Chapter 18
Raighne
I’m losing my mind.
The longer I’m away from Alchera, the more I feel our bond weakening. After she tried to sever it, it took everything I had to break through the barrier she put up between us.
I’ve worked my ass off to sense where she’s being held, and now we’re wasting time arguing about who’s going to free her.
“I’ll go,” my father says, and it has everyone looking at him.
“You’re the King's guardian,” Janak argues.
“She’s my charge,” the words rumble from me.
“I’m the only one who has faced Adeth and survived,” Dad mutters. “This time, Ares will be there as well.”
He’s right.
“Then we both go,” I say because there’s no way I’m staying behind.
“Who will guard the King?” Janak asks, his tone tense with worry.
We look at him, and Dad says, “You.” He steps closer to our elder. “I only trust you.”
Janak sucks in a deep breath, then nods. “Fine.” He looks to where the rest of our group is gathering and waves a hand in the air. “Luna, Lucius, come.”
The twins are exhausted after traveling non-stop to get to the village.
When they join us, he orders, “You’ll stay by King Eryon’s side at all times.”
My father looks at the twins. “Assist Janak and protect my charge with your lives.”
They nod, looking nervous as hell.
Done with this conversation, I turn away from them and begin to stalk in the direction of the forest.
“Son,” Father calls as he jogs to catch up with me. “Let me take the lead.”
I nod, and when he picks up his pace, I run beside my father and head into the dense forest.
“I’m on my way, Alchera. Just hold on for a few more hours.”
There’s only silence, and a fist of fear grips my heart.
As long as my heart still beats, I know she’s alive. It’s all that matters.
Alchera
I’m unsure how long I’ve been out, but I wake up on the floor with every part of my body engulfed in agonizing pain. I can’t even bring myself to move a muscle.
“I thought you were never going to wake up. Welcome back.” Just hearing Adeth’s voice has me wishing I’d never opened my eyes. “Come, you must eat and drink something before you faint again.”
A bowl with something mushy is shoved near my face. Ares also sets down half a glass of water in front of me.
I’m holding onto the faint hope of being saved, and it’s the only reason I force my body up. Leaning heavily against the wall, it hurts like hell when I reach for the glass. I drink every drop before I take a couple of bites of the tasteless porridge.
“I have decided that I believe you,” Adeth states.
Oh wow. Aren’t I the lucky one.
“You’ll remain here until your visions of the chosen ones begin, which should be very soon. Then you’ll tell me what I need to know, and we can put all this nasty business behind us.”
I stare at Adeth, and it’s actually bloodcurdling how insane she is.
If the visions start, I’ll just have to hide them from her. Raighne will eventually come for me, and he’ll kill her. I’ll just keep telling myself that, and hopefully, I’ll start believing it soon.
Without another word, they disappear, and my head rolls to the side.
Every passing hour feels like the worst day of my life. I think my wounds are infected, and I have a raging headache.
I’m struggling to keep my eyes open.
I’m sure most of my ribs are broken, and my left arm has been wrecked from trying to protect myself. My back is flayed raw, and I smell like death.
Desperation passed a while ago, and I feel numb inside. I prefer it this way. It’s easier to cope with all the shit that’s happening to me.
I stare at the dirty floor I’m sitting on when my vision blurs once again, and I’m thrown into a different time and space.
Birds are chirping all around me. Beautiful cages line the sides of a passage, filled with colorful birds of every shape and size.
I can hear a man talking in another language. The weird thing is I understand what he’s saying.
I try to focus on everything around me. The man is talking to someone about where he’s going to put each of the birds and how to make the cages even better for them.
As I walk closer, I realize he’s actually talking to the birds. I see where he’s busy changing their water at the end of the passageway.
The birds flutter around as I pass them, and it amazes me that they can sense me.
The man glances in my direction, and I stop for a moment.
When it’s clear he doesn’t see me, I walk closer until I’m right next to him. He has light brown hair with dark brown eyes, and he’s a head taller than me.
There’s so much love surrounding him while he talks to his birds, I want so badly to be a part of it.
His words and quiet actions make me wish that I could bottle some of that love for myself.
Turning his head, he looks straight into my eyes. I know he can’t see me, though I have a feeling he can sense me.
