Chapter 32
The realisation
The moment his father’s arrow pierced the ground in front of the King of Light’s feet, Matthias knew his father had chosen his love for himself over the love of his child. If he actually cared for his son, even just a little, he would have turned around and walk away. It didn’t come as a shock, but it hurt all the same.
As the battle erupted into a swirling mass of dark and light chaos, Matthias knew which kingdom he would serve today.
Matthias had never made it a habit to train with the Thorns down in the dens. His father’s talk of wars and battles always rang hollow, so the need for training never crossed his mind. Years of underground fighting and self-defence worked just as well, though.
He had his wits, his keen eye, and his experience at wielding a blade. The bow strapped to his back was his second weapon of choice. It was the only sport growing up that his father insisted he do, and while there were times Matthias would complain about it, he was grateful now that he knew how to use one.
It was torture, tearing his hand from Adalias. The horrendous time in the cave made him see things differently, and he knew, the moment he’d opened his eyes in that hellhole, that he never wanted to leave her side again. It didn’t matter what his father was doing or what he’d done in the past.
It was no longer Matthias’s desire to enact revenge.
The absence of her warm hand still lingered on his as he took to the skies. The prince forced himself not to look back, because he knew if he did, all he’d do was snatch her from the crowd and fly into the sunset.
Only cowards ran from battle.
Lightners and Thorns collided everywhere he glanced, in the air and on the ground. Sweat poured from his brow as he cut through a few Thorns, their faces shocked as they realised who he was and that he was fighting against them. After he’d killed or injured a small group of them, he lunged for the ground, landing near Nikolas, who battled two Thorns at once.
“MATTHIAS!”
The prince spun at the sound of his name. It was faint against the clamour of blade against blade.
“MATTHIAS!”
The plea rang again, and this time, he heard it loud and clear. The crack in her voice, the fear, the desperation that tugged on his heart so hard that he thought he might die. He searched, but there was no way of knowing where she was through the density of bodies.
If they hurt her.The thought tore at him. If she was injured because he’d taken too long to stand up, if she was targeted for loving him, for being his weakness, then he would show them all just how hard the Prince of Darkness would fight for the light.
In that moment of invisible transition, Matthias shifted from his old life into the next. No longer was he going to cower under the hand of his father. No longer was he going to sit idly by and allow Snake or Jes to verbally abuse him. The hand of his father would never again bruise his flesh.
An invisible thread that somehow connected him to Adalia tightened, and his body reacted in a way that was purely out of his control. The heat travelled from his feet and made its way up into the rest of his form.
The uncontrollable shaking came next, and Matthias thought he might rattle his way out of his own skin. Anger and pain erupted from him in the form of a cry, and Matthias threw his arms wide. As soon as the pain stopped, a cool sensation washed over him and he felt different . . . new. With his chest heaving with each breath, this new wave of identity made him feel invincible.
Adalia’s cry rang through his ears, and Matthias let out an animalistic growl as he charged through the sea of people, knocking them over in his rage.
Pushing off the ground, the prince shot into the sky. As he did, his wings unfurled and expanded, turning the most iridescent, electric-blue. So vivid that it even caught himself off guard.
Shaking off the surprise, he searched the ground—his eyes leapt to and fro. He spotted her on the other side of The Grey, dragged along by his father’s whore.
Jes had gone too far. Today, True Death would meet her.
The wind roared against his wings like thunder, and every beat and thrust brought him closer and closer to the woman who called his name like her life depended on it. As he reached Adalia, he speared towards the ground, pulling himself up just as he landed. The impact of his landing sent ripples of power through the earth.
He stood tall, his voice a primal growl as he confronted Jes. “How dare you touch what is mine.”
Matthias didn’t own Adalia, but he knew she belonged to him just as much as he belonged to her.
“Sweet boy . . . if I can’t have you . . . no one can,” Jes sneered as she pulled Adalia closer against her chest, her pale hand covering Adalia’s muffled cries.
“Let her go,” the prince snarled as he moved towards them.
Before he could take his vengeance, a searing agony struck him from behind. He stumbled, a cry of pain torn from his mouth as his world spun and shifted. Blood instantly stained his lips as he sank to his knees, the ground a cold and unforgiving support . . . Adalia screamed again, thrashing against her opponent.
Snake hissed. “I see you live . . . how is it so? I thought your little trip to the cave would keep you quiet forever. I was sorely mistaken. Nevermind, I’m still going to take what I want—and what I want is that delicious snack of flesh right there.”
The sickening voice touched his ringing ears as the blade twisted in his back. Matthias heard bones crack as the world around him spun. He gasped for breath as his heart struggled to function.
The blade receded as Snake laughed aloud. The image of Adalia’s widened eyes as she fought against Jes would forever be etched into his mind.
This isn’t how he wanted to remember her, though. This isn’t how she would remember him.
From deep inside his soul, Matthias gathered every ounce of strength he had left and climbed to his feet. Violent pain gripped the muscles in his chest.
Turning, he faced the advisor he despised.
Snake surged forward, gravel flinging in all directions. His wings flared wide, matching the fury in his eyes and the wild cry on his lips.
The prince would not go down defeated.
With lightning speed, Matthias pulled a blade from his hip and threw his arm wide in an arc. It aimed true.
Gurgling sounds bubbled forth from Snake’s lips. He was choking on his own spit. Blood seeping from the slit across his throat.
The advisor clutched his hands to his neck, red liquid leaking through his fingers as he dropped to his knees.
“I told you not to touch her,” Matthias murmured.
Snake looked at him, his eyes dimming before he slumped to the side. Dead.
Whipping his head around to face his next victim. Matthias’s vision blurred as Jes shoved Adalia forward. She took one look at him before fleeing the scene.
With ears still ringing and warmth trickling from the hole in his chest, Matthias stumbled forward, reaching for Adalia. Blood coated his tongue as he struggled to move.
“I’m sorry,” he breathed, the words a testament to the depth of his regret. In that moment, he bore the weight of his choices, and the burden of his love for her was one he would gratefully bear.
She was safe now.
Dropping to his knees—his arms resting at his side, wings grazing the ground. Matthias gently smiled at the woman who had shown him love and then closed his eyes.
Amidst the turmoil of battle, her scream rang out, a haunting melody that wrapped around his senses. It was the last thing he heard as his strength faded, his body no longer able to defy the wounds that had been inflicted upon it. With a final, futile surge of determination, he fell forwards, the earth rising to meet him as the darkness swept in.