Chapter 33
Arina
“You’re back so soon! What happened?” I run to meet Raiden as he walks through the front gate of my mother’s home. I’m inspecting him for injuries, but none of the carnage covering his leathers seems to belong to him.
He still hasn’t responded, and I can’t help but notice he’s alone. “Where is Eryk?”
“He stayed there. He’s alive, and he has a plan.” He shrugs, and I stand in the front doorway with my hands on my hips.
“I promise, he’s alive, Arina.” His tone is stern, and I relent, wrapping him in a hug the moment he reaches for me.
Baltas finds us there. “There’s still more battles to fight, you two.” We release each other simultaneously at the sound of his voice. “What of the armada? And the trolls?”
Raiden shakes his head, his eyes darkening.
“We were ambushed. The god of the underworld sent a shadow demon. It was like nothing I’d ever seen.
Like a fucking nightmare. It shed shadows that morphed into small demons.
Gideon warded it, and I was able to vanquish it, but …
” He pauses and breathes in through his nose.
His eyes drift up the stairs where Lavinia stands, waiting. “King Gideon is gone.”
My friend covers her mouth with one hand and holds her stomach with the other as if she’s been punched. She shakes her head, and Raiden flies up the stairs to her.
Something dark in me stirs, but I push it away. She’s lost her father, and he’s only comforting her. But the thing settles when Anyx reaches her first, coming out from somewhere upstairs.
He wraps his arms around her, and we all watch in deafening silence as she leans into him. She pulls away, the floorboards creaking beneath her as her weight shifts, and whispers, “I need a moment. Please,” before disappearing into my room.
“Everyone is gathering at the tavern. We should go,” Baltas says, though his lips form a worried line as he rocks on his heels.
Anyx is the only one to speak, “I’m staying here with her. We’ll meet up with you on your way back through.”
The tavern is packed. There’s barely standing room, and we have to push our way to Phil. Raiden hoists himself up onto the wooden surface of the bar. He stomps and claps his hands, yelling to get everyone to quiet down so he can speak.
Members of the Rhiza, soldiers from Lukasia, and villagers alike listen to the full recount of the battle from Raiden. By the end, our entire party is fired up.
“We march on the false queen tonight, and we will not stop until she's dead!” someone yells, and the entire tavern is in a deafening uproar. Bodies slam into each other, all eager to reach the castle.
We move as one unit. We don’t know what we will face when we reach the castle. Maybe not everyone will need to fight. But knowing we have the support of so many behind us is invigorating. They believe in us.
When we reach my house, Lavinia and Anyx are waiting at the gate. Even she looks prepared for a fight, though she doesn’t speak a word to me as we make our way to the castle. Determination is written all over her face.
There isn’t a soul to be found when we reach the field where I’d had my final challenge, the soldiers who should have been guarding it are marching alongside us thanks to Invidia’s temper.
I half expect to find a shadow creature like what Raiden had encountered, and I release the breath that had been sitting deep in my chest.
The drawbridge is pulled shut, however, and I would bet Invidia has holed herself up within the castle somewhere. Hiding like the scum she is.
“We’ll have to scale the walls,” Raiden says, and my heart drops to my ass.
“You can’t just blur me in?” I half-joke, though I’d prefer to never scale the castle walls again in this lifetime.
Raiden considers the request, but then says, “I think we win these people over by digging in the same way they do. Not by making things happen the easy way. Besides, I don’t want to waste any magic.”
I narrow my eyes at him, annoyed that he’s right.
“Fine, let’s go,” I say, joining the group of soldiers who have started throwing grappling hooks.
When each hook is secure, Raiden, Lavinia, Baltas, Phil, Anyx, and I climb first. I find it much easier to pull myself up this time, even without knots tied in the rope. There’s something to be said for even just a small break out from under the Smog.
Climbing the wall fills my mind with flashes of the tournament that I’d rather not see. No matter how hard I try to push them away, the visions persist. I breathe in deep through my nose, trying to find my center, and focusing only on the climb.
I’m halfway up when Raiden’s voice reaches me. “I could watch you climb all day!”
I grip the rope tighter and look down at where he’s leaned back on his rope, staring up at me.
“Stop being a pervert and get your ass up here!” I yell back.
He laughs and climbs until he’s at eye level with me on his rope.
“Race you to the top?” I ask.
