CHAPTER 38
Aelys
We spend the next few days formulating a plan to capture Law and O'Connor.
The boys help us, refusing to return to the Academy, except for Arthur, who has finally figured out how to destroy the shield protecting the Academy.
Meanwhile, the girls have chosen to return and gather as much information as possible.
Thanks to her, we now know when to sneak onto the monastery grounds undetected, as well as when to capture our targets.
“I want Rick Law to die tonight, my love,” I say coldly.
Mattheo removes his head from my neck and looks at me with furrowed brows. He inspects me for a few seconds before his features soften and he nods, then kisses me gently.
“His body will rest at your feet tonight, princess. Whatever my wife wants, she gets.”
He smirks and I roll my eyes playfully before ruffling his hair.
His smirk disappears and he gives me a scowl, pushing my hands away from his curls.
This boy loves it when I play with his hair, but if I tangle it, he goes crazy.
I laugh softly and he rolls his eyes before getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom.
Soon enough, I hear the shower running, so I get up too and put on my clothes since I showered before bed last night.
I'm putting on my shoes when Mattheo comes out of the bathroom in black jeans and a white shirt.
I bite my lower lip as my gaze slides over his body, admiring his new muscles. We still haven't been intimate since the miscarriage because I don't feel ready. However, seeing him like this, dressed so elegantly with his curly hair still wet, I can't contain the wave of desire that washes over me.
I stand up and approach him. He arches a questioning eyebrow but says nothing, only watching me with his dark eyes.
I hook my fingers into his waistband and tug, pulling him closer.
A loud moan escapes his throat, and his hand moves to my neck, squeezing it lightly in warning.
Meanwhile, his other hand rests on the small of my back, pressing my body further against his.
“Don't do that, angel,” his voice is low and lustful.
I smile and open my mouth, ready to answer him, but the door to our room bursts open.
Our heads turn toward it as our friends enter the room, panting.
Cameron closes the door behind them, and I roll my eyes, slightly annoyed by their intrusion.
Ever since they decided to stay at the Mansion, we haven't had any privacy.
I hear Matt groan in annoyance as he lets his head fall onto my shoulder.
“Oh, are we interrupting something?” Theodore smiles innocently, pointing his index finger in our direction.
“I'm going to kill you, Nottingham.” Mattheo mutters, raising his head and glaring at the boy.
Theodore swallows nervously before smiling sheepishly and shrugging. “Sorry.”
He doesn't seem sorry at all but oh well.
“What do you want?” Mattheo rolls his eyes, adjusting his posture as he stands beside me and pulls me against him, one arm tight around my waist.
“Well, you know, go through the plan again,” Cameron shrugs.
Mattheo sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose in exasperation. We went through the plan at least a hundred times yesterday. We'll attack tonight as soon as Arthur lowers the Academy's shield. The boys know that, just as everyone knows their role.
What a bunch of idiots…
“All right, sit down. We'll explain the plan. Again,” my husband grumbles.
We teleport onto Academy grounds and breathe a sigh of relief. Arthur managed to lower the shield, and we managed to infiltrate the monastery without a hitch. Now all we have to do is find Law and O'Connor and capture them.
Easy…
The boys scatter, Cameron and Theodore heading to building G to capture Dawson and Law, who share a dorm. Enzo and Mattheo stay with me while I transform into my animal form.
We have to capture O'Connor.
I lead our small group, nose in the air as I sniff out the professor's scent. I guide us to the old church at the back of the monastery, where I also catch a whiff of Arthur’s scent.
The boys arm themselves with their wands before slowly pushing open the heavy church door, with a slight creak.
Thankfully, not loud enough to signal our presence.
I enter first, followed closely by the two boys.
Immediately, I freeze and growl loudly. Mattheo and Enzo also stop, on guard, until they see what has caught my attention.
O'Connor and Arthur stand before the church altar. Our friend has his hands in the air as the professor threatens him with his wand. My lips curl to expose my fangs as we edge closer.
“You've lost your mind, Mr. Leroi. Lowering the shield is an invitation to a real massacre!”
Arthur snorts disdainfully, tense as a bow. “That's exactly why I did it. It's high time this war ends, don't you think, Professor?”
