Chapter 95 Almost over

Chapter 95 Almost over
Chapter 95: Asher

As the last breath shuddered out of Willow, her shadows screamed— The sound was like a thousand voices howling in agony.

They immediately started dropping off her body, disintegrating into ash with a wave that shook the entire place.

And like a detonated sequence, the rest of her army also started falling. One by one they collapsed into smoke, just like the ones on her.

Truly she was their control because within minutes, the battlefield was filled with dark smoke as all the shadows fell.

As everyone realised what was happening, a thunderous howl of victory tore through the place as everyone jubilated.

Yet all I could do was kneel there, still holding her body.

Her head dangled to the side, with that unsettling smile still there… as though she had won something I couldn’t see.

I could still hear her words, her curses and her promise to return. And the more I stared at her, the more irritated I felt.

My fury grew, expanding into a knowledge my father had long taught me. A ritual to keep the dead buried forever.

This fueled my determination and snapped me out of the daze of the whole situation.

Immediately, I pulled my claws put of her corpse and watched as she slumped to the ground in a heavy thud.

“Albert!” I called, turning my head around to find him. “Albert!”

Nathan and one of my men ran towards me instead, their faces squeezed with worry.

“Asher! Are you okay?” Nathan asked as he got closer.

The man with him was already trying to check my injuries but I waved him off.

“Forget me, I need you to find me the strongest silver chains around,” I said.

But they exchanged confused looks.

“My king, you have done it. Willow is dead. We won… why do you need silver chains?” The man said.

I forced myself to my feet, groaning as every muscle in my body screamed in pain. “Willow is no ordinary wolf. We cannot just burry her like others. We need to tie her up with silver and then burn her up.”

“I suggest we cut her up into pieces and then tie with the silver. Then burn her as well,” Nathan hissed, finally seeing the sense in what I was saying.

“If that’s the case, then I will get to work right now!” He bowed at us and hurried to the opposite side of the smoky courtyard to get more people.

I felt relief as that situation was finally being arranged.

“I wish she rots in the seven seas of hell,” Nathan hissed and I turned to see him glaring at Willow’s corpse in disgust.

“I hope so too…” I mumbled.

The men returned a few minutes later and they started working on the body. I waited to mae sure they did exactly as I had instructed.

And the moment, her body was finally lit up in flames, I felt a little bit of relief.

“She is gone. It’s over now,” Nathan said beside me.

But my expression remained indifferent. Because we might have taken care of Willow, but were my troubles truly over?

“Come on, let’s get you treated. Albert is waiting at the tent,” Nathan said, helping me walk in the direction he proposed.

I clenched my fists, wantint to protest. But I let him take me there. At least, once I got there I could ask Albert about Scarlett, Axel and everyone else.

As we walked, I took the time to take a wider view of the battle ground. The air was thick with the stench of blood and ash.

Bodies laid scattered across the ruins and the black stains on the floor, signs of the shadow that once stood.

I watched as the soldiers helped one another, moving the dead and the injured to separate places.

We lost a good number of men, but we could at least return home with our heads held high. The enemy had been dealt with.

But deep down, I saw it on their faces. This wasnt victory, we had survived a massacre.

We were almost at the tent, when Greg limped towards us with a handful of soldiers behind him. They were battered but the spark of defiance was still in their eyes.

“The old kingdom is ours again,” Greg said hoarsely as we all met in front of the healers’ tents. His gaze swept across the carnage and he sighed. “But at what cost?”

A shudder passed through my body and even Nathan sighed. Yet none of us could answer.

Because we all knew it. This battle had cost us so much.

And for me… it was everything.

The injured soldiers around us started trooping into the tents and just then, Albert ran out to join us.

“Asher!” He called in relief as he saw me.

His eyes were glassy with relief as saw all of us. But before he could say anything more, I asked what I had come for.

“Where are they now?”

Before he could respond, a crashing sound filled the space and we all turned to find a door at the far side of the old palace burst open. And there they were.

Bee, Axel, Fiona and—

My breath caught in my throat. Scarlett.

She looked pale, shaken and barely focused as Fiona practically dragged her out of there.

Everyone froze. But not Albert.

“They are out! Get me a healer!” He yelled, already running towards them.

I jerked out of the trance and my heart lurched. It took every nerve inside of me not to run towards them along with Greg and Nathan.

“Nathan… Uncle Greg…” she whispered as she saw them. “Aunt Emily… she is dead.” She let out before bursting into tears.

The sound tore open whatever was left in my chest. I turned my back unable to see her cry so much.

Especially knowing that all of these could have been avoided if only I had not signed a deal with Willow.

“She is dead! My aunt Emily is dead!” She cried even louder, clutching Nathan’s arms.

My throat constricted as her pain flooded my insides with even more guilt.

My knees trembled and I could barely keep myself upright. I clung to the closest wall and watched helplessly from the side as she cried.

Axel on the other side was barely conscious. So he was immediately moved inside the tents for first care before being transported back to the capital.

Bee and Fiona were also battered, but not as much.

Yet just like Scarlett, Bee cried in Fiona’s arms too.

“Asher, you should let them take a look at your wounds,” Albert whispered behind me.

But I slowly shook my head. It was pointless.

“I’ll be fine.” I muttered. “Let the healers take care of Scarlett instead…”

I could feel his eyes stare down at me with mixed feelings. He probably didnt know if he should feel bad for me or not…

He remained there for a while before letting out a sigh and then he walked back to the group.

Scarlett cried for long, but she eventually stopped and like someone who suddenly remembered others people that were with her, she started searching around.

For a second, I thought she had rememebered me…

I hoped she was looking for me—

“Where is Albert?” She asked and my hope sank.

Albert ran to her and she held his hands with a sad smile. “Did she die? Did we get her? Is Willow gone now?”

Her voice was broken, yet the shards cut through me like sharpened blades.

Albert nodded his head. “Yes, Asher killed her—”

She froze.

My heart skipped a beat at her reaction to the sound of my name.

“Who is—“ she turned, searching the ruins. “Who is Asher?”

And my world rumbled even further.

She truly couldn’t even remember who I was…  This hit me deep and I could feel the pain like claws deep inside of me.

It was truly over for me…

“Oh that’s your—“ Albert started to say, but our eyes met and I slowly shook my head. Signalling to him to let it go.

I had traded our bond for her safety. It was too risky trying to break it now.

“Our men,” Nathan quickly slipped in seeing the hesitation on Albert. “Asher is one of our best soldiers. He made sure that Willow won’t ever come after our family again…”

Her face squeezed in confusion— almost like she was having an inner argument.

Or maybe this was just in my head.

But in the end, she simply nodded. “Well, its good she is gone. And for her own sake, she had better stay dead.”

Scarlett’s words were sharp as if death was not good enough a punishment for Willow… as if she had a plan of her own.

And just as I thought of that, she pulled out something from within her clothes.

My eyes narrowed as I recognized what she was holding. It was Willow’s crystal ball.

The same one she used to generate her power.

“If she dares return, we will be prepared. This time, it is going to be shadow against fire.”