The Royal Pursuit Read Online Free PDF

with the
Book of Spells.”
    “ She is the queen. Her
powers are greater than anything the book can provide.”
    “ She needs all the
protection she can get. I’m not going to put her at greater risk if
I can avoid it.”
    Athen sighed sympathetically. “Her job
is made for risk. You can’t always be there to protect her. There
are times when she will have to confront danger by
herself.”
    He frowned. He didn’t want to hear
this.
    “ I will go with her, as
long as she agrees to it,” Athen complied. “I can’t force her to
take me.”
    “ Yes, I am well aware we
must all obey her.” He crossed his arms.
    “ It’s none of my business
what happened between you two, but considering the fact that she is
going to Lone and will probably have to engage in combat, is it
really wise to let her go without telling her you love
her?”
    Hathor was ready to make a cutting
remark. Then he stopped himself because he knew his friend was
right. He would never forgive himself if Ann died thinking he was
mad at her. “You do well to remind me of such things.” He turned
and left.
     
    ***
     
    Planet: Lone
     
    A single figure slowly walked toward
the Austere Complex. He barely noticed his surroundings. Despite
the dire condition the Nicals found themselves in because of the
virus, the vegetation and animals were thriving. The lush green
trees and plants covered the hilly land. It was similar to Earth
with differences, but those differences were so minor as to be
negligible.
    The man wasn’t interested in such
details though. He had a mission, and he was determined to see it
through. He wore white. Everything was white, from his hat down to
his boots. Even his neatly combed short hair was white. However,
his eyes were gray. He carried a white cane, although he never used
it to help him walk. Some probably thought it was merely for show,
but this cane was his secret weapon.
    He didn’t mind the fact that his boots
got muddy from his trek through the wet dirt in the forest-like
environment surrounding the group of ten wooden rundown
buildings.
    He continued his walk, anticipating
the announcement he was about to make to the Nicals. He had waited
a long time for this moment. Soon his dream would come
true.
    The building he needed was in the
center of the diamond-shaped complex. The building had seen better
days. Its wood was chipping on the outside and some of the windows
had been boarded up. Although it was in sore need of repair, it was
the best one they had remaining from what had at one time been a
flourishing civilization. That was where the survivors chose to
keep their living quarters. They took great comfort in staying
close together. This was fine with him. It made it that much easier
to gather them under his wing.
    He grinned as he walked up the stone
pathway to the front entrance. Weeds had grown in between the
stones, but he paid them no mind. He did not bother knocking on the
door. He simply opened it, letting it creak in protest. His
footsteps echoed on the floor, which had suffered many scratches
from decades of use.
    He knew where to find them. They would
be together in the meeting room. He noted that the door to the
meeting room was partly open. He rolled his eyes at their
incompetence. They had just stolen the Olympians’ immortal power,
yet it never occurred to them to remain diligent against an
impending retaliation. It was amazing they had survived as a
species for as long as they did.
    He didn’t mind spying on them. In
fact, it was the best way he could find out about them.
    Their ruler opened the dark curtains.
“We are no longer harmed by the sun’s rays. We can go outside
without protection on our skin.”
    The Nicals ran to the window, bathing
in the sunlight, childish delight on their faces.
    The man wasn’t surprised. They were
simple creatures who were easily amused.
    “ My body feels perfect,”
one of the Nicals said. “I can feel the immortality flowing through
my veins.”
    “ It’s a