Chapter 97 Change

Chapter 97 Change
Chapter 97: Asher

At least an entire week had passed since the war with Willow and her shadows.

Life had sort of returned to normal for everyone else… except mine.

Albert took care of burying our dead. Greg took the Black family’s soldiers back to do the same to their dead as well.

But Axel couldn’t travel due to his injuries. He and the rest of the royal family had to stay behind. And that meant, I had to watch from the corners how Scarlett readjusted to her new life.

She was still hurt and broken from the loss of her aunt. And seemed mostly distant and angry about the whole thing.

I watched how she watched the crystal she had taken from Willow’s lair. And I could only pray it gave her the comfort she desperately sought.

At least knowing that she was dealing with her grief— the same grief that I had caused, made it easier for me to make peace with myself.

To make peace with my life.

I had told myself that my life was worthless the moment I realized how much I had ruined hers. No matter how much I tried to make up for it, we could never recuperate the years we had lost.

But I could only hope that she found peace. And sustained it somehow. That was the assurance I needed before I took the next step in my journey.

My eyes settled on the silver blade on my bedside table as these thoughts crossed my mind. Deep down, I knew that the time was drawing near.

I just needed that one final push.

I was lost in my thoughts, locked up in my office when I heard the progressive excitement and jubilation outside.

As much as it didn’t bother me, I felt a shift within me. A push that I couldn’t just ignore.

Like it was something very important that I couldn’t miss…

I was on the verge of leaving my seat when the sharp urgent knock came to my door.

“Asher!” Albert called and I frowned.

I slowly lifted myself from my seat with less enthusiasm like before. My insides stirred erect with worry.

Because whatever could make Albert come all the way to me even when I said I didn’t want any disturbance and that he could take every decision— was definitely something huge.

With a deep breath, I unlocked the door and slowly pulled it open. “Yes?”

His eyes lit up. “They have found the last son of Talon Black!”

The frown on my face deepened as I stared at him deeper like I couldn’t understand the language he just spoke.

The noise I had heard became even louder as I realized they were in the hall just below my wing.

“Yes, Scarlett just found her missing brother, Blade Black!” He repeated with a large smile on his face, bringing my attention back to him.

My heart flipped as this one information clicked on something deep inside of me…

The sign I had been waiting for.

Instantly a surge of courage pumped through my veins and I pushed past him and started heading down.

“Is the boy here?” I asked as Albert’s excited boots followed loudly behind me.

“Yes, Asher and that’s the part you won’t even believe!”

I stole a glance at him in confusion, almost risking a step as the rumble in my heart grew stronger.

“Who is it?”

Albert’s excitement seemed to explode as he clapped his hands. “It’s none other than our very own Bee of course! He is Blade Black!”

For some reason, my mind just went numb and I was barely focused on getting there sooner to see things for myself.

And when I got there, my legs froze.

Not at the fact that Albert was actually right. Not the tearful smile on the boy’s face. Not the relief and happiness on Axel’s face…

No, it wasn’t all of that. Because Bee’s attachment with Scarlett wasn’t ordinary right from the start…

The boy constantly placed his life before hers. He was literally ready to die for her happiness…

And now that I thought about it, that subtle resemblance had always been there.

Plus, the moment I learned that he was brought up by Fiona from the harem houses, I should have known.

But truly, my emotional pause wasn’t for all of this…

It was for Scarlett. It was for the smile of excitement I never thought I could see on her face…

It was the hope that lit her eyes and gave it life again. Almost like the life she thought was over… or what she thought she had lost, was finally back…

And that was the reason the pain in my chest returned. Because this was the sign.

This was what I was waiting for.

My last evidence that she was going to be just fine without evil people like me in her life.

So as even Albert joined the jubilation, I quietly slipped to the side and watched as her eyes lit up like dawn breaking after the darkest storm.

Her tears of pain had turned to those of joy as she clung to the boy, crying into his chest.

Deep down, my heart ached again. I should have been happy for her. But instead, her happiness broke me further.

Because that moment solidified what I had been denying.

Her love… her joy… her healing… I had no place in it.

I was barely existing in her sight. To her, I was just a random guy who had helped annihilate Willow.

Not her mate. Not the man who loved her.

And maybe I should have been grateful she didn’t even remember me.

Because all she would have seen looking at me now would have been the monster who stole everything from her.

The evil mate who betrayed her family.

Tears filled my eyes as all of the emotions played inside of me. To onlookers, I was probably just happy… maybe even too happy.

None of them could tell how broken I was.

But in the end, I made peace with it. This was for the best.

Scarlett was complete now and that was all that mattered.

So with a heavy bleeding heart, I found the courage to leave without anyone noticing. I slipped out of the hall and started the journey to my room.

Surely no one was even going to miss me… except me.

I could hear the thunderbolts going off as what was left of my heart shattered even further as I walked.

My boots echoed hard against the tiled floors as I climbed back the stairs to my room.

I could literally feel my life already leaving my body the further I walked from her…

And goddess, it was hard.

But I deserved it. I deserved this pain.

Because how could I look at a beautiful woman like Scarlett and just let her go? How could I hurt her the way I did?

And all for what— revenge for lands her brother was already happily signing off to me…

How could I be so stupid?

I felt my throat clung up with emotions and as I finally got to my room, I pushed the door closed. And then, I screamed.

“Ahh!” I cried out, hitting the door with my fists.

So this was how it felt to lose everything? This was what it truly felt to be empty and alone?

Why couldn’t I have been smarter, more loving or just believe in the goddess more?

“Why?” I groaned, my hands trembling as the pain shot through me.

Everything weighed down on me at that point and my legs could no longer carry me. So I dropped to my knees.

And I let my tears truly fall.

I let my memories bring back the good old days. The days she smiled at me. The days I had her in my arms…

The days that I actually had it all…

And through my tears, I convinced myself that I did the right thing. I had sacrificed our bond for her happiness. For her to breathe another air of freedom.

And now, it was time for me to leave this world. It was time for me to cleanse out myself as the weed that I was…

Trembling with determination, my eyes fell on the silver blade I had and I swallowed.

Slowly, I leaned forward and picked it up. I closed my fist around the hilt, feeling the weight as a shiver ran down my spine.

‘I love you Asher,’ her passionate whispers echoed in my head as I brought the blade closer.

I set the tip over my heart and let out a shaky breath as I closed my eyes, seeing her smile.

“Scarlett,” her name broke in my throat as my memories of her burned stronger.

I saw her every smile… every tear…the way she said my name like it was a promise and a prayer all at once…

The way she had hoped for me to change…

‘I believe in us, Asher…’ she had whispered.

Yet, I had destroyed all of that.

“I’m sorry,” I whimpered again, my voice shaking. “I should have protected what we had. I should have loved you better...”

The blade tilted in my hands. My palms tightened around the hilt as I took one final long breath.

“I hope you find love again, my Scarlett…” I whispered.

And then, I pushed the blade.