CHAPTER FORTY THREE
DANIEL'S POV
I could not sleep.
Ever since my memories returned, my mind had been in complete chaos.
Tanya.
The covenant.
The sacred baobab tree.
The hatred.
The love.
Everything came back so violently that it felt like my soul had been torn apart and stitched together again.
I sat near the window inside my chambers while the moonlight poured silently across the floor.
My hands tightened slowly.
Tanya was carrying my child.
That thought alone terrified and comforted me at the same time.
A child born from a human prince and a witch.
No wonder the heavens themselves reacted with fury.
I closed my eyes heavily.
"How am I supposed to protect both of them?" I whispered to myself.
The kingdom would never accept it easily.
Especially the elders.
And if the people discovered that their future heir carried witch blood—
Chaos would follow.
Yet strangely enough—
I did not regret loving Tanya.
Not even for a second.
Because beneath all her darkness…
Tanya was simply a woman who had suffered too much.
A woman who only wanted love.
And somehow—
Despite everything—
I had fallen completely in love with her.
I stood slowly and walked toward the balcony.
The cold night wind brushed against my face gently.
Then suddenly—
I felt it.
Her presence.
Soft.
Hidden.
But familiar.
My heartbeat quickened instantly.
Tanya was nearby.
I knew it.
But instead of reacting, I pretended not to notice.
A small smile appeared on my lips.
So—
She came to see me.
I looked toward the moonlight and spoke softly, pretending I was talking only to myself.
"In three days," I whispered.
"I'll go to the covenant myself."
The wind around the room trembled slightly.
I continued speaking carefully.
"I'll confess everything to Tanya."
My chest tightened painfully.
"And this time… I'll marry her."
Silence followed.
But somehow—
I could feel emotions filling the room.
Pain.
Longing.
Sadness.
It was almost as if Tanya herself was standing beside me silently crying.
I wanted to turn around desperately.
Wanted to pull her into my arms.
But I remained still.
Because deep inside—
I knew she would disappear if I forced her to face me.
So instead—
I kept speaking.
"I don't care what the kingdom says anymore," I whispered honestly.
"I'll protect her."
My voice softened further.
"And our child too."
For several seconds, nothing moved.
Then suddenly—
The strange presence disappeared completely.
The room became empty again.
I slowly lowered my eyes painfully.
"She was really here…" I whispered.
That night—
I did not sleep at all.
The next morning, exhaustion finally pulled me into sleep for a short while inside my chambers.
But suddenly—
A violent wind exploded inside the room.
BOOM!
The windows burst open loudly.
Dark energy filled the chambers instantly.
My eyes snapped open.
I immediately reached for the sword beside my bed.
Then froze.
A woman stood silently near the center of the room with her back facing me.
Power radiated from her body heavily.
Ancient.
Terrifying.
I recognized her immediately.
The Witch Queen.
Tanya's godmother.
My expression darkened instantly.
"What happened?" I asked quickly.
The queen slowly turned toward me.
And for the first time since meeting her—
She looked afraid.
"Tanya is going to be sacrificed today," she said immediately.
My entire body froze.
"What?"
Her eyes filled with pain.
"She agreed to sacrifice herself to save the covenant."
The sword slipped slightly from my hand.
"No…"
Then the queen spoke words that shattered me completely.
"She is carrying your child."
For a moment—
I could not breathe.
My child.
Tanya was carrying my child.
And they planned to kill both of them.
Rage exploded inside me instantly.
Without another word, I grabbed my sword and rushed toward the door.
"Daniel," the queen called urgently.
But I was already moving.
I did not even stop to inform my father.
Nothing mattered anymore except Tanya.
And our child.
I rode through the jungle furiously beneath the stormy sky.
Branches cut across my skin as I pushed deeper into the forbidden forest surrounding the covenant.
My horse became restless from fear.
The jungle itself felt alive.
Watching me.
Testing me.
But I refused to stop.
"Tanya…" I whispered desperately.
"Please hold on."
The deeper I traveled—
The darker the jungle became.
Then suddenly—
Growls echoed through the trees.
My horse panicked violently.
And within seconds—
Massive wild beasts emerged from the shadows.
Their eyes glowed unnaturally red.
Wolves.
But not ordinary wolves.
These creatures carried dark magic.
Their bodies were massive enough to tear a man apart instantly.
The first wolf lunged toward me immediately.
I jumped from my horse and drew my sword quickly.
CLANG!
The blade slashed across the beast's side.
But another attacked from behind instantly.
I fought desperately.
One after another.
The wolves surrounded me completely.
Their claws tore through my clothing.
Sharp teeth ripped into my shoulder violently.
Pain exploded through my body.
But I kept fighting.
Because Tanya needed me.
Because my child needed me.
Minutes felt like hours.
Blood covered my hands.
My breathing became heavy.
My body weakened slowly.
The wolves kept coming endlessly.
Until finally—
My strength began fading.
I dropped to one knee heavily.
The largest wolf stepped forward slowly, growling deeply while blood dripped from its jaws.
I looked toward the heavens weakly.
Rain poured heavily across my face.
And for the first time—
Fear entered my heart.
Not fear of death.
But fear of failing Tanya.
I closed my eyes painfully.
"Tanya…" I whispered weakly.
"I'm sorry."
My chest tightened painfully.
"To our child too…"
Tears mixed with rain across my face.
"It seems we'll meet in the land of the dead instead."
A bitter smile touched my lips weakly.
"At least there… nobody will forbid our love."
The wolves moved closer.
Ready to finish me.
Slowly—
I closed my eyes completely.
And surrendered myself to death.
But suddenly—
The wolves whimpered loudly.
Then retreated violently.
I frowned slightly in confusion.
Growls turned into frightened cries.
The beasts ran away desperately into the darkness as if something far more terrifying had appeared.
My eyes opened slowly.
Then my entire body froze.
A woman stood before me silently.
Beautiful.
Gentle.
Radiating warm light.
My mother.
Tears filled my eyes instantly.
"M-Mother…?"
She smiled softly at me.
Just like she used to when I was a child.
For a moment—
I forgot the pain completely.
She stepped closer slowly and knelt beside me.
Then gently placed a golden ring into my hand.
The ring glowed faintly beneath the storm.
"You must go save Tanya," she said softly.
"And your child."
My hands trembled violently.
"How…?"
My mother touched my face gently.
"Your destiny has always been connected to the covenant."
I stared at her in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
Her expression became mysterious suddenly.
"There are truths hidden from you, Daniel."
The wind around us grew stronger.
"But soon…"
She smiled sadly.
"Everything will be revealed."
I grabbed her hand desperately.
"Mother wait—what destiny?"
But slowly—
Her body began fading into light.
"The time is near," she whispered softly.
Then she disappeared completely.
Leaving only the golden ring behind.
I stared at the empty space where she stood moments ago.
My heart pounded violently.
But one thing became clear.
This was bigger than love.
Bigger than the kingdom.
Bigger than the covenant.
And somehow—
I was connected to all of it.
Slowly, I stood again despite my injuries.
My grip tightened around the golden ring.
Then I looked toward the direction of the covenant.
"Tanya…"
Dark determination filled my eyes.
"I'm coming."