“Jason,” I whisper.
His name comes easily to me as I stare at my first chosen one.
I return to my private hell with lingering feelings of Jason’s love.
Shit. That was a vision.
I pry my eyes open as panic flares in my chest, and not even seconds later, Ares appears in the middle of the shack.
No!
My body automatically convulses at the sight of him. I quickly duck my head, scared he might see something regarding the vision in my eyes.
Don’t think about anything. Clear your mind.
When I’m not able to stop thinking, I picture random words, places, and people.
Waterfalls. Horses. LA. Molly. Fleur. Canada. Robert.
My mind latches onto Robert, and I replay the night when he attacked me in my mind in case Ares is able to hear my thoughts.
I’d rather sacrifice Robert than one of my chosen ones.
I can feel Ares stare at me for a long moment until my skin begins to crawl, then his low and deadly voice fills the air as he says, “I have something special for you. With love from Adeth, of course.”
Before today, Ares has hardly spoken a word to me. My eyes dart to him, and I see a bottle and knife in his hands.
Oh shit.
He stalks closer, and when he grabs hold of my hair, my right arm darts up, and I grip his wrist.
He starts to drag my broken body across the floor, and I’m unable to suppress a cry.
The moment he lets go of me, I try to stand up, but I have zero strength and can only lie in a pathetic heap.
When Ares grabs hold of my ankle, I’m confused, but then he drags me into the air, and realizing what he plans to do, I try to kick at him.
“No,” I growl, a hopeless feeling gripping my chest tightly because, in the end, there’s nothing I can do to protect myself from this monster.
Blood rushes to my head, and I feel nauseous from the slight swinging motion, as he hangs me in the air by my feet, tying the rope tightly around my ankles.
“You’re a coward,” I spit through clenched teeth, trembles racking through my body. “Fucking asshole.”
Ares comes to crouch in front of me and holds the bottle and knife in front of my face. “Which one should I use first?”
I don’t know what’s in the bottle. It’s plain white.
Locking eyes with him, I use every ounce of meager strength I have to say, “Fuck. You.”
He raises to his full height, and when he moves in behind me, my heart beats wildly in my chest. My body bucks as I try to see what he’s doing.
Suddenly, the blade of the knife stabs into the back of my thigh, and the sharp pain has me screaming.
Once I’m able to breathe through the pain, I yell, “Mother fucking son of a bitch!”
He yanks the knife out of me, the pain threatening to rob me of my sanity.
I feel something cold drip on my back, and I instinctively try to swing away, but a second later, fire starts to lick at the raw lashes.
It’s not as bad as the time Ares choked me. Whatever is in the bottle smells like vinegar. He turns the whole bottle on me, and I take my words back.
It feels like he lit a match to my torn-up back, and I can only sob and whimper as I writhe in pure agony.
I have no idea how much time passes, and when my body goes limp, I can’t even make a sound.
Ares unfastens the rope around my ankles, and somewhere between all the pain, it sinks in that he’s being gentle with me as he lays me down on the floor.
Prying my eyes open, I’m shocked to see a hint of emotion flash briefly in his eyes .
Was it sadness? Guilt?
That’s not possible.
For a moment, he just stares at me, then his arm moves, and I try to brace myself for the punch, but instead, he brushes my tangled hair away from my cheek.
The tender touch makes me feel sick to my stomach. I would’ve preferred a punch.
“Forgive me, Alchera,” he whispers. His features tense, and his eyes begin to change from black to light gray. The dark aura always surrounding him fades, and for a second, he doesn’t look as threatening.
I lose my ability to breathe as I watch him transform from monster to man.
“Ares?” I whisper, stunned by what’s happening, but before I can say anything else, he disappears from the shack again.
I have no idea whether I’ve been here a couple of days, a week, or a month.
It rained earlier and the sound of the drops pelting the shack’s roof sounded so beautiful I almost cried.
I haven’t seen Ares since he asked my forgiveness, which is something I’ll never give.
I’m listening to the leaves rustling outside the door, welcoming any noise to break the silence hanging heavy around me.
Jason. I have to survive so I can save Jason.
I pry my eyes open and let out a groan.
