28. Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Ariella
“ Y ou need to eat something,” Caspian insists as we make our way back toward the castle. My entire body aches, my vision has black spots in random places, and my feet tremble, but I ignore it all. I've no time for food—which is terribly depressing.
I tap a finger against my thigh as I consider everything that’s happened the last few days. Caspian died. He came back after I threatened the Angel. I found a headless fellow guild member. Was tortured by Thalion’s sentries—which reminds me that I need to find those two cowards. Then I followed some strange feeling to Caspian, finding him under his father’s complete control. Used my temporal strand. And killed a fucking king with his son by my side after weaving my temporal strand.
The temporal strand isn’t straightforward; though none of the strands in the ethereal affinity are. It’s like trying to grab water with your bare hands—slippery, fleeting, and never quite what you expect. When I tug onto it, it’s not just time bending around me; it’s like I’m bending with it, shifting through moments that shouldn’t be mine to hold. It’s dangerous, unpredictable, and draining, but it worked. Somehow it worked. It gave me the edge I needed when everything hung by a thread and I thought I was going to lose him. Again.
I halt my movements as acidic realization floods through me: Thalion is dead. Twenty years of training, planning, raging, and he’s finally dead.
And the most disturbing part is I hadn’t considered any of this before…what happens after the king is dead. I’ve been so focused on Caspian and what we need to do now that it slipped my mind. Succeeding at the only thing I’ve ever wanted was overshadowed by my feelings for the prince.
I cannot tell if I’m disturbed by that truth or relieved.
And my parents? Their deaths were the catalyst for my plans, and I’ve just dismissed their long deserved justice without a second thought.
Do I feel guilty about it? I should, but no.
Would I do it again? Fail to drag out long-planned Thalion’s death in their name, if given the chance? For Caspian? I absolutely fucking would.
“Ariella.” I jolt at the prince's soft voice and touch as he drags his hands down my arm. “What are you thinking about?”
I purse my lips, narrowing my eyes before answering. “Are you sure you want to know?” He nods as both hands slide around my waist and hover low on my back.
He presses in, and I immediately step close enough that the heat of his body warms my cold thoughts. His eyes darken at my lips before I realize I’m biting one. Leaning to brush the lightest of kisses against my forehead, he whispers, “I always want to know what’s going on in that beautifully violent head of yours.” A giddiness flits around my abdomen as I smile, and—
Fuck, what is wrong with me? I’m positive that I’ve smiled more in the last two months than I have my entire life.
I relax into his arms—the one place I’ve ever felt truly safe. We remain silent for a few moments while I allow myself to be held by him. I must be quite injured, because I’m not in the slightest concerned about others seeing the Silver Wraith being held by their prince.
Perhaps I do enjoy cuddling, after all.
I shift when my legs tremble harder, bracing to walk back into the castle before I collapse, when a deep rumble vibrates through my bones, causing both of us to pause. The sensation grows until the ground beneath our feet quakes violently. Caspian adjusts his grip on my arms, steadying me as people around us scream and the castle groans.
“Fuck me,” I breathe, watching as trees collapse and windows shatter. This is different from the shaking in the library. It’s callous and erratic.
My mother’s and Eris’ warnings ring in my ears: chaos .
How? We’ve killed the one fucking with and hoarding essence—I want to believe that’s why. That it’s the king’s harvested essence entering the environment once again that’s causing this alarming shaking .
I cannot think that, after so much effort, Thalion’s death would make the balance worse. I will not believe that eradicating that monster is going to ruin our chances of fixing the Accord.
I’m too fucking tired for this.
“Come on.” I yank Caspian toward the castle entrance, dodging falling debris. His normally graceful movements are sluggish, as are mine, likely from the drugs and manipulation his father used to control us. The thought makes my blood boil.
Just as quick as it started, the shaking ceases without warning. I widen my eyes in an attempt to keep them open—I’ll think about this more tomorrow. I’ve dealt with enough today.
We burst through the back entrance just as Gavriel emerges from a side hallway. His face is bruised, and he cradles his right arm against his chest. Something in my gut says he fought back when the king’s men came for him.
