Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
Chrome
I’d only felt peace like this once before in my life.
I’d been sixteen and dying down in the King’s Palace prisons.
Weeks had gone by where I’d been held down there, deprived of food, water, and magic.
All my senses had been robbed of any stimulation, and I was desperate.
The beatings and other sick punishments that Grim had forced me to endure on top of all of that had eventually been too much for my body to handle.
My old friend, Valik, had appeared before me, and I’d believed I was hallucinating.
But he’d done something to my soul as it tried to leave.
The tranquility I’d felt had been something I never wanted to let go of.
I remembered how pissed I’d been to be snatched back into my body. I had just wanted the peace back.
Having glimpsed the freedom death could offer, I’d never again feared its embrace. In fact, I’d always seemed to push the limits in dangerous and careless ways, hoping I’d return to that place of pure bliss once again.
And now, I was.
My soul felt light and free, pure energy in all its unbound glory. I knew I’d failed my life’s mission, but it was better for everyone if I moved on.
At least I left having returned Gray’s memories, gifting them to her before it was too late. Now, she could fully understand the extent of my love for her. Now, she could finally piece it all together. It had always been us. And always would be us.
I sat there in that bliss for an unknown amount of time. Time didn’t exist where I was, so it could’ve been five minutes, four seconds, or even a year. I had no way of knowing, nor did I care.
The pain was gone. The control was gone, and I was free. Now I would wait here until Gray joined me, and we’d reincarnate into the next life.
Until a tug jerked me back down.
No. No. No. Not again.
As if a rope were knotted around my soul, something pulled me back down. I fought against it, not wanting to leave this place of bliss.
The further it pulled me, the heavier I felt.
Why the fuck couldn’t I just die in peace?
I descended faster until everything was a blur, until I crashed back into my physical body, jolting my consciousness to play catch-up. The heaviness returned. The sound of voices hurting my ears and the smell of burnt death assaulted my nose.
I gasped for air, inflating my lungs once again. Anguish knitted itself with a fine needle through my soul as a longing for eternal peace devoured me.
But then her energy caressed mine…
My eyelids flew open, and I sat up, searching for Gray in the courtyard where I’d died.
My Kinetic and Elemental magic surged through my veins.
The cool strength of metal uplifted me as the taste of iron brushed my tongue.
All forms of energy on the spectrum surged through my blood, revitalizing me from death, making me feel stronger than I had ever felt.
I’d never been so happy to have my power back instead of the twisted Infernal death magic I’d possessed before.
Everyone who’d been there looked at me as if I were a ghost, clearly unsure what to make of my return from the dead. I scanned past the others until I found her.
Leaning against Slate’s side, stunned hope bled together with disbelief and fear on her tear-stained face. “Gray?” I croaked out. I flashed her a lopsided grin. “Please don’t cry, Princess. I’m right here.”
As if my voice kick-started her back to life, she ran to me, throwing her body on top of mine. Instinctively, my arms wrapped around her to pull her close. Her heartbeats became my own. I inhaled her vanilla and lavender scent, savoring it as if it would forever disappear.
“What the fuck? You just—” Gray rushed out, but I cut her off, cupping her cheeks and kissing her jawline, then her nose before settling my lips on hers.
“Valik,” I said in between kisses. “Long story.”
As if summoned, the air split in half, and a familiar white light blinded me as a portal opened. “Speaking of…” I said against her mouth.
“But,” Gray began, confused, “is the Syphon Bond broken?”
I nodded. “Yes, Rainbow. It’s broken.” I pressed another tender kiss to the tip of her nose.
Her breath shook when she added, “So is our bond.”
I sat there, realizing with horror that she was right. While I was back, alive once again, I knew there was something missing inside of me. My chest felt empty, like a chunk of my essence had been cut away. “No…”
Gray nodded, tears welling in her eyes. “I felt it. It’s gone.” I swiped away the tears staining her cheeks, determined never to see her cry again.
Valik stepped through the portal, looking exhausted. “Good to see you again, Prince. Before Celanea shows up and turns all of you into her little uninteresting zombies, I suggest we leave. Now.”
Valik’s green eyes met mine, and a gentle smile of gratitude pulled at the edges of my lips.
