52. Chapter 52
fifty-two
M y mind buzzes as my heart stammers in my chest while I wonder if this was the best course of action. Surrounded by those who hate us, whom we have hurt more than we can ever repent.
The distance they keep gives me some sort of comfort, but as the heavy stone doors of the citadel open, Ripley drops to his knees, bending his neck as the leader of the Vermyllion Drakes walks down the steps.
“Aetherion Taron,” Ripley whispers.
Taron’s skin is painted with red stripes, his hair a raven black, touching his shoulders. As his gaze falls on me, I edge back, feeling his presence, his prying touch on my forehead as he makes his way inside my mind.
His upper lip twitches as the pressure drops and his eyes snap back at Ares. His fingers curl into a fist as he stops in front of Ripley .
“You failed us.” His voice rakes through me, chilling my bones.
“I need to explain,” Ripley whispers, his voice so soft, so broken, that I can almost taste his fear.
Taron’s jaw twitches. “Kill them.” He says it so simply, so easily, but the effect crashes over us in a wave.
Screeches fill the air. Shifters turn into dragons as the scorching heat of fire grazes my skin.
Strong hands grip mine and pull me back as the tips of my hair catch fire. My heart nearly bursts out of my chest as my adrenaline soars, preparing me to fight for my life as the deadly order is given.
“We have to go!” Ethan screams as Ares fights off a first attacker.
Ares profusely shakes his head as he presses his back to mine, keeping me as hidden as possible as more dragon shifters swipe in our direction. The air fills with heat and vicious sounds, and I wonder if we’re truly in hell. “No, we can’t go. This is the way!”
A cry of pain makes me break away from Ares as I look back at Ripley. Claws puncture through his arms as they lift him up and carry him away from us.
“No, stop!” I shout at them as horror fills my wide eyes. They’re going to pluck us off one by one, ripping us away from each other.
“You have to go. I can’t keep them away if you’re here. I’ll kill you too!” Ares calls out before baring his teeth at an approaching shifter, warning him from coming even another inch closer.
But we can’t. This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. This can’t be the way out, more bloodshed, more souls marking ours.
Wind gushes past us as dragon claws seep into Ethan’s shoulder, lifting him from the ground and up into the skies. He cries out in pain and tries to free himself, but more blood gushes from his shoulder instead. Red droplets tumble down onto the ground like rain .
“Ethan!” Ares shouts, jumping up to try and grab Ethan. His fingertips just miss, anguish filling his eyes as he watches Ethan soar higher up.
“No, stop, please, stop!” My words aren’t enough. They won’t listen, they won’t hear me… but they will obey.
They must obey.
My hands curls and tension grows as strength seeps under my skin, trying to find its escape, a way to break free into the world.
Goosebumps grow, and I take a sharp breath, then release it.
“Stop this!” My voice ripples through the air, touching all those who mean us harm, and they all tense as they sense my call.
The fight stops as they glare at me, some with pinched brows, some with a hint of fear in their eyes. It’s like the world stops for a second until my power simmers away, leaving behind an uneasy, startled ripple of shock.
Wings cut past me as Ethan is put down beside me and the claws that hold onto Ripley retreat. Ethan grimaces and plants his hand against his shoulder, nodding to Ares that he’s okay when he hurries over to check on him.
I straighten up and take a breath, still feeling the weight of countless eyes on me. They’re waiting for my next move, my next call of authority.
I’m not here to just bark orders. I’m here to repair old wounds and take care of current problems so that we all can have a chance at a happy, peaceful future. I just need them to listen to us.
“We can’t change the past,” I start, my focus on Taron as he carefully eyes me. “And I know that’s hard to hear because of all the pain you’ve been through. All the loss.”
Ares steps up to my side, lifting his chin in a brave manner as he faces so many people who hate him, ready to accept the consequences.
“I can’t take back what I’ve done,” Ares interjects, “but we can change the future, ensuring I’ll become a memory, one that doesn’t haunt your nightmares.”
The leader is cautious as he moves closer to us, his gaze shifting around as no one is attacking us.
“It’s your choice, but I hope you’ll hear us out,” I say.
“My choice?” He looks around before throwing his hands up with bared teeth. “This… you shouldn’t be alive. Neither of you!”
“I know we shouldn’t be here. This isn’t our place, our world,” I say and sigh, feeling Ethan shuffle up to my other side. He may seem to be on the outside of this conflict, but he’s always been meant to be in our world.
