Dominance of Veiled Heart

Chapter 34

“You…” Michaelli began, his voice low but cutting through the chaos around them. He set her down gently, yet his hands didn’t release her immediately. His grip was firm, deliberate, as if anchoring her in place.

Tuk blinked, instincts kicking in as she realized their position. “What?” she blurted, voice shaking as she attempted to break the moment. But the question hung awkwardly in the air, unanswered.

“You’re heavier than I thought,” Michaelli muttered, finally letting go of her.

Tuk’s mouth fell open, indignation flaring like a struck match. “Oh, you’re welcome, Your Highness,” she snapped, brushing dirt from her arms with exaggerated flair. “Happy to risk my life so you can look good in front of your warriors.”

Michaelli raised a brow, his calm demeanor unshaken. “Risk your life? You were dangling like bait.”

Tuk glared, a flush of frustration coloring her cheeks. “Bait is useful! You’re supposed to thank bait.”

A corner of Michaelli’s mouth twitched—almost a smile, though he quickly buried it. “Thank you, bait,” he said dryly, inclining his head.

She groaned, throwing her hands in the air. “I can’t believe this. You know what? Next time, let that bird eat me.”

His golden eyes glinted, more amused than annoyed. “It probably wouldn’t. You’d give it indigestion.”

Tuk froze, indignation melting into stunned silence. “Did... did you just make a joke? Was that an actual joke?”

“I don’t joke,” Michaelli replied smoothly, though the faintest smile betrayed him.

Her mouth twitched, an involuntary laugh escaping despite herself. “You’re insufferable.”

“And you’re cursed,” he countered, tone suddenly more serious. “You keep finding yourself in trouble—it’s almost impressive.”

Tuk rolled her eyes but hesitated a fraction of a second. “Maybe I am cursed,” she said, voice quieter now, humor dimmed by something heavier. The thought lingered, uncomfortable and familiar, before she shook it off with a shrug.

For a fleeting moment, Michaelli paused, gaze flickering toward her before shifting back to her bindings. “Then stay closer next time,” he said curtly, letting the rope snap free from her feet.

Tuk glared as she dusted herself off. “Closer? So I can be bait again? Great plan, genius.”

“You’re still alive. Against all odds, I might add,” Michaelli replied.

“Are you saying you care?” Tuk narrowed her eyes.

“I’m saying I’d prefer not to carry you again.”

Tuk clenched her fists, shooting a quick prayer to the heavens. 'For the love of god, grant me patience not to slap the back of his head. As tempting as it is…' she muttered, glaring at Michaelli, who inspected his ankle with infuriating calmness.

A furious roar from the Onyxariel shattered her thoughts, yanking her attention back to the battlefield. The beast’s claws tore into the earth, leaving deep, jagged scars. Its massive wings beat the air in desperation, each stroke echoing like thunder.

Michaelli’s grip tightened on the hilt of his blade, expression unflinching. With a swift motion, he severed the final rope tangled around his ankle. Rising to his full height, his voice cut through the chaos like steel.

“Move back,” he commanded, sharp and unyielding.

Tuk didn’t hesitate; she bolted toward the cover of a towering tree, pressing herself against its rough bark as if it could shield her from the chaos.

From her vantage point, she caught a glimpse of Michaelli’s golden eyes, their predatory gleam locked on the faltering creature. The Onyxariel let out a guttural, defiant roar, its battered form coiling as it gathered strength for one last, desperate bid for escape.

“Oh no, you don’t,” Michaelli growled, his weapon shifting fluidly into a bow. The transformation was smooth, as if it were an extension of his will. A black, viscous liquid oozed into the weapon’s center, forming an arrow that pulsed like a heartbeat.

The air seemed to thicken as he exhaled sharply, then released the arrow. It streaked through the air, its sleek form glinting in the light before twisting into a sinuous, living chain. The chain coiled around the Onyxariel’s neck with serpentine grace, tightening with every desperate thrash of its wings.

The creature let out a guttural screech, its wings flapping frantically, but Michaelli stood firm. He yanked on the chain, dragging the beast back to the earth. Its enormous body crashed into the dirt with a roar, sending a flurry of leaves and dust spiraling into the air.

The Onyxariel struggled, its movements erratic and panicked. Michaelli didn’t hesitate. In one fluid motion, he surged forward, the chain dissolving back into the form of a sword. The blade shimmered with a menacing, dark glow, humming with latent energy as it sliced through the air.

