CHAPTER 36 #2
Her head shakes, pulling her arms across her chest. “No. I’m sorry, I wish I could help.”
“Maybe you can? You owe me anyway.” My shoulders shrug, and a teasing grin paints along my lips.
She leans forward, brows raising. “Oh, now do I?”
“I mean, you did try and kill me, as well as Koen.”
She inhales deeply, eyes rolling to the ceiling. “I mean… you did deserve it.”
My eyes narrow. “Did I?”
“What do you need?” She crosses her arms.
“I need these stones in the Queen’s archive, or the Realms won’t remember who I am.
I believe Theon will help as well.” My eyes slowly rise to meet her grey hues in her eyes that glint mischievously.
“We have never met before, but you might remember me if I get those stones. I believe this is the only way we can all be for certain what truly happened the day of the battle.”
“Sounds easy.” She shrugs. “One of the guards has a thing for me, so I can use that to distract him.”
“Are you sure you would?” One brow of mine lifts. “Why now all of a sudden would you want to help?”
“Because even though you killed my brother, he was kind of an ass anyway. I almost killed him myself a few times. He was kind of a jerk, had it coming eventually.”
“Are you serious?” I lean on my knees, shifting towards her. “And you attacked me anyway?”
She takes her arms, crossing them side to side as she stretches. “I needed to release some anger, that was all. Seems like you need to release some of the rage as well.” Her eyes drop from mine down to the blade that was once in the crack of the window sill.
She’s right. I do need to release this anger.
“You almost killed Koen.” My eyes narrow.
“Now do you wish I did?” Her head cocks to the side and we both let out a sudden, breathy chuckle.
“Sort of.” I rub my hands over my face. “It’s complicated.”
“Seems like it. All I know is that I have never seen Lykia blow up like that before.” She tosses her legs over the bed, standing straight up as she reaches her hand out towards me. “I’ll help you get the stones if you help me take her down.”
“Why do you want to take her down so badly?” My chin rises to meet her gaze.
“Because I am from the Sea Realm.” Her brows deepen. “And trust me, she does not need to be Queen of the Sea.”
With a sigh, my leather glove wraps around her hand and she yanks me up with force.
“But I need to find Alice first.” I lock eyes with her intensely. “Then we can take her down.”
DAMN IT. I HATE BEING back here.
The fire of the torches flicker in the breeze from the outside. The remaining men, twenty-six left, stretch their arms wide, tie their laces tightly, and place their daggers in their sheaths. They are preparing. As well as I.
I pick up my last dagger, swiftly sheathing it as I rest against my bed.
Death rests above me, his legs crossed as he picks up remaining meat with his dagger blade. We locked eyes the moment I arrived back, but both silently nodded, knowing we must keep our distance. The Queen can not know what I know.
The oracles not being able to see me, might be the Gods protecting me. I wonder if they knew I would have people trying to kill me for who I am, and for the blood that courses through me.
A Fallen Ember. A descendant of the Gods, but little do the people know, the Deskyiara are the closest bloodline to the Gods. And that should fear them for what they have put me through.
What they have put my family through.
My stomach twists as I catch sight of multiple men staring at me.
Their jaws tick with rage, their lips twisted into disgusted frowns.
Maybe I killed their friends and they know.
But with Dryden in the far corner, near the arched entrance to where we will leave, it makes the knot inside my throat grow.
I don’t fear him. Shit, I don’t fear any of them.
But if he sees me near Koen, Lykia will kill me for sure.
How the hell did I piss off the two Royals, who are cursed with the ability to take the air I breathe and make it toxic? The ability to kill me within seconds without laying a damn hand on me.
Dryden nods his head, a silent gesture of “good luck.” As if he believes I need it.
Maybe I do.
I glance away and see Kaine and Theon striding towards me, both with braids slicked back.
“You good?” Kaine comes up to me, pausing mid way as he goes to touch my shoulder. “Do we know if someone touches you they will burn? Or does it have to be by your hands?”
“Kaine, I don’t know,” I hiss, glancing around the room. “But truthfully, I don’t want to find out. My goal is not to kill more people.”
“That’s fair.” He tucks his hands into his pockets, glancing towards Theon who rips apart a large meat leg as if he hasn’t eaten in weeks. “Did you save some for the rest of us?”
Theon glares an unphased expression towards Kaine. “You might want to grab one before they are gone. I had five.”
