Chapter 34
Chapter
Thirty-Four
Titus
Selene’s hands were spun with steel, then turned into a one-of-a-kind lace. Delicate yet strong.
I want those hands all over me. I want to claim my mate so fucking bad I can’t think straight. My breathing is now in a permanent state of labor. My thoughts are always on her, not the Vitalis, my new magic, my family, or the armies against us.
Her.
My mate.
I don’t have to close my eyes to hear her heart. I feel it press into my flesh like a loving, tender hand holding mine.
This is what love feels like… breathless, yet you inhale so deeply because you’re terrified something or someone will take it. You hold onto that breath, seal it in your lungs in hopes no one smothers it when you set it free.
My fire magic sizzles under my skin, roaring and raging to burn everything standing in our path. For the first time, Everett’s time magic dances with my flames, both agreeing and wanting to protect what is ours.
But how do I cradle the wind?
That’s what Selene is. I have to let her slip through my fingers and return to Galen. I have to let her roam free until I can drift away with her.
But… that can never truly happen. Everett has doomed us. Once I get the Vitalis, how can Selene and I be free?
Why does it feel like we were never meant to be?
Everett must have foreseen this. Surely, he has another safety net to catch us so we don’t fall to our deaths.
“Titus, did you hear me?” Selene smiles; even surrounded by Tristen’s shadows, her grin warms me like the sun. Her skin looks more golden all of a sudden, and the shades of darkness in her hair have their gloss back. The angle of her eyes is no longer dull, but sharper with hope.
“I heard you, mate,” I murmur. My smile is stained with a sorrow that can only be washed away once she is free.
Free of Blackthorn, of Galen, of all this madness. If I need runes to do that, so be it!
Tristen’s glare is a constant weight I now bench press. It’s not out of jealousy or hate; it’s out of a deep, sorrow-filled longing that I can’t be with my mate. Not yet, anyway.
I cup her cheek. Aww, yes, her blush is more coral-stained than red. Unique and precious. “It seems we have a plan,” I reply softly. “I need to learn how to activate my time magic, how to make it listen to me.”
Her smirk presses into my palm.
“You’re forgetting a huge detail,” Tristen barks.
Why does he have to spoil this moment?
“As soon as you get that book, Everetts’s time magic is gone. Poof!” Tristen’s shadows make snapping sounds to emphasize his point. “That means Sable is going to know because the time bubble will pop. Then what?”
“We use our new army,” Selene murmurs. Her green eyes darken as she plots.
“Even if we get Galen’s army to support us at the beginning,” Tristen replies, “who’s to say they will be loyal? Knives will be coming for my brother’s back as long as he has that book.”
“This old vampire, whose name you never got,” Selene arches her brow at Tristen, “take us to him. I have a feeling there is more to his story that hasn’t been revealed.”
“Is that wise?” Tristen asks. “I thought Galen would grow suspicious if you went to the library.”
“Galen will be suspicious of every inhale from now on. I have to take the risk.”
Tristen looks my way. I see no other option. “We’ll plan to go tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Selene snaps, her eyes pin me down.
“You have used every ounce of your magic. You need rest,” I remind her.
“I need answers.”
“What good are answers if you can’t think as you consume them? Rest. Recharge. Tomorrow, we will seek out this vampire.”
Tristen’s eyes narrow as he scans his shadows in the direction of the castle. “We’ve got company.” He breathes quickly.
I nod and step back from Selene. Her hand squeezes mine before she drops it. Gods, that small gesture just pierced my heart. I want to strip the title of ‘soldier’ from my name and be called a thief so I can throw Selene over my shoulder and run away with her.
But thieves are hunted down.
I will stay and fight to make the world safe for her.
Tristen drops his shadow. We all look towards the castle. “Tell Galen I wanted you to fight me, and you refused,” Selene instructs in haste. “Do it,” she presses.
I used to see steel in her eyes: cold, hard emotions. The fear that I’ll be taken from her has softened them.
“You can’t ask me to stand aside as he touches you. I refuse.” I release a pained whisper. I can’t do this. I know what’s at stake. The future of our world, but she’s my mate.
Her throat rolls; she forces down her wants and desires. How many times has she been forced to choke on them so others don’t see? “If you want to win me in the end, you must.”
