CHAPTER 33
“Only the true huntress can connect with the dragons. But the nature of the hunt runs like a rampant fire throughout them. The dragons will feed off of the emotion of the huntress.” - Book of Azure
I RUN.
So damn fast.
Even if everything inside of me is screaming to stay, to fight for him, I run.
And it breaks me, completely ripping my heart, our heart… apart.
But I sprint. Despite the pain that is radiating through my chest and ribs. Despite the blood that won’t stop oozing from my cheekbone. I place one foot in front of another and never look back.
I remember loving him. From the moment I saw him sharpening his daggers, next to the white oak tree at the towering castle in the Ice Nation, I loved him.
Even if we were young. Even if it has been centuries since that moment I first laid my eyes on his sun-kissed skin.
Even if our Realms have been doing everything in their power to keep us separated… I have loved him.
Even with the Gods ripping us apart, I have loved him.
But fear hits me like a tidal wave, clenching my heart until it finally freezes as the most gut-wrenching thought hits me… what if I don’t love the man he has become? What if the Gods have protected me, and I have been nothing but selfish with ignoring their warning signs?
I begin to fear the darkling magic that completely courses through his veins will never give me the Koen I once loved back.
My vision blurs as I focus on the towering, golden castle ahead, following the narrow path down the hill to make my way back to the Pyre. I would have never known the Pyre existed as it is hidden around the mountainside cliffs behind the battle arena.
A sudden wince escapes my trembling lips as sharp rain slaps at my face. Each foot beats against the rocks while the tall, wispy, green grass sways violently with the wind.
Roars of thunder vibrate the lands while bright lightning flashes vivid, yellow cracks across the sky, as if the Gods are parting the sky for them to destroy us for what we have done.
Us Royals, the descendants of the Gods, betrayed the very words from their books.
We caused this. The curses, the violence of the land, the war… is all because of us. Because of me.
Now I understand why I burn, it's the curse they gave me for living. The curse to never have the man I love touch me ever again.
The roaring sounds of Koen in the cave still rattle in the air, but the further I run, the less the sounds break my heart.
His massive form is far too large to squeeze through the narrow arched entrance, so he will be trapped in there until he shifts back into his body.
But that won’t stop him from trying. I just pray the cave isn’t destroyed.
We need the Vitaei.
My dragons rush into the stones as soon as we escape and run into the freezing rain that falls from the sky, hiding from the storm that is violently picking up with each breath I take.
Fire knows it will die the second the rain touches its flammable body, but the others want to dance and play in the weather.
But I force them to safety.
They need to be safe in their stones, away from… my sister.
If I have the power of the Gods coursing through me with the stones, I might be the one that is powerful enough to take her down, as well as the Wailing Mother.
I reach up, unsure if I am wiping tears or the rain away. Dark, red blood still soaks my palm, and I wince with each thud my boots take against the ground. I think I broke a rib. But I cannot heal in the Vitaei, not with him there. I must go to the menders in the Pyre. Especially before tomorrow.
Especially if the Queen throws me into the battle game against the horse of fire.
I might be screwed. Even the Deskyiara bloodline can die from the horses if they ignite their powers to call upon the Gods.
That I remember. That I know.
The Gods created them, which means they created them deadly. Violent. Indestructible.
And for a purpose.
MY EYES GROGGILY OPEN, BURNING as the bright sun blasts rays of golden light into the cracked, arched window of my room.
I shakingly reach up, brushing my fingertips along my bandage across my cheekbone, flinching from the sensitivity.
It hurts. I grunt, moaning loudly as I roll to my side to leave my bed.
The mender last night wrapped my ribs tightly, hoping the bones will naturally heal themselves.
Especially if the Vitaei is ruined for good.
A loud thud beats against my wooden door, repeatedly, until I let out a frustrated sigh. “Damn it, I’m coming.”
I ease into my suit top, my teeth clenching tightly as I stand to button the material securely.
My eyes shut for a split moment to regain my strength as I reach for the chilled doorknob.
I open and as soon as I go to speak, my hand flies to my mouth as tears prick the edges of my eyes.
Kaine.
“You know, I’d hug you, but I hear you burn people to ash now.” His lips curl into a teasing smirk, and he tucks his long, dark-brown hair behind his pointed ears. “How much did you miss me?”
The back of my hand rubs my eyes quickly, trying to avoid Kaine seeing me weak in his presence. “More than you know.”
