Chapter 21 #2
‘And what assurances do you think you’ll earn at the hands of the empress?’
Behind me, the door opened, whispers were hushed as Jeremiah’s eyes flicked over to the doorway, the rebels around the table instantly straightening. A figure, broad and radiating power, strode next to Jeremiah. I furrowed my brows for a moment, wondering what the flame-haired newcomer was doing.
‘Signing,’ I said, heat spreading across my cheeks praying they could read my lips. ‘I’m sorry. I can’t sign.’
‘I can,’ Vyrus said, his hands moving as he spoke. ‘This, sweetheart, is Raine. Their leader.’
My heart skipped as I turned to Raine and nodded in their direction.
They raised their blurry hand; a sign they wanted me to continue.
My throat dried. This leader. This was the person I had to persuade and if my damned stubborn mouth ran away with itself, I was dooming a whole continent.
A small scuffle erupted outside the door as I tamped down my frustration and spoke, the God signing my words.
‘I stand here not as a queen, or an Asmaran. I don’t even plead for aid as a Drufaeran. I come here as a woman who has spent her life at the mercy of one man or another.’
Raine crossed their arms and inhaled a deep breath.
‘And I’d finally like to be free. A freedom I’ll never taste until we eliminate the empress.
We’ve heard the rumours from Carush. Every one of us in this room has felt the sickness in the pit of their stomach as we learn each atrocity she’s acted out on innocent people.
I believe we should have acted earlier, halted her before she had the opportunity to cross the sea and hand out her depravity on our shores.
The Shuteran Alliance refused to act as it should.
Even though they were united in recognising her barbarity, it was acted out on strangers.
People an ocean away are easy to disregard.
We don’t know their faces; we don’t see their pain. It’s been all too easy to turn away.
‘She’s here now. Here.’
Raine glanced to the door as voices were raised and shook their head. I turned slightly, aware of eyes burning into me, but I had to focus. Something told me I’d only get a single strike of this match and I’d be damned if I’d let them turn away from us.
‘We didn’t act, so now it’s our turn to face her slaughter, her destruction. The last time I saw my husband, he was on the shore of his own beach, a thrall under her command. His own thoughts and actions lost to her whims. That is what you risk. That is why we need to unite.’
I tried to gauge Raine’s expression as they silently regarded me, but swirls marred their features.
‘So you can demand assurances. You can dig your heels in until you secure every reward you’ve undoubtedly earned, but negotiations will cost us time.
And time is not our ally in this war.’ My voice broke.
I gripped the table, swallowed down the tears.
‘So yes, I come here to plead, not only for Asmar, but Drufaera, and Itoras and Ostos, Trespia and every scrap of life on this land. I stand here as one of the blessed. I represent all the mortals whom I love with every beat of my heart.’ If I failed to find the God’s heart, my words could sway our fates.
‘The only assurance I can offer is hope. A single shred of hope that if we unite, Alliance, rebels, Sisters, Brothers, we can defeat her.’
The single lamp on the table flickered. Raine’s features focused for a heartbeat, their expression unreadable, and I lowered my head, trying to shake the burning sensation of eyes boring into me.
‘So that’s it,’ I said, my heart hammering. ‘We’re free of Romero. Once we’re free of her, too, we can shape a new world. A fairer one. But we’ll never get there unless we unite. So, Raine… hope—’ I raised my eyes and glanced around the silent room.
Raine exhaled and stared pointedly at Vyrus. I caught his nod through the swirls of my sight. Raine raised their hands while Vyrus repeated their words.
‘You speak well, Your Highness.’ They tipped their chin to me. ‘As rebels, as people without power, we’ve never had the freedom you crave. For two centuries, we’ve hid in shadows, branded as traitors, simply for wanting a better world.’
I exhaled a slight, shaky breath as I met Raine’s eyes and stood straighter.
‘You’re right too. Without unity every one of us will perish. You have my assurance we’ll join your forces.’
