The Damned Demon

Chapter 717  His Rule Will End

In the dark light of a secluded chamber, tucked away in the ancient caverns beneath the Draconis Kingdom, shadows danced along stone walls etched with dark magic. Flickering torches illuminated the narrow, winding path that Lysandra walked, her steps echoing softly as she moved with regal, calculated grace. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Her silvery-lavender hair flowed like a river of twilight down her back, casting a shimmering contrast against the dark crimson of her gown, which hugged her curvaceous figure with an elegance as menacing as it was alluring. Behind her trailed Rhygar, his gaze fixed on her with a fervor that would send chills down the spine of any other woman, but she paid him no heed, her focus entirely on the gathering ahead.

She had no choice but to entertain his presence since he was the one who acted as the middleman to bring over all these leaders to this place without making Drakar suspicious while hiding her involvement.

As Lysandra entered the room, her dark silver wings unfurled just slightly, casting a shadow that fell over the assembled leaders of the vassal kingdoms and tribes. She held their attention instantly, a menacing beauty whose presence demanded reverence.

Her fiery-dark red eyes swept over the gathering, and she could feel their apprehension, curiosity, and a quiet, simmering hope. These leaders had come despite the risks, lured by the possibility of change—of escape from Drakar's ruthless and cruel rule.

One of the leaders, a grizzled chieftain with jagged scars tracing his face, cleared his throat, his voice low and wary, "Queen Lysandra, we are honored to be in your presence. But I must ask—what makes you think Drakar's wrath will not descend upon us for even entertaining such… whispers of rebellion?"

Lysandra's cold eyes narrowed with a hint of reassurance, "Because Drakar's wrath is but a shadow that clouds your sight. He rules us all by instilling fear, making you believe that there is no choice but to cower and obey." Her gaze traveled over each of them, her voice as smooth as silk, yet laced with a steely edge, "But fear is a fickle weapon, one that loses its bite when you realize that you are not alone. Together, we can stand against him and forge a path of peace and security—for your people, for yourselves."

The chieftain's eyes flickered with a spark of intrigue, and he leaned forward, "And what do you offer us in return, my queen? What assurance do we have that this peace you speak of is not just a means to replace one tyrant with another?"

Rhygar, who had been lingering silently, took a step forward, his gaze fierce. "Watch your tongue! You address the Queen Consort—"

Lysandra raised a graceful hand, silencing Rhygar with a glance, "Let them speak," she said in a low yet firm voice, though her tone brooked no argument.

She then returned her gaze to the chieftain, her eyes smoldering with conviction, "You are right to ask. Drakar has crushed trust underfoot, making you all question the very concept. But I am not here to rule as he does. My aim is to restore balance, to let your people thrive instead of living as fodder for his whims. We all know he doesn't know the meaning of loyalty. If he feels like it, he will massacre you and your people without batting an eyelid."

The gathered leaders looked at each other with grim expressions, knowing she wasn't really wrong.

Another leader, a tall woman adorned in tribal armor and dark silver tattoos that glowed faintly under the torchlight, spoke up, "Your words are bold, Queen Lysandra. But Drakar's power is not merely his might—it is his connections, his spies, his reach, and his armies. His shadow falls everywhere. How can you ensure our safety and that of our people, even if we follow you? This plan of rebellion might as well be suicide for all of us."

Lysandra's fiery eyes held an intensity that made the woman flinch, yet she did not look away, "Drakar's shadow only stretches as far as his fear permits. I know his weaknesses, his blind spots, the threads he has left dangling unattended. If you all align with me, I will ensure that his strings unravel piece by piece. You will no longer have to fear his spies or his enforcers. They will be too busy dealing with those of us who dare to stand."

She paused, letting her words sink in, then continued, "But it is not only safety I offer. I offer you the chance to lead your people without fear, to bring prosperity rather than oppression." Her gaze moved between them, her presence as commanding as her voice, "And I swear on my honor that I will uphold our alliance with fairness. I seek no power for myself—I seek freedom for those who suffer under his tyranny."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, leaders glancing at one another, their expressions a mix of contemplation and conviction. An old chieftain inclined his head, respect finally showing in his gaze, "You speak like no queen I have ever known, Lysandra. Perhaps you truly mean to change things."