“Oh, I knew that.” He shrugs, his amber-green eyes glancing away before nodding to someone. “I’m sure she wants to see you.”
Theon’s head pops in the doorway, a tight grin smeared across his face and his long, icy waves pulled back into a braided bun.
“I’m sure you missed me more, right?” Theon teases as he elbows Kaine in the side. Kaine lets out a weak grunt, gripping his ribs as Theon’s color vanishes from his skin.
“I’m still healing,” Kaine grunts, side-eyeing Theon who forces his grin to stay. “I’ll get you back.”
“Yeah I’m sure you will.” Theon shrugs. “We have another battle game today, are you up for some training down in the Pyre? Looks as if you took a damn beating last night, everything good?”
Theon’s eyes fall to my cheekbone where I am sure dry blood still sticks against my skin. I reach up, pulling my tangled strands behind my ear. “Just trained a little too hard.”
Both of them scuff as if they know I am completely lying.
“We know about the fight with Klayra, Zake, and Ivker.” Kaine’s eyes widen as he meets Theon’s. “Klayra has already spread rumors to Eekatia about you using cursed magic in the Pyre, she wants to take you down for what you did.”
I shrug while my brows pull deeply together. “Let her try. Let her whisper her little rumors.”
Theon’s brow raises in surprise. “Alright, Ren, there you are. We have your back, don’t worry.”
“Are you allowed to be here anyway?” I whisper, trying to glance out to the hallway filled with a few other doors. I’m unsure if any of the chosen reside there.
Theon grips the edge of the door frame, his lips tugging into an amused smirk. “As the son of Queen Antivianna, I am allowed anywhere. Plus, Kaine is still healing, so he needs to stay by the menders for now.”
“Ah.” I kick my head back. “You two would miss me too much, that’s all.”
Kaine shrugs, tossing his lengthy strands away from his face. “It’ll be boring once we head back to the remaining few, I will say that.”
I stare at my friends.
My heart beats with joy knowing he is alive. They are alive. And safe.
However, inside me, I scream to tell them what happened last night. The fire darkling. Koen. Him… shifting. But I stay still. I stay silent.
I keep the secret. But I fear I shouldn’t.
Theon’s lips part to speak, but his eyes widen as he flinches away from the wall. “Damn it, a spider!”
The midnight-black spider climbs the edges of the cobblestone wall, its legs pulling and tugging around to make its web.
“Kill it!” Theon shouts, hiding behind Kaine. “I hate those things!”
I roll my eyes. “It’s just a spider. You will live.”
“I certainly will not,” he stutters, walking backwards to head towards the stairs. “I will be down at the Pyre.”
“I’ll head down there with you, I need to loosen up before I ride one of the four.” Kaine takes his arms, stretching them across his chest before nodding his head for me to follow. “See you down there?”
I inhale deeply through my nose. “See you soon. I just need to throw on my boots.” My eyes follow them, watching as they shove and push each other down the stairs.
With a deep exhale, I turn to head towards my bed.
My knees shake as I sit, grabbing the edges of the mattress and letting my head hang down.
My body hurts.
My head aches.
But also, my heart breaks. How the hell could I forget what my sister has done?
I vow to myself to never forget again.
And I will have my revenge on her.
The slow, brutal death that she deserves.
And it will be from my hands, from my dagger, that will pierce that black heart of hers.
She will never be Queen, I will make sure that never happens.
I clench my eyes shut for a split second, the memories of my life are so clear yet so foggy. Almost as if I can’t remember everything, only what Tilly wants me to remember. And that makes my blood boil.
My lips tug into a disgusted frown, thinking about everything I have gone through just to find her. It was all for nothing.
But as I stare at my worn, leather boots, other footsteps beat against the ground, getting louder and louder. My neck shifts side to side, cracking the bones inside that are tense before catching sight of a few onyx boots at my door.
“I told you I’d be—” But as soon I notice six men, standing with daggers, I freeze. It’s when I see Death that my heart plummets. “Well… you are not Kaine or Theon.” My voice shifts to a sarcastic tone, brows rising as I stare at the men.
Their lips pull into a satisfied grin while their eyes scan my body.
“We’ve been looking for you,” Death grumbles, taking his dagger to his palm and twisting it. “Of course the Queen would throw you here for protection.”
My eyes scan each of their faces, only recognizing Death. But I do know, they are men who fight in the battle games. How the hell did they find me here?