Chapter 47 Claeg
They knew.
Odon knew about the Ruptor.
My stomach twisted into knots over and over.
Calian dragged me out of the stronghold and tossed me to the ground. Wounds protested all over my body, but I ignored them. A draconis shifted next to me, and suddenly he scooped me up in sharp talons. Pain sliced into me from all sides as my blood spilled over the talons—the only weapon sharp enough to tear through me with a simple touch. I gritted my teeth. I wouldn’t allow the pain to control me as it had before. Pain wasn't a weakness. It was a forge, creating a creature of resilience. His claws created a cage for me while he flew hard and fast, bringing me to the plateau before I could shift. When he dropped me unceremoniously, I landed hard, choking on the overwhelmingly spiced air. Above me, thousands of De Vita draconis flew in their true form. It was meant to be a show of dominance, but I didn’t fear De Vita.
My eyes tilted up, looking at the figures which loomed over me. Odon. Oriana. Calian. They sneered at me. My heart hammered relentlessly, filling my blood with dread.
“What is this?” I spat. Odon gave me a smile that promised pain. I tasted foul carrion.
“Up, traitor; it’s time,” Calian growled, kicking my side. The burn there shrieked with pain, but I just glared at him and pushed myself to my feet.
“De Vita, today we have gathered for the final trial for the Selected.” Odon paused, letting reality sink in. The trial wasn’t supposed to happen yet. It hadn’t been a full moon turn. “We have two who will compete to be Chosen for Anastasius. This is the final test. Oriana has volunteered to let you go first. Your trial is simple: a Circulus must be Saved. It’s time for you to finish what you started and prove where your loyalty lies.” I frowned, unsure what he meant. I didn’t wonder for long. He turned to the side, revealing Hariasa with a sinister smile. She wasn’t alone. My stomach fell. Ercan was at her side. His eyes were black and swollen, his face nearly unrecognizable. In a flash of movement, Hariasa knocked him to his knees. Ercan wheezed, wincing. My stomach heaved. They wanted to take his broken wings. They wanted me to do it—I knew it in my bones. “You have until the sun reaches its peak,” Odon addressed me. The sun was nearly there, giving me only moments to decide what to do.
“Claeg.” Ercan acknowledged me, not a hint of fear in him. I growled low, taking a step toward him. He didn’t cower like he did last time. No, this time he met my eyes and held them, refusing to beg for his life. I loomed above his kneeling form. He doesn’t even have a Circle to complete. Just finish the traitor, I could practically hear Clotho encourage me. I swallowed the lump in my throat. No, protect. Ercan wasn’t weak for being a victim—my victim. I hadn’t destroyed him before, rather forged a new creature. He was stronger now, but taking his wings... He just watched me, resigned to his fate. I glanced around me at the curious faces of De Vita, but Anastasius wasn’t among them. I looked to the sky, but there were too many draconis to identify him among them.
“Ask me to shift, Ruptor,” Ercan said softly. Hearing my title made me flinch. It made me death, not mercy. I couldn’t do it. The Ruptor in me no longer purred at the idea of exacting its power over Ercan again. It just wanted to protect him. He was my responsibility. I wouldn’t, I couldn’t, be the reason he lost his wings.
My fists balled, and I let out a slow breath. I would fight until my Circle was completed, even then never stopping. I knew the truth now. I wasn’t taking a side. I didn’t stand for Circulus or De Vita. I wanted what Anastasius did—peace. And I would pay for it in blood, but not his.
“No,” I finally whispered, turning toward Odon. “You want to Save a Circulus, correct?” Odon nodded, and his pupils dilated, sensing my intentions. I took a few steps back, giving myself room before unsheathing my draconis.