My pulse beats through my eyes, shading the world red. “I’ll win you now.” Yes, the bond likes that. Take her now. “You’re mine.”
“Tristen,” Selene pleads. “Stop him. Titus! Look at your brother. If you fight now, his life is on the line too. A few more days is all I ask.” She steps back. “Stop!” she seethes in such a fury it forces my bond to pause and obey.
Just then, Galen comes into view with a dozen soldiers. He strides through the rose-covered walkway with a mounting fury; the sun glints off his crown. He always wears it as if it were a shield that could protect him.
The fool should know it’s more target than shield.
I step forward, rage so white-hot it blinds me. I’m going to kill…
“You coward!” Selene shouts, then she rushes forward and starts to attack me. “Fight me!” she screams as she puts on a show, hoping Galen will fall for it. Her hands latch onto my uniform, lips sneaking close to my ear. “Please, for me,” she mutters a hushed prayer. “Ignore him.”
“I can not ignore chains for long,” I bite. I’m angry with her for emasculating me. For begging me to step aside as this fucking prick orders her around.
She makes sure to get the last word before Galen gets too close to hear us. “If you care about this bond, you will endure Galen as I have.”
Her words loop around my body like a trap.
Galen pulls at his sleeves, huffing, “Selene,”
All these weeks, not once has he visited her training field, nor checked on her. He’s not worthy of the title of husband. He thinks it means owning a trophy. In reality, it means bending a knee, forming an alliance, and showing mutual respect, love, and compassion.
I glare at Galen. If only my eyes were a knife, better yet, my own hands to end him.
Throughout my entire life, I thought I owed Galen everything; he provided a roof over my head, fed me; his men taught me how to survive. But it was never out of love, only fear that the crown on his head would be snatched.
I want to melt that useless symbol made of metal. I want to show the world that a true king does not need a crown or fear to rule.
Punch! Selene’s fist blinds me. My head snaps to the side, and then more hits come to my ribs. She punches me in the other eye. I know you’re trying to blind me so I won’t attack.
“Selene, enough!” Galen shouts.
I rub my eyes. If I were human, they’d be swollen shut tomorrow.
“Titus,” Galen looks my way, “contain her.”
It’s the way he says it. Like she’s a dog that can be locked away. I don’t move towards Selene. With blurry vision, I take a step towards him. There. I can see you now. Fight me!
Tristen’s shadows drift out from his hands. I can tell by their shade his magic is almost empty. He used too much to conceal us. If I attack Galen, Tristen could take one of the guards, but that leaves Selene to the others.
I can’t risk that.
Is the world shaking? No, it’s my heart, as my mind forces it into a cage for another day.
Selene acts, turning and rushing toward Galen. “Contain me!” She reels back her fist, aiming towards Galen, but she’s sluggish, tapped out. He grabs her wrist, smirks, and kisses her knuckles.
You attack, and you’re dead. I tell myself this over and over again, trying to tamper down the mate bond.
Tristen steps in front of me as Galen says, “You hit my guard again, and I will take these hands and bind them to my bed. Do you understand?” Galen stews. To prove his point, his magic curls around her clasped hand; he grabs the other and binds her hands in vines.
That’s it. I can’t…
Green eyes catch mine. Holding me as Galen holds her. A silent plea.
My lips press firm. This is the only time I will tolerate this. Never again. I will make that clear to Selene tonight. I don’t care if my mate is stronger than me. I care that she doesn’t respect and protect my weakness: her. She uses it against me.
It must take all Selene’s energy to straighten her spine and act relaxed.
Tristen blocks my view again.
“I have enough to deal with!” Galen grunts; he pulls Selene back. “I told you to go to your chambers. It seems you crave my punishments.” Galen’s eyes slide to me. “Burn it,” he orders me. “General,” he snaps, “I said burn the field. My wife needs it no more.”
Selene tries to act unaffected, but this field, covered in wild grass and weeds that masquerade as flowers, was something she had grown to love. It was a cage, but it felt like freedom.
I lower my chin. My chest is tight as I swing my hands behind my back to hide my fists. “King,” the title tastes like ash on my tongue, thick and chalky. “I was not able to have my morning blood; it was poisoned. Therefore, I have no access to my magic.”