He's about to answer him but closes his lips when he finally notices us. His eyes flicker to mine as I growl dangerously, and he swallows hard. He witnessed my first transformation. He knows who's hiding beneath this form.
Mattheo and Enzo stand beside me and point their wands in his direction.
“Put down your wand, Professor,” Mattheo orders in a dark voice.
The man looks at us one by one, probably calculating his chances of survival, before complying and lowering his wand.
We remain on our guards, however, well aware of the danger posed by this elderly wizard.
He knows more spells than we do and has more experience. The slightest misstep could be fatal.
“You don’t have to do this,” the man replies. “Whatever Darkvis used to force you to obey him, I promise I can help you escape.”
The boys snort disdainfully in unison, and I growl louder. Does he really think things are that simple?
“The Master doesn't use any manipulation to make us obey him,” Arthur retorts in a hoarse, amused voice.
“All disciples become disciples because they want to be,” Mattheo concludes.
O'Connor shakes his head, frowning. He seems to refuse to believe that so many people could willingly side with the Dark Mage. Unwilling to let my guard down by reverting to human form, I use telepathy to deliver the final blow:
‘You don't want to believe it because you've always hidden your dark side, Professor.
Darkvis and his followers don't hide. You proclaim yourself a good man, the savior of the magical world... Yet you have more blood on your hands than the Master. Innocent blood. Tell me, how many women and children have you massacred during your attacks against Darkvis and his followers?’
He recoils, his eyes wide with terror as if my words had physically struck him. He shakes his head again, trying to refute my words. However, no words escape his lips because he knows I'm right.
I lean forward, my body tense, ready to leap when I feel magic begin to fester in the church. I don't give O'Connor time to use the spell he was trying to use on us, roaring as I charge at him.
My powerful paws crush his torso, pressing him firmly against the chapel floor as my jaw closes around his throat.
His hot blood seeps into my throat and trickles down my jawbone as my fangs sink deeper into his flesh, blocking out any screams or moans of pain.
I clench my jaw until I hear a sinister crack, then I pull, detaching the sorcerer's head from his body.
I grab the professor's skull in my mouth and face the boys. Enzo and Arthur look pale and nauseous, but not Mattheo. My husband has a proud little grin on his full lips, and I hiss softly. He nods and grabs the arms of the other two, and we teleport to Leroi Manor.
I remain in my animal form as we enter the hall of the Manor and head towards the reception room where the Master awaits us, O'Connor's bloody head between my fangs.
The doors open, revealing that Cameron and Theodore have also captured Law and Dawson, both tied to the Dark Mage's feet. We enter, catching his attention. His red eyes are filled with pride and murderous rage as he notices my bloody trophy.
I place the severed-head at his feet before I step back and change into my human form. I go stand beside my husband, who proudly faces his father.
“Congratulations, my dear followers. You deserve a place of honor at my side in our new government when the faeries and non-magicals are finally wiped out.” He smiles devilishly while focusing on me. “And you, sweet Aelys... What a wonderful leader you will be when you reign alongside my son !”
“Thank you, Master,” I reply, bowing.
Darkvis sneers and claps, then bends down and picks up O'Connor's severed head, a wide, sickening smile on his lips.
“No hard feelings, old enemy,” he hisses. “Only the most powerful among us could remain, remember.”
He sneers louder before placing the skull on his throne, pulling two daggers from his sleeves. He prepares to throw them at the still unconscious Law and Dawson, but Mattheo interrupts him.
“Master. May I request that Law be tortured by my wife? So that justice may be served, of course.”
Darkvis freezes, his eyes narrowing as he stares at his son, not appreciating being cut off in his tracks. He nods nonetheless, waving a hand in annoyance.
“Yes, yes. She deserves this little reward after having succeeded so brilliantly in killing my oldest enemy. Take him away and do this out of my sight.”
Mattheo bows, thanking his father, then nods to the boys.
Immediately, Theodore, who remains the tallest and strongest of the group, picks up Law's unconscious form and throws him over his shoulder.
We all bow before leaving the reception room, leaving Darkvis to tend to Dawson while my lioness roars impatiently at the promise of finally making Law pay for the loss of our child.
The boys walk briskly towards an iron door behind a painting of the manor, making me raise my eyebrows in surprise. Arthur, noticing my reaction, chuckles softly.
