Chapter 27
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
MAX
Ispend the next two days in Kaden’s arms, pretending the outside world doesn’t exist, that we met under different circumstances, that we are just two individuals finding themselves in love.
But alas, it doesn’t last and he leaves before daybreak on the third day to make the dangerous trek into Griffin’s territory.
My heart feels his absence immediately. The claim might twine our lives together, but it’s the Heartbond—my other half—that’s missing from my soul now and it aches, fiercely.
We were always meant to be, it seems.
Oslo collects me, the Hadeon on my heels. He’s spent his time hunting the grounds, eating birds and other wildlife. Whenever I feel lost, he’s there, a steady presence in the dark.
I’m not sure why he was given to me, but I take it as a sign that the Gods are with me. I’ll need it.
Like our previous mediations, he leads me to the garden, gesturing for me to sit on the hot sand. Dressed in training leathers, I cross my legs and wait for his instructions.
Before it was imaging myself opening a door on a glass lid. Another time, pouring from a chalice into the abyss. I wonder what today will be and how I will fail this time.
“Let me tell you a story, my dear,” he begins kindly, sitting before me. He may be dressed as a general, but he looks relaxed as the dry air blows the red haze overhead. “One I think you might find interesting. Perhaps even relate to it.”
I stay silent but raise a brow. A story? No meditation?
It’s odd, but really, the general is… unusual. He doesn’t yell, keeps his words soft, never puts me on edge. If not for the many metals on his uniform, I would think him a simple librarian than a man who has fought in hard battles.
“Once, there was a powerful Fairy, beautiful but wicked, who fell in love with another. This Fairy was strong and brave, but he was promised to another. Broken hearted, she cursed him, turned him into a mindless monster, who in a fit, killed his true love.”
A hand falls to my lips, and my eyes widen in shock. Fairies were the ancestors of Fae. They had wings and could fly, but their children, the Fae could not. There were limited myths surrounding them.
“Do I have your attention now?” I nod, and he continues, “That’s not where the story ends, though, because as the Evil Fairy was casting her curse, something that took many months to make, the male Fairy, impregnated his love. And she bore him a child before she was killed.
“That child grew and when they came of age, started showing signs of the monster awakening within them.” Realization settles over my shoulder like an old cloak.
“This is the story of how the royal family was cursed, isn’t it?” I ask, mouth dry. “Everyone born was cursed.”
“Only the firstborn.” He holds up one finger.
“My family learned to always have two children by the same couple. The first is for the curse, the second is for the throne. When I gained control over my beast, harnessing him into chains so I could remain me, my father had already given the throne to Zelos. I was thought to be expandable.” He shrugs, sword adjusting on his hip.
He doesn’t seem bothered by the casual dismissal of his birth.
“Instead, I became the general and a testament to what proper training could do for others with the same affliction.”
Licking my lips, I glance around the gardens, my protector in the shade of the castle walls. “Like Kaden?”
“Zelos trained Fee from an early age to take the throne. Lessons, meetings, obstacles. It was customary for the second born to be the next heir. He had little hope for Kaden even though I learned to handle the curse and petitioned to teach him. Unfortunately, there has never been much love between them.”
“But you were able to train him. Taught him to control the beast.”
He nods, smiling softly. “I did. It took many years, but he was a quick study. He learned it faster than I did. He was so fast indeed, that Zelos did not have time to name Fee as his successor—something that happens on a Fae’s one-hundredth birthday.
So Kaden, by birthright, was given that honor.
He had to earn it—” Oslo looks away, clearing his throat.
“But he prevailed. It’s how we find ourselves here, today. ”
Tilting my head, I regard the general and frown. “Alright. And what does this have to do with me?”
“It has to do with you and with your prophecy, actually.” Grabbing a blue parrot tulip, he lays the petals out, fanning against the red sand. The purple it creates is beautiful but morbid. “The correct prophecy translates to:
‘The cursed beast will meet its destruction,
not from flames or ice, nor war or pestilence,
but at the hands of the mightiest weapon of them all: love.’”
Tapping my chin, I frown. “If that’s the correct prophecy, then what did the Mad Witch tell me?”
