Chapter 38 – Alex
Chapter Thirty-Eight
ALEX
Apounding head greets me again when consciousness returns.
I’m really fucking tired of blacking out.
The compulsion to hunt Sera has subsided just a little, but the connection that draws me toward her is as strong as ever.
I hope she’s far from here, but dread coils in my gut knowing we will never find peace until one of us is dead.
Why couldn’t Lady Jade have just put me out of my misery?
My arms are not bound. A mistake on their part, but I’m grateful I can rub at my aching temples. After untying the rope around my legs, I reach for a small glass of water next to my cot and greedily gulp it down.
I’m hit with a fierce craving for vespira, as if the compulsion to kill Sera weren’t enough, and I bite down on my tongue. My chest aches. I put a hand to my heart and the rune burned into my skin.
My mind drifts back to that fateful moment in the queen’s chambers, the searing pain as she compelled me to hunt and kill the one person I love most .
. . my mate. I then proceeded to spend the next three nights in that horrible room, screaming my voice hoarse, fighting an internal war against myself and the compulsion.
Any time I thought I might break free, the queen was there, slipping into my head, trying to rewrite who I am.
Unable to sit still any longer, I get up, taking in my surroundings. I’m in a cozy home that smells like fresh bread and stew. My stomach rumbles, but the need to hunt is stronger than any hunger pangs.
My axe is gone and my fingers itch for it.
What in the hells did this enchantress do to me?
I rub at the ache in my chest once again and trudge out of the room and into the main living area.
There’s not a soul to be seen, but there’s food set out on the table.
Is that for me? A shred of paper is tucked under a spoon, and I pick it up.
I’m sorry. – S
My throat tightens and my vision blurs. Sera is always taking care of me, even when I don’t deserve it.
I scarf down the food as quickly as possible, trying to ignore the pulsing beat to hunt, hunt, hunt in my head.
Once I’ve polished off the stew, I grab the remaining hunk of bread and leave the cottage, heading back into the woods.
The rain has stopped, and the afternoon suns are out again.
My clothing sticks to me in uncomfortable ways in the thick, humid air.
I trace the path I chased Sera through the woods, the tracks in the mud showing her flight and each stumble, the deep groove in the ground where I nearly sliced into her leg.
How does this end? Will the compulsion wear off after time?
And if it does, will Sera be able to forget the feeling of me hunting her or will she flinch any time I come near?
Memories flay my mind, thoughts of all the pain I’ve inflicted on her.
She deserves more than a wretch like me.
The gods chose wrong. There must have been a mistake.
I reach the spot where my axe lies abandoned, the spot where she kissed me and said she loved me.
Falling to my knees, I weep even as my hand stretches toward that weapon of destruction.
When my fingers wrap around the wooden handle, I rise, ignoring the tears blurring my eyes as I march, following the invisible string pulling me toward the female I am supposed to kill.
The driving force to get to her as quickly as possible has me raiding the stables of the quaint little home Sera was holed up in.
In hopes it will slow me down a little, I choose the oldest horse they have.
It’s the only rebellion I can manage within the confines of this compulsion. Will it be enough?
I feel bad for stealing the horse, but if we somehow make it out of this alive, I swear to bring him back to his owners. It’s the absolute least I can do.
I’m not completely certain, as this terrain is unfamiliar, but it looks like I’m heading back toward the palace, if the position of the suns are any indication. Fucking hells. What is she doing? Why would she put herself directly in harm’s way by giving the queen exactly what she wants?
Foolish girl. She’s probably doing this in a reckless attempt to save me.
The drive to hunt her will not abate. It only grows stronger the closer I get. I have no idea how long it will take me to catch up with her or what will happen if I do. In fact, this damned compulsion will probably alert the queen to her presence if I arrive without her heart in tow.
I’m going to be sick. The mere thought of cutting out that organ is a nightmare come to life.
Using all my strength, I force my horse to a walk. The rune on my chest burns and there’s a sensation like someone is pounding iron into my skull, but I’ll withstand anything if it gives her a chance.
The trees break into a clearing, and I catch her scent on the wind. She’s too close. Far too close. There’s a flash of green and silver-blonde hair, and the compulsion takes over once more as I kick my horse into a gallop.
The suns have almost sunk into the horizon by the time my horse trots up to the palace gates. The guard waves me through, and I pull up to the stables.
My satchel weighs heavy on my shoulder, the drip, drip, drip of blood leaking from its corner. I might vomit, the pain wracking my chest unspeakable.
“The queen demands your presence immediately.” Marc’s sniveling voice breaks into my thoughts.
“I know my orders,” I grit out.
Wiping my bloodstained hands on my trousers, I follow Marc into the palace. I’m shaking, my entire body strung so tight, I think I might snap.
Thinking we’re heading to the queen’s chambers, I’m surprised when he leads me down a different path.
He throws the doors open to a large throne room.
An elegant, wooden throne clad in gold and silver draws all my attention. The back of the throne is a mass of intricately woven branches and golden flowers interspersed with silver patterns. It looks like the throne weeps silver, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
Plush violet fabric is draped along the back and over the cushioned seat; the same violet as Sera’s eyes. I squeeze mine shut, trying to block out the pain. This is it. My end. Something within my soul knows I’m not walking out of here alive.
