Pairing: Prince Nuada x Female Reader
Warnings: Angst, Violence, Canon-Divergence, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Magic, Heavy Emotional Themes
Tags: Slow Burn Forbidden Love Enemies to Lovers Angst with a Happy Ending Protective Nuada Witch!OC Secret Meetings Canon-Divergent Ending. Emotional Intimacy Magical Bond Sacrifice Found Family Royal Politics Hurt/ Comfort Slight Jealousy Fem!Protagonist Smut
โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โโ โ
The path wound through a dense forest, ancient trees rising tall on either side, their thick canopies casting mottled shadows over the soft earth beneath their feet. The late afternoon light filtered through the leaves, painting golden patterns that danced with every subtle breeze. The air was cool and fragrant with pine and damp moss, wrapping the small group in a quiet, almost sacred calm.
Abe walked silently beside Nuala, his steady gaze scanning the horizon, but more often resting on her. After a long pause, his voice broke the silence, low and careful.
โItโs close now, isnโt it?โ
Nualaโs eyes flicked up to meet his, and she smiled โ a slow, genuine smile that spoke of vulnerability and newfound acceptance.
โYes,โ she replied softly. โCloser than I thought. And... Iโm ready.โ
Abeโs fingers twitched nervously before he finally reached out and gently took her hand. The warmth of her skin grounded him, and he held on a moment longer than necessary.
โIโve been thinking about us,โ Nuala admitted, voice barely above a whisper. โI know what I feel for you. Iโve accepted it โ more than that, I want it." Abe was astonishing.
Nuala continued "But with everything happeningโฆ with Nuada and Eve, itโs complicated. Sometimes I donโt know if what I feel is mine, or justโฆ caught in the chaos around them.โ
Abeโs brow furrowed in concern, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. โYou mean Nuadaโs feelings for Eve? And how that affects of us?... all of us??"
Nuala nodded, squeezing his hand gently. โExactly. You donโt know how deep it is. I had to close my bond with Nuada just to keep from feeling everything" she looked at him like trying him to understand what she meant.. he didn't.. she kept going changed it for him" his confusion, his pain. It was overwhelming.โ
There was a long silence between them, heavy but intimate. Then Redโs voice, sharp and unexpected, cut through the quiet.
โYou mentioned Eve โ sheโs okay, right?โ Red asked, glancing over with a hint of worry.
Nuala gave a reassuring nod. โSheโs here. Weโll see soon enough.โ
Liz stepped forward, brushing a stray leaf from her shoulder. โNo time to waste now. The ruins lie just ahead.โ
The group moved onward, the forest thinning until they reached a clearing. There, half-swallowed by earth and vines, lay the ancient ruinsโmassive stone pillars cracked with age, moss creeping over the worn engravings. The air hummed with a deep, old magic, as if the stones themselves held their breath, waiting.
The weight of what was to come settled over them all. This was no ordinary placeโit was the heart of their conflict, and the stage for the inevitable.
Abe glanced at Nuala, his eyes searching hers with a mix of hope and uncertainty.
โPrincessโฆ do you really feel the same way?"
Nuala returned his gaze, a soft, knowing smile spreading across her lips.
โI do,โ she said simply, her hand tightening around his as they stepped forward.
Together, they approached the ancient ruins, ready for whatever awaited them.
The group moved steadily through the dense forest, the air thick with tension and anticipation. The sun filtered weakly through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the uneven path beneath their feet. Every step brought them closer to the ancient ruins beneath the earthโan eerie place where the fate of many would be decided.
Red walked beside Liz, their eyes scanning the surroundings, while Abe and Nuala stayed close, their hands still intertwined. The closeness between them was no secret now, a silent comfort in the uncertainty ahead.
As they neared the clearing, Abe tightened his grip on Nualaโs hand, whispering, โWeโre close. I can feel it. Nuadaโs presence is near.โ
Nuala nodded, her eyes narrowing as if trying to pierce through the layers of magic and stone, but said nothing. Instead, she exchanged a brief, knowing glance with Abeโwords unspoken but heavy with meaning.
The heavy silence that followed was broken only by the crunch of leaves beneath their boots.