Rhygar, barely containing his excitement, leaned closer to her, his voice a murmur only she could hear, "See? They're listening. They're yours, Mother. Soon, they will all be yours."

She allowed him a faint, dismissive nod before addressing the gathered leaders once more, "All I ask is your commitment to the cause and your loyalty. In exchange, I will ensure Drakar's power falters, his allies abandon him, and his empire falls into the dust. Without the support of leaders like you all, he has nothing. Even his men don't know loyalty and will fall quicker the more united we are in this."

One by one, they nodded, the weight of their silent pledge filling the room like a storm ready to break. They couldn't but feel hope for the first time in their lives, her words instilling a fire in them they never expected to feel.

"Hear, hear! Our queen is right," An old king stood up and looked around as he addressed everyone, "I have already heard rumors of Drakar building Death Embrace arrays in our lands. There is no telling if he plans to use them on our own people. We have to take matters into our own hands first. We can't just sit by helplessly like we have all these years and see him and his men destroy our lands, enslave our men, take away our women and children, plunder whatever little resources we have."

Lysandra allowed herself a slow, satisfied nod, her wings unfolding slightly, casting a shadow that seemed to grow with her power, "Then let us bring forth the dawn, for ourselves and for our people. Drakar's rule will end. And with it, the dark chapter of our history will close."

-

Once the others had dispersed, Rhygar turned to his mother, his eyes gleaming with feverish pride, "Mother, I did well, right? Looks like I was able to help you gain their support, just like you wanted."

Lysandra nodded slowly, a glint of appreciation in her dark eyes, "Yes, you did well, Rhygar. I can't thank you enough. What you're doing will help change the future of our kingdom for the better. But we're far from resting. We'll need to plan every move to make sure we don't lose the civil war when it finally begins."

Rhygar's face lit up with excitement, "Don't worry about it, Mother. Father will never see us coming. Once we take him by surprise, even with his strongest men, he won't have time to react. He's already distracted, setting up those death embrace arrays—devils know why."

Lysandra's gaze grew distant, a shadow of thought crossing her features. Rhygar continued with a scoff, his tone laced with disdain, "And the way you fooled those unworthy dogs who came here…talking about peace and security! You know how to tempt them with words; I'll give you that, Mother. I can't wait to see their faces when you claim the throne, forcing every one of them to kneel before you. Together, we'll rule the kingdom better than Father or even our ancestors. We'll be the strongest in history."

Lysandra briefly nodded, and she narrowed her eyes slightly, "I need to return before your father suspects anything." She moved to leave, her gown flowing behind her in dark, silken waves.

"Wait, Mother," Rhygar's voice was strained, his tone sharper than before. She stopped, turning slowly to face him, her expression guarded.

For a moment, a shadow of bitterness twisted his face, his jaw clenched, "I know you still leave the kingdom occasionally…to go somewhere else. Those trips were to meet him, weren't they? That alien bastard?"

Lysandra's gaze darkened, her brow furrowing, "You know I have no choice in that."

Rhygar's fists tightened, his voice low and venomous, "But do you really have to? Can't you just fool Father somehow, make him think you're still in touch with him? I hate that he even breathes the same air as you…let alone…defiles you with his touch."

Her face softened ever so slightly, a hint of loathing flickering in her eyes, "Believe me, son, I hate it as much as you do. But it won't be long. I'm lowering his guard for a reason. When the time comes, I'll finish him myself, once and for all. Then, neither of us will have anything to worry about. This world will be ours."

Rhygar's eyes gleamed with a strained smile, his voice almost a whisper, "You're right…Mother. I'll endure it somehow, just a little longer, and then we'll be rid of him for good."

Lysandra gave him a brief nod before turning to leave, her expression returning to its cold nature as she walked down the dim corridor. Her thoughts turned toward meeting Asher now that she had to let him know of some things.