The Dragon King's Heart

He seemed to have read her mind. 

"It's information from Dante's memories... and yours," he explained it as if it made complete sense. 

Based on the whispers Kol had heard from the statue, there were six gemstones in total. That was the number of gemstones he had found in the palm of the statue, all of which had been fed to Laina. 

Kol crossed his arms, "Well they clearly aren't as powerful as they're supposed to be."

"Foolish thinking, hybrid," Thorne said without hesitation as he looked up at Kol, "You know not what you speak of."

The damage Laina's body had suffered was not something any of them could fully understand. It was deeper than what they could see on the surface. Laina had been drawing her own blood to fill up the vials for Dante, she was exchanging her life force for Dante's cure. 

While her physical body weakens, her life force was greatly weakened. 

"What about the vial that Laina took while she was at the Temple of the Sun? Wasn't that suppose to help?" Kol asked.

Thorne glanced over to Laina who quickly averted her gaze. She knew her own body better than anyone. In her desperate attempt to make more vials, she had exhausted what energy she had obtained from the vial.

Whatever she had left was used during her altercation with Cecilia. The teardrop-shaped gemstones were the only thing holding Laina together now. Laina looked down at her hand which was as black as charcoal. She knew it was bound to spread in time. 

She did not have a lot of time left. 

"It's inevitable, isn't it?" she sighed as she looked over to Thorne. 

He did not dare to meet her gaze. He did not want her to know the truth. But the look on his face spoke multitudes, he never needed to say them and she already knew. 

"How long more do I have?" she asked solemnly, still looking in his direction. 

"Your Majesty..."

"I asked you, how long more do I have?" she asked again, tightening her grip on the blanket as she did. 

Her hands were shaking. Were they shaking with anger or distraught? Kol did not dare to look up either. His mind was buzzing, still trying to process what it all meant. 

"Not very long."

"Don't toy with me, Thorne," she spat as she glared at him, demanding an answer, "How long more do I have?"

Thorne bit his lip, he did not want to lie to her.  He did not want to tell her the truth either. But he had to. It was not right to keep the information for her. 

"If the gods favor you, maybe a week at most," he said as he slowly met his gaze. 

Laina could not speak. She felt as if her heart stopped. Kol looked up at Thorne in shock. A week was seven days. Laina was bound for death in seven days. He had to do something. He would do anything and everything to extend her life, even if it was for one day. 

He mechanically got up from his seat, wanting to go find a solution immediately. But Laina held onto his wrist tightly, refusing to let him go. 

"Kol, kneel before me," Laina said. 

There was no emotion in her voice. This was an order and he knew it. He did not protest. He did as he was told. Kol firmly pressed his knees onto the ground as he looked up to meet her eyes. 

"What are your orders, my Queen?"

Perhaps she was going to ask him to find a way to prolong her life. Maybe she wanted to become a vampire, that way she will no longer suffer. Perhaps she would ask him to sacrifice his life for hers. 

Kol would do anything for Laina.

Anything. 

"Swear to me," Laina ordered, "Swear to me that you will tell no one of what you've learned about my condition. Florin can't know. Margaret must never know."

Kol parted his lips, ready to protest. But he didn't know what to say. Laina was looking him straight in his eyes. Through her gaze, he knew she meant what she had said. 

"Not a single soul beyond the three of us can know," she added. 

Kol lowered his head as he replied, "I swear to you, my Queen. I will carry it to my grave."

Laina nodded as she turned to Thorne. He already knew what she was about to ask of him. 

"I cannot lie to him, Laina, you know that," he reminded her. 

She did not take her eyes off him as she continued to speak, "I understand. Unless he asks, do not tell him. Alright?" 

"Alright."

~

Back in the Celestial Realm, Dante still had not awakened. The Celestial Tribulations had left his entire body covered in wounds, some of which had refused to heal despite the ointments and healing spells that had already been administered. 

His shallow breathing and bleeding wounds prompted his mother, the former Empress, to make the trip to Gaeia. While she returned empty-handed, Marius returned with the chest that Laina had entrusted him with. 

It had taken him more than half a day to return to the Celestial Realm and time was of the essence. He barged into Dante's room despite the guards attempting to block him. 

"Do not test me!" he growled at them when they raised their weapons at him. 

At that moment, nothing mattered more than Dante's life. The guards quickly backed off, returning to their positions as Marius closed the doors behind him. He was surprised to find Lady Lizette in the room. She looked disheveled, with bags beneath her eyes. 

She looked like she had not had much rest in days. In her hands were a moist towel and a basin of water on the nightstand. 

"Lord Marius? What are you doing here?" she asked in confusion as she stepped away from Dante's bedside. 

"I should be asking you the same thing," he said as he walked over to the other side and placed the chest down.