The enchantress queen looks completely out of place on that throne. It does not belong to her. I bite down on my tongue to prevent the words from flying out of me. The large arched window lets in the last rays of the suns and warms my back as I kneel before the queen.
“Alexander,” she purrs, sounding pleased. “You brought me what I asked for?”
I open the satchel at my side and pull out the red organ, still leaking blood. Holding it out like an offering, my skin crawls at the queen’s terrifying smile as she stares at it with malicious glee.
“You did well,” she praises, rising to her feet and practically floating across the floor toward me.
She picks the heart out of my hand and holds it up to the light.
“Hearts are a funny thing,” she muses, squeezing it once.
The grotesque vision of her holding it will forever be seared into my memory, the blood dripping down her hand and marring the lace sleeves of her dress with its crimson hue.
“Hearts hold the secrets we keep hidden, even in death.”
I try to hide my wince as she raises it to her lips and drinks from it.
A spray of blood splashes across my face as the queen spits it out. “Liar!” she screams. “How? How did you break through my compulsion?” She’s practically feral as she raises a hand to slap me.
I grit my teeth as I attempt to block the blow, but one of her sharp talon nails pierces the skin near my eyes, and she drags it down.
I taste blood as I bite my tongue, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of my pain, the pain that continues to scream through my body as I fight the compulsion to hunt, hunt, hunt.
I didn’t break it, merely avoided it a little longer.
When I cornered Sera and Jade at the tree, we came up with this half-cocked plan.
Sera offered her blood to drench the boar’s heart, which satisfied the compulsion for a moment, but it wasn’t enough to fool her.
I can sense Sera. She’s close. What is the next part of her plan? I wouldn’t let her tell me with the queen’s ability to search my mind at her every whim.
“Where is she?” the queen screams, her spit spraying my face. She spins around, looking for anything to help her understand.
“You’ll never catch her,” I grit out.
The queen rips at my tunic, exposing the rune seared into my skin.
It pulses with heat, and she tilts her head.
“Your will might be strong, but the compulsion burns stronger. How about a night locked in the tower? You must be in excruciating pain not fulfilling your duty to me. How about a little more?”
The bond suddenly tugs on my heart, and I can’t help but cry out.
“Wait.” The queen stops and grabs me by the hair, yanking my head back and exposing my throat. “Come out, come out, wherever you are,” she says in a sing-song voice. “I know you’re here, Seraphine. There’s no other possible way he could be. My compulsions don’t fail.”
My hand twitches as I force myself to reach for the small blade strapped to my thigh.
“If you show yourself now, I won’t kill your mate,” the queen croons, tugging my head back farther.
“Let him go,” Sera commands, stepping out from behind the throne.
I could nearly cry at the sight of her. She’s fiercely beautiful, the way her hair shines silver in the last dredges of light, twin balls of flame in her hands.
But what is she thinking? She’ll transform any moment now, and there’s nowhere to run, nowhere to fly. This is not how it was supposed to be.
I grunt when the queen pulls my head back another inch, my breath coming in gasps. The compulsion to kill Sera is still there, but the queen’s grip on me seems to be confusing it.
“Don’t be daft, girl,” the queen jeers, voice dripping with derision. “You don’t hold the cards here. You think you can take me with a little fire?”
The queen’s pride will be her undoing, it has to be.
Guards pour into the room, surrounding us on all sides. Sera takes a step closer to us, and the queen lowers her face to my throat, her cool breath prickling my skin.
“One step closer, Seraphine, and I’ll have him. I’ll feast on his blood and you can watch the life drain out of him.”
Sera’s steps falter. “Get your disgusting mouth away from my mate.”
Those words do something to me, and a surge of strength fills my body, breaking through the pain.
“Seize her!” the queen screams at the guards, but Sera throws up a barrier of flame that encircles us, leaving the three of us trapped in its searing heat.
“Let go of him!” Sera commands once again.
The queen runs her sharp fangs along my throat, and I wince when she breaks skin and blood trickles from the small puncture.
“Stop!” Sera yells, the panic in her voice rising.
The queen tears her mouth away. “You’ve already lost. The suns will set any moment now and you’ll be a helpless swan once again. Will the swan know what’s happening? Will she see? Will she understand?”
Sera lets out a distressed cry, and all I can do is hope she’ll give me the gift of one last look into her beautiful eyes.
As if hearing my thoughts, Sera looks at me, truly looks at me.
“It’s okay, Spitfire.” I gasp. “Go. Be free.”
“No, Alex,” she says, her eyes begging me not to give up.
There’s only one move left, and it will probably end in my death, but I’ll do anything to keep her safe.
Sera throws a fireball at the queen’s long dress, but it misses. The queen laughs again, as if finding the whole situation amusing. “You were never a fighter, dear. Put out your flames and give yourself to me. I’ll make your death quick if you surrender, or perhaps I’ll keep you as a pet.”
“I’ll never give myself to you,” she replies.
Good girl. She’s not weak like me.
My fingers twitch at my side once again and finally close around the dagger on my thigh.
I have to protect her. She’s my mate, and I won’t be some damned liability. Digging deep into the depths of the remaining shreds of my soul, I draw the blade and strike.