Chapter 52 Brothers at war
DARIAN
Zeus’s fist crashes into my jaw, snapping my head to the side. Pain explodes through my skull, and the metallic taste of blood floods my mouth. I stagger back, vision blurring, but the fire in my chest burns hotter.
He doesn’t wait. Another blow lands on my ribs, forcing the air from my lungs. I double over, gasping, but manage to block his next punch with my forearm.
"Come on, brother," Zeus taunts, a sneer on his face. "Is that all you've got?"
I lunge forward, aiming a punch at his gut, but he sidesteps, grabbing my arm and twisting it behind my back. Pain shoots through my shoulder.
"You're predictable," he whispers in my ear.
With a surge of strength, I elbow him in the ribs, breaking his hold. He grunts, stepping back. I turn to face him, breathing heavily.
We circle each other, eyes locked. The training ground is silent, the few soldiers present watching with wide eyes.
Zeus strikes first, a quick jab to my face. I block it, countering with a punch to his side. He grunts but retaliates with a knee to my stomach. I stumble back, coughing.
"You're weak," he says. "No wonder Father stripped you of your duties."
That does it.
Rage flares within me. I charge, tackling him to the ground. We roll, exchanging blows. His elbow connects with my cheekbone; I punch his jaw. Blood spatters the ground.
We scramble to our feet. Zeus swings; I duck and drive my fist into his stomach. He doubles over, and I bring my knee up to his face. He falls back, nose bleeding.
"Had enough?" I ask, panting.
He wipes the blood from his face, eyes blazing. "Not even close."
He charges, and we collide again. Fists, knees, elbows, we use everything. Pain becomes a distant sensation, overridden by adrenaline.
Zeus lands a punch to my temple, and I see stars. I retaliate with a hook to his jaw. He stumbles, and I press the advantage, delivering a series of punches to his torso.
He grabs my arm, twisting it, and throws me to the ground. I roll, avoiding his stomp, and sweep his legs. He falls, and I pounce, raining blows on his face.
"Enough!" a voice shouts.
Strong arms pull me back. I struggle, but Adrian holds me firm.
"Are you mad?" he yells. "You're brothers!"
Zeus sits up, spitting blood. He glares at me.
"This isn't over," he says.
I shrug off Adrian's grip, breathing heavily. "It never is."
I storm out of the training ground, blood dripping from my knuckles, my jaw throbbing with each step. The adrenaline is fading, leaving behind a searing pain and a deeper, more insidious ache of betrayal, humiliation, rage.
"Darian!" Adrian 's voice echoes behind me. "What the hell was that?"
I don't slow down. The corridor blurs as I focus on putting distance between myself and everyone else.
"Darian, wait!"
His footsteps quicken, and soon he's beside me, matching my pace. "You can't just beat the crap out of Zeus and walk away like nothing happened."
"Shut up, Adrian."
He grabs my arm, forcing me to stop. "No, you shut up. What's going on with you? This isn't just about the fight."
I yank my arm free, glaring at him. "You wouldn't understand."
"Try me."
I clench my fists, the pain in my knuckles grounding me. "My position, my future, everything I've worked for was handed over to Zeus like it's nothing. And you expect me to be okay with that?"
Adrian 's expression softens. "Darian..."
"Just leave me alone." I push past him, heading toward my quarters.
He follows. "You need to get those wounds looked at."
"I'm fine."
"You're bleeding all over the place."
I reach my room, slamming the door behind me. Adrian , undeterred, slips in before I can lock it.
"Get out."
He crosses his arms. "No."
I turn on him, fury bubbling to the surface. "Can't you see I'm not in the mood for your lectures?"
"I'm not here to lecture you." He steps closer, his voice calm. "I'm here because you're my brother, and you're hurting."
I look away, the anger draining, leaving behind exhaustion. "I didn't ask for your help."
"Doesn't mean you don't need it." He grabs a cloth and a bowl of water from the basin, approaching me cautiously. "Sit."
Reluctantly, I comply, sinking onto the edge of the bed. Adrian kneels before me, gently taking my hand and beginning to clean the wounds.
The sting of the water on raw flesh makes me wince, but I don't pull away.
"You should've gone to the infirmary," he murmurs.
"I don't need them fussing over me."
He doesn't respond, focusing on his task. The silence stretches, filled only by the soft sounds of water and cloth.
After a while, he speaks again. "Was it Iris you went to see last night?"
I freeze, the question hanging in the air. Slowly, I nod.
Adrian doesn’t press further as he continues to dress my wound in silence.
He doesn’t say anything for a moment.
Then, quietly, "It’s the bond, isn’t it?"
I pause, eyes on the floor, jaw tightening. I want to say yes. I want to tell him it’s just the bond messing with my head. But the words catch in my throat, because deep down... I’m not so sure anymore.
"I don’t know," I mutter.
Adrian looks up at me, brows drawn. "You don’t know?"
I exhale, sharp and frustrated, running a hand through my hair. It feels like more. That night…
He’s quiet again. Then, cautiously, he says, "And what about Adira?"
I close my eyes. "Adira is politics. Adira is duty. Adira is everything I was raised to want but nothing I actually want."
"And yet you're engaged to her."
"I didn’t pick her," I snap, eyes flashing. "My title picked her. The council picked her. Father picked her."
Adrian holds his hands up. "I’m not judging. I just want to understand what you're going to do now."
I fall silent.
What am I going to do?