“Yes, little lady. This mansion hides many secrets.”
I roll my eyes, an amused pout tugging at my lips. “Let me guess, there are dungeons under the Manor?”
He nods as Mattheo pushes open the heavy iron door, revealing a spiral staircase made of stone. We follow in silence, Law still unconscious on Theodore's shoulder.
At the bottom of the stairs, a long corridor faces us, wooden doors with small windows made of iron bars extending all the way down on either side. I quickly count the doors out of curiosity.
Twelve.
My husband opens the first cell on our right and signals to Theodore to leave our prisoner there.
He complies, letting Law fall back onto the stone floor with a dull thud.
A groan of pain echoes through the small cell as Law regains consciousness, probably because Theodore literally threw him onto the stone.
“Hey, handsome!”
We all stare at Enzo, who has just greeted him cheerfully, stunned. He shrugs, a big smile on his lips, making us sigh.
That idiot…
Mattheo rolls his eyes before turning back to Law, who has now more or less regained his senses and is backing away as best he can with the ropes restraining his body. His eyes are wide with terror as he looks us over one by one, before stopping on me.
Hatred flashes across his eyes before fear takes over again, yet he tries to glare at me. He tries to hide his fear, but his trembling body betrays him. He's terrified and I'm glad for it.
“He's all yours, angel.”
Mattheo steps aside, looking at me tenderly, pride shining in his eyes.
The boys follow suit, each positioning themselves at the sides of the cell to give me free rein.
Only Theodore stands in the doorway, in case Law tries to escape.
I don't waste a second, mutating into a lioness and pouncing on Law, who screams in terror when he realizes his torture will be to be eaten alive by a lioness thirsting for revenge.
That night, as we're all dressed in pajamas and scattered around our room at the Mansion, including the girls who left the Academy the moment O'Connor's headless body was found, we celebrate our victory while talking.
I lean my back against Mattheo's chest, sipping my drink and looking at my friends, enjoying the moment, knowing it might be the last time we're this happy.
Tomorrow, we will put a definitive end to this war by decimating the fairies and non-magical beings alongside the Dark Mage. Only the gods know how many of us will emerge unscathed.
The night is dark, dimly lit by the crescent moon in the starry sky, as we teleport past the gate of Scotland's National Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardry alongside the Dark Mage.
Mattheo's hand slides into mine and he intertwines our fingers, gently squeezing my hand. My eyes meet his as I turn my head towards him. He looks at me with pure love, but I can also see fear shining in his chocolate brown eyes. He's afraid of losing me, and so am I.
I have no idea what would happen to me if I were to lose him.
I sense a presence on the other side and my head turns to the left, my eyes landing on Tom, who has reached my side like a bodyguard.
He must have gone to a healer after we tortured him because his missing eyeball is now concealed by an eyepatch, and the four marks left by my claws are now four scars, still pink.
He doesn't look at me, his eyes fixed on the monastery and his father who stands in front of us.
“I know it doesn't change anything, but I'm truly sorry, Aelys. I never meant to hurt you.”
I feel Mattheo tense next to me because he probably heard his brother's words, but he doesn't say anything. I don't respond, but I nod to let him know I appreciate his apology.
But we both know I don't accept it.
My attention turns to the Dark Mage, who proudly holds O'Connor's decapitated head in his left hand for all to see.
The disciples behind us cheer as the Master quickly calls for silence.
I barely listen to his speech, already knowing that our mission tonight is to kill every faerie we come across.
The Academy is a symbol for the magical world and for O'Connor's followers.
Attacking this place first will send a message to the faeries and non-magical beings in the land: your leader is dead and now Darkvis's reign begins. Faeries or non-magical beings are not safe anymore.
Today, the majority of the fairies will perish, tomorrow, the Master's disciples will be sent across the land to execute the rest of their people, as well as the non-magical beings.
I'm pulled out of my thoughts by my husband gently squeezing my hand. I look up, staring into his eyes filled with love, pride and anxiety.
“Promise me you'll come back alive.”
“I promise you if you promise too.”
An amused smirk tugs at his lips and he places a kiss on my temple, making me close my eyes for a few seconds.
“Ready to reshape the magical world in our image, angel?”
“Fuck, yes.”
My husband smiles devilishly at me just as his father orders us to launch the attack.