Chapter 81 Serena
SERENA
The sound of shouts outside my room jar me from a restless sleep. I sit up, squinting through the dark as I hobble out of bed. Jace is waiting on the other side of the door, hand poised for the knob, his expression grave.
“He’s here.”
My stomach plummets.
“No.”
Behind him, the hall is madness. People running from their rooms down the candlelit corridor, guards in sleek black armor rounding them up and herding them toward the stairs.
I duck past Jace toward the window across the hall. Through the starlit night, I can see the unmistakable gleam of golden soldiers drifting closer over the hill, the Vod banners proudly shivering in the wind above them.
“He’s early.” Shaking my head, I back up a step and bump into Jace’s chest. “No, this isn’t right, this wasn’t part of the bargain. It hasn’t been two weeks yet! Why would he send his armies?”
His arms steady me, but it feels like the earth is sinking and I am going down with it. Our plan, my plan—it’s over. Kylian lied. He broke his word.
But then again, did I really expect anything different?
It shouldn’t surprise me. But something in me, some part buried deep inside, was hoping he was better than that. Was hoping that he…that he what?
I scoff at my own naivete. Kylian is no fixer-upper. He is not redeemable. He deserves to burn in hell for everything he has done and intends to do. And yet somehow, I know exactly what he would say to that.
Burn with me.
“Come on,” Jace urges.
“I have to change.”
“Serena—”
“I can’t fight in a nightgown.” I dash into my room to stuff my legs through the first pair of pants and boots I can find and snatch the dagger from beneath my pillow. I’m still tucking the short slip into my waistband when Jace hauls me through the door. “I need to find Zadyn.”
“He’s already out there.”
“What?” I half scream. “We need to get down there, Jace. I’m not letting him fight alone!”
“He’s not alone, he’s with our armies.”
“You know what I fucking mean.”
“I already spoke to him. We have a plan.”
“Great. Mind clueing me in?” He says nothing. “Wait, when did you speak to him? Jace. Did you know they were going to attack?”
“Max’s men reported it an hour ago.” He shakes his head in disgust. “I should have known he would retaliate like this.”
“Retaliate? Against what?”
Jace forces a breath through his nose, his jaw clenching.
“What are you hiding from me?” I demand.
“I launched an attack on Vod two days before the wedding.”
“You did what?!” My heels dig into the ground, but he holds on tighter, dragging me alongside him. “Jace, why would you do that? We had a plan!”
“I had to do something,” he growls, sliding his molten eyes toward me. “Did you really think I would just sit back and wait for him to come whisk you away?”
“You have no idea what you just set in motion. He is going to come at us ten times as hard now. This was my mess, and it was contained—”
“Wake up, Serena. It wasn’t contained! It never was! It was an avalanche waiting to happen. There was never going to be any containing it or stopping it.”
“If you had trusted me and stuck with the plan—”
“You know, if I didn’t know any better, I would think you actually wanted him to take you.”
“You’re a bastard,” I spit, struggling against him. His grip doesn’t relent as we weave through the chaotic passageway. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“You’ll get over it.”
“You sure? You sure I’ll get over the blood that will be spilled here today? The people that will die because of your ridiculous pride? No one else needed to be involved.”
“When are you going to get it through your thick head? This mess is all of ours. It’s yours, mine, your familiar’s.
It’s Kai’s and Marideth’s too. This is bigger than you.
This is about protecting what is ours. Our land, our home, our people.
And you are one of them. So stop acting like a fucking martyr. ”
We reach a part castle I’m not familiar with. The halls are dark, leading up to a narrow spiral staircase.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Just trust me, Serena. For once.”
“Forgive me if I have a bit of trouble with that at the moment.”
He doesn’t answer. He just stares straight ahead, his face set in a hard mask of determination as I follow him up the steps.
Where are you? I call out to Zadyn in my mind.
I’m fine. Stay with Jace.
Zadyn, tell me where you are right now, or so help me.
Worried about me? he teases.
This is not the time for jokes.
I’m fine, Serena. Promise me you’ll stay with him.
No, I’m coming for you.
Serena. The sudden command packed into my name takes me aback. I said, promise me. We have a plan.
That seems to be the company line.
I can’t do what I need to if I’m worried about you.
Okay. I’ll stay with him. Zadyn—
Yes?
I—nothing. I’ll tell you later. Just don’t be the hero, okay? Come back to me.
Always.
“Jace, whatever this is can wait. Zadyn is out there, we need to— ”
I reach the landing as he swings open a door and holds it open for me. Casting him a concerned glance, I step inside and look around. It’s empty except for a cot and a blanket that look about a thousand years old.
“Jace, what—”
The door slams shut behind me. My blood goes cold as the lock turns.
“No,” I breathe. “NO!”
I fall on the door, pounding against it with all my might.
“I’m sorry, Serena. It’s for your own good.”
“Let me out of here, Jace! Right now!”
“I can’t let you do this.”
“Let me out! If you don’t open this door, I will never forgive you!”
“It’s spelled, Serena. Stop trying to fight it. I’ll come back for you. I promise.”
“JACE, DON’T YOU DARE DO THIS TO ME! JACE!”
“Forgive me.”
His footsteps fade as I rail against the barrier. My screams chase him all the way out.