“You're on,” he says, and we both begin the final part of our climb. He’s strong and fast, but I’m determined not to lose.
My hands burn by the time I reach the battlement, but I don’t pause for even a second. And when my feet are flat on the ground, I’m swept into strong arms.
“Gods fucking damnit!” I laugh, panting as Raiden spins me in his arms. He sets me down and kisses me. I will never tire of his lips on mine.
“You put up a good fight, little snake,” he whispers into my hair, pressing his lips to the top of my head, and then releasing me.
Nothing could have prepared me for the sight before me.
The courtyard just outside the steps of the castle resembles a graveyard.
Stone statues are spread across the ground.
Most are soldiers. A few appear to be servants.
Some of them are crouched, frozen in a scream.
Others are running, attempting to flee their fate.
“How many people do you think she’s done this to?” Phil asks, and there’s an edge to her voice that's lethal.
“Even if it were only one, it’s too many,” I say.
The castle grounds are eerily empty, and it’s hard to picture a time when this place might have held anything other than great pain.
We cross the footbridge leading to the inner bailey and are once again met with nothing.
“Maybe she’s given up,” someone says, the hope in their words a little too prominent.
“Or that’s what she wants you to think,” I say.
“Either way, we need to split up and find her, and where the fuck is Eryk?” Raiden asks.
As if summoned, Eryk and a group of Lukasian soldiers march into the courtyard. There’s a long, tense moment where everyone has their hands poised to draw weapons. The air is thick, and I think I’ve forgotten how to breathe.
“We’re here to help,” Eryk finally says, and I release my breath.
Raiden looks to me for something … approval, I think. Right. “We’re glad to have you on our side,” I say, a little too enthusiastically. “We are looking for the qu—Invidia. Do you have any idea where she might be?”
“She’s either in her chambers or on the throne in the great hall,” a soldier says from somewhere behind Eryk.
“And if she's not?” I ask.
“Then we’ll just have to smoke her out,” Raiden says, eyes darkened.
The two males barely acknowledge each other, but they agree to split up. Eryk and his men head for Invidia’s chambers, and Raiden and our group move toward the great hall.
My heart throbs painfully in my chest as we reach the doorway. Raiden turns, grabbing my wrist and pulling me close. There’s a question in his eyes, and I know what he’s about to say.
I almost can’t believe he would bring this up again. I rip my hand from his and don’t let him speak. “I’m not letting you do this alone.” My voice is pitchy, and I hate how it sounds.
"I need you. I wouldn’t dare not to have you by my side. I just want you, Lavinia, and Phil to stay back for now. Stay safe, and only come in when there is a clear opening.” He kisses me on the forehead, and heat spreads to my toes at his touch.
He and Lavinia lock eyes, and then he looks at Phil. “Keep out of sight,” he says to the three of us.
“Be careful,” I whisper as he pushes his way to the front of the formation. I reach instinctively for my dagger, double checking it’s still there even though I can feel the weight of it. The smooth stone is cool on my skin, and I press my palm against it.
Raiden
I'VE NEVER BEEN so happy to see the golden-haired fuck as I was just now.
He’ll either flush Invidia out of her chambers or show back up just in time to join us when we find her.
The great hall is dark and empty. Marble stairs line both sides, widening into a swirling curve at the ends. Upon the dais sits one single, empty black throne. From what I can recall, it’s not the same throne my mother sat upon during her reign, nor is it my father’s throne.
The idea that Invidia might have had them destroyed sends a sharp twinge to my heart that I do my best to ignore.
“Where the fuck is she?” The words slip from my mouth.
Baltas answers, “Probably ran for the hills after hearing you took out that demon thing. Congratulations! You’ve got your throne back.”
I seal my lips together, trying not to smile. “If only it worked like that.”
“Let me have my dreams!” Baltas jokes.
I move up the stairs on the left side of the room. Our footsteps echo, and our voices carry. If Invidia is nearby, she’s definitely heard us by now.
The door directly across from me on the upper floor blasts open, and my mate stands, eyes wild, on the other side.
“Arina?” No. She shouldn’t be here yet. Dread hits me like an ice pick through the gut.
She’s sweating and panting. Phillipa and Lavinia aren’t with her. What I find strangest of all is that I can’t feel her. It’s as though she’s blocked me out, stonewalling me. But I can’t understand why.
"She’s coming! You need to leave!" Arina yells across the room at me.