Chapter 517: Shield Against The Nightmare.
Chapter 517 of "The Devil's Betrothed" opens presenting: Chapter 517: Shield Against The Nightmare.At the stroke of midnight, Alran and Oriana returned to... Donât stop now!
Chapter 517: Shield Against The Nightmare.At the stroke of midnight, Alran and Oriana returned to the manor. Oriana, inebriated, leaned heavily on Alran, her balance swaying precariously. Drayce aided them in their teleportation back, as Alranâs powers were not yet fully realized.
Arlan guided her to the bed, while holding her in his arms and made her sit on the bed.
"Arlan Cromwell... Jerk... why do you flirt with me..." she muttered, burying her face against his chest.
Gently, Alran unwrapped the headband from her hair, allowing her locks to cascade freely along her slender back. He tenderly ran his fingers through her silken strands, untangling them with care.
"... why donât you stay away from me?..." Orianaâs words came out as fragmented whispers.
A soft smile graced Alranâs lips, unfazed by her drunken ramblings. "That cannot happen," he murmured. "If I were to stay away from you, how would you come to realize the depth of your love for me? I could grant any wish you desire, but this... I cannot comply. I cannot bear to be apart from you, even for a moment. I await the day when youâll declare that I am yours and yours alone, warning me against even the faintest thought of another woman, let alone finding my mate. And when that day comes, Iâll reveal something Iâve kept hidden from you."
He gently laid Oriana in bed, tucking her under the warmth of a blanket. Tonight marked the time to test the theories surrounding Orianaâs nightmares and the influence of his presence upon her.
Exiting the chamber, he made his way to the lounge where soon after, three figures materialized.
"Is she experiencing a nightmare?" Yorian inquired, his gaze fixed on Arlan.
"If she were, would I be sitting idly like this?" Arlan retorted, a trace of annoyance in his tone.
Before Yorian could respond, Evanthe interjected, seeking to diffuse the tension between the two fiery men. "Sheâs not having her knife with her, and with her powers awakened, the demon realm must be in dire pursuit of her. Itâs reasonable to expect she may have a nightmare."
Sierra, grasping the gravity of the situation, added, "Letâs wait and see. Weâve little else to occupy us at this moment."
The quartet settled into the lounge, anticipation hanging heavy in the air as they awaited Orianaâs nightmare. Arlanâs senses remained sharp, attuned to any sounds emanating from his chamber. After half an hour of vigilant waiting, he finally detected a familiar murmuring, signaling Orianaâs troubled sleep.
Arlan rose from the couch, drawing the attention of the others.
"Is it happening?" Yorian inquired, to which Arlan nodded, preparing to leave. However, Evanthe intervened, her tone firm yet gentle. "Prince Arlan, you mustnât go to her just yet."
Pausing, Arlan listened as Evanthe continued, emphasizing the necessity of testing whether his presence truly acted as a shield against Orianaâs nightmares. Despite his concern for Oriana, Arlan comprehended the significance of the nightâs undertaking.
"Prince Arlan, this time the nightmare might possess a stronger grip," Sierra added, her words laden with concern. "With Orianaâs powers awakened, her connection to the demon realmâalbeit through her dreamsâcould be more potent than we anticipate. These are not ordinary nightmares. Despite our efforts, it may prove challenging to retrieve her. If necessary, you may need to intervene as a last resort."
Reluctantly, Arlan acquiesced. "I understand."
The trioâcomprised of an elf and two witchesâaccompanied Arlan to Orianaâs chamber, where her restless murmurs echoed from within. Yorian opened the door, and they entered to find Oriana ensnared in the throes of a nightmare.
Approaching Oriana, Sierra gently clasped her distressed hand. Closing her eyes, she delved into Orianaâs psyche, seeking to discern the intricate connections between her darkness and the malevolent forces that besieged her.
She opened her eyes, meeting Evantheâs gaze. "Our suspicions were correct. Theyâre attempting to reach her," she confirmed.
"Then we must awaken her," Evanthe declared.
Sierra attempted to rouse Oriana, though she knew it was unlikely to succeed. "Oriana, can you hear me?" she murmured, gently holding her hand. "Itâs just a nightmare. Try to pull yourself out of it."
Her words fell upon deaf ears, and Sierra glanced at Evanthe and Yorian. "It wonât work like this," she admitted.
"How should we proceed, then?" Evanthe inquired.
"Together, we must utilize our powers to sever the connection between her and the Demon realm," Sierra proposed, rising from her seat.
The trio positioned themselves around the bedside, channeling their divine abilities in unison to break the bond. Despite their persistent efforts, they met with no success.
"We should summon Prince Arlan. Itâs time to explore our final option," Sierra suggested.
Yorian swiftly sent a magical signal to Arlan, who materialized in the chamber within moments. Without hesitation, Arlan hurried to Orianaâs side, taking a seat beside her.
It was a familiar sight for him, witnessing Oriana in distress. He grasped her hand reassuringly. "Oriana, Iâm here," he murmured softly.
Gradually, the tension eased from Orianaâs brow, her anxious murmurs subsiding. Arlan breathed a sigh of relief, gently lifting her into his arms and holding her close.
After a time, he carefully returned her to the bed, meeting the gaze of the three companions. "Sheâs calmed now," he assured them.
Their use of divine powers failed while Arlanâs simple presence by her side worked immediately which answered their question clearly.
Sierra nodded, acknowledging the revelation. "So itâs your darkness attribute that disrupts her connection with the Demon realm. It is just like how we can hide Serenâs presence because of Drayce."
"They are just trying to connect with her. Not like they can take her away. Arenât they trapped within the Demon realm?" Evanthe expressed her concern, a pang of worry evident in her voice, causing Arlanâs heart to skip a beat.
"Yes, but if they manage to strengthen their connection with her, they could potentially communicate with her, attempt to manipulate her, and then making her willingly to back to the Demon realm. Until Oriana regains her memories, we cannot allow her to establish any connection with them," Sierra explained.
"But arenât they her own kind? Why would they seek to manipulate her?" Yorian questioned.
"Things within the Demon realm are far from simple. I have a sense that we must shield her from the influences of the Demon realm until she recovers her memories. In her vulnerable state, we cannot risk anyone manipulating her. Weâve witnessed the havoc she can wreak when she loses control of her powers. There are complexities that I cannot fully articulate, having not been present there during the last war between Gods and Demons. For now, our priority is to protect her from the Demons and aid her in recovering her memories," Sierra elaborated.
"Then perhaps we should prevent her from experiencing any nightmares," Yorian suggested.
"With me at her side, she wonât endure any. I wonât leave her alone," Arlan vowed.
Evanthe produced a knife, the same one she had gifted Oriana in the past, and handed it to Arlan. "Let her carry this. In situations where you cannot be with her, it will offer her protection."
Arlan accepted the knife, acknowledging Evantheâs advice. "Weâll take our leave now. Remain by her side. Weâll visit her again soon."
With a nod, the trio vanished, leaving Arlan alone with Oriana. He gazed upon her serene face, a surge of protectiveness swelling within him.
"Demons? Theyâll never lay a hand on you. You belong to me. You are my mate," he whispered to her sleeping form. "Whoever tries to take you away from me, they will face their demise."