Brave of him to show his face here after what he did. Foolish, but brave.
“Caspian, please—I just need to explain.” Gavriel’s voice cracks with desperation. I glance at Caspian, finding him slumped against the wall, eyes distant. Whatever his father did has fucked with his head more than I initially thought.
“He’ll talk to you tomorrow,” I snap, moving to guide Caspian away. Gavriel’s hand clamps around my forearm, and I react on instinct.
I slam him into the wall, pressing a blade to his throat. “Fuck’s sake, leave him alone, Gavriel. It’s like you’re in love with him or something. ”
The words leave my mouth before I process them, but the way Gavriel’s face drains of color confirms what I’d suspected. His eyes dart to Caspian, who seems oblivious to our exchange as he leans his head forward, forehead scrunched tightly.
“If you ever touch me again,” I breathe, leaning close, “I will personally ensure your body is never found. And trust me, that wouldn’t be much effort on my part—no one would look very hard for the guard who betrayed his prince.”
Gavriel’s voice lowers to a sharp whisper, the brown of his irises darkening. “You don’t understand anything. You never have. You’re always so quick to judge—but only after you destroy everything.”
“Destroy?” I hiss back, pressing my blade in. “You almost got him killed in Meridian. Or did you forget that part while you were busy swimming to higher ground while I saved his fucking life?”
His jaw tightens, widening the muscles that flex under my weapon. “I would die for him,” he says, his voice trembling but steady.
“Great. Then do it quietly.” Caspian shifts in my peripheral, and I peer at him before focusing on the man who betrayed him once more. “Because if you pull another stunt like this, I’ll save you the effort.”
We glare at each other, so close our chests rise and fall against each other. For a moment, I catch something in his eyes—a crack in his defiance. Something raw.
“I wasn’t trying to hurt him,” he whispers. “You don’t have to believe me, but it’s the truth. ”
I hesitate for the briefest heartbeat before shoving off him, sheathing the blade over my left thigh. The weight is comforting. “Your truth means nothing to me, Gavriel. Fix yourself before you try to fix him.”
His eyes fall to the ground as he nods, swallowing hard before stepping aside. I return to Caspian, who’s breathing heavily as sweat beads along his forehead.
“Up we go, prince.” I wrap his arm over my shoulder and grab his waist to hoist him up. Despite his protests, his body sags against mine.
Behind us, I hear Gavriel whisper, almost too soft to catch. “I’d never let him fall.”
I don’t bother turning around, but the words stick in my head longer than I’d like to admit.
“I can walk,” he mumbles, though his feet drag. “But it’s unreasonably attractive that you can carry me.”
I laugh before I can stop it, trying not to think about how natural it feels to support his weight. “Shut up before I drop you.”
We reach his room, and I deposit him onto his bed as gently as possible. It's not a moment before he sinks into a deep sleep, and something in my chest tightens at how vulnerable he looks. Turning, my jaw clenches as I reach for my umbral strand and weave as strong of wards as I can manage across the door. And what a fucking effort it is—I need to train more.
“I’m going to shower,” I announce to an unconscious prince when I’m done, needing space from the confusing mix of protectiveness and uncertainty swirling through me. He grunts in response, making me chuckle.
The hot water helps ease some tension from my muscles, but my mind races. I should leave—put distance between us and focus on finding the artifacts. But the thought of walking away while he’s in this state makes me physically ill.
No, that’s a lie. What makes me ill is the thought of being separated from him in any capacity. Even now, just a room apart, the pain and sluggishness I’ve been able to fend off are overtaking my body, and somehow I know the only way to rid myself of such ailments is to be near him.
Scoffing, I turn off the shower and dry myself. At some point, I’ve stopped making excuses to stay away from him and started hoping there were reasons for me to stay.
But I do not need any reason other than it’s what I want.
When I emerge, he appears to be sleeping. I hesitate before slipping into one of his shirts, removing his outer layer of clothes, and crawling into bed beside him. I’m careful to keep distance between us, though it pains me to do so.
