Chapter 39
Thirty-Nine
Autumn’s heart pounded in her ears as she followed Armienti into his room. Leyla remained in the hallway, arms crossed, and eyes rolled in the back of her head. She could only imagine what Leyla was thinking and why Armienti desperately needed to speak with her?—
Alone.
Her hands shook as the door slid closed behind her. She sucked in a breath.
The room was sparse with an obsidian comforter thrown over a circular bed. Armienti’s tattered uniform was tossed in a ball in the corner of the room. Endless stars skittered past the long rectangular windows as they made their way through space.
She glimpsed at her reflection before staring into his crystal blue eyes. “I can’t believe you lied to me. All this time, we could’ve gone home. You almost killed us. You created a real mess, Armienti. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
He picked at his gloves before looking into her eyes. “I know, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say,” his boot brushed against hers and she stepped away, avoiding physical contact. “I really fucked up. What else is new?”
“Dante’s on his way,” she breathed.
Armienti shrugged. “I figured as much.”
He moved close to her, so close her back pressed against the smooth metallic wall. The breath hitched in her throat. He leaned his hand by her head. Apparently, it’d healed. Hopefully that meant her abilities would return as well. The rich scent of peppermint consumed her senses. Her lips parted.
“I want you to come with me.”
She glanced away. “I can’t.”
“Just think about it. No more court and foolish protocol. No more conquering, and no more Grand Supreme. We could run away and be free to live the lives we’ve always dreamed.”
She remained silent as he stared into her eyes. “I spoke to Ronan. He has your father, so you know. We could meet them halfway and Dante would be none the wiser. We’d all be one big happy family. It would be a golden world if only you’d agree.”
Her knees knocked together. She couldn’t stand up straight. Her eyes spilled with warm salty tears. “Wait, are you serious? How is he? Is he okay? I?—”
His lashes grazed his prominent cheekbones. “He’s fine and he’s healthy. He’s desperate to see you.”
She nodded mechanically. Her dad was on his way.
“This is your last chance, Autumn. All you have to do is say yes, and I can handle the rest.”
She hesitated as her mind scrambled a million miles an hour. All she could think about was seeing her dad and Dante again. She rested her palm against the high plane of his cheek before she turned away.
“I’m sorry, I can’t. I love Dante.”
The words trickled from Autumn’s lips like a sucker punch. He stared into her wavering gray eyes. Time had repeated itself. Maeve. The same words poured from her full pink lips when he attempted to win her over as well.
I love Dante.
No matter how hard he tried, he could never measure up to his brother. He was never enough.
Dante always got whatever he wanted. All the girls he fancied, the power, and the riches that should’ve belonged to Armienti . He was always left to pick up the pieces and forced to live off the scraps of his brother’s glory. He was tired of dwelling in the shadows.
Autumn’s rejection was living proof of this, and somehow it hurt more than when Maeve rejected his advances.
A hollow sensation pierced his chest. Full body weakness threatened. His vision blurred for a moment before he blinked away the sensation. Warm fury settled in his bones.
“Are you sure?” he asked again, hoping her answer would change. He knew better, but he couldn’t help himself. He had to try one more time. He had to hear her response to believe it wasn’t some kind of mistake.
Her eyes grew large and glassy. “Yes, I’m sure. But I’m more than happy to speak to him on your behalf. I can ask him to par?—”
“No, that isn’t necessary. Suit yourself,” he moved away from her, folding his arms. His demeanor grew as cold as ice. “If Dante wasn’t in the picture?—”
“Please don’t say that.”
A loud knock came at the door, startling him. His heart collided with his throat. Autumn stared at him, lips parted. His time was up.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK . The knocking continued, the pounding of the hollow steel door rattling him to the core.
He released an aching sigh, readying himself. He pressed a button beside the door, and it glided open swiftly and silently.
A team of twenty or so guards held their sonic blasters straight at him. Leyla watched him from the opposite wall. Her palms covered her mouth as her body trembled with fear.
He quirked a brow. “What’s this about?”
“By order of Emperor Dante II, you’re not to leave this ship,” one of the guards offered. “We’re taking you into our custody.”
He twisted his mouth, smirking. “Who’s going to stop me?”
As the sentry went to fire the sonic blaster, he cupped his hand over the muzzle of the gun. A thick layer of ice sprayed from his palm, consuming the weapon before spreading all over the guard’s body. His eyes bulged beneath his helmet before the ice engulfed him, suffocating him alive, freezing his organs to glass. Armienti kicked him in the gut as hard as he could, and his body shattered against the cold metallic tiles, the guard’s severed head rolling between his legs.
He glanced at Autumn one last time before sprinting through the hallway. He’d never forget the disappointed expression on her face. He’d failed her yet again.
The guards chased after him, firing their weapons but missing often. They were no match for his superior speed. He teleported several times, landing in various places around the ship, finally settling on the docking bay. He discovered an obsidian vessel, ready to be launched into space.
A Zambarian pilot scrubbed the ship clean with a cloth. His long, gloved fingers wiped handprints from the glass.
Armienti ran up to the pilot, catching his breath. “I’m taking this ship. Open the loading bay at once.”
“Who gave you clearance?” the pilot stopped working and asked, folding his arms. His snow-white hair fell over his pointed ears in wisps.
Armienti held a palm before his silver face. The man’s teeth chattered together. “Open the bay or you die. Do you understand?”
The Zambarian nodded slowly, eyes bulging in his skull, and approached the bay switch like he’d asked. Armienti climbed inside the ship, strapping himself into the control seat. His heart raced. He shook his head, haunted by memories of Autumn’s rejection. She despised him.
It was fine though—she didn’t deserve him anyway, he attempted to convince himself. She was only a human.
As the door opened, the ship hovered and slipped through a gathering of Elattion destroyers zooming inside the bay.
He ducked his head down so as not to be seen, catching a glimpse of his brother who he’d never measure up to before disappearing into the vastness of space.