If it hadn’t been for the magic he’d performed on me over a decade ago, I wouldn’t be here with Gray.
He gave me that chance. At that point in time, I had been pissed off that he’d robbed me of the ability to die, but this time, I couldn’t be angry.
“Fine,” I said, lightly patting Gray’s hip so I could rise to my feet. My gaze settled on Slate. “Thank you.” I was unsteady. My balance was thrown off, and my muscles were stiffer than I’d ever felt before. Had rigor mortis begun to set in before I came back?
For the first time in my life, I was free.
I was my own person. No longer a slave to devolution, blackmail, manipulation, or dark magical bonds.
I breathed in a deep, refreshing breath, taking note of what it was like to be alive and untethered.
I hoped that my internal suffering was finally over.
Now I could be better for those around me, especially Gray, despite the challenges we faced ahead.
I was grateful for this second chance at life.
Slate dipped his chin, relief and guilt hidden in his eyes, before he walked over to me, pulling me into a hug. “What the hell just happened?” he asked in my ear. “What haven’t you been telling me?”
I’d clearly forgotten to mention to him what Valik had done all those years ago. “It wasn’t exactly intentional, but if you need answers, look no further than Valik.”
“What did he do?” Slate asked.
I inhaled. “From what I remember, he made me immortal. But I think I just broke the magic binding my soul to my body.”
Slate patted my back before pulling away, glancing in Valik’s direction. “How are you feeling?” my cousin asked, his brows furrowed.
I shrugged, smiling at him. “Never better.”
“You just died, severed your Twin Soul and Syphon Bond, then came back to life. It was about ten minutes. And you mean to tell me that you feel nothing from that?” Slate looked at me, disbelieving.
“I’m stiff, but I’m sure that’s to be expected.
” It had been so long since Valik’s magic had woven itself into my soul and stopped me from dying.
The thought never occurred to me that it would prevent me from death from the Eternal Sword.
I didn’t think anything could stop that, according to the book I’d found in Celanea’s library.
I glanced behind him. Gray stood a few feet away, her eyes never leaving me.
Her hands clutched into fists at her side, and I knew her fingernails dug into her skin.
I recognized the signs all too well. She was already beginning to feel the physical symptoms. “I think we need to be more concerned about Gray,” I whispered, meeting Slate’s gaze. “She depleted Forest.”
Slate squeezed his eyes shut, his jaw clenching. “Even in death, that motherfucker is still tormenting her.”
“I’ll help her.” My guilt was already washing ashore.
The riptide that would snatch me under wasn’t too far away.
It was my fault. She’d depleted another person because of me.
I was probably the only one alive capable of helping her with devolution.
And the forced hysterectomy…gods. I’d tried to stop it, but Celanea had overpowered me.
Nausea roiled in my stomach at the memory.
Slate nodded. “It’s good to have you back.” He lowered his gaze to the ground in shame. My heart pinched, knowing what ate at him. I wasn’t ready to face that yet. I would never hate Slate, but his betrayal sat heavily. I shoved it down.
I ran my fingers through my hair, clearing my throat.
“I’m gonna check on Gray,” I said, swiftly dismissing myself and striding over to her.
Everyone remaining from the Hollow stood around talking with one another, glancing at me with unsure stares.
There were those in white amongst the crowd, and I suspected they were Mystics.
Onyx and Cotton stood close together, and I smiled to myself.
At least something good had come from this entire shitshow.
Maybe Onyx could finally have his happiness.
Already, Gray’s gilded skin shone a shade dimmer than usual. “How are you?”
Gray’s sharp gaze shot toward me, jumpy. Her rainbow eyes speared through my heart as she hugged herself, having been lost in her own mind. She forced a fake smile. “Just overwhelmed.”
“Let’s get out of here, then.” I leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her forehead, wishing I could take away the pain I’d caused her so fiercely that it ripped another hole in my heart.
The fact that I couldn’t feel her emotions or sense her presence like it was a shadow of my own prevented me from feeling whole.
Reaching for her hand, I laced her fingers with mine, squeezing them just the slightest. “There’s a lot we need to process. ”
Gray nodded, her head moving against my lips as I held them there, wishing I could send her my love through the nonexistent bond.