The Dragon King's Heart

"Laina… Laina!" Dante called out to her, his voice increased in anxiety with each passing second. 

By the time Margaret and Marius came to his aid, Laina had already lost consciousness. Using a spell, Dante was able to stop the bleeding from the wound. He could feel her body temperature dropping drastically. 

He desperately wanted to warm her up by holding her close. But even his own body temperature would do nothing to that effect. When he saw the dagger in her abdomen, Dante's heart sank. 

He knew who this dagger belonged to. 

"Laina!" Margaret yelled as soon as she saw her in Dante's arms. 

The moment she touched her hand, she could feel how cold it was. Her heart sank, fearing the worst. But when she noticed Laina was still breathing, she heaved a small sigh of relief. As she was about to ask Dante what happened, she noticed the dagger too. 

"No… that dagger…" her heart was pounding in her chest. A moonfrost dagger was detrimental to a person who has an affinity to fire. 

They had to get it out at once. Margaret knew the effects may transfer to her as well, but she did not mind. Saving Laina was more important. 

"No, let me do it," Dante suggested. 

He cast two more protection spells upon Laina before he slowly removed the dagger. Thanks to his quick thinking, the bleeding stopped for now. But the worst was not over yet. She was still in critical condition. 

Dante wanted desperately to stay and accompany her while she made a full recovery. But he can't. Margaret looked at the dagger in Dante's hands, then back at the Dragon King. She bit her lip. 

"Go," Margaret said as she took Laina over from Dante, "Go and get her the antidote. I will take care of her."

"But-"

"There's no time to waste, your Majesty!" Margaret yelled at the top of her lungs. 

At that moment, she did not care if she stepped out of line. All that matters was Laina's well-being. 

"Don't you dare return without the antidote," she warned Dante with a shaking voice, "Go."

Margaret turned to Marius, who did not know how to react in this situation. He also knew what the dagger was and what it meant. Marius walked over to Dante and pulled him away, egging him to start moving. 

"Your Majesty, let's go," Marius said as he pulled him away. 

Dante gritted his teeth.He had no time to protest. If he wanted Laina to survive, he had to get the antidote as soon as possible. That meant he had to make a trip to the Celestial Realm. He did not want to leave Laina in her greatest moment of need. 

But he must. 

On the other hand, Kol returned to Kinshearth with an uneasy feeling in his gut. Though he no longer had the master and servant bond with Laina, he still had a strong connection with her. Something did not sit well with him. 

After settling Florin back in his room, he went off to report to Laina immediately. When he heard the rushed footsteps and whispers of the maids and servants throughout the Laina's private quarters, he realised his gut feeling was right. 

"Kol!" a familiar voice called out to him from behind. 

It was Nyx, rushing up towards him with a worried expression.

Before he could even ask what was the matter, Nyx spoke first, "Her Higness is in trouble! We don't have much details but it seems like she's been taken with the use of a teleportation spell."

Just then, a waft of blood caught Kol's attention. He could recognise that scent immediately, it was Laina! Kol went towards that direction immediately. As soon as he got to the garden, there were many people gathered all around. 

He waded through the crowd to see Laina with a wound in her belly in Margaret's arms. The Royal Healers were still on their way. 

"Kol!" Margaret called out to him as soon as she sensed his presence. 

Her face was twisted with agony and worry. Kol did not say a word. His heart was palpitating as he carried Laina in his arms on Margaret's request as they brought her back into the palace at once. 

By the time they got back to Laina's room, the royal healers were already there waiting for their arrival. Lucky for them, Dante reacted fast and stopped the bleeding. The royal healers were able to stabilize Laina's condition, much to their relief. 

But another problem arose. The Crown Princess's body temperature was low, much lower than it has ever been, and that caused her to freeze from within. If they do not get the remedy to her soon, she will freeze to death. 

Kol was shocked to hear the news. He had only been away from Laina for a couple of days and now she was in critical condition. As her bodyguard, he could not help but blame himself. 

"Kol, it's not your fault," Margaret said to him after she sent the royal healers away. 

"But Lady Margaret, if I was there… if I came back sooner, I…" Kol gritted his teeth as he punched the wall with his fist in anger. 

All they could do now was wait. Dante had gone to retrieve the antidote and Laina's condition was stabilized for now. However, to ensure her body temperature does not fall any lower, they needed to do something to warm her up. 

"Kol, I need you to stay here with Laina," Margaret said to Kol. 

"Of course, but where will you go?"

To keep Laina warm, they needed crystals and geodes with an affinity to the Sun. The element of fire. Margaret's plan was to obtain a large amount of fire lava rubies and other suitable geodes and bring them back. 

"In the meantime, I want you and the knights to take care of her, alright?" 

"Let me go with you, I can protect you on your journey," Kol insisted. 

But Margaret shook her head, "No. There isn't anyone else I trust, Kol. But I trust you. So I need you to stay and watch over her. Can you do that for me?"

Kol wanted to protest again. But he knew that time was of the essence. Rather than wasting time on an argument, he relented and agreed to do as Margaret asked. 

"I will watch over her like my life depended on it."