“Just until morning,” I whisper to myself. “Then we figure out our next move.”
Sleep claims me, my exhausted body finally giving in to rest. The last thing I register is the familiar warmth of my shadows curling protectively around us both, despite my lack of call for them.
Warmth caresses my face, stirring me from a peaceful sleep. My eyes flutter open to find Caspian studying me with a warm fondness, his gaze holding an unnerving amount of tenderness. I should move away—establish boundaries or some shit like that—but my body refuses to listen.
“You stayed.” His voice is rough with sleep, yet somehow still manages to sound charming and pleased.
My eyes roll on their own. “Obviously.”
“Obviously,” he mocks with a smirk, trailing his fingers down my arm. “And wearing my shirt again…I’m beginning to think you like them, angel.”
“They’re comfortable.” I try to sound dismissive, but it's a miserable attempt as his hand slides to my hip. Our bodies are so close, yet I do not feel the need to run from the intimacy. “How are you feeling?”
His features darken as his hand squeezes my hip. “Like my father invaded my mind and forced me to try killing you.” He pauses, swallowing, a glimmer of panic flashing through his eyes. “I could see everything happening— everything , Ariella. But couldn’t stop myself. I’ve never felt so fucking helpless.”
“But you fought it.” I prop myself up on an elbow, needing him to understand as I meet his eye level. “I saw you resisting him…that’s why I knew my plan would work.”
“Your plan to use your temporal strand?” His eyes narrow. “The one you conveniently failed to mention you possessed?”
I shrug, though heat creeps up my neck. “You failed to ask.”
He laughs, the sound warming parts of me I didn’t realize were cold. “You’re an impossible woman.” His hand slides up my side, fingers ghosting over my ribs. “What other strands are you hiding from me?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I attempt to roll away but he catches me, pulling me flush against his chest, and I lose a breath at the impact.
“I would, actually.” Heat fans across my face as he hovers over me. “I want to know everything about you, Ariella.”
The intensity in his eyes makes my heartbeat stutter—not the one in my chest. “That’s a dangerous thing to want, prince.”
A hum reverberates from him as he smiles. That fucking smile could melt even the coldest of souls. “I’ve never claimed to be particularly wise.” He leans down, pressing his lips to mine with devastating gentleness.
Nerves prickle all over my body as I melt into the kiss, allowing myself this moment of vulnerability. His tongue slides along my bottom lip and I open for him, groaning when his head tilts to deepen the contact. One of his hands tangles in my hair, tugging with a tight grip while the other skims down my thigh, hitching my leg over his hip .
A knock at the door has me immediately rolling to reach for a blade. He chuckles, amused by my reaction—it wouldn’t be so amusing if there were people here to kill him.
“Your Highness?” A staff member’s muffled voice calls through the door. “The queen requests your presence immediately.”
Caspian releases a heavy sigh before replying with a cold tone. “Tell her I’ll be there shortly.”
We listen as footsteps retreat before he turns back to me with a predatory grin. “Now, where were we?”
I press a hand to his chest when he moves to kiss me again, laughing when he nips my chin. “You should go. Your mother likely wishes to discuss what happened yesterday.”
“Fuck.” He drops his head to my shoulder, groaning as his arms encircle me—something I’m really starting to enjoy. “I hadn’t even thought about that. The entire kingdom saw me kill my father.”
“They also saw him admit to experimenting on people and controlling you with essence.” I run my fingers through his hair, surprised by my desire to comfort him. “No one will blame you for what happened.”
He lifts his head, searching my face. “Come with me.” Not a question, though his voice is hesitant.
“To see your mother?” I bark out a laugh. “I don’t think she’d appreciate that.”
“I don’t care what she appreciates .” His jaw clenches. “I want you there, so you’ll be there.”
The authority in his voice has me nodding before I can think better of it—fuck me and my newly discovered perversity. “Fine. But I’m not changing.”
His eyes darken as they rake over my body, lingering on my bare legs. “Good.”