Chapter 60
The echo of their footsteps was all they could hear as they moved throughout the castle, not one guard in sight.
She walked behind Kaden still, Boone and Xander on her heels and when they turned into the throne room, she let the surprise show on her face.
Mavros sat splayed across the throne, his black wings folded behind him and was picking at something under his fingernails. His black attire familiar to her and she tried hard to push all the bad memories into the back of her mind.
His greasy hair hung down his face, deep dark circles under his even darker eyes and when he gazed her direction, she had to make sure she didn’t falter.
‘1, 2, 3,’ she found herself counting for the first time in weeks to try and calm herself.
“Well, well, well.” Mavros’s voice echoed through the room. “I’ve finally found you.”
The Veiled King's eyes met hers and she swallowed hard to keep her anxiety down. She needed to do this, and she was stronger now that she had friends and her mate with her.
“Mavros.” she snarled.
Her eyes glanced around the room, pausing on the wall to her left and she saw Emris pinned against the wall. It was just like Xander said, his wings pinned with iron nails and chains across him to keep him elevated.
Emris’s head hung, no sign of consciousness, but his nostrils barely flaring showed signs of life.
“I didn’t realize you were still looking for me,” she added, her voice growling from her chest.
“I have intel saying you have most of your power back,” Mavros spoke again, sitting himself square on the throne.
“You mean your spy has told you things that may not be true,” she barked back.
“Oh I trust my spy and I would think you would too.” Mavros gestured and she saw one of the cloaked males step forward, her eyes glaring towards the figure.
When the male lowered his cloak, she unintentionally gasped and covered her hands over her mouth. Kaden snarled and both males behind her stepped closer to her.
“Declan?” she said against her hands.
“Let me explain.” Declan said calmly, his hands reaching out to her. He was still across the room but she felt everything inside her start to shatter again. If he was the spy, that meant he was the reason she lost everything in the last war.
“Not who I was expecting.” Kaden scoffed.
“Oh you were expecting him.” Mavros smirked and she saw him point to another male walking closer, Silas removing his hood seconds later.
“Yeah, that seems correct.” Kaden snarled.
Mavros gave a sinister grin and then stood, taking a couple of steps closer to them.
Her hand gripped her sword tighter and it took everything she had not to throw her power out in anger. It was roaring inside her, the pressure pushing on her skin almost unbearable but she held it back for the sake of everyone around her.
“Let’s get to the point of our little meeting as I figured you would return for this worthless king of yours.” Mavros sighed and walked closer to Emris. “I know more soldiers are on their way and I’m not stupid enough to stick around, however you have something I want.”
“I’m sure you are aware I have nothing to give you.” she glared towards him,
“You’re right, I’m really bored trying to take your power.” his eyes glazing towards Kaden suddenly. “However, my son’s power seems to be more my style.”
Without any warning, iron arrows suddenly shot towards them from the dark corners of the room, Xander pulling her backwards as multiple pierced through Kaden’s body, luckily none hitting a lethal target.
“NO!” She screamed, her power almost exploding around her but she kept it at bay, she had to.
Kaden roared in pain, anger mixed with it and before she could do anything, Mavros’s men dragged him away from her.
“I’ll fucking kill you!” she yelled again, Xander pulling her against his chest further away from the chaos ensuing.
“You can try.” Mavros grinned. “Once I hold the Ebony Fire, I’ll be unstoppable.”
“If you have read any history, you would know my power has beaten yours before.” she barked.
“That would require you to have your power.” he scoffed.
She watched iron manacles being latched around Kaden’s wrists and her eyes found him staring at her with calmness and pain. There was nothing she could do, nothing he wanted her to do and she had to swallow the lump forming in her throat.
Mavros didn’t know they were mates, they didn’t know she had her power and it had to stay that way. They had to play their part and she had to stick with Kaden’s plan no matter what.
“You came here for Emris, take him.” Mavros said in a mocking tone. “Don’t worry, I want him around when I kill every single one of his people in one flick of my wrist. Show him what it’s like to lose everything he loves.”
“If you think I was hard to break, you have no chance with Kaden. He won’t give you his power.” she snarled again, her eyes glaring at the evil male in front of her.
“Oh, don’t you know?” Mavros chuckled. “I can take what I want now thanks to that fun little book I found. Once I get him back home, I’ll take his power and you won’t be able to do anything about it.
Too bad you are too weak to get your power back, I really thought Silas would succeed but this new plan is so much better. ”
She watched Mavros waive his wrist and a magic lined circle formed next to him, the Obsidian mountains showing through the other side. He had summoned a portal and Kaden was being dragged towards it.
They were outnumbered and she had to watch helplessly as her mate struggled across the floor.
“I’ll be seeing you.” Mavros smirked one last time towards her and she saw him disappear with Kaden being dragged behind him.
The portal closed, leaving a few of the red cloaked males and the two traitors staring at her.
“Stay calm Alrya,” Declan said, stepping closer.
“Take one more step and I’ll cut your fucking throat out.” she roared, his steps halting.
“I did all of this for you.” Declan pleaded.
“You really are out of your mind if you think that.” Xander's chest vibrated against her.
“I made a deal.” Declan started, his eyes staring heavily towards her. “I give you to Mavros and when he got your power, we would have been free to live our lives together.”
“You betrayed my whole kingdom!” She roared.
“Your power makes you a target Alyra! He was going to come for you anyways and I did what I had to do to try and save you!”
“So you just stood by while he carved me up and tortured me for months?” she scoffed.
“I didn’t know he was doing that to you or I would have intervened.” Declan’s voice dropped low. “You have to believe me.”
Her eyes darted to Silas who was now leaning against the throne with a cocky smirk on his face.
“Let me guess.” she barked. “You were just another soldier playing your part?”
“Mavros knew you locked your power up as soon as it happened.” Silas chuckled. “He told me to do whatever I could to get you to trust me and get you to get it back.”
Boone shifted next to her and they all sensed the darkness in Silas’s voice.
“I wasted a century playing Emris’s good little soldier in hopes I could complete my king's command, leaking information every once in a while. I really thought finally fucking you would have worked but you really are hard headed. At least I can say I was able to take you for a ride a few times.” The sinister look on his face made her power flicker at her fingers but she didn’t let it grow.
“Come with me.” Declan pleaded.
“I’d rather die,” she snapped back.
“Well that will happen soon.” Silas snickered. “Better fly home little birdy and hope you are one of the last to die.”
Another portal appeared and Silas stepped through with the rest of the cloaked males, Declan walking towards it and he glanced over his shoulder. “Last chance Alyra, let me save you.”
“Next time you see me, I’ll be ripping your throat out with my bare hands.” she sneered.
He shook his head and disappeared into the portal and when it closed, there was only silence.