Chapter 20
Raighne
It feels like every time I make progress with Alchera, she pushes me away and the distance between us grows.
Standing outside her living quarters with my arms crossed over my chest, everyone gives me a wide berth.
The past week has been hell. Feeling the pain Adeth and Ares were subjecting her to and worrying about not getting to her in time almost killed me.
Scratch that. The past week was the worst I’ve ever experienced.
I glance at the doorway, feeling frustrated and hurt that Alchera minimized our kiss like that.
I thought she felt the passion, but I was wrong.
Maybe it’s just one-sided?
Fuck. I’m doomed to love my charge while she doesn’t feel the same.
There was a moment when I believed the attraction was mutual. Alchera kissed me back.
Maybe she was just caught up in the moment.
I let out a heavy sigh, not happy at all.
My growing love for her is not the only problem I have. Alchera keeps fighting me, never fully letting me in. Which means she’s either hiding something from me or she doesn’t trust me .
Both are bad because it will keep our bond from deepening.
What the hell am I going to do to get through to her?
Letting out a sigh, I stare up at the night sky as I try to find answers to the problems.
By the time I feel Alchera drift off to sleep, the camp is quiet.
Heading back into her living quarters, my eyes fall on her sleeping face as I walk closer to the bed.
Why won’t you fully connect with me, my little dreamer?
She makes an illegible sound before snuggling her face deeper into the pillow, and I wish that damned pillow was my chest.
She should be in my arms where she belongs.
Careful not to make a noise, I move the chair much closer to the bed and sit down. My eyes lock on my charge’s face, and my heart fills with the love I feel for her.
I almost lost you.
Never again.
And come hell or high water, I will find a way to get past your defenses.
Before she was taken, I fought my feelings for her, knowing I had no right. But after this fucked up week, I don’t care anymore.
I love Alchera, and over my dead body will I share her with another man.
I’ll find a way to make her love me.
I just have to.
Alchera moves in her sleep, and I reach out to take her hand but pause a mere inch from touching her.
She curls into a fetal position, and I’m surprised when her hand finds mine. “Raighne,” she mumbles, and her fingers wrap around mine.
“Shh…I’m here, my little dreamer.”
She lets out a sigh of relief and seems to settle into a deeper sleep.
Alchera
A feeling of love and peace wraps around me, and I hear someone call out, “Hello, Jason. Hello, Jason.”
Looking around, I find myself in the middle of a kitchen. Jason’s standing in front of me, facing a large cage. The door is open, and hanging upside down from the open doorway is a beautiful red-tailed, grayish bird.
It’s letting Jason lovingly ruffle its feathers.
“Pappa, Pappa.” A voice calls again.
I search through the kitchen until I notice another bird, looking exactly like the one hanging in the cage, its feet slapping on the tiles as it eagerly tries to get to Jason.
I watch with wonder as the bird climbs up Jason’s pant leg.
“Hey, my boy. You want some love as well?” Jason coos as he scratches the bird’s head. “You’re a jealous one, aren’t you?”
He loves them as if they’re his children.
Tears well in my eyes because I’ve never encountered a man who loves animals so much. I’ve never seen birds display such emotion, nestling their heads against his, closing their eyes, and clearly showing how much they love him in return.
I wake up with a start, the vision still fresh in my mind.
I have to get to Jason.
A moment later, I become aware that I’m clinging to someone’s hand, and my eyes dart to the side of the bed.
Seeing Raighne sitting in an armchair, I relax and let out a sigh before asking, “Did you sleep here last night?”
Staring at me, he just nods.
Great. He’s probably still angry with me.
“What did you see?” he asks calmly.
Pulling my hand from his, I carefully sit up. My body doesn’t ache as badly as yesterday, but my broken ribs and the cut on my leg are super tender. Whatever Aster gave me for the pain must still be working, for which I’m grateful as hell.
I clear my throat and rub a hand over my face. “I saw a chosen one. ”
“What stood out about him?” Raighne asks.
“Never in all of my life have I felt so much love before.” I let out a resentful chuckle. “He gives his animals more love than I’ve ever had.”
When Raighne frowns at me, I add, “I mean, the love Jason feels for those birds is so humbling. And the birds love him back.”
“He’ll probably be the one to take care of the animals.” Raighne climbs to his feet. “We’ll leave as soon as you’re strong enough. I’ll get everything ready.”
“There’s just one problem.” I pause, not knowing how to word this right.
“What?”
“Jason isn’t going to leave willingly. I saw into his soul, and he won’t leave his animals behind. Not when they’re going to die while he lives.”
I look at Raighne in desperation.
“He’ll have to come, Alchera. Even if we have to take him by force.”
