CHAPTER FORTY TWO
TANYA'S POV
The night felt colder than usual.
Or maybe—
It was my heart that had finally gone cold.
After restoring Daniel's memories, I could no longer remain calm inside the covenant. My thoughts were filled with him endlessly.
Did he remember everything?
Did he hate me now?
Or—
Did he still love me?
That question tortured me the most.
I sat quietly beside the sacred baobab tree, my hand resting protectively on my stomach.
Inside me—
Our child slept peacefully.
Completely unaware that death was already waiting.
Tears filled my eyes slowly.
"I'm sorry…" I whispered painfully.
For the first time in my life—
I wished I was weak.
Because strength was forcing me to sacrifice the only people who had ever made me feel loved.
Daniel.
And this child.
I closed my eyes briefly.
Then finally—
I made a decision.
I wanted to see him one last time.
Even if only from afar.
That same night, I used my magic and disappeared from the covenant silently.
Moments later—
I appeared inside Daniel's palace chambers invisibly.
The room was dimly lit by candlelight.
Daniel stood near the window wearing black royal clothing, his expression heavy with thought.
The moment I saw him—
My chest tightened painfully.
I missed him so much.
More than I wanted to admit.
Slowly, I stepped closer invisibly while watching him.
Then suddenly—
Daniel spoke.
"In three days," he said quietly to himself, "I'll go to the covenant."
My breathing stopped.
Daniel turned slightly, staring toward the moonlight outside the window.
"I'll confess everything to Tanya," he whispered softly.
"And this time… I'll marry her."
My heart shattered instantly.
Tears filled my eyes before I could stop them.
For a moment—
I almost revealed myself.
I wanted to run into his arms.
Wanted to tell him the truth.
That I loved him too.
That I never wanted to leave him.
That our child belonged to him.
For one dangerous second—
I even thought about running away with him.
Far from the covenant.
Far from the prophecy.
Far from sacrifice.
We could disappear somewhere together.
Raise our child peacefully.
Live like ordinary people.
The thought tempted me painfully.
But then—
My godmother's face appeared inside my mind.
The covenant.
The witches.
The people who saved me when the world abandoned me.
If I ran away—
Prince Raymond would destroy everything.
And my godmother—
Would suffer because of me.
My hands trembled violently.
"No…" I whispered silently.
I couldn't do it.
I couldn't sacrifice everyone for my own happiness.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I stared at Daniel one last time.
Then slowly—
I vanished from his chambers.
Without him ever knowing I was there.
When I returned to the covenant—
The atmosphere felt heavy.
Almost mournful.
Everyone already knew why I came back.
The witches lowered their eyes silently as I walked past them.
Some looked relieved.
Others looked guilty.
And some—
Looked at me with hatred.
Prince Raymond stood near the sacred fire watching me carefully.
His cold eyes moved toward my stomach briefly before returning to my face.
"So," he said slowly.
"You finally made your choice."
I ignored the hatred in his voice.
Instead, I walked directly toward my godmother.
The moment she saw my face—
Her expression broke completely.
"You don't have to do this," she whispered painfully.
But I shook my head slowly.
"Yes," I replied softly.
"I do."
Silence swallowed the covenant.
Then finally, I lifted my head proudly.
"I'm ready for the sacrifice."
The words felt like knives leaving my mouth.
My godmother closed her eyes painfully.
Prince Raymond smirked slightly.
"Then tomorrow," he declared loudly, "the covenant will finally be cleansed."
The witches began chanting immediately.
But I barely heard them.
Because inside me—
Something was dying slowly.
That night—
Nobody slept.
Especially my godmother.
I could feel her pain even from inside my chambers.
The bond between us was too strong.
She raised me.
Protected me.
Loved me like her own daughter.
And now—
She was about to watch me die.
At midnight—
I sensed powerful magic leaving the covenant secretly.
My eyes widened slightly.
Godmother.
I immediately understood what she planned to do.
Meanwhile…
Far away inside the royal palace—
Daniel stood near the balcony unable to sleep.
Suddenly—
Dark wind filled the room violently.
Daniel turned instantly.
Then froze.
My godmother appeared before him.
Daniel's eyes widened in shock.
"You…" he whispered.
The Witch Queen looked at him urgently.
"There is no time," she said quickly.
Daniel immediately sensed danger.
"What happened?"
The queen's expression darkened painfully.
"Tanya is going to be sacrificed tomorrow."
The world around Daniel seemed to stop moving.
"What?"
"She chose to sacrifice herself and the child to save the covenant."
Daniel's face lost all color instantly.
"No…"
The queen stepped closer desperately.
"You are the only person who can stop this now."
Daniel clenched his fists tightly.
"Where is she?"
"At the ritual grounds beneath the sacred baobab tree."
Before the queen could finish speaking—
Daniel had already moved.
Dark panic consumed him completely.
Meanwhile—
Morning arrived too quickly.
The covenant gathered beneath the sacred baobab tree silently.
The sky above looked unnatural.
Dark clouds covered the heavens completely.
Thunder rumbled endlessly.
As if even the spirits were watching.
I was dressed in pure white ceremonial robes.
The same robes witches wore before death.
My hands rested protectively over my stomach as witches surrounded me from every direction.
Some avoided looking at me completely.
Others cried silently.
But Prince Raymond—
Looked satisfied.
The ritual ground stood at the center of the covenant.
A massive ancient stone rested beneath the sacred baobab tree.
That stone—
Was where sacrifices were made.
My godmother struggled violently against the magical chains binding her hands.
"Stop this madness!" she screamed furiously.
But nobody listened.
The elders had already chosen.
Prince Raymond stepped forward proudly holding the ceremonial dagger.
The blade glowed dark red beneath the stormy sky.
He looked at me coldly.
"Any last words?"
I slowly lifted my eyes toward the sky.
Then smiled sadly.
"I just wanted to be loved."
Silence fell across the covenant.
Even some elders lowered their heads guiltily.
Prince Raymond's expression hardened immediately.
"Place her on the stone."
The witches obeyed silently.
I was laid carefully upon the massive cold stone facing upward.
My heart beat slowly.
Peacefully.
Maybe because deep inside—
I had already accepted death.
Tears slid quietly down my cheeks.
My hand moved gently over my stomach one final time.
"I'm sorry…" I whispered painfully to my unborn child.
The wind howled violently.
Thunder exploded across the sky.
Prince Raymond slowly lifted the dagger high above me.
The entire covenant held its breath.
I closed my eyes slowly.
And took my final breath.
Then suddenly—
A voice roared across the ritual grounds.
"STOP!"
My eyes flew open instantly.
And the moment I heard that voice—
Goosebumps exploded across my entire body.
Daniel.