Chapter 10 10
LUCIEN'S POV
Did not stop the traitorous demon lord from hanging three feet in the air, shadows coiled around his throat when Aria’s shout struck me. I stagger, her power knocks me to my knees so violently I hear rock snap beneath.
Terror poured through the bond, combined with what I could only interpret as desperation and a plea for help that affected something in my core. I dropped the demon lord without thinking and clutched my side just beneath the bond, where I could feel it burning.
"My king?" one of my generals asked. "What is it?"
“She’s in trouble,” I choked out, jumping to my feet. My hands shook just a little, which had not occurred in centuries. "Someone took her."
I didn't wait for questions. I reached out a hand and ripped open a rift in space itself, making the universe scream as I wrenched it apart between my fingers. I cast a glance back at the wall my weapons were hanging on before I entered. Relics from another life. I got the spear first, black iron carved with runes that were still faintly glowing. And then the shorter blade, twice as deadly.
I fleetingly handled these weapons over a thousand years ago. Except for when it comes to Aria, I’d love to pick them up again.
The air was ripped from my lungs as I passed through and crossing that void felt like being smothered in ice. I worked my way through it and I walked towards the tug of the bond.
On the road, I couldn't help but wonder why I'd been so cautious with Aria. Why I still maintained a barrier of sarcasm and dark humor.
It was armor. Shelter from the truth I could not afford to bear.
In my other life, I’d loved her most of all. Most pathetically. The others had always seemed sure of themselves in relation to her, but I’d never felt anything except slightly disconnected from her as if I were constantly struggling to gain her attention.
That’s what desperation does to you; it makes you stupid. The Fifth King had discovered me when I was weak, given me everything he thought that I wanted.
And I'd taken the deal.
I’d betrayed her, and all of them, and the curse had been my fault. I am responsible for every lifetime of suffering lead by my jealousy.
It had taken me centuries to atone. But the guilt never faded.
With a splash, I was thrown out into an underground system of caves dripping with old magic. I landed in a half-crouch, weapons forward, and I was aware of the others before the hatch closed.
Draven went through first, wearing an expression of hardened anger. Ronan followed him, half shifted himself, his hands tipped with claws. Kael appeared last, his customary grin replaced by something deadly.
We sort of just looked at each other for a moment. Four kings who had spent centuries loathing one another, each standing in the same room with his weapon drawn.
It was instinctive, to want to go out and hit them. That same passion, I saw reflected in their eyes.
Then Aria screamed.
The noise pounded through the caves, raw and afraid. And then, just like that, the standoff ended. We gelled, without even talking about it.
It was instinct. We had muscle memory from the way we’d fought together, rather than against each other.
“You won’t get far.” Draven led the way, utilising his vampiric pace to speed through the tunnels. Ronan jogged alongside him, following Aria’s scent with his wolf instincts. Kael came down the rear with his light magic lighting up the path. And I waded straight into the shadows themselves, sweeping debris.
We didn't speak. I didn't need to. The coordination was seamless.
The cave opened up beyond into a larger chamber and there she was. And Aria, pressed against a wall, wrists red and raw, staring a creature who made my demon blood run cold in the eye. The Fifth King’s envoy, reaching for her with hands that twisted oddly.
There was a gate opening behind Aria. Churning darkness that connected to some place much worse.
“No,” I growled, and the walls vibrated to my voice.
The messenger whipped it toward us, surprise flaring on its face. It wasn’t prepared for all four of us at once.
"You're too late," it said. Doesn't even the master call, and is not she bound to answer?"
“Like fuck she will,” Ronan snarled, and we were running.
It was vicious and it was quick. There was strength in numbers and while the envoy had his powers, it wasn’t meant to take all four of us at once.
Draven was the first to attack, his speed rendering him nearly invisible. The envoy withstood all but a few more of the blows, and dark ichor began to weep from openings.
Ronan shot low, aiming for the legs. Kael was there ahead of him, summoning light into chains that kept it still for Ronan to tear stone like flesh.
I passed behind it in the shadows and I gathered power. Hellfire danced along my weapons. I would have sworn the envoy felt me at that last second but I was quicker.
Raven, my Blade Brother and I were forced to fight as a unit together, covering each others' blindside in combat. I was not fighting with the Vampire King for a second there. I was fighting beside my brother, as we’d fought a thousand times before.
Ronan and Kael each launched a combination attack. Roan drove the beast toward Kael, who’d channelled his light magic into a net. As soon as it struck, light blasted away.
The envoy let out a scream, and I seized my moment. I funneled all my strength into the spear, allowed hellfire to consume it until the metal turned white hot. Then I drove it forward.
The tip of the spear tore through the chest of the envoy and pierced out from the other side. The beast's cry suddenly ended and its eyes widened, then dimmed.
I let the spear go, and spun right towards Aria. She was falling and I managed to cover the distance and catch her. I slipped my arms around her waist and pulled her to me.
But she was warm and solid and real. I held her gently, afraid of how fragile she looked all of a sudden.
"I've got you," I murmured. "You're safe now."
Aria glanced up at me and recognition flashed in her hazel eyes.
"You," she murmured, her hand on my cheek shaking. "I remember you. The garden. You gave me a flower. “Your mouth smiled, and it was a full smile, not like now.” Her eyes closed briefly. “Why did you have to be so sad when you smiled?”
I was genuinely afraid for the first time in generations. The terror that she would recall it all, the things I had done.
"Don't," I said softly. "Don't remember yet. You're not ready."
"Neither are you," she murmured.
"We have to hurry," Draven insisted. "This place isn't stable."
He was right. The walls were cracking. I tightened my hold on Aria as the envoy's body disintegrated. It began to dissolve into the shadow, but its voice lingered.
"The seal is broken. The Fifth king lifts with blood moon. And when he comes, you all will remember what it was to be afraid of the dark.”
The shadow vanished. I glanced down at Aria and there it was.
Her mark was changing.
Don’t ask: the four sigils were still in place. But in between them, a new symbol was taking shape. A crown strung and black etchings.
"No," Kael breathed. "That's not possible."
But it was happening. Aria’s fifth sigil was branding itself into her arm indicating she belonged to the Fifth King.
"We have to move," Ronan barked.
Draven opened a portal. Kael followed, and then Ronan.
Looked down at Aria, who was completely passed out. The fifth tick continued to take shape.
We’d rescued her from the envoy. But the Fifth King’s claim was increasingly strong. And now that the blood moon hung high in the sky, I wasn’t so sure between the four of us we could manage to keep her safe.
Through I stepped with Aria to my hug. We would face whatever was coming side by side.
Even if that required facing the sins that had condemned us all.