At last, they reached the entrance to the ruinsโan ancient archway overgrown with moss and twisted roots, a cold wind emanating from within.
Red gestured sharply, signaling them to stay alert. โStay close. We donโt know what to expect.โ
Slowly, they stepped inside.
The dim light revealed a cavernous chamber. And there, standing near the center, was Eveโwith Nuada beside her.
Her clothes seemed alteredโshifted or conjured by magic, yet unmistakably her. Nuadaโs hand rested gently against her cheek, his touch possessive yet tender.
Liz whispered, โIs sheโฆ with him willingly? Or is this some kind of trap?โ
Abeโs eyes flicked between them, searching for any sign of coercion or resistance. But Eveโs calm expression was unreadable.
Nuala swallowed hard but said nothing, instead sharing another glance with Abe, their silent understanding stronger than any words.
The room seemed to hold its breath as all eyes fixed on the unlikely pairโon the fragile line between alliance and betrayal.
The room held its breath.
Nuadaโs eyes flicked up firstโsharp, instinctive. He had felt it before her footsteps ever reached the stone floor. The tether to his sister, once severed, now faintly tugged again, like a breath at the back of his neck.
He turned his head toward the entrance, golden gaze narrowing as he spotted the group at the threshold.
His body shifted subtly, placing himself half a step in front of Eveโnot in fear, but in reflex. Protection. Possession. Both.
His hand dropped slowly from her cheek, lingering just a second too long before falling to his side.
She felt it the moment they arrived.
A subtle shift in the airโlike the world exhaled all at once. And then Nuada's eyes flicked up, his posture changing, protective but composed. His hand fell from her cheek, and Eve instinctively looked toward the entrance.
The people she'd fought beside. The ones she'd bled with, laughed with, feared for. And yet, nowโstanding beside himโshe didnโt move.
Her heart didnโt leap with guilt. Only a quiet, aching tension spread through her chest.
Red looked like he was about to charge. Liz had narrowed eyes and a clenched jaw. Abe, sweet Abe, was unreadable for onceโbut she saw it in the way his fingers twitched slightly. His gaze searched hers, then Nuadaโs, then back again. Looking for proof. For betrayal. Or for something else entirely.
And Nualaโฆ she didnโt speak. Her silence rang louder than any question, but her eyesโwarm, bright, knowingโmet Eveโs for the briefest of moments. Not a threat. Not doubt. Just understanding.
Nuada hadnโt spoken yet, and Eve could feel the war inside him. A ripple of energy buzzed beneath his skin. She reached for his armโnot to stop him, not to defend him. Simply to remind him that she was still there. That she hadnโt moved.
โI can feel you thinking,โ she whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
He didnโt look at her, but the muscles in his jaw relaxed.
Her gaze returned to the group. She inhaled slowly, deeply. โThey think Iโve been taken.โ
Nuadaโs voice, low and rough, answered. โHavenโt you?โ
Eve turned her face to him then, not flinching. โNo. I chose to stay.โ
He looked at her, truly looked at her.
He heard her voice, soft and certain, break through the rising tension in his mind.
โI can feel you thinking.โ
How could he possibly hide it from her now?
The presence of his sister had struck him like the pull of a bladeโsharp and immediate. The bond they'd once shared flared back to life, even through the veil sheโd placed over it. She was near. And with herโฆ the humans. The ones who would never understand what this was. What they were.
Nuada's mind had gone silent, but not still.
Not for a fightโthough that was likely. But for the gaze of those who would see Eve by his side and assume the worst. For the flicker of betrayal in her alliesโ eyes. For the test she would now face.
He was preparing to be the villain.
But her hand found his arm. No fear in her fingers. No hesitation.
He didnโt look at her yet, but her presence steadied him more than any silent mantra or battle rhythm ever could.
โThey think Iโve been taken,โ she said.
A cruel twist of irony curled on his tongue. โHavenโt you?โ
But her responseโsimple, unwaveringโlanded deeper than he expected.
โNo. I chose to stay.โ
That unbearable warmth in his chest again.
He turned to her slowly, needing to see her eyes. Needing proof of her choice. And when he found it, unshaken and steady, his doubt crackedโjust enough.
