blonde was doing archery.

She hadn't gotten the nickname "Eagle Eye" for nothing. Her skill was beyond that of anyone else in the Asterian Empire, rarely missing a shot.

This just wasn't enough for her parents apparently though, which was sad.

I rubbed the back of my neck before sighing, shoving my hands into my suit jeans and heading in the direction everyone else went.

* * *

I fiddled with my thumbs in my pockets, waiting for the ceremony to end.

Yes, it was my best friend's coronation, but I never was one to much like crowds and my anxiety was starting to grow with each minute that passed by.

Suddenly the double doors at the back of the room opened and in walked Queen Lydia and Princess Estelle.

My breath caught in my throat upon seeing Estelle. She looked absolutely gorgeous in her white gown and glittery makeup. The light pink eyeshadow she wore made her blue gray eyes pop, the dark liner making her appear sultry and enchanting, and the plum lipstick she wore made her lips look ever the kissable.

Dammit! You shouldn't think of your best friend's sister in that way. I scolded myself, though I couldn't deny the feelings I'd kept buried deep down about Estelle. Yes, she was James sister and I never acted upon my attraction to her, but seeing her that day, had the love I'd kept hidden since we were kids bubbling up and wanting to come out.

The Queen and Princess had reached the stage and I couldn't help, but notice the expression of dread on Estelle's face as she looked out at the crowd.

Her best friend, Josette walked towards her and asked her something only the two of them could hear, her expression softening slightly before King William began speaking.

I didn't hear a word the King was saying for I was watching Estelle intently, noticing the moment her blue gray eyes glazed over.

Then when she screamed out to her brother, the hairs at the back of my neck stood up.

Something wasn't right and the way Estelle stared in fear at the double doors to the room, had me wanting to barricade them.

It didn't take long to realize why I had that feeling as the doors burst open and the creatures I had witness cause mayhem and slaughter in the past came scurrying in.

"It's the Corrupted!" Was all I could make out someone shouting as chaos erupted and a bloodbath began.

Estelle POV:

Blood. . . Puddles of it. . . Dripping from corpses and pooling under the seats only moments before they had sat in. . .

I swallowed the lump in my throat and aimed my arrow, sending it towards the creatures charging at the stage, trying not to focus on the pool of red growing under everyone's feet.

My brother was on my right-side, sending his own arrows flying, Josette was on my left and doing the same. My father sliced at some creatures with his sword and mother was using her legendary golden dagger to slice into the blackened skin of the creature attempting to attack her.

All around us, were guards, fighting to protect us and for their own lives, many getting injured in the process, but still remaining vigilant and pressing on.

"Watch your back!" I heard my brother's voice shout as one of the creatures charged towards me from behind.

James took it down with ease, the creature laying lifeless at our feet, arrows buried in its back.

"Nice job!" I shouted before more creatures made their way from behind.

They had pushed their way through the circle of guards and now we were being surrounded from all directions as we fought.

"Estelle, use your invigoration!" Mom declared as she sliced through the neck of a creature in front of her.

Along with our kingdom being excellent archers, those of us who were royal blood had a special ability called invigoration. Invigorations were like a magical enhancement to whatever attack, weapon we used, or combo we did.

My invigoration went along with my skill in archery, creating an almost ultimate attack that had magic power behind it.

I hadn't had to use it much before, since it took a lot of my stamina, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Taking, a calm, steady breath, I closed my eyes, summoning the magical ability buried inside my being.

Raising my bow and arrow, magenta energy began emanating from my palm and moving down to the arrow.

I aimed it into the air, releasing it and watching as the flying arrow magically multiplied into hundreds of arrows.

The arrows reigned down onto all the creatures, striking the target.

Alexandre POV:

I was breathless as we fought for our lives against The Corrupted.

Asteria's subjects and guards fought as well, many of them being injured or worst, struck down by the deadly claws of the monsters we faced.

"Estelle, use your invigoration!" Queen Lydia shouted, and looking over to the Princess, a small smile appeared on my face.

She was magnificent as she raised her bow and arrow, the magenta energy beginning to surround her weapon and creating an ethereal light upon her skin.

As she released the arrow, I witnessed it multiply into hundreds and fly down towards our enemies, taking them out, one by one.