I hear twigs snap and lift my head off the floor. Ares never uses the door.
I see a shadow pass by the inch-sized space beneath the door, and a moment later, it returns.
It stills for a breathless moment, and then I hear the wood rattle as someone tries to open it.
Oh my God .
“Hello?” I croak, the word barely audible.
Suddenly, the door shudders open with a bang, leaving it hanging on one hinge, and a man I’ve never seen before stands tall in the doorway.
“Help,” I whimper, not sure whether I should get my hopes up or not.
“Son, she’s here,” he says.
The second Raighne appears behind the man, I can’t hold the sobs back, and they rack through my chest. “You found me.”
“Fuck,” he whispers, shock tightening his features when he sees the horrible state I’m in.
He darts forward and falls beside me on his knees. His hand trembles as he reaches for my face, and when his palm brushes over my hair, I try to move so I can get closer to him.
“I’m so fucking sorry,” he groans in my mind.
“Get me out of here before they come back,” I beg. “Please!”
Raighne carefully pushes his arms beneath me, and picking me up bridal style, he cradles me to his solid chest.
When his warmth starts to seep into my body, I feel feverish, and my head slumps against his shoulder.
He walks out the door with me in his arms, and every step he takes makes excruciating pain shudder through me.
“I’m sorry. It’s going to hurt,” his voice fills my mind.
I try to nod. “Just get me away from here.”
As soon as we’re outside, Raighne starts to run unbelievably fast, the other man following close behind us.
The movements jar my body, and I clench my jaw and ball my fists against my chest, trying to be strong. Tears slip from my eyes and spill silently over my cheeks.
Raighne runs at an incredible pace and doesn’t stop until it’s well into the night.
I’ll take the pain if it means he’s getting me away from Adeth and Ares. The more distance between me and that hellhole, the better.
When he slows down to a stop, I can’t keep a groan from rippling over my dry lips. I shiver in his hold as he kneels on the ground, gently pulling his arm from beneath my knees .
A moment later, he holds a flask to my lips, and I drink greedy gulps before he helps himself to some water.
When my eyes drift to the other man, he says, “I’m Griffith, Raighne’s father. We’ll be home shortly.”
Raighne’s eyes flick over my face and body, then he asks, “Ready?”
I have zero strength and can only whisper mentally to him. “Yes.”
He climbs to his feet again, and the movement sends shockwaves of pain through me, causing a whimper to slip through my lips. I regret it immediately.
I have to be strong. Weakness has no place in this world.
I soon lose track of time and how long he’s been running, but I’m relieved when we finally reach a camp.
A voice that sounds vaguely familiar cries, “Alchera! What have they done to her?”
Gentle arms take me from Raighne’s, pulling me close against a comforting chest.
I open my eyes and look into the same green eyes as my own, only they’re older and filled with horror.
The love and intensity that fills me is overwhelming as I realize I’m looking at my father.
Memories of happy moments in my childhood flash through my mind.
“Alchera. Oh, my Alchera,” he weeps. He falls to his knees, holding me as tenderly as he possibly can.
For a moment, he cries into my hair, and silent tears of my own join his.
When he lifts his head, he orders with the power of a King brimming in his voice, “Hunt down that woman! We leave at dawn. Adeth will die for this!”
He buries his face in my bloody, knotted hair, and all I can do is whimper, “Dad?”
“Please, forgive me,” he groans. “I’ve failed you.”
“My King, we need to tend to her,” Aster says softly behind us, but I have no intention of letting go of my father. Not after all these years .
He gets up without loosening his hold on me and walks into a tent, and I can feel Raighne close by.
Taking a seat, my father places me on his lap while cradling me in his arms like a baby.
God, even though it hurts like hell, it feels so good to be held by him.
“You may tend to her in my arms,” Dad orders before pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.
Many different fragrances fill the air in a matter of seconds. Someone begins to wash my arms, and another starts on my legs. I keep my eyes locked on my father, trying to brace for a world of pain.
After long minutes of them cleaning me, Aster murmurs, “I’m afraid we’ll have to cut her hair.”
I have no say in the matter as my father mutters, “Do what you must.” He brushes his hand over my cheek, and his tone is loving when he whispers, “It will grow back, my sweet girl.”
