Chapter 33
The embers danced across the skylight as Ellaryn slipped out of the alley.
Whenever she left Xander, something always gnawed at her—a lingering burn in her chest, weakness in her legs.
But this time it was different.
The ache was still there, but it felt less like pain and more like a bond, a reminder of how close they were to unravelling the knot that was the King. They had finally figured out what type of Potential he was. The end felt almost within reach.
Xander was planning to leave tonight. To go to Relenthia and find the King’s weakness. She didn’t know when he would be back, only that it would be before the expansion, and that was enough. It would have to be.
As she moved through the shadows, her parents’ faces surfaced in her mind, along with her brother’s. A warmth spread through her chest, a fragile, golden thread of hope. It bloomed for the first time, as bright and alive as the floating embers that trailed across the night sky.
She hated this city now, but once she had loved it.
She had smelled the freshness of the earth, breathed untarnished air, and heard the song of birds.
But a silent thought plagued her. One she had tried to keep buried.
She was to die alongside her captor.
She would never see that side of the city again…
But Sailen would.
That is what she had to keep telling herself.
“Where have you been?”
The voice came from the shadows, stopping Ellaryn in her tracks.
She narrowed her eyes, waiting for her vision to adjust.
“Lyon?” Her brow furrowed. “What are you doing here?”
He stepped into the light, arms folded across his chest.
“Answer the question, Ruin.” He said, and Ellaryn rolled her eyes.
“What I’m doing here has nothing to do with you,” she huffed, brushing past him, but his hand closed around her arm.
“You’ve been acting shady lately. Taking off in the middle of the night…” His eyes narrowed. “What are you playing at?”
Ellaryn’s heart stuttered.
“I like to take walks to clear my head, if you must know.” The lie caught in her throat, but she hoped he’d believe it.
Lyon stared at her for a moment, his amber eyes travelling over her flushed cheeks and dishevelled hair.
She could practically see the conclusion forming in his mind.
His smile disappeared as something sharpened behind his eyes.
“Who is he?”
Ellaryn scoffed. “Lyon—”
“Who is he?” he repeated, louder this time.
Before he could draw attention, Ellaryn seized his collar and dragged him behind the gate, pressing a hand over his mouth.
“Shh.” She glanced towards the castle, then back at him, pleading with her eyes.
Lyon ripped her hand away.
“Who. Is. He?” He said, his words slurred, and she could tell he’d spent the night at the tavern.
Ellaryn closed her eyes for a heartbeat. She couldn’t tell him what she was really doing. This was the only way.
“He’s no one,” she said quietly. “You don’t know him.”
Lyon stared at her, something ugly settling behind his eyes.
Then he straightened, his expression hardening.
“So this is why you couldn’t do dinner.”
“Could you please just drop it?” she hissed.
“Fine.” He paused, studying her. “Just tell me one thing. Is he in my regiment?”
Ellaryn said nothing, which only seemed to rile him more.
“Or are you fucking a dweller?” he sneered, jealousy clouding his eyes.
“Again, none of your business.” She repeated before turning away.
“I don’t believe it,” he muttered, shaking his head with conviction. “How could you do this to me?”
“To you?” Ellaryn scoffed. “I’ve done nothing to you.”
“That’s the point—you’ve done nothing.” He looked down, words heavier now, carrying something that resembled regret.
“I’ve been trying to get you to let me in for years.
” His hand reached for her but dropped centimetres before he made contact.
“Years, and now what? Someone comes along and just sweeps you off your feet.” He clicked his fingers. “Just like that.”
“It wasn’t like that—”
“Don’t bullshit me!” He shouted, pointing to the floor. Ellaryn’s breath caught in her throat. “What could he possibly have that I don’t?” He said, quieter now, almost to himself, as if he couldn’t imagine a world where she would choose anyone else over him.
Ellaryn thought long and hard about the words that were to come out of her mouth. They had to be harsh. Harsh enough to get him off her tail. Harsh enough to keep him from wanting her. From following her.
“That’s the thing with you, Lyon. You try too hard. It’s desperate, really.” She breathed, stepping around him, knowing it would get under his skin. “Now leave me to my chambers.”
“We could be great together.” His words were clumsy, but his conviction remained. “Commander and Ruin. No one would stand in our way. We could rule alongside the King.”
“The King doesn’t like to share,” she drawled, avoiding his eyeline, but he was hot on her heels.
“I see you for who you are.” He said, his eyes narrowing on hers. “I see the darkness in you. The cruelty. And I don’t like you despite it; I like you because of it. Because you’re strong and beautiful and cruel all at once.”
His words made the hairs stand up on the back of her neck.
“No one else gets you as I do.” He continued, but she could barely hear him over the thrumming of her heart in her ears.
He saw darkness in her.
And he liked it.
Every terrible thing. Every name written in blood.
He wanted her because of it, not despite it.
He liked Ruin.
He didn’t know Ellaryn.
He didn’t know the girl who carved a tally into her wall every time she was forced to take a life. The girl who cried alone, tormented by memories she couldn’t silence. The girl who woke from nightmares with tears on her cheeks, dreaming of a life beyond these walls. Dreaming of freedom.
Dreaming of Sailen.
Only one person knew that side of her.
Xander.
“Go to bed, Lyon.”
It was all she said before turning and climbing the steps alone.
She was almost certain now that if Lyon ever discovered what she was trying to do—
He would do anything to stop her.