Chapter Twenty-Nine
Aria
Aria
I stood in the shadows, my eyes skimming over the towering, foreboding walls of the citadel. We’d cemented the plan and set out to execute it, praying we didn’t end up executed ourselves for daring to trespass on their home field. We’d stopped along the way at various grids, tossing corpses aside, shattering Hecate’s connection to them. She wouldn’t dare allow anyone else to mend the grids, not when it would give up her secrets.
Hecate’s grid was an extension of herself. It contained her weaknesses and strengths that she’d genetically designed to strengthen her further, making the details one of her closely-guarded secrets. Wiping out one would hurt her immensely, leaving her weakened as well. I’d counted on Hecate physically feeling the grids she’d fueled with the lifeless witches, which then would force her to inspect them.
I’d left her too weakened to manage a body jump, which meant she wouldn’t leave the citadel. As I’d told Brander, you didn’t allow your most valuable piece to leave the protection of an impenetrable fortress. You sent your strongest, which meant she’d send Knox. He was also one of the most powerful, feral beasts in the Nine Realms, which, if you had the option to wield against another, you did so.
“If it comes down to you or him, he’s dead,” Zyion hissed. “I didn’t sacrifice my future to watch you throw it away for him. You are the future of the realms. Without you, our sacrifices were all in vain.”
“You hold the course. I’ll hold the light.” I pivoted and met his hard gaze. “I’d rather burn the Realms to ashes and leave her nothing but the remnants of the land she coveted so much.” Swallowing the pain, I exhaled a calming breath. “I have a reason to live. One that I promise you is going to force me to do everything in my power to ensure that I stay alive.”
Zyion’s face softened before he dropped his head forward. “You are no longer alone, Aria. If need be, I will stand beside you as you raise them. Not as your consort or your king, but as your friend.” Zyion’s words made my eyes watery, which wasn’t what I needed right now. I needed to be composed, or I’d end up fucking everything up and losing Knox.
“There he is,” I murmured, watching Knox and Hecate stroll to the edge of the gates.
Hecate waited with hopeful eyes, which caused my stomach to churn. Knox stopped, lifting lifeless eyes. His movements were jerky as he went back to her and leaned over, his mouth waiting for something. She leaned closer to him, kissing his lips—that didn’t kiss back. A line formed in the middle of my eyebrows. The entire time she lathered his mouth with her tongue, Knox didn’t reciprocate the kiss at all. Narrowing my eyes, I heard my jaw pop from straining, as he stood like a zombie waiting to be released.
“Did you see that?”
“That was peculiar. He didn’t return the kiss,” Zyion uttered. “Obviously, she didn’t get all of him.” Zyion’s words sent a wealth of hope slicing through me. It at least confirmed I hadn’t merely seen what I’d wanted to during their exchange.
The longer I watched, the more uncomfortable it became. Hecate didn’t seem to care that he wasn’t returning her forced affection. A tight ball built in my abdomen, spreading out as hatred simmered in my soul. My fingers curled against my palms, forming tight fists at my sides.
“She doesn’t seem to care that he’s merely . . . there. He’s a mindless killing machine that she sends out to do her dirty work. That fucking bitch doesn’t understand the storm in his vibrantly-colored eyes is the most beautiful thing to stare into as fury coils in his belly. Knox is the type of tree that stands tall within a forest as the wildfires burn everything around it.” I wanted to scream and send down fireballs and lightning bolts, until everything around and inside the citadel died in anguish. To watch all of them burn until their flesh melted off of their face, then limbs, until their corpses fell lifelessly into the sludge of their rottenness. The murderous emotion forced a jolt of fear at how easily I’d do something for the man I loved.
“I think I now understand what they meant. We may survive this war, but will we be able to live with the trauma we inflict during it?” It felt as if someone had punched me in the gut and then drove me to the ground, continuing to assault me. A shuddered breath pushed from my lungs, compelling me to slam the door on my emotions, staring at the man I loved.
Zyion’s head tilted, then turned as his eyes lingered on the sight of my salty tears trickling down my cheeks. “The thing about war is this: it will absolutely change you. How it changes you, though? Well, that is something only you can decide, Aria.” Pushing the back of my hand against my lips, I fought to suck in fresh air. “If you do not wish to become a monster, then why are you running toward the fight? If I ever confided what I’ve done in the queen’s name, you’d never look at me the same. Scylla might’ve removed the shackles, but her promise of freedom tastes like bitterness and ashes.”
Forcing myself to return my gaze to Knox, I watched as he strolled out of the gate, turned, raised his hand, then swiftly brought it down. The gates lowered, sealing the only entrance to the citadel closed, while also trapping Hecate inside the wrought-iron bars. My teeth clenched as Knox turned, revealing black, lifeless eyes.
“You fear becoming a monster, but here’s the truth. You need to become a monster in order to face one. There’s no middle, it’s everything or nothing. But being a monster? It’s not who you are. It’s what you eventually become when those around you continually push you away from what you desire most. I didn’t give up everything I’ve ever wanted for some dainty, little spitfire. Descensus Averno Facilis Est.”
“The descent into hell is easy?”
“As is always so, falling is the easy part. People never talk about the descent, other than to expose weaknesses. That’s why when you crawl your way back from hell, you bring all of the demons back with you. You make them yours and then send them out to show them how you rose from the fall. Ancheronta movebo.”
“I shall release hell.” I wiped the tears with the back of my hand, staring as Hecate studied Knox’s posture as he moved toward the mounts. “He’s not like others, Zyion.”
“I not only know exactly how he fights, but also how powerful Knox Karnavious is in mind, body and skill. If I didn’t think he was such a bastard, I’d tell you that you chose well when you picked him for a mate. He’s worthy of such a resilient woman, admittedly. Except, I absolutely know he’s a cruel bastard.” Bitterness seeped through his words.
“Stay far ahead of him, no matter what you hear. If he turns back or gets a hold of me, you are not to kill him. Wound him if you must, but we all walk away from this alive. I’ll accept no less.”
“Spoken like a true queen,” he acknowledged with pride.
“He’ll head north.”
Zyion examined the tree beside us that revealed the gusting wind disturbing its leaves. Facing forward once more, his head angled, scrutinizing Knox, who stood by a sizeable steed.
“Please elaborate on why you assume he’ll head north.”