Oslo smiles as if I’ve uncovered a deep, dark secret. “There are two parts, niece. The Mad Witch was never blessed with the first passage, lost to time and ancient languages. The second verse goes:
‘The darkness of the world will awaken, fog vanishing in the night,
And magic shall flourish once again.
For she who is born of life and death, will wield them both
And prevail in the end.’”
“Respectfully, Oslo, none of this makes sense.” I scan the grounds once more, convinced someone is always listening.
The royal siblings have clearly worn off on me.
“I can’t control my magic. I have no idea what a child of life or death means.
And what is this about love being the greatest weapon? It could be another person.”
“I’m afraid, niece, all of it revolves around you and the heir.” Taking both of my hands into his calloused ones, he stares into my eyes, pleading with me to understand. “I believe you alone can end the curse that plagues our line, starting with Kaden.”
My heart pangs, rattling my ribs as my brow sweats. “I don’t understand—”
“Do you love my nephew, Max? Truly love him?”
The question catches me off guard. Do I love him? In the forest, alone, surrounded by monsters, it was easy to fall for the mask he showed me. That Fae was patient and kind. But that wasn’t truly him.
Kaden is harsh, possessive, and haunted. He sacrifices himself for others and yet would condemn everyone for his own goals.
Could I love that male?
Rolling my shoulders, I refuse to answer. Because inside my soul, I know I already do.
And what does that say about me, loving a male who did such despicable things so easily?
Oslo smiles softly, the years of his life showing on his face.
“If you don’t already, you will one day.
And you must understand, Max, Kaden was not raise with love and hope, but pain and fear.
He shows love differently than someone else who was raised in a different environment.
Whereas one might send flowers, Kaden would soon rather slay your enemy. That is how he shows his affection.”
Don’t I know it. My mind flashes to the dead lord on my doorstep in Griffin’s court—who dared to try to touch me without my consent.
“He doesn’t know that his curse can be broken, does he?” If he did, would he mention it?
The possibility that he could be more than the monster in the night thrills me. He could thrive, be more than what the world demands of him. He could just be a prince. My mate.
Like he gave to me. I’m not just the monster children are afraid of—I’m a future queen.
Oslo stands, dusting off his uniform. “My dear, it has always been a curse the royal family dealt with. Until recently, those inflicted were forced into the Eternal Night Forest as a sort of prison. Kaden and myself are the only ones to control the beast. I never wanted to get his hopes up, in case my old mind is wrong.”
He pulls me to my feet and red sand covers my body like crystalized jewels. “So, you’ve only told me. Why?”
“I wanted you to have a choice in this. If you try to break the curse, I cannot promise other dangers will not come. If you choose to keep the curse intact, I cannot promise you will be safe. There are too many factors. But you’ve had your choice taken away too much.
I thought it was time for you to decide something, for once. ”
I have the choice—the power to end Kaden’s curse. That’s if everything he said is right. The weight of responsibility is heavy on my shoulders.
“If I don’t decide to help, will you tell Zelos about my magic?” My voice shakes and I curl my fingers to hide the forming blush. I still can’t hear any blood, but it’s there, stretching for more.
“I am no friend to Zelos, my dear. I would never give the keeper of my nephew’s heart to my enemy.” His amber eyes look over my shoulder, smirking. “But I see you are due for another training with my other favorite niece. I shall leave you to it.”
Before I can ask more questions, the general turns away, Fee calling for me across the yard.
Mind whirling, I look back, as she waves to me to the entrance, one of the Hadeon’s head glaring at her. When I get closer, I hear her curse the monster. “Mangey mutt.”
She glares at me, temper short. “Move it. We don’t have much time.”
I don’t speak again until the training room, mind spinning to catch up. I could save Kaden—rid him of a curse that almost killed me in the Eternal Night Forest. Give him back peace when he’s known none for decades.
That’s if I can break it. If I’m the one in the prophecy.
Fee grabs a long sword, sliding it across the floor to me. She’s on edge, body tight, brow furrowed.
“He’ll be alright.” I soothe, guessing it’s about Kaden. In the months now we’ve all been stuck together, the siblings are close, remaining beside each other to fight all battle together. Without being there for her brother, does Fee feel lost?