My sweet girl.
The term of endearment makes tears leak from my eyes, and I squeeze them shut.
I feel as they cut my hair, and once they’re done, Aster says, “You need to place her on the bed, Your Highness. We need to tend to her back.”
Reluctantly, my father climbs to his feet and carefully helps me to sit on the side of a bed.
Aster starts to pull a curtain around the bed, then glances at my father. “We need to remove her underwear.”
He presses a kiss to my forehead, then tells me, “I’m right outside.”
I nod and watch as he leaves. When Raighne doesn’t budge a muscle, Aster gives him a questioning look.
He shakes his head hard, “I’m not leaving her side.”
“She needs privacy,” Aster argues.
He moves in behind me, then says, “Tend to her wounds, Aster. I’m not leaving my charge.”
“Stubborn boy,” she chastises him before turning her attention back to me.
I cross my right arm over my chest while my broken one lies limply at my side.
At first, I feel nothing as they get to work. There’s only a weird tugging sensation as they pry the bra straps loose from the scabbed-over welts.
When I sway forward and almost fall off the bed, Raighne moves fast, and within a second, he’s in front of me. He wraps his hand around the back of my head and allows me to rest my cheek against his abdomen.
“Better?”
“Yeah.”
“This is going to hurt, Alchera. I wish there was another way, but I have to clean the wounds.” Aster’s voice cracks over the words.
I move my right arm and grip hold of Raighne’s side. His fingers tighten in my filthy hair, that’s much shorter now that it’s been cut.
I feel his warmth move through me as Aster starts to soak the raw lashes with a wet sponge.
The wounds itch and sting, but as she continues her slow assault on my raw flesh, a fire starts to burn in my wounds.
“Raighne,” I gasp, my back arching to try and get away from the pain.
His other hand grips me behind my neck, and when the burning becomes too much and a cry escapes me, Raighne crouches down until he’s at eye level with me.
“Focus on me,” he orders.
“I can’t. It hurts too much.”
Our eyes lock, and more of his warmth pours into me.
“I’ve got you, my little dreamer,” his voice cools the fever in my mind. “Just keep looking at me.”
Somehow, the pain lessens until all I feel is Raighne. I don’t dare break eye contact, scared of what will happen if I do.
“That’s it.” His palms cradle my face, and he leans forward until I feel his breaths on my lips. “Let me take all your pain.”
I watch as his eyes darken and his features tense, and I hate that he’s in pain, but I have no strength to fight him.
As his breaths speed up, my tears fall faster, and in this moment, our bond has never been stronger as my guardian takes every lick of agonizing pain from me.
Slowly, the color of his eyes starts to change from purple to dark blue until I swear I can see the night sky staring back at me. Silver flecks sparkle like stars, and I gasp as I realize taking my pain is a new talent Raighne’s developed out of pure desperation to make me feel better.
“Thank you,” I whisper as I lift my right hand to his face. He leans his jaw into my palm, the brustles scratchy against my skin.
“I’ll do anything for you.”
My eyes stare deep into his as I think, “I’m sorry I said I rejected our bond. I wanted to spare you.”
“I know.” He closes the small distance between us, and his lips press against the corner of my mouth. “But never do it again. It’s my destiny to be your guardian, not the other way around.”
I let out a burst of laughter, and pain flashes over his features, then he orders, “Keep still. If you move, the pain intensifies.”
I don’t dare move a muscle and just keep my eyes locked with his.
“I wish I wasn’t weak so you didn’t have to take my pain.”
His palms brush over my cheeks and hair, his eyes softening on me. “You’re so fucking strong. Thank you for not giving up.”
When Raighne rests his forehead against mine, and his breaths become labored, I close my eyes and focus so the pain returns to me.
It knocks the air from my lungs, and I cover my mouth with my hand to keep cries from escaping.
“No! Look at me,” he orders.
I shake my head. “Take a break. I can handle it.”
Jesus, I can’t. It feels as if they’re peeling the skin from my back.
“Open your fucking eyes!” Raighne’s voice thunders in my mind.
Before I can shake my head, the pain becomes so unbearable it sucks me into a world of darkness as I lose consciousness.