THE ROYAL SECRET

ince Robert, who had spent the past few yea

rince growled, his voice trembli

old, cruel sound that sent

shing with malice. "I think I'll stay awhile. After

, the prince and Clara realized

us?" Clara asked, her v

"I want you to suffer, just as you made me suffer," he hisse

ists clenched in anger. "You will

Robert was

ord poised to strike. "You took everything from me - my birthright

orror as Prince Robert advanced,

ed from the shadows, his

whispered, his hear

laughed, his voice c

and Clara could see that it was not the

istorted version of the king's. "You are nothing but a tra

ror as the creature advanced, its

abbing Clara's hand and pulli

st, they could hear the creature howling with

ir lungs burning with exertion,

aring, the moonlight illumin

un," Clara gasped, her leg

with determination. "We have to f

, the prince and Clara stood together,

its voice filled with rage. "I am the

re outnumbered and outmatched, but the

a fight," the prince said,

prince and Clara moved in unison, th

ince's sword sliced through its arm,

ow, her sword plunging

d in pain, its eye

ce," it snarled, its claws ext

w that they were in for

ts claws slashing at the princ

ing the creature's blows and landi

backward, blood drip

tacked, driving her sword i

med, her voice f

away from the creature's body,

to the village, the prince

his voice filled with confusion. "

r. "I don't know," she whispered. "But I hav

ed, his heart h

llage, the prince and Clara could fee

, his voice urgent. "If there are more creatu

immediately began to fortify the village, arming

knew that their future was uncertain and that

more and more tense, their fear of the

but they knew that their words were not enough to di

sitting by the fire, they heard a low, m

ara whispered, her

ok his head, h

wing louder and more insis

ce filled with determination. "It could be another

and trembling as sh

r eyes filled with worry. "We d

ly on the cheek, his heart

, his voice tremb

e could feel the darkness pressing in around

s in the darkness, their yellow-green

ed and that he had to act quic

rd and braced himself f

as not a creature, but a man, his f

prince, his eyes wil

tack, landing a powerful

in pain, his body

the prince demanded, his voi

hysterical sound that ec

, his voice filled with hatred

reason with the madman, and he

n launched himself at the prince,

pain, his blood drippin

outed, trying to sh

his teeth still clamped

he whispered, his voi

d to act fast if he was go

e threw the man off of him, sendin

to his feet, his ar

he shouted, his voi

, his eyes flashin

oice echoing through the forest. "You ar

rkness, the forest around them began to twist an

was taking hold of the forest, twistin

aded with the madman, his vo

ed, his face twisted

" he hissed, his voic

a way to stop the madman and save th

for a weapon, his eyes d

branch, its sharp edges

and lunged at the madman, his

he shouted, his voi

, his teeth glinti

ch with all his might, ai

ng the blow and striking back with

ackward, his breath c

ed, his eyes flashing with

ead, his will strong d

" he growled, his voic

r what seemed like an eternity, thei

tinued to twist and contort, the darkness

ruck the madman with all his might, his b

the ground, his bod

ce whispered, his voi

d to the ground, ex

mind reeling from the battle and

approaching, and he turned to see Clara standin

spered, his voice

e him, her hands gentl

u," she whispered, her

ly, his heart filled w

," he whispered, his vo

the cheek, her tears fall

feet. "We must return to the village

y on Clara as they made their way

prince knew that they would ne

oice filled with desperation. "

th determination. "I will not leave you,

and Clara braced themselves for the final at

with all their might, their bodies moving in a blur

their strength and will began to fade

clutched each other tightly, their hearts bea

whispered their final words of love and devoti