“Damn, Theon,” I breathe out, shaking my head as I cross my arms.
“What? I need to fuel the energy inside me for the ride.” Theon rips apart the meat. “You should get one as well.” He says with a mouth full.
“I’m good. I don’t have an appetite after what happened earlier.” I swallow, glancing away and catching Koen already staring at me. Instantly, I snap my eyes away, avoiding him at all costs.
We both know the truth, while everyone else doesn’t. Will the Realms go to war if they find out I am the last Deskyiara? Or will my sister do everything in her power to kill me before that happens?
“We’ll see you in line.” Kaine gently smiles. “Show them who you are out there.”
I nod and watch the two of them head towards the round, wooden table with a few meat legs left.
My chin lifts high, closing my eyes for a split moment as my thighs radiate with pain. The hours practicing on a wooden horse, catching it on fire repeatedly, has made my legs weak and exhausted.
Gods, be with me out there.
A few men walk past me, tiptoeing around me with fear in their eyes. I remember when I entered this place, they all wanted me dead. They spat at my feet, put daggers against my back, and now, they avoid me like a plague.
I don’t mind.
They mutter under their breath, casting glances towards me as they line up to head out to the pit. My eyes roll, knowing what they think of me is not important. But riding the horse the Queen chooses for me is.
And if it is the fire horse, she either has lied to me and wants me dead, or she thinks I can do it.
Unsure which.
“Remember what I taught you.”
Koen.
“Trust me, I remember everything.” I straighten my back, checking my daggers that are across my chest and waist, securing each one tightly. “I thought we promised to avoid one another? Leave before I turn around and scorch you before you have the chance to step foot out there.”
“If one of them tries to kill you, stab it in the neck.” He clears his throat, standing right behind me, pointedly ignoring what I said.
“And if Dryden catches you near me, don’t you think he is going to run off to his sister?” My eyes lock ahead of the dark tunnel where golden lights from the outside flicker in. “Go,” I violently hiss, my throat fueling with anger.
“There is so much you don’t know,” he breathes out, his breath beating against my exposed neck.
“And you had plenty of time to tell me, yet you chose not to. This is on you. Not me.”
“I was protecting you.”
“I never asked for your protection. Quit lying to yourself. As you told Florian, I can handle myself.”
“This is different.” His drops to a whisper.
“The games have begun!” a guard shouts from the tunnel, and everyone straightens into the line to wait to be called.
“Skydance is still out there, I know he is working with her.” His body shifts closer behind me. “When the flame controls me, I have no way to stop it. But when it isn’t, I will do everything to keep you safe from them. I can help.”
“Like you helped Alice?” My voice cracks as I say her name.
His voice suddenly shifts to a soft, broken whisper. “I had no idea who she was.”
“So you just kill random people for fun?” My eyes burn, staring straight ahead as a name is called. Jasper. His blonde curls sway as he shoves past a few men and heads out through the tunnel. I don’t know him, but I wish him luck.
“I vowed to kill shifters.”
My eyes widen, exhaling a sarcastic laugh. “Then what about you?”
He grips the leather gloves tightly, yanking me back. “Be careful what you say.”
My eyes drop to where his hand grips, then back to meet his eyes. “And you should be careful I don’t grip that hand of yours with my flesh and watch you burn for what you have done.”
He pulls away slowly, hurtfully.
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do.”
“Koen Fallyn,” the guard shouts, holding the dark scroll between his slender fingers.
Koen sighs, leaning forward to close the space between us and whispers into my ear. “If I die, I promise I will watch over you from the sky. I hope the Gods forgive me for what I have done.”
He slides a letter into my pocket, his finger gently brushing against my outer thigh, making my breath hitch.
My eyes flicker downward, watching the white paper slide into my onyx pants.
Within seconds, my eyes drift up to meet his lingering gaze.
His lips, curled outward so perfectly, feel too close. Dangerously close.
We still don’t know if only my hands burn. Which means he is being reckless, daring to be this close to me, especially with the raging storm that still burns inside me for what he has done to me.
“Don’t.” I catch sight of his eyes closing in agony before he shifts his body away and passes me.
My teeth shut, and I hold my breath as I watch him leave. His dark curls sway as he walks, before he pulls them back into a messy bun and vanishes in the tunnel.
I whip my gaze away, my trembling hand brushing against my eyes so swiftly that no one notices my weakness.
Damn him.
Damn these feelings.