Sheโd meant every word.
Even knowing what he was. What he had done. What he would do.
He didnโt deserve that loyalty. And yetโฆ she offered it freely.
His jaw eased. The chaos inside him quieted for a breath. He couldnโt afford softness, not now. But the way she looked at himโlike she could see every fracture in him and still stayedโmade the armor around his purpose feel thinner than ever.
Nuada finally lifted his chin and looked to the intruders. To them. They would not take her from him.
The silence grew heavy as Nuada turned.
In front of him, Hellboy stiffened like a beast sensing another predator. Liz moved half a step forward, her hands warming with barely-contained fire. Abe stood still, his sharp gaze going straight to Eve.
She wasn't restrained. There was no fear in her expression. She stood beside Nuada, breathing calmly, her eyes reflecting a strange, undeniable strength. But Abe saw something moreโan aura, faint and ancient. Magic.
Nualaโs voice was soft.
Redโs voice broke the silence.
โEve?โ it came out rough, uncertain. โAre you okay? Did he hurt you?โ
Before Nuada could respond, Eve took a breath and stepped forward. Her hand reached up and gently rested on Nuadaโs shoulderโa wordless gesture of calm, of restraint. Then she looked at the group.
โIโm fine. He hasnโt hurt me.โ
Nuada didnโt move under her touch, but his jaw clenched slightly.
โSheโs not here against her will,โ he said, voice sharp as a blade. โAnd if any of you try to take her from my sideโฆ you wonโt live long enough to regret it.โ
Hellboy let out a bitter laugh.
โYou know what, pointy-ears? Iโm really getting sick of your threats.โ
โTheyโre not threats. Theyโre truths.โ Nuadaโs golden eyes found his. โAnd youโฆ You fight to protect a world that hides you. A world that calls you monster and then sends you into the shadows to do its dirty work. All of you.โ
Hellboyโs expression shiftedโjust enough to betray the sting of the words.
Nuala stepped forward, her voice steady despite the tremble in her chest. โBrother, you donโt have to do this.โ
Nuada finally looked at her, and for a breath, the warrior disappearedโleaving only the tired, fractured soul beneath.
โSisterโฆ if only you knewโฆโ His voice lowered, almost like a confession. โOnce the Royal Fight is spoken, once itโs agreed uponโฆ it must happen. Or both sides perish.โ
He looked at Eve, his expression unreadable.
โAm I doing this willingly?โ A pause. โNo. But I must. Because both sides accepted.โ
Without another word, he turned toward the golden army. He lifted the final piece of the crown.
The chamber trembled faintly as unseen seals unlocked. Symbols ignited along the ancient stonework, forming a wide circle carved into the floorโrunes older than any of them could name.
Abeโs eyes widened. โThe Circle of Ironโฆโ
Hellboy snorted. โWell, great. Letโs get your royal deathmatch over with.โ
Nuada slowly lowered the crown, then slipped off his cloak. His tunic clung to his form, the scars on his chest visible like ghost stories. His spear spun once in his hand, effortlessly.
โThe winner will decide the fate of the army,โ he said. โAnd of the war.โ
Eveโs breath caught, but she didnโt speak.
He didnโt look at her as he added, quietly, โDonโt interfere. This is something I must do.โ
Eveโs brows furrowed. She stepped forward and touched his arm gently, her voice trembling. โDonโt ask me to stand still while you walk into this, at the moment you need me, you or Red, I will interfere.โ
His jaw tightened. That flicker of hesitation returned to his eyesโone that only she seemed able to pull from him.
Then, without another word, he turned to face Hellboy.
The tension was a living thingโheavy, pulsing in the space between them.
Nuada stepped forward, each movement measured, his expression unreadable but no longer distant. The runes carved into the floor seemed to flicker in response, echoing the gravity of what was about to unfold.
Eve stood behind him, her hand slowly lowering from his arm. She didnโt speak again, but her eyesโthose unrelenting eyesโremained on him as if willing him to turn back. He didnโt.
Hellboy rolled his shoulders and walked into the circle without hesitation, cracking his neck.