I hadn’t realised how tight my shoulders were till they spoke.
‘I feel we have more chance of changing this world for the better with you than the empress.’
‘Thank you,’ I signed, one of the few signs I knew, as Pablo growled, scratching my leg, and I nudged him away. ‘Thank you.’
They shook their hands. ‘I certainly prefer to deal with you than your husband.’ My breath caught at the thought of him. The way I simply missed him. Raine turned towards the door. ‘Would that be all right with you, Asmar?’
Asmar? My bruised heart pounded. A sob caught in my throat, and slowly, so slowly, I turned to the door.
‘Sorrow?’
He stood there, his expression lost within the shadows.
Flames raged through my blood, stinging my lungs, flaring across my skin.
Matthias took a trembling step forward as I gripped the wolf, too scared to exhale.
Too scared this moment would fade, that this man was nothing more than a trick of my eyes.
In the next heartbeat, I was in his arms. The tears I’d held back coursing down my cheeks as I fell against him, my fingers grasping the remains of his filthy shirt.
Kisses peppered my forehead, but his poor lips were dry, so dry.
I broke away, my hands grasping his stubbled jaw, and tilted his face to take him in.
‘Gods,’ I whispered, my pulse stuttering. Shadows encased his green eyes. His eyelids shuttered as I rubbed my thumb over his chapped lips, narrowing my gaze as I peered at his pallid skin.
‘Matthias?’ His trembling hand lay against my cheek, and I leaned into it. He clutched me tighter, so tight, as though not even a god could tear us asunder.
God?
Pulling myself free, I spun about, scouring the room for Vyrus. The chance that he could remove the Vyrium, save my husband forcing me away from the arms I’d craved for so long.
‘Sorrow?’ My heart tripped as Matthias’s voice cracked when I found the shaky form of the God, his head cocked, and I crossed the room.
‘V… Hawk. I need you. I need—’
A cry broke through my lips as Matthias grasped my arm.
‘Him?’ he cried as Pablo lunged, the God pulling me back as Matthias flew forward, his fist colliding with the God’s shoulder.
‘You need him? Him?’ Matthias roared, spittle flying from his snarling mouth. Raine and a group of black-clad figures dived, grasping him and holding my husband back. I shook my head, my lungs constricting as the man before me raged. ‘Who is he? You’re my wife, Sorrow. Mine!’
Vyrus cleared his throat. ‘And you think I have obsessive issues.’
I met the shattered gaze of the man I needed more than air, my heart stuttering at the creature glaring at me. He lunged, as though he wanted nothing more than to grab me. The rebels wrestled with him, one falling as Matthias lurched again and devastation struck my injured heart.
This wasn’t my husband. This was a demon, possessed by the empress. Pablo placed himself before me, jaws snapping at the puppet wearing Matthias’s skin. He didn’t even balk as the wolf snapped close to the pulse thundering in his neck.
Then Matthias slumped in the rebels’ arms, his head lolling, and I stared wide-eyed as his knees crashed against the floor.
‘I’m out of here,’ Vyrus said as the wolf settled his still-bristling form beneath my quivering fingers and the God sauntered from the room.
I swallowed as Matthias lifted his head, unable to speak. He’d always possessed an impulsive streak, but this? This wasn’t the man I’d married. The boy I’d fallen for. The green eyes I adored widened with horror, his ire spent.
‘I’m… Sorrow. I’m sorry.’ I heaved in a deep breath as his voice broke. ‘It’s… the tattoo… the fucking Vyrium…’
‘I know,’ I whispered.
His mouth worked, his eyes wide, but no words formed.
I couldn’t hear any more. Couldn’t take another poisoned dagger to my heart. I needed the damn God’s help. But would Matthias even allow him to get close? Grasping Pab, I raised my chin and walked away, my blood humming beneath my skin and shutting out the sound of my husband crying my name.