Chapter 35 #2
Celanea tsked. “To think he just rebuked my gift of apathy.” She turned back toward the other half of my soul, who still remained unconscious on the wooden table.
“Regardless, we must continue.” Picking up the bowl containing the concoction from before, she resumed her process.
Celanea leaned over Gray, forcing her mouth open to pour it in.
Gray began to spit and gag, thrashing. But the Tempest dug her fingers into her jaw and forced her mouth shut.
The need to protect her consumed me, but I couldn’t move.
After several agonizing moments, Celanea’s chant waned, despite Gray’s resistance.
“Swallow it,” Celanea clipped, covering her mouth with her free hand as she returned the bowl to the platter. “Or we can do this the hard way.”
I couldn’t speak. All I’d ever wanted was to protect her.
Gray whimpered, coughing against her hand.
A red haze of fury eclipsed my vision as I remained on my knees.
I felt the Syphon Bond slither its way back in control of my heart, tightening its reins around my soul once again.
I fought against it, gritting my teeth and yelling as the internal battle erupted into pain.
Warm liquid seeped from my nose, and I realized my nose bled from the effort.
With a final push, the Syphon Bond seized control, eradicating my emotions and shutting me down. Its power spread, forcing me to comply.
Finally, the torture—for Gray and me both—came to an end. My jaw ached, and my teeth threatened to break under the pressure I put on them.
Celanea sighed contentedly. “All done. Problem solved.” She pivoted her twisted gaze onto me. “Take her back to the keep. Do with her as you wish now.”
Like the puppet on a string that I was, I followed her command, moving to cradle her in my arms once again and carry her back to her cell. She lay half-conscious in my hold, her face wrenching in pain. Little groans scraped from her throat, followed by a whimper.
It was strange because I felt a connection to her. The love I had just felt still lingered, but as I strode through the corridors, it was muted, even as I touched her.
However, my loyalty remained with her. That would never change.
I wielded my shadows to unlock and open the door to her shared cell with Slate. He was awake when I carried her inside, and his eyes displayed the same wrathful rage that I felt, except that his was clearly directed toward me.
Fuck him.
Gently, I laid Gray on the rigid floor before I locked a different set of cuffs back on her wrists and ankles with a tenderness I didn’t know I even possessed anymore.
The cuffs were attached to a longer set of chains in the wall, offering her arms the freedom to lie down without being extended above her head.
After what Celanea just did, she would be in agony when she awoke.
“She’ll hate you.” Slate’s voice was raw. “You might have her, but she’ll never love you the way she loved the old version of you. You’re not what she wants.”
“And neither are you,” I retorted as I watched her drift into a deep sleep.
Slate grunted. “The difference between you and me is, I accepted that years ago. I’ve always known where I stood with her.
However, you—whoever this demonic version is—doesn’t know boundaries or respect.
Because if you did, you’d know that you have no chance of coming back from what you’ve done to her. ”
I tilted my head to the side, letting the pops ripple down my neck, doing my best to ignore the fear that clutched my heart at his threat. Because deep down, I knew he was right. “Doesn’t matter. She’s mine. She’ll eventually see things my way.”
“If that’s what you think, then I almost feel sorry for you,” Slate said, disgust in his voice. “She deserves better than you. And the old Chrome gave up everything to make sure she lived. Even if it was without him, but this, what you’re doing was not what he had in mind.”
I laughed. “Well, he should’ve put more thought into that.
Or maybe you’re a really shitty Guardian and couldn’t protect her.
” Rising from my crouched position, I closed the distance between Slate and me.
Even as I spewed my hateful words at him, I felt the betrayal deep down, hidden and suppressed.
“Even with that Angel blood running through your veins, you still can’t do shit for her. You still can’t beat me.”
Slate shook his head, a pathetic look of sadness overcoming his features. “It’s never been about beating you. It’s been about protecting you, too. And I failed. So yeah, I guess you’re right, Chrome.”
“Protecting me?” A laugh erupted from my diaphragm at the ridiculousness.
Slate grinned, just one side pulling up at the edges of his mouth.
“Yeah. Protecting you from yourself. Because if you die, she dies, too. So if you think I haven’t killed you because I’m physically incapable, think again.
It’s been due to an incredible amount of restraint on her behalf.
You’re only alive because of Gray. So maybe, you should show her a bit more gratitude for the rest of your miserable fucking days. ”