My jaw drops, and shaking my head, I ask, “How can you say that?” I throw my legs over the side of the bed and climb to my feet. “I won’t allow any of these humans to suffer the heartache I have. You’re not just going to throw them through a damn waterfall. Besides, we’re bringing animals anyway. Why not bring over his as well?”
There’s an overwhelming need in my soul to fight for the chosen ten who will lose everything, just like I lost everything.
“The list has been made,” Raighne says. “It is not for us to decide.”
“Who decides?” I snap.
“The orders came down from Awo himself.”
Letting out a frustrated sigh, I say, “I want my chosen ones to have a smooth shift from Earth to Vaalbara. I’ll fight for them, and I don’t care if I have to go against Awo to make it happen.”
Raighne shakes his head at me and is just about to say something back when the air starts to vibrate around us.
In a flash, Raighne grabs hold of me, and his arms form steel bands around my body.
“What’s happening?” I gasp.
“Awo,” Raighne breathes, sounding shocked out of his everloving mind.
“I’ve given the orders,” a voice thunders through the room, making me flinch closer to Raighne.
Oh shit.
It feels like a force is trying to make me submit, but somehow, I manage to turn around and face Awo.
I haven’t survived Adeth and Ares only to back down now.
All I see is a bright light, with thousands of glimmering orbs making up a whole. They seem to be multiplying and lessening by the second.
“Ask the question burning inside of you, for this chance will only come once,” the being orders.
I stand stunned for a moment, not able to find any train of thought. His voice is so beautifully thunderous, leaving me in a state of astonishment.
I have to dig deep, looking for the courage I know is inside my soul.
My tongue darts out to wet my lips, then my voice quivers as I say, “Please, bring Jason’s animals to Vaalbara. He loves those animals more than his own life. He’s coming to a foreign world, and he needs them. We can’t just rip the chosen ten away from everything they love.”
My words dry up, and I don’t know what else to say.
For a few tense seconds, I can only feel the vibrations in the air, then Awo says, “You get one request. Only one. And you use it to plead for a human’s earthly animals? You’re in so much pain and have a quest ahead of you that will require all the strength you can gather, yet you think of another. You have no past and are in doubt of your future. Your father faces certain death, but still, you think of another.”
His words hit hard and rip the very air from my lungs.
I grab at my stomach to keep myself standing.
Dad!
Awo moves closer to me until I can feel his presence surge through my soul.
“Your soul is true, Alchera. I’ll bring the animals. All you need to focus on is bringing my chosen ten home. Beginning at dawn, you have only ten days to complete your destiny. ”
With the timeline given, I watch as the light fades and the air settles around us.
As Raighne lets go of me, I stare at the spot where Awo was a moment ago, his words echoing through me.
‘Your father faces certain death.’
That means my father’s going to die, doesn’t it?
I could’ve saved him with one question, but instead, I asked for Jason’s animals to be spared.
No. That can’t be.
Just as I suck in a shaky breath, still trying to process what just happened, Thana comes rushing into the room with Brenna right behind her. Finian and a man who looks a lot like him also join us.
I assume he’s Finian’s twin and Thana’s guardian, and my assumption is proven right because he moves in behind Thana and places his hand on her shoulder.
“How are you feeling?” Thana asks, her features drawn tight with worry.
“Fine,” I say to avoid answering the truth because I don’t think I’ll ever feel fine again.
Thana glances at all of us, then announces, “I’ve been called to leave so I can fulfill my destiny.”
Brenna sucks in a trembling breath, and her eyes start to shine with unshed tears.
Confused by her strong reaction, my gaze darts back to Thana. “What does that mean?”
Too much is happening too soon.
“It’s my destiny to destroy Earth,” she says.
I stare at Thana, my heart clenching because she has to kill billions of people.
“Isn’t there another way?” I ask. “Maybe if we warn the humans, they will change their ways.”
Thana shakes her head. “I’ve given them many warnings, Alchera.” She lifts her chin as she looks at me. “They’ve had thousands of years, but all they’ve done is destroy the Earth given to them. Instead of caring for the animals, they’ve slaughtered them to the point of extinction. Their greed and selfishness are all that matters to them.” Her tone grows harsh as she continues, “Forests are gone. Wetlands are destroyed. The oceans are polluted, and the sea creatures butchered.” She sucks in a deep breath and shakes her head. “Countries are at war while others look the other way. That’s what the world has come to – pure selfishness and hatred. This is for the best. Things cannot keep spiraling out of control.”
As hard as it is for me to accept, I have to admit everything she’s said is the truth. I can’t worry about billions. I need to focus on my chosen ten.
Lifting my chin, I say, “I want to know what I’ll be up against while I’m on Earth gathering my chosen ones.”
“There will be great disasters, ripping the world apart. Please tell me you’ve had a vision?” She asks as she takes hold of my hand.
