Chapter 28 Rhianelle
“What is this?” Kheirall asks.
“Elven business. Do not interfere.” My armed escort blocks him from coming nearer.
Out of the corners of my eyes, I see the two demons being ushered away. Ragnar politely raises a hand to ask a question. No one bothers to tell him anything.
The Valorian’s grip on my arm tightens to the point of pain.
I settle on their makeshift rostrum, forcing back the rush of emotions threatening to overwhelm me.
The Mhlaryan elves will convey the vision to every soul in Aelfheim.
I wonder if the broadcast might reach Kahedin and the people back home in Volundr.
A crowd gathers around us, whispering their disdain and prayers. The familiar atmosphere throws me back in time. Suddenly, I am that helpless girl on the auction stand again, chained by her leg to the floor. Except Rainer will not be here to save me this time.
Their murmurs cease with Eamon’s arrival to the stage. He is clothed in a royal blue and golden robe like this is some grand, joyous occasion. His eyes are the darkest of black as he surveys the turnout with a smile.
“The queen has disgraced us and dishonored the gods,” he declares.
I can hear the Aeonians’ arrogance in his voice.
“Remember, the punishment is not meant to hurt,” the commissioner announces, holding his arms wide in a grand gesture.
“It is a proof that even the highest among us cannot escape the law of the gods.”
The Elders mean to degrade me and put me in my place. Humiliation burns my face as Eamon flaunts the stick meant to be used on me. I quickly go to my happy place.
Collecting rowan berries with Aerin. Sparring with Darstan and Aelfric. Reading books in the Grand Library on a rainy day. Playing hide and seek with Grandma Elli. Helping Blaire reel a giant catfish from the southern river of Astefar.
I go back to last night. When I felt safe and cherished. I hold on to that memory.
I’m glad Garrett and Rainer are absent from the sea of faces. They shouldn’t have to see this. My eyes travel to Aelfric and Darstan at the back of the mass, their features set as stone. They will be here for me no matter what happens. The thought alone brings so much comfort to my heart.
I turn my back and position myself on the wooden platform.
It will be all right.
Eamon tears the back of my dress until the waistline. My throat goes dry and raw over the sound of ripping fabric.
This is not going to be painful. I remind myself repeatedly. But no matter how much I try to convince myself, the wave of shame still crashes to shore. I wish I could dissolve into nothingness in this moment. May the Earth God Uzzur crack the ground and swallow me whole.
Bear with it. Blaire’s life depends on this.
As long as I can save her, I’m willing to do anything. I remove my gaze from my knights, from the confused demons, from my people.
“Are you ready?” the commissioner asks, his mouth twisting into a mocking grin. I glance up at the ancient beings lurking behind those dark, cold eyes. They want me bent and bowed.
This will not shatter me. I will not break.
“Yes.” I squeeze my eyes shut. Every muscle in my body coils, bracing for the impact. I inhale a deep breath.
The cane is taking its sweet time to fall. An unnatural quiet descends around us as I wait for the punishment. But all I hear is a strange gurgling sound.
I tip my head to look up.
Svenn is standing right next to me, tall, dark and deadly. His face is a mask of fury. I know I’m supposed to be afraid. Everything about him incites fear and terror, but I’m not.
“You came back,” I mutter in a daze of wonder. I can’t hide the delight in my voice. The sparkle of relief vanishes the moment I see his hand buried deep in the commissioner’s ribcage.
I cease breathing entirely.
The air simmers with so much violence that no one dares to move. I feel the darkness radiating off him like a god about to unleash his wrath.
Eamon’s jaw nearly hits the ground. “A vampire…that walks in daylight?”
“Stop him now!” The Aeonians commands their soldiers. The Valorians charge straight towards us with their blades raised.
Svenn lets out a wicked laugh, the kind that raises the hairs on my arms. The shadows around us suddenly gain a life of their own. They move like vines of smoke, curling around the soldiers’ throats, lifting them high off the ground.
Some of the knights try to tear through their unnatural bindings, only to have the dark wisps twine around their limb too. Swords and spears rain to the ground as the shadow squeezes the weapon from their hands.
The vampire focuses on Eamon, tilting his head curiously. “I see you. One. Two… five bastards.”
No one knows the number of the ancient ones. No one ever saw their faces, not even in paintings. I only know there are six of them because of the names on the paper last night.
He smiles, and the Aeonians begin squealing in pain through Eamon. We are realms apart and yet he is hurting them from here.
“You’ll wish for death after I’m done with you,” his voice drops to a dangerous rumble.
The messenger is drowning in a pool of his own blood. His eyes start to bulge, waiting to pop out. Not one person comes to his aid.
“Someone do something!” I hear Lord Ctibor urge the demons.
“Why would I stand between a vampire and his meal?” Kheirall says, lifting a shoulder.