โSo this is how weโre gonna settle it.โ
Nuada unsheathed his blade. The steel whispered through the air like it had been waiting for this. For blood. For closure.
โBy the ancient pact,โ he said, voice deep and resonant, โthis Royal Fight shall decide the fate of the crown. Interference will forfeit the lives of both heirs.โ
Nualaโs hand trembled at her side.
Eveโs fingers curled against her own skin.
Nuada still didnโt look at her. But the way his jaw tensed before he raised his sword betrayed something. A flicker of conflict.
Hellboy lunged first, fists up, not waiting.
Steel met stone as Nuada blocked with fluid precisionโelegant, fast, merciless. The force of the first clash echoed through the chamber. Sparks flew.
Hellboyโs punches were heavy, brutalโhe wasnโt holding back. But Nuada moved like shadow and flame, slipping past each blow with lethal grace. His blade sang through the air, striking not just to wound, but to end.
The clash of iron and stone echoed like war drums in the chamber.
Above them, the silent watchers stood still.
Abe's eyes followed every movement, but it wasnโt just strategy he sawโit was something deeper. A look, a twitch in Nuadaโs stance. Heโs conflicted... but heโs still striking to kill.
Beside him, Nuala stood pale, lips parted, her fingers trembling. She didnโt look at the fightโshe looked at Eve.
She stood outside the ring, arms crossed tightly over her chest, as if holding herself together. Her breathing was shallow. Her eyes locked on Nuada, not with fear... but with something that read like heartbreak.
Heโs pulling his strikes. Why? Why is he hesitating?
Nuada ducked under a powerful swing and retaliated, his blade slashing across Hellboyโs side. Blood sprayedโa crimson arc in the air. Red staggered but didnโt fall.
โNice one,โ he growled, smirking through the pain. โGuess I shouldโve known youโd go all in.โ
Nuada didnโt answer. His eyes flickedโjust for a momentโto Eve.
She saw the flash of regret.
But then he turned againโcold, composed. He pressed forward, blades dancing faster, pushing Hellboy back toward the edge of the circle. The prince's movements were flawless... but Eve could feel it. The tremor underneath the rhythm. A man fighting not just an opponentโbut his own will.
Behind her, Nuala whispered, โHe's not aiming to win.โ
Abe turned to her, confused. โWhat do you mean?โ
But she shook her head, gripping the staff in her hand. Her connection with Nuada remained closed, yet the bond with Eveโฆ was enough.
The blade sliced through the air again, grazing Hellboyโs arm. Another step back. Another drop of blood.
And still Nuada hesitated.
In that pauseโbarely a breathโEve took a step forward, eyes shining. โStop,โ she whispered, not to Red... to him. To the man she knew was still in there.
But his next swing missed.
The sound of metal clashing and the echo of fists striking flesh had faded. All that remained now was the weight of breathingโheavy, strained, desperate.
Nuada lay on the cold stone floor of the chamber, his golden blade having slipped from his grasp. A dark stain spread slowly across his tunic, just below his ribsโa mirror to the very wound he had once inflicted on Hellboy.
Hellboy stood above him, chest heaving, one hand still balled into a fist, the other holding onto the remnants of his coat, torn and darkened with ash and blood. He hadnโt meant to drive the blade so deepโit had been instinct, reflexโฆ retribution. For Liz. For Abe. For Eve.
Nuada's eyes blinked slowly, his face contorted in pain, but his breathing was steady. Controlled. He hadnโt lost consciousnessโbut he was no longer fighting.
A gasp escaped Nuala as she clutched her side and staggered slightly. Abe was by her side in an instant, eyes wide with alarm.
โNualaโ!โ he caught her before she fell. His hands trembled as he supported her weight, scanning her pale face and the faint shimmer of blood beneath her robes.
โIโm fine,โ she whispered weakly, though her voice betrayed her pain. โItโsโฆ him. Heโs hurt.โ
Abe looked toward Nuada, and for the first time in the battle, he didnโt see a prince or an enemyโonly a brother, tethered by blood and soul to the woman now faltering in his arms.
โYour life is tied to his,โ Abe murmured, his voice heavy with dread.