“Yes. I saw my first chosen one. He–”
Thana tightens her grip on my hand. “No, don’t tell me. Just retrieve the chosen ones and bring them back. You have to gather all ten before you’re allowed to return to Vaalbara. Not a moment before.” Her voice is filled with sudden urgency.
Before I can ask anything else, her guardian walks toward us, and he removes her hand from mine. I watch as they leave the room then glance at Raighne as the bitter reality of what’s to come sinks in like a heavy stone.
“I’m scared.”
He closes the distance between us, and wrapping his arm around my shoulders, he hugs me to his side.
“We’ll face everything together. You’re not alone.”
“So, when do we leave?” Brenna asks.
“At first daylight,” Raighne answers. “We have to remember to get elixirs from Aster so we’ll blend in on Earth.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Brenna offers, all her aggression nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly, we hear a commotion outside, and we quickly walk out of my living quarters to see what’s going on.
Raighne’s hand finds mine, and he links our fingers as we move closer to where a group is gathering around two men who are climbing off their horses.
Only then do I see the two bodies draped over another horse.
God.
“What’s going on?” Finian calls out.
One of the men shakes his head, his face ashen in color. “Adeth ambushed us in the forest. It’s the King.”
Brenna and I dart forward, but she’s the first to ask, “What about the King?”
The man shakes his head again. “Griffith is bringing him. We…we…”
No!
I swing around, and breaking out into a run, I head for the forest.
“Alchera!” Raighne shouts behind me.
My body protests, and I don’t even make it to the line of trees when I’m yanked backward. A cry is ripped from me as I fly through the air, my ribs aching something fierce from the force Raighne’s using to draw me back to him.
I want my dad. I need my dad.
When I slam into Raighne’s chest, and his arms lock around me, air explodes from my lungs, my ribs aching horribly.
Before I can let Raighne have it, movement by the trees catches my attention, and I notice Janak first.
Then Griffith appears, looking like he lost a fight against a bear.
When I see my father’s body hanging limply over the back of a horse, my chest implodes with unbearable heartache.
“Nooooo!” I scream, the air trembling around me from the excruciating emotions ripping me to shreds.
“Father!” Brenna cries, and Finian moves fast to restrain her.
Griffith looks like death as he carries our father to us, and when he lays him gently on the ground, he kneels by his fallen charge.
“He severed our bond,” Griffith groans. “He severed our bond right before she killed him to spare my life.”
“NoNoNo!” I cry as I fight against Raighne’s hold.
“Let go of me! ”
His arms only tighten even more around me.
“Please. I need to be with my father,” I sob.
Raighne lets go, and I dart forward, falling to my knees next to my dad. Brenna sinks down beside me, and we stare at our father’s lifeless face. His chest is charred black as if something has burned right through him.
“I’m so sorry,” I whimper. “I let you die. This is all my fault.” I scoot closer and lift his head onto my lap while Brenna grabs hold of his hand.
“Awo. Why did this happen?” she groans.
Because I asked Awo the wrong question.
I begin to rock my father as agonizing pain flays my soul, and I whimper, “I’ve failed you… all for a bunch of strangers.”
My throat strains painfully as I caress his hair.
“I had no time with you,” I sob.
Brenna moves closer to me and wraps her arm around my shoulders as Raighne’s warmth moves through me.
“It’s my fault,” I tell her, my voice hoarse.
She shakes her head, sobbing, “No, it’s not.”
Awo said I could’ve asked for anything! But I didn't think of my own father.
What kind of daughter does that?
I hold my dad tightly to my chest and let out a broken cry, “This isn’t fair! If I had known my father would die, I wouldn’t have asked for Jason’s animals. You fooled me. I want my father back.” Sobs tear from my very soul, and I feel Raighne’s warmth battle the darkness growing in my heart.
“Give him back to me,” I beg. “This isn’t fair.”
“You need to calm down, child,” Janak says, sounding worried.
It feels as if something snaps in me. Ice spreads through my veins as all the emotions fade until only my rage remains.
Numbly, I sink back until I’m sitting flat on my butt, and my father slips from my arms.
“Alchera!” Raighne’s voice echoes somewhere in the back of my mind.
It feels like the last piece of my soul, of the person I used to be, splinters into nothing .
“Alchera?” Raighne crouches beside me, his hand settling on my shoulder.
Not even he matters at this moment.
Nothing matters anymore.
I feel dead inside.
Dead and dark.
My voice sounds cold and lifeless as I whisper, “Awo let my dad die. He just…let him die.”
Somehow, I manage to climb to my feet while Brenna sobs beside our dead father.
I look down at my dad one last time and turn my back on all of them.
I feel Raighne right behind me as I walk into the forest, silent tears rolling down my cheeks and washing away what feels like the last of my humanity.
I’ll save the chosen ten, and after that, I’ll wash my hands clean of Vaalbara.