“It should be ours!” he spits out, and Ares steps closer to me, shaking his head.
“We lived in peace, a perfect balance, until you didn’t get your way,” Taron grits, staring at Ares.
Ares draws in a deep breath and broadens his chest, preparing himself for whatever comes next. “If you kill me, us, you know the outcome. Change the future. Let us change it.”
“You’ll step down as Aetherion, as the apex dragon?” He laughs, not believing our words.
“I’m no longer the Aetherion, and it’s… not a position I can give away.”
The leader huffs. “Yes, you can. You know the charter. It’s death or gifted.”
“Isadora is set to be the next Aetherion, by law. I can’t change that. She’s my only living descendant,” Ares states with a firm voice.
Soft murmurs surround us, and I peek up at Ares.
“It was the deal I made with Fangar, for her help to get you out of there… before you flew away with him,” Ares says, nodding to Ripley.
Taron’s lip curls as he stares Ares down. “Then what can you give? ”
Ares scoffs and tilts his head to the side. “Your life. Your species no longer have to live in exile.”
“We don’t need you for that. But we shouldn’t kill you, you’re right about that. We should keep you alive, make sure you live a very long life.”
I shake my head and focus on Taron, trying to use that tether, that piece of their ability to communicate with him and to let him in and see our intentions. As long as he doesn’t trust us, we’ll keep going around and around in circles, becoming lost in a cycle of aggression and distrust.
A warmth crawls under my skin, raking up my spine, and his stern gaze snaps to me.
Familiar pressure builds on my forehead as my mind reaches for his.
“We’re your only way to stop Cedric, Hephaestus. He already knows your species is alive, and once we’re out of the picture, you’re his only threat to the throne,” Ares says.
“He won’t defeat us,” Taron scoffs.
“You can’t defeat a god. You will fail!” Ares snaps, his voice booming through the air and hitting everyone like a crashing wave. The dragon shifters bristle and tense in response.
“You won’t believe our words, believing they are lies, so then, look inside. Our thoughts can’t deceive you,” I say and add, “You need us.”
“Get out of my head, abomination!”
My ears ring as the weight gets heavier. But soon, they fade, and his eyes find Ares’ again.
A breath of relief rolls off my lips, as I’m sure this is what’s needed to have us work together. Hopefully.
Ares
My sight blurs as dizziness grips me. Blood rushes to my ears as my head pounds. Taron’s gaze burns into my soul, peeling away my shields as it pries its way inside.
But how…?
“Stop it,” I grit, trying to blink away the haze.
Warm, soft hands take mine. “Let them look, Ares. They have to trust us.”
“Look?” I ask, clutching the side of my head. It’s as if he’s trying to tear me apart at the seams.
“Breathe. Stop fighting. Let him in.” Rodi’s voice caresses me with softness and care. Her words echo, soothing the tension that threatens to shatter me.
There’s no trust between me and the Vermyllion Drakes, and there never will be, but I trust Rodi with my life. So, I breathe, relax my body, letting go of the fight, the tension that struggles against the pain.
As air fills my lungs, the pounding of my head fades into nothing and I’m left with a slight tingle of pressure on my forehead.
I exhale and stare back at Taron, letting him do what he needs to work with me, only so he can give me the moment I need to kill Hephaestus, once and for all. To let me give Rodi the life she deserves. Now that she wears Ethan’s mark, I can kill Hephaestus and she’ll live her life.
“And you?” Taron’s voice rings in my mind, and my brows pinch together .
“To kill a god, you must be ready to die yourself.” The words swirl in my head.
Tension moves through his shoulders as he realizes he and his species could never defeat Hephaestus. “But you’ll come back?”
I swallow. “I don’t believe I will as I’m taking the soul of the one who cursed me to this world, this life.”
Taron’s gaze shifts. “And what about Rodi and Ethan?”
My jaw ticks. I know what my plan will mean. “Let them live their lives in peace, at Vealthor. They can never leave. She won’t become a threat to your species.”
His brows draw together. “You knew about Vealthor?”
I’ve always known, but I buried the knowledge deep inside me, as I tried with the memory of my actions. “Yes, and about the guardian in the surrounding waters. I know the deal I’m making.” I sigh. “It will also keep them safe from the witches.”
Taron nods. “They are out for your blood with how you killed their leader.”
My jaw ticks. “Do we have a deal?”
A slight curl of his lips shows. “We do.”
And I know that I can’t take this back.