Queen of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms, #5)(77)
“I don’t intend to just bring a war against Hecate,” I admitted, and Knox’s brothers snorted. Esme cleared her throat, as if she feared I’d forgotten who I was. Eva chuckled coldly, and Zyion? He was smiling, and something I’d never seen simmered in his eyes. “I'm going to bring her a massacre. I intend to slaughter whatever comes between my wrath and the vicious, homicidal goddess who thought she could take from those who could not fight back. I’m about to be the consequences of her actions.”
“One day, you’ll finish reaching for your birthright and take your rightful place on the Throne of the Kingdom of Fire.”
“I need no crown or throne. The first would only give her a location to terrorize, while the latter would give her archers something to aim their arrows at,” I stated, as I felt magic growing within the chamber.
“You may not want a throne, but you were born to sit upon it. If you’ll agree to it, I’d like to crown you before you leave this room, granddaughter. You were a princess when you came here, but you’ll be a queen when you leave.” At my subtle nod, she turned her stare toward the men, then dragged it back to where I stood. “Zyion, I’ll need you to show me where I can bathe the princess and prepare her for her ascension. I cannot bless my granddaughter within your chamber,” she stated, looking around it with disdain tugging at her lips.
“Unfortunately, it will have to suffice. There’s no grotto we can easily access, nor is there a bathing chamber. The only thing I can offer you here are my chambers, the ointment your mother anointed you with, and a tub for the princess to be cleansed of her sins in. You may use them, Scylla. But know this: once you’ve crowned Aria, and she’s seated on the throne the land offers her, you will leave and never return when I am present. I will continue to protect her, but I will not suffer your company for a moment longer.”
“I…” Scylla’s words cut off as Zyion strode from the chamber without a backward glance. “If I’d told him, I feared he would wish to follow her into the afterlife. I couldn’t lose both of them.”
“You broke him, your Majesty,” Eva muttered. “The entire kingdom has condemned him, slurred his name behind his back, and even those brave enough, to his face. Zyion the Vicious might as well have gone with you to the afterlife.” Eva strolled from the chamber, leaving an awkward silence in her wake.
“Should I go, too?” Esme asked, which caused both myself and Scylla to turn toward her. “If you could just forget I’m here, that would be fine with me.” I felt a smile playing on my lips at Esme’s sudden interest in the ceiling.
“I’ll go,” Scylla announced. “It would seem I am no longer needed. Zyion can anoint you and attend to your ascension. I need not burden him with my presence. After all, he will be the one at your side now. I didn’t mean to hurt him. Unfortunately, when the Fates choose a piece to move on the board they play upon, you can either do as they bid, or you suffer eternity at their hands. I knew when I began moving pieces at their behest, I’d lose more than myself along the way.”
“Yeah.” I wasn’t certain what to say to her. Scylla’s sacrifices caused both her and Zyion pain that couldn’t be eased. She’d done it to save the world, even though it had cost more than she could bear. “It couldn’t have been easy.”
“Thank you for trying to ease my pain.” Stepping closer to me, she pressed her forehead against mine. “Remember this, my darling. Just because you’re fighting against a tyrannical evil, it doesn’t mean you’re entirely good. There’s a thin line you cannot cross because there is no way back from it. That line is there to remind you of who you are, but more importantly, it will define who you are to become as queen.” In silence, I watched her fading away to nothing more than a shimmer, before vanishing.
“Where is Scylla?” Zyion entered the room, staring at me as the golden glow reflected in his turquoise stare.
“Gone,” I answered, noting the flinch of pain he released. “She said you could anoint me in oil since you’d be beside me now. I don’t know how to ease the pain of learning about her betrayal, Zyion. There’s really nothing that would remove that type of deeply sated pain either. But, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry for what it cost you to create me.” Unshed tears choked my words, but the angry glare simmering from him was enough to force them back.
“You’re a queen, Aria. Queens do not weep for slaves, or knights.” He used this thumb to wipe away the tear trailing down my cheek.
“Queens are not told what they can and cannot do, Zyion. I can cry if I want to cry, asshole.”
“You need not apologize for something you had no part in. I reacted badly, and for that, I am sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for your grief. There’s no time limit on how long one can feel endless agony from loss. Congratulations, Zyion. You’re human.” His eyebrow lifted as if he didn’t fully agree with the assessment. A smirk lifted my lips as I rolled my eyes. “Part human, then?” Just then, a loud rattle echoed throughout the exterior of the room.
“Times up, they’ve found us. Let’s go, Your Majesty.” Zyion jerked me toward him and then lifted his hand, allowing me to see the glittering gold oil sparkling on his thumb. “Do you promise to always put the needs of your people before your own? Nod, Aria.”