The remaining creatures that had somehow evaded the arrows kept pushing on, their primary target seeming to be the Asterian royals now.

Why though? Why are they targetting the Thornwoods? I couldn't help, but think as the fight continued on.

"Estelle!!! Watch your right!" James screamed as one of The Corrupted swiped towards his sister's throat.

Estelle let out a strangled gasp as she dropped to her feet, clutching the wound, her blood beginning to drip down her hands.

James rushed forward to his sister, letting out his own strangled gasp when one of The Corrupted stabbed their claws through his back and into his heart.

I stood frozen and awestruck for a moment, watching James and Estelle fall to their knees, shaking my head and willing the scene unfolding before me to go away.

This can't be happening! This has to be a nightmare. I'm going to close my eyes and when I open them back up, this will all have been a nightmare.

But it wasn't a nightmare. It was reality and as I ran towards my best friend and his sister, I knew what I had to do.

I touched my hand to James' wound as a cloud of smoke came out of my palm and began working its healing magic.

"No. . . Not me. . . E. . . Est. . . Estelle. . ." James' eyes darted over to his sister who looked like she was on the verge of passing out. "Please. . . Save her. . ."

"But I don't think I'll have enough stamina to heal you too. . . You'll die before I have enough to heal again. . ." I was panicking, knowing I was about to lose one of the two people I held dear to my heart.

"I know. . . Please, save her. . ." He was begging through ragged breaths. "She has so much life ahead of her. . ."

"So do you, dammit!" I couldn't believe I was put in a position like this to where I had to choose.

"Lex. . . Please. . . Heal her, NOW!" He screamed out with as much force as he could muster given his current predicament.

I didn't hesitate a moment longer, knowing I had to do the hardest thing I ever would be asked to do in my life.

Running over to her, I lowered my mouth to Estelle's neck, watching with intensity as the smoke went into the wound after I blew my breath out, the gushing of her blood slowing down. I leaned back and gauged her face for a reaction of any kind, but only saw her blue gray eyes flutter closed.

"Watch over her, Lex. . . Keep her safe. . . And let her know even though I'm gone. . . I'll always be with her. . ."

When I looked over to James, I noticed the pool of red underneath his body and his closed eyes.

If I didn't know he was already gone and see the gaping wound in his chest, I would have assumed he was just taking a nap.

"James?!" The Queen and King rushed over at that moment, covered in the blood of the enemy and some minor apparent wounds on their bodies.

"What happened, Alexandre?" King William questioned me, bending down to his son with fear in his eyes.

"He was saving Estelle. . ." I tried to keep my focus on healing the female under my palm and listen to the King speaking to me at the same time.

"How did she get injured like this?" Tears were in Queen Lydia's eyes as she looked down at her daughter and then over to her son. "My babies! How can this be happening to my babies?!"

King William stood to his feet and wrapped his arms around his wife, comforting her. "Shh. . . Dia. . . It's going to be okay."

"How can you say that, Will? Our son is dead!!! And our daughter is practically already as well." The Asterian Queen was on the verge of hysterics. "This is a gosh damn nightmare!"

"Estelle will live. . . I have healed her injury. . . With all my power. . . James knew I wouldn't have enough to save him as well. . ." I sat back, letting out a deep sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. "He begged me to save Estelle instead of him. . ."

"That's just like him. . ." Queen Lydia scoffed through tears. "Putting his sister before himself. . ."

I didn't say anything else, too numb to process anything right then.

"The remaining guards finished off the last of The Corrupted. . . We will discuss how this whole ordeal happened later. .  . After we tend to the injured and deceased. . ." King William spoke in an almost sullen tone to me before turning and addressing a nearby guard. "Please take my daughter and Prince Alexandre to the Infirmary. And keep us updated on Estelle's condition. . ."

I glimpsed back towards James body, not fully processing he was dead.

We had been best friends since we were kids and he had always been in my life. Now that he was gone, I didn't know what I would do.

Before leaving with the guard who had scooped the unconscious Princess into his arms, I remembered the last words James' said to me moments before.

I vow to watch over her, my friend. I swear it. From this day on, Estelle Thornwood will always have my protection. This is my promise to you, James. . . I stood to my feet, realizing just how much energy I'd used while healing. Well, after I get some rest and both Estelle and I awaken, I will begin my vow.