Tuk’s heart hammered in her chest as she watched, unable to tear her eyes away. She felt the pulse of the blade’s energy in her fingertips, as if she could almost feel its power from where she stood. The Onyxariel locked eyes with Michaelli, a final, defiant glare in its amber gaze. With one decisive strike, Michaelli drove the sword into the beast’s chest. The impact reverberated through the clearing like a thunderclap, the sound crackling with raw force.

The beast let out a final, haunting cry, its voice echoing across the battlefield, before it fell silent. Its massive body slumped, lifeless, into the dirt, the forest eerily still in its wake. The air seemed to hold its breath.

Michaelli stood atop the fallen creature, his gaze cold and calculating as his hand brushed its dark feathers. The contrast between him and the beast was sharp—one was alive with power, the other was mere carcass. His voice was quiet but firm as he spoke, almost as if to himself, “If only it had chosen a worthier path for its might.”

From behind a tree, Tuk peeked out, her hair a disheveled mess. Her heart still raced from the adrenaline in the air, the tension of the battle still lingering in her limbs. She pressed her palm to her forehead. “Why do I have to watch this action scene instead of a romance arc?!” she muttered, half-hysterical, while she squeezed her eyes shut and clamped both her hands over her ears.

The warriors erupted into cheers, their voices swelling with excitement as they scrambled to claim feathers from the beast as trophies. Michaelli, ever composed, sheathed his sword and turned to Tuk. He found her slumped against the tree, glaring at him with wild eyes. Her hair was still tangled from the chaos, her clothes rumpled, making her look like a little bird caught in a storm.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, a silent mockery that said more than any words ever could. It was a look she couldn’t quite decipher, but it made her chest tighten all the same.

“Get up,” Michaelli commanded, his tone cold, but there was an undercurrent of something almost teasing in his voice.

Tuk groaned, weakly pushing herself halfway up. She drew in a deep breath, her voice dripping with exaggerated drama. “Your Highness, can’t you just tell the court and the historians that I fell nobly in battle, valiantly trying to avoid—”

“You’re embarrassing yourself,” Michaelli cut her off, his words as sharp as a knife. He reached down and hauled her up without ceremony. “And me.”

Tuk yelped as he yanked her to her feet. She shook her head in disbelief. “You could at least pretend to appreciate the sacrifices I make for your royal hunt agenda.”

Michaelli smirked, his expression entirely unapologetic. “Sacrifices? You were hanging from a tree.”

Tuk crossed her arms, tilting her head toward the warriors who were admiring the fallen beast. “Well, at least they appreciate me. I’m basically their good-luck charm for seeing that legendary beast.”

“Good luck for them, maybe,” Michaelli quipped, his voice dripping with dry amusement.

Tuk gasped in mock offense, then grinned slyly. “And here I thought you cared.”

The prince shot her a sharp look, but the corner of his mouth twitched ever so slightly. “Care is a strong word. Let’s stick with ‘tolerate.’”

She laughed, shaking her head as the tension of the battle finally melted away. “Well, Your Highness, if I’m such a burden, maybe I should just stay behind next time.”

Michaelli paused, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, his expression unreadable. “Stay behind? And deprive me of the endless entertainment?”

The nearby warriors overheard the exchange, and their laughter rippled through the group. Tuk groaned and covered her face with her hands. One of them, a burly figure with a mischievous grin, clapped her on the back so hard that she nearly toppled over.

“Welcome to the team, Advisor!” he bellowed, his voice warm with teasing camaraderie. “We’re lucky to have you!”

Tuk stumbled, her eyes narrowing at Michaelli, who was already walking away, an air of smug satisfaction surrounding him. She sighed, muttering under her breath, “I really need to renegotiate my role in this empire.”

As the group began to move out, the beast's massive body lay behind like a trophy, a symbol of their victory. Tuk found herself chuckling at the absurdity of her situation. This wasn’t the adventure she’d expected, but somehow, it was starting to feel like her own.

"What a cruel curse it is to be Isekai’d," Tuk thought, unaware that her greatest trial was yet to come.

The secret she had guarded so fiercely was no longer hers to keep.

What fate awaits Tuk as her world begins to unravel? 

Stay tuned to find out.😉

I will be away for a while, but don’t worry, the journey is far from over. See you soon with more twists, turns, and surprises! Until then, stay safe and take care!💖