50. Blood and Bonds.

50. Blood and Bonds.

~Ciro Thalos Drevyn~

The forest still burned around us despite the rain—one of the many qualities of dragon flame. Tall trees had been reduced to nothing but embers glowing in the charred wreckage, filling the air with the acrid stench of smoke.

My vise-like grip around Fenrick's throat didn't loosen an inch, even as I slammed his body against a burnt tree, his face battered and bleeding from my claws.

My entire body vibrated with anger as my fist smashed against his face, the impact leaving a dent in the tree. He gasped, blood trickling from his mouth, but his eyes—those defiant, hateful eyes—burned with the same anger that always led him to defy me.

"You can't take her away from me!" I roared, my voice a guttural snarl, half-man, half-wolf, the markings on my skin burned bright as my claws dug into his shoulder, tearing flesh from bone and he grunted, struggling against my grip. Soryn didn't care about the fact that he was my brother. All he wanted, was nothing but to rip his head clean from his neck and hurl it into the sky. I couldn't let him do that, I still needed Fenrick to explain and undo what he did to her.

"You can kill me, Ciro," he choked out, his voice hoarse but venomous, "but it won't bring her back. She's gone. I used her divine blood to swap her soul with the one you took!."

His words were a blade to my gut, but they only fueled my fury. "Bring her back!" I bellowed, slamming him into the tree again, the trunk splintering under the force. "Undo it, Fenrick, or I'll tear you apart!"

He laughed, a broken, bitter sound, blood staining his teeth. "You killed her, Ciro, you drove her away just like you killed my mother. You drove her to her death"

"Lies!" I roared, my fist connecting with his jaw again, sending him sprawling to the dirt. "I didn't kill her! She took her own life—grief, despair, not me!" My voice cracked. I had explained this a thousand times but Fenrick refused to believe it, his hatred twisting the truth into something monstrous.

She was my mother too for heavens sake.

He staggered to his feet, clutching his side, his eyes wild. "You're a liar," he spat, lunging at me.

The impact sent us both flying backwards, he landed beside me, rolling a few paces forward before scrambling over me, his knees on either side of my body as his fists slammed into my face with every growl that escaped his lips.

"You. Killed. Her!".

My mouth filled with blood as I felt the skin of my cheek cave in, cheekbone cracking under the intensity of his hits.

I flipped us over easily, pinning him to the wet ground, with a single knee to the chest.

"Undo it, Fenrick" I snarled, claws raised. "This is your last chance".

He scoffed, breathless as he spat to the side, blood dribbling down his lips. "Do it, Ciro. Kill me. I'll die happy with the thought that I killed your fated. Your one and only".

His eyes gleamed maniacally as he drifted off into laughter, humorless and borderline insane.

"Fine".

My claws dug right into his chest, fist wrapping around his heart as his eyes bulged with pain so intense, a ragged scream cleaved through his mouth.

The fragile organ stuttered in my grip as Fenrick trashed underneath me, veins protruding from his forehead.

Since he desperately wanted to die. I would answer his prayers.

"Ciro, stop!" Thorne's voice cut through the haze suddenly. His large hand pushing at my chest to separate us. "You'll kill him! He's your brother!"

I barely noticed their presence. Couldn't see anything past this red hot haze of anger.

"Get out of my way!" I snarled, shoving Thorne aside with enough force to send him stumbling. Hemne was at Esmarie's side, her hands glowing with magic as she checked her vitals, her face grim. I didn't care about their pleas, their reason—Fenrick had taken her from me, and he would pay.

He struggled in my grip, his breaths shallow, his face purpling as blood flecked his lips. "Death is a luxury, than having to live with the loss of a mate. " he rasped, a twisted smile curling his lips. "Especially one who died because of you."

I roared, ready to crush his heart when a faint whisper stopped me cold.

"Ciro…" Esmarie's voice, weak and trembling— a fragile thread pulling me back from the edge. My head snapped toward her, Fenrick forgotten as I tossed him like a discarded rag. He crumpled, gasping, but I was already moving, my heart pounding as I ran to her.

I dropped to my knees beside her, my hands dripping with blood. Her body glowed faintly, the strange light flickering like a dying flame, but her eyes fluttered open, glassy and unfocused.

"Esmarie," I breathed, pulling her into my arms, pressing her against my chest. She was so small, so fragile, her skin cold despite the glow. She whimpered, her fingers clutching my tunic, holding me as tightly as her weak grip allowed. Tears streaked her face, mixing with dirt and blood, and I felt her fear, her pain, through the bond. "I'm here," I murmured, my voice rough, my throat tight. "I've got you."

Behind me, Fenrick staggered to his feet, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at Esmarie. "No…" he muttered, his voice rising to a shout. "You!, what did you do?" He lunged towards Hemne, but her hand shot up, a pulse of magic flaring from her palms. Dark green vines snaked from the ground, wrapping around Fenrick's legs, forcing him to his knees with a cry of frustration.

"Your dark ritual failed," Hemne said coldly, her eyes still bloodshot from her vision. "Her soul's still here. ."

Fenrick's face twisted, a mix of rage and despair. "It was supposed to work!" he screamed, struggling against the magical bonds. "Ciro! You took everything from me—Mother, my life! You'll feel that pain, I swear it!"

I barely heard him, my focus on Esmarie, her shallow breaths against my chest. Her glow was fading, but she was alive, and that was all that mattered. I pressed my forehead to hers, my hands trembling as I held her closer, the bond humming faintly, a lifeline I'd almost lost. "You're safe," I whispered, though I wasn't sure if I was convincing her or myself.

Fenrick's voice cut through again, sharp and unhinged. "You think it's over? It's not! The Guardians are coming, Ciro. I called them! In numbers you can't even dream of fighting. "