Chapter 209: CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND NINE

ALARIC'S POV

I was stronger than I'd felt in a while but with that came a feeling of trepidation.

My father had been able to get to me without even batting an eyelid, like I was little all over again and he was throwing me into traps, playing games with my life, literally.

I drove towards the getaway spot I'd used some years back when here was my home. Memories of how I'd survived flashed through my mind. If I'd been that weak and bloodied before Aria came into my life, it would be a whole week of feeding before I'd be able to walk. I still remember hospitalizing my former personal assistant before her because I'd expanded too much energy, and she was the closest energy supply.

I will never not feel guilty that she was here, making my existence so much better, and yet, I'm not able to give her a perfect life. What was the point of all the power my being was capable of when my soulmate was constantly in danger?

I drove to the Tarmac and got her out while some of my demons helped Octavio up into the jet, keeping him warm so the Elixir could work faster.

“To Romania?” Max asked as he got ready to fly us out.

“Yes. Wake me up if you need anything,” I told him before heading back to the chair that turned into a bed for her.

There was enough space for three of us so I rolled her over to my arms and got us in a comfortable position.

I wanted to pour energy into her but I remembered how she wasn't able to receive it before. Although things should be different now that she was more like us I didn't want to take chances.

I poured some of the elixir into her mouth and made sure she swallowed it before I took a deep breath, relaxed into a light nap, and flew off, heading home finally.

When we landed, I could tell my home had been compromised even before I got there; something was off in the air, and the protection I'd spent so much energy on had been compromised.

So I brought out my phone, seeking my last resort for safety for Aria, the Fallen.

I called Kora the moment we got into a car.

“Oh thank goodness you're alive!” She exclaimed immediately after she picked up the call.

“You sound like I'm not immortal anymore.”

“Well considering you've gone and linked your human form to a human who's not willing to come down to hell for you, don't blame me for being worried,” she replied, visibly upset.

I didn't have the time to get into an argument with her. She's going to understand that none of this was Aria's fault at some point, but that was not today, and I didn't want to force it.

“The house has been compromised. Get me a location for the Fallen, I need her somewhere safe,” I instructed her, ignoring her earlier jab.

“And what about you? Who's gonna protect you?”

“You don't have to worry about that. Just send me the GPS.”

“Fine! But I'm sending you help. I can't fight father directly so you're going to have to be sure you know what you're doing.”

“I would never ask you to do that, Kora. I'm not happy any of this is happening and I've decided to take whatever happens in stride. Don't join me in making sacrifices that don't affect you in any positive way, alright?”

“If I was more human like you, I'll never think twice about it,” she mused, her tone sad.

I sighed, not knowing how to deal with an emotional Kora.

She was always in high spirits, or angry. This version confused me, and I realized spending so much time with me was giving her what humans call a conscience.

“You're not allowed anywhere near all of this, okay? So now you're not doing anything wrong because I'm commanding you to stay away, okay?”

“Thanks, little brother, that I can't protect because I'm a wimp,” she replied, her voice filled with emotion even she couldn't comprehend.

If Octavio was in better spirits, I would have sent him to her but the demon was barely able to sit by himself without wincing.

I cut the call after reminding her why I'd called and in a few seconds, it got into my phone.

“Max, reroute,” I told my demon driver who promptly followed the map's directions.

I know my father had set up a bigger trap for me in my house, and I was going to walk into it so we could end all of this once and for all, but I couldn't bring Aria within arm's distance of that.

In two hours, we were at the Fallen Angels stronghold, which wasn't really a stronghold, considering I was able to walk into it.

I looked around to see the shock on their faces, which were battling with their weakness in it.

So much had happened since I got her from them but one thing I was sure of was that they'd already regretted their actions enough to know not to mess with Aria.

And if they don't, well, she could freeze them all to death, I don't mind that option at all.

I carried her in my arms, her energy was higher now, but she was sleeping, and I didn't want her to be disturbed or made to start helping them right away, so I didn't wake her up.

When I walked past the third lobby, their overly opulent style of architecture pissing me off, I finally saw a familiar face.

“Alaric!” She exclaimed with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, “When I heard you were in here, I thought it was a prank. And with Aria too?”

“What is your name again? I never remember with all of your lies and deception which you stick to at the end of the day,” I cut her off, making her face fall.

“Kiara and I hope we haven't offended you, you never kept your end of the bargain,” she replied, referring to them helping Octavio live.

I'm sure they used the last of their energy to ensure I helped them out and everything else happened as a result.

“I'm actually here for that. Get her somewhere comfortable and we can discuss the terms.”

“But –”

“Anything else and I'll walk out of that door with her. You can only come to hell when dead so if you don't want to fight me there, get on with it!” I snapped, making them run around to prepare a room for her.

I ensured it was suitable for her before I got out my book.

It has been years since I swore any being to a contract and now that I was using it again, it was more powerful than ever.

“Drop your blood at that edge,” I instructed her, not giving her a chance to even read it.

Desperate, she quickly does as she is told and when I stood up to leave, I could see the looks of relief across the entire Fallen around the large building.

They had finally seen hope and were ready to start devouring Aria right away.

But the contract won't let them do that, literally.

They are to ensure she's taken care of and will only release her essence if she feels like it and there's a limit on it. Although they will be able to take from her now to fortify the building so no one would be able to attack them in my absence.

Finally done with that part of the day, I stepped back into the car, watching the sun rise as I prepared to go face my father.

Although I couldn't decide if I was going to for a battle with him or to go receive a punishment for disobedience.

Something told me he wouldn't let me have much of a choice but to defend myself; I'd ruined his plans, and these were quite important ones.