Nuala nodded faintly, wincing. โI feel every heartbeat. Every pain. If he diesโฆโ
Abe swallowed hard. The realization hit him like ice water.
Narration (back to Nuada):
Nuadaโs breathing had slowed. His eyes werenโt glazed, but they were far awayโlost in something beyond the pain. The golden prince looked upward, not at the ceiling, but through it, toward something invisible. A memory. A voice. A presence.
โEveโฆโ he rasped, barely audible.
She stepped forward slowly, her eyes wide with something more than fearโsomething ancient and mournful. She knelt beside him without hesitation, placing her hands gently around the wound.
โYou stubborn fool,โ she whispered, tears blurring her vision. โWhy didnโt you yield?โ
He gave a strained smile. โYou know whyโฆโ
Her hand brushed over his cheek, and the warmth of her magic shimmered faintly beneath her skin. She wasnโt healing himโshe couldnโt, not completelyโbut her touch softened the pain. It grounded him.
Behind them, Liz approached Hellboy, placing a hand on his shoulder. He looked shaken, jaw clenchedโnot out of rage, but guilt.
โI didnโt think I hit him that hard,โ he muttered, almost defensively.
โYou didnโt,โ Liz said quietly. โHe didnโt dodge.โ
The chamber fell into silence.
Eve pressed her hands harder against the wound, but there was too much blood, too much slipping through her fingers. Her breathing quickened as she looked around, eyes desperate, searchingโanything, someone, a sign.
โAbeโฆ Lizโpleaseโ!โ Her voice cracked. โI canโt stop it!โ
But no one moved. Not because they didnโt careโbecause they had no idea what to do. The air around them had grown heavy. Thick. It vibrated with something unnatural.
Nuadaโs eyes fluttered open once more, a weak smile on his lips. โDonโt cry for me,โ he murmured. โNot nowโฆโ
โNo,โ she hissed through clenched teeth. โNo. You donโt get to leave me after all this.โ
She leaned over him, clutching his tunic tightly, pressing her forehead to his. Her fingers trembled, magic surging uncontrolled beneath her skinโwild, unstable. โPleaseโฆโ
It started with a soft whistleโlike breath through dead leavesโand in seconds it swelled into a violent gust. Shadows stirred at the edges of the chamber, and a spiraling current of black smoke whipped around them in a sudden vortex. Dust, leaves, sparks of crimson light circled upward like a storm in reverse.
Hellboy stepped forward instinctively, hand going to his weapon, but the air pushed him back.
โEve!โ Liz shouted. โGet away from him!โ
The tornado of darkness grew tighter, angrier. And then, from its very core, a form stepped forwardโtall, lean, his shape more felt than seen. Cloaked in swirling shadows and fire, the demon that had once whispered warnings now stood revealed, eyes burning like coals in a sea of black wind.
Eveโs eyes widened. Recognition struck like a thunderclap.
โYouโโ she whispered, breath stolen.
The demon didnโt smile, but his presence pulsed with satisfaction.
โYou called,โ he said in a voice that rumbled through the bones of the earth. โOr rather, your soul did.โ
โNo,โ she said softly, voice breaking. โI didnโtโโ
โBut you would have,โ he replied smoothly, looking down at Nuadaโs motionless form. โFor him. You would give anything.โ
Eveโs grip on Nuada tightened. She didnโt answer, but her silence screamed yes.
โThen listen carefully, child of the old blood,โ the demon said, stepping closer. The smoke curled around her like fingers. โThere is always a cost. Always a choice.โ
โWhat choice?โ she whispered, tears falling freely now.
A faint smile curved the shadowโs lips. โHis lifeโฆ or yours. Or something in between.โ
โWhat do you want?โ she whispered.
The demon raised a hand and shadows shifted. A vision unfolded before her eyesโsoft golden light spilled through tall windows. She stood barefoot in a sunlit room, belly full with life. Nuada knelt before her, his silver hair brushing her stomach as he kissed it tenderly, both of his hands caressing her carefully, reverently.
He looked up at her with a peace sheโd never seen on him before.