“I know of the bloody poison! Gods be damned!” Galen shouts. “You,” he glares at Tristen, “help him get a torch and burn this. I want the field as black as her heart is.”
He jerks Selene and tugs her towards the castle. I know Selene; she would have fought, but she surrendered for me.
I hate it.
I don’t want her to sacrifice anything for me. My skin tightens, the sun pours its heat into every exposed pore, yet a chill snakes down my spine. A dark warning that Selene is willing to sacrifice much, much more.
How do I stop her without offending her, without resembling Galen, who commands and cages her?
Galen’s two guards follow. I step forward. Tristen’s palms land against my stomach. I expect his lecture, his hushed whispers of fury. I almost gave our secret away, killed a king, saved a queen.
Instead, Tristen hugs me. “I am sorry, brother.” His breath is riddled with fury.
“I can not endure seeing that again.”
“You must.” He holds me tighter. “Her life depends on it.”
I grab him, curling my fingers into his clothing.
I need an anchor to ground me so I can think!
“What kind of man am I to have stood by and done nothing, Tristen? This is not who I am. I can not be this version she forces me to be. I’m no better than a mindless killer who leaves bodies on the field to rot.
Where is the honor? She’s my mate!” I cry.
“Mine. Yet you all begged me to let another man take her away from me. I listened. I allowed it. I am not worthy of having a mate. I am not a man.”
“Hey! Stop!” Tristen shakes me. “You’re the kind that thinks with his head, not his dick.
” He clasps my face as a father would. “You need blood. Her blood. Sure, you could have fought Galen now, but your magic isn’t charged because you spat out the morning ration.
Galen would have killed you in under a minute, then me. ”
An image of him and me playing tackle flashes in my mind, only this time when I giggle as I hover over him, his lifeless eyes stare at the sky.
Dead. I can’t lose him.
“Selene would be trapped in Galen’s bed forever. Then what, Titus? You need to be ten steps ahead to beat Galen. Sure, he’s not as skilled with a sword; but he’s mastered the use of his vines.”
Tristen turns my head to the rose bushes that encircle us. Even from this far distance, I can see how large the thorns are.
“Those vines are like hands. You’ll slice some away, burn others. Once your magic is used up, when one vine grabs your sword, and the other your legs, then what?” He slaps my cheek. “Galen is a different enemy; he can kill you from afar and close up. You need to find another way to kill him.”
“Another way…” I mutter.
I understand, Everett. I know how to get close enough to Galen to make the kill without him noticing. I also know why you put a time limit on your magic. It’s seductive, this thought I have.
Turning, I look at the field, feel the wind as it dances one last tango through the grass. I will burn it; I see all the black roses, which I will turn grey and ashen. I see Blackthorn, the mighty castle made of glossy black stone. I see everything I will burn down.
“Time. Everett’s magic is the key again!” My grin spreads so wide it reaches my ears.
Tristen’s brows furrow. “Even if you trap Galen in the time bubble, his magic will still work.”
“That’s why I’ll trap myself in the bubble. I’ll sneak up behind Galen and end him. He’ll never see me coming.”
That kind of power is unmatched. That’s why Everett didn’t want me to have it forever. Eventually, it would taint me. Everett knew I’d have to kill Galen before we found the book. We’re on the right track.
Tristen’s chin falls, his eyes bounce back and forth as he thinks. His nod is slow. “When?”
I spot a weed with red petals, so I reach down and pluck it, holding it between my fingers. “My heart tells me to do it now.”
“But the fallout?”
My fingers snap open. I watch as the weed falls. “I need to find Vice Admiral Adrian again.”
“The army will listen to the Admiral.” Tristen shoulders relax as he nods. “That’s why Everett picked him.”
“Exactly,” I reply. “How much fire do you think it would take to burn that castle to the ground?” I ask my brother.
He pauses, then whistles. “You’d need a bloody dragon.”
“Perhaps we will find one.”
“I doubt it, but if we do I call dibs.” Tristen steps closer.
I shake my head as a laugh sounds from my lips.
Attacking Galen now would have changed everything.
Adrian would name no new king; Tristen would die, Selene would be trapped, and Sable would have the book.
I run my hand down my face. I must ignore the bond until it snaps and takes over, at which point I will attack Galen, because Everett would have anticipated it.
Timing is everything.