“Wiolant!” the Ancient Ones shout my name like a damning and a curse.
Svenn’s free hand transforms into sharpened talons to deliver the final blow.
“Help me, Your Highness…” the commissioner croaks. I lift my eyes to look at the struggling Aldarelf. I know then this is no longer the Aeonians.
It’s Eamon begging for his life.
“Don’t do this,” I beg the vampire. I crawl to his feet, struggling to cover my chest with the stupid dress. “Please.”
I try to look into his sharp, eternal eyes hoping to find something, anything. Svenn keeps his gaze fixed on his helpless prey like a ruthless hunter.
“Stop this, Svenn.” I reach my hand to grip his leg. His body bristles with tension. He can easily kick me away or break my spine. I’m terrified beyond belief, but I keep holding on.
He glances down at me briefly before looking back at Eamon.
“Rhianelle Wiolant is mine,” he announces for all to hear, his eyes darkening like the bottomless pit of hell. “Do you hear me?”
The heat in his voice prickles over my skin. I feel the claiming in those words. Eamon simply nods once, the colors leaching from his face.
“Touch her and there is not a place in the world you can hide. I will hunt you to the deepest wormhole and flay you layer by layer.” The air ripples with his dark promise.
I hug his leg tighter, willing him to calm down. “Please let him go.”
Something settles on top of my head. I look up to find the vampire stroking my hair gently with his beastly hand. I should be scared having something so lethal near my head. Instead, my silly brain is admiring the restraint it takes to contain that raw power.
I hear him inhale, slow and deep.
“Better pray to your gods we never meet. I’ll hack you into fucking pieces when I find you.” He pries his hand from Eamon’s ribcage. Blood runs in rivulets from his fingers, dripping to the forest floor.
I remove my trembling hand from his leg.
Now that I have his attention, fear overwhelms me. I take in a shuddering breath when the vampire kneels on one knee next to me.
He is so beautiful. So terrifyingly, beautiful.
I don’t know how he can frighten and fascinate me at the same time.
I feel the warm press of his palm against my skin.
The savage intensity still lurks in his face but there’s also concern.
It’s the same look he wore back in the dungeon that night.
He is checking me for injuries in the same manner too, like I’m a vegetable.
I’ll be a potato or tomato as long as he keeps his hand on me.
He reels me in close. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m all right,” I say, failing miserably to fake a smile. There’s a mirror of me in his eyes.
I look utterly pathetic, covered with dirt, holding on to my ripped dress.
I understand why Rainer couldn’t look at this.
A daughter of the honorable House Wiolant of Volundr disgraced on the filthy ground.
Proud and fearless Aerin would never find herself in this situation.
But I don’t regret my decision. I would choose this punishment again for Blaire.
I just don’t want Svenn to see me like this.
“I’m really fine.” I lower my head to the ground. He clutches my chin with his hand, forcing me to meet his eyes. His grip is unapologetic, firm and almost callous.
“Do not lie to me, Nel.”
He sees right through me. I suck in a sharp breath. I feel so vulnerable around him sometimes.
His thumb strokes my cheek. I lean to that touch. We gaze at one another for a long moment.
This feels familiar…
A warm tune plays at the back of my head. My mind races, searching for a memory. I blink my eyes slowly and all the pieces finally fall together.
It’s him…
Fate truly works in mysterious ways. Svenn is the man in those strange dreams. The one who calls to me in a beautiful siren song. An overwhelming joy fills my heart. I’ve finally found him. He’s the one—oh Gods.
I recall vividly how the nightmare ends.
With the death of thousands.
I snap out of my daze and jerk away from him instantly. A shiver courses through me as I look at him. “It’s you…”
He raises an eyebrow. Something shifts in his eyes as if he is reminded that he hates me. The ferocity of that stare grips my heart. He still has the Valorians hanging by his shadow vines. I can read the cold gleam in his eyes loud and clear.
He will annihilate them all.
My lips quiver. “Please don’t kill them.”
It’s delusional to think I have any sway against this lawless beast, but he released Eamon earlier. He has shown me kindness before. I know there is room in his heart for mercy.
A shadow crosses the hard features of his face. “Fine.”
I must have dreamed the word on his lips because the next thing I know blood cascades the earth in a symphony of red. Limbs and bodies shower the ground.
No.
I want to scream but my voice is lodged at the back of my throat.
An unbearable pain seizes my heart over the horrifying sight.
My entire body aches as if it has just been wrecked by a storm.
All the blessings of the Gods and adrenaline are wearing off from my veins.
The exhaustion finally catches up, hitting me in full force.
Everything goes numb.
I hardly feel anything when Kheirall plants his jacket over my bare shoulders. Rainer’s harsh voice is telling me something, but I have gone deaf.
Svenn’s broad back retreating into the forest is the last thing I see before darkness swallows me whole.