โYou long for life to grow within you,โ the demon said softly. โFor this, you must pay with that very gift. You will never carry a child. Not in this life.โ
Eve stared at the sceneโat Nuada, his devotion, the way her fingers laced into his hair. The warmth, the joy. And she knew.
She looked down at Nuadaโs limp form, his chest barely rising.
The demon nodded once. โHe will.โ
Eve closed her eyes. "Then I accept."
A sharp snap echoedโmore felt than heard. A pulse of energy rushed through her body. Her breath left her in a stuttered gasp as her knees buckled. She caught herself with one hand on the ground.
When she looked at her palmโฆ it was streaked with blood.
The shadows began to retreat. The wind eased. The unnatural quiet crackedโNuada stirred.
His fingers twitched first. Then his chest rose with a deeper breath. His golden eyes fluttered open just as Eve lifted her face toward him, tears already falling.
At the same time, across the chamber, Nuala gasped and sat upright in Abe's arms, the twin connection reawakening with life.
And no one else knewโexcept her.
Nuada's body jerked slightly as if a silent current had passed through him. His breathing steadied, deeper now, and his lashes trembled before he opened his eyes fullyโgolden, alert, confused.
The first thing he saw was her.
โEveโฆโ His voice was raw, nearly a whisper, yet heavy with emotion.
She reached for him, cupping his face with her bloodied hand. โYouโre alright,โ she murmured, brushing his damp hair back. Her lips trembled, but she smiled, even as her eyes filled.
โWhatโฆ happened?โ he asked, his voice still hoarse. He sat up slowly, muscles tight with pain and recent death. โI feltโโ His sentence trailed off as his gaze dropped to her hand, the blood smearing across his cheek.
He tensed. โYouโre hurt?โ
Red was the first to speak, glancing around at the now-cleared chamber with disbelief.
"Okay, soโฆ no oneโs gonna talk about the creepy magic smoke tornado thing that just happened?"
Their eyes were fixed on the figures at the center of the room. Eve was still on her knees, leaning over Nuadaโs body. He was breathing now, slowly. His skin was regaining color. Nuala, a few feet away, stirred as wellโalive.
For a moment, the team stood frozen. Then, almost as one, they exhaledโsome in relief, some in confusion, others in awe.
Nuada stirred again, breath catching sharply as he sat up. His eyes snapped open, unfocused for a second before they landed on Eve. His voice was hoarse, weak:
โYouโre hereโฆ Iโm aliveโฆโ He reached out as if confirming it. โButโฆ how? Why?โ
Eve didnโt answer immediately. She just wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. Her fingers brushed the still-warm skin of his face, her heart racing. "Yes, youโre aliveโฆ Thatโs all that matters."
Nuada pulled back slightly, still confused. His gaze shifted to her, eyes searching, as if trying to make sense of something that felt impossible.
โWhyโฆ?โ he whispered, his voice filled with raw vulnerability. โWhy am I still here? Why am I alive?โ
She met his eyes, and she could see itโthe doubt, the confusion, the pain. She knew he could sense something.
She let out a soft breath, her grip tightening on him, and said softly, "I did something. Something that would change everything. Butโฆ youโre here now."
His brow furrowed deeper, still trying to process. โWhat did you do?โ
Eve closed her eyes for a moment, the weight of what she'd sacrificed hanging heavily in her chest. She didnโt need to say the words aloud, not yet. Instead, she just shook her head, her lips barely moving as she spoke.
โNothing that shouldโve been necessary.โ
Nuada watched her closely, almost sensing the truth between her words, but he couldnโt bring himself to ask. Instead, he just pulled her into his embrace again, holding her tightly as if to make sure she was real.
โI donโt deserve this,โ he murmured into her hair, his voice thick with emotion. "After everything, I... I donโt deserve this."
She didnโt respond immediately. There was nothing she could say to erase the weight of the past. But she pulled away just enough to look into his eyes, her own filled with a mixture of care and understanding.
โYou deserve more than you think, Nuada,โ she whispered.
Nuada holder her tighter, his breath uneven. For a moment, there was nothing else. Just the sound of their heartbeats and the love between them.
dededos
theartofmadeline
snowghoul
ellievsbear
tangentwithtanner
titsay
origamiaround
