Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
TYNAN
Icould still feel her skin under my fingers, her addicting scent lingering in my nose even after the second act was finally over.
The old crow was fidgeting with Alina’s dress and the latter carefully avoided looking at me when Rutherford entered the loge.
Lord Adger stood up and raised his voice addressing the audience on the first level.
“Citizens of Railand. Today is the day when our sacred maiden will announce her future husband.”
Alina gazed up at him in shock, her mouth hung open. Corliss whispered in her ear as Rutherford stood behind her chair, and placed his hands on her shoulders.
Tell them!
My pulse surged. Dark, murderous thoughts coursed through my head, filling my veins with liquid poison.
Tell them! Tell them that you’re mine.
Seconds stretched in a deep, relentless silence.
“Lord Rutherford was named by the heiress as her future husband,” Adger continued in a triumphant voice.
Cheers shook the whole building, but I did not look at anyone except her.
Alina’s eyes flickered in my direction and everything stilled around us.
My lungs took in the chilly night air, my muscles tight from many days of not transforming. I flew up until it was getting hard to breathe, and then I was falling. I shifted back as my body rotated in a freefall, and just let it happen until I could not feel anything at all.
My head was buzzing with intrusive, violent thoughts and I could barely contain the rage. I felt the need to escape, to just leave this hateful city, leaving everything and everyone behind.
Alina had made her choice in the end. It was not something I could ignore.
She had decided what was best for her, and I had to respect her wishes.
Deep down I knew, I could not even blame her.
She was presented with opportunities that I would never be able to offer.
All the plans, the dreams we had about going back to her land seemed like naive fantasies that could never come to life.
My body shifted in the air, and I took control of my fall, adjusting my wings and straightening my body. The wind carried me forward. I flew above the city, unseen by anyone. There was no way to tell how long I had spent in the air.
I landed on the wide concrete barrier that separated the city from no-man’s-lands. Just below, in the dark, I could see the movements of the undying corpses running and jumping below, scattered across abandoned fields, and lurking in the empty streets.
My time in Railand has come to an end.
“Ty!” Sol’s voice sounded in my head.
I turned, looking around.
“What do you want?”
“Where are you?”
I paused, checking my surroundings.
“Why?”
“No reason.”
I shook my head when I saw the silhouette of the dragon appearing in the sky from the direction of the city.
He landed beside me and looked down.
“How are you?” he asked, still talking directly to my mind.
“Been better.”
He said nothing and together we stayed in complete silence for a long time, watching the sunrise.
Something was wrong about the way the beauty of the first powerful rays of light landed on the corrupted ugliness of the herds of the undead below.
The missing eye sockets and torn limbs, the strips of skin dragging behind them.
The perfect golden sheen dusted the impurity of everything our world was without discriminating against it, showing that even the divine could walk alongside pure evil.
I exhaled, watching the ever changing shades of rose gold in the sky.
Even if she did not want me, I was not going to just leave. It was simply impossible. If she did not want me, she would have to say it to my face, and even then, I would not be able to do it, despite the pain, despite the heartbreak. There was simply no way.
“We need to get back,” I said at last.
“Feel better?”
I thought about it and nodded.
“Good.” Sol said.
Together we rose up in the sky in the direction of the palace.
“Kent, Kent. Thank the gods you’re here. You have to help me out.” Mayer exclaimed as soon as I entered the corridor.
I quickly realized that Frid was standing opposite of him with her sword raised.
“Ah, Kent. It’s about time.” Frid sheathed her sword. “I was just about to teach him some of my moves.”
“Is that right?”
“No. She insisted that I had to punch her, and when I refused, she called me a spineless worm and a pathetic snot.” Mayer complained.
I glanced at Frid who searched my face for a moment, and finally appeared satisfied with whatever she just saw.
“I’m glad you’re back,” she said, no longer paying attention to Mayer.
I nodded.
“Why wouldn’t he be back? It’s his shift.” Mayer asked but no one responded.
“Alright, my boy. Show me what you’ve got.” Frid returned her attention to Meyer.
“Kent, you have to help me out here. She’s so mean.”
“You’re such a loser.” Frid resumed her fighting stance and lightly punched the young man in his shoulder.
“Aw. What’s that for?” Mayer squealed.
“Don’t embarrass yourself.” Frid continued circling him.
“I’m confused. You’re a girl, right?”
“Shut up and defend yourself.” Frid made another move toward the guard who cowered in front of her.
“This is not even funny. Kent! Some help, please.”
“You’re on your own,” I calmly stated.
“Fight me.” Frid stepped closer, reaching for her blade.
“I regret telling you that I asked Kent to train me.” Mayer complained.
“Why’s that?” Frid paused.
“Because I didn’t expect to spend my morning being punched in the face.”
“It’s your lucky day, boy.”
Unexpectedly, Frid grabbed his neck and pressed him against the wall.
A light sound came from the corridor and I saw Victor advancing toward us.
He looked a little disheveled, and not in a good mood when he stopped beside me, watching Frid explaining her moves to Mayer and laughing at something he said.
She leaned closer and wrapped her arm around his neck, choking him.
“This is so unnecessary.” Mayer whimpered, trying to break her hold.
“I can teach you so much more,” Frid said into his ear.
“What the fuck.” Victor hissed.
Frid raised her eyes to Victor and grinned. The latter only clenched his jaw, watching her.
They were still quietly bickering when Corliss passed by us, heading straight to Alina’s room. I tightened my fists.
These people were taking her away from me. Day after day, they poisoned her body and corrupted her soul with lies as they pushed her away from me.
I remembered Sage’s ramblings, Sage who was so tortured by his severed mating bond that he lost the remains of his humanity. He did everything to convince my mother to be with him, but it was never enough. She chose someone else and he let her. I would not make the same mistake.