His words were so illogical!
Must she die because he was about to become a sacrifice at the North Border?! Why was she supposed to be affected by him?
“Why can't I go to the Temple and stay with my son? Isn't the Priest your friend?” Maybe he was the man that came to save her from his attack two days ago. It seemed like it. He had spoken like a Priest. “I can stay there till you return.”
“And if I don't.”
What if he dies at the North Border? Well that should be his concern and not hers? There was no connection that necessitated them being together or that made the death of one, the death of the other between them, except that silly Matebond he was always talking about.
It was stupid thing just like she had always said, and his actions were proving it.
If it was as important as he had claimed it to be, he wouldn't be proposing to kill her like he was offering her meat at a discounted price in a market.
He wouldn't be telling her of how butchering her was a favour!
This Realm was insane and Ikrus was the most insane of all!
What crimes had she committed to have such an unfortunate fortune of meeting him.
Her crimes raced through her memory immediately and she shook her head.
Any other punishment but this.
“I don't know. I will stay there. My son still needs milk. I need to breastfeed him.”
“The Temple does not commit treason against the Alpha. If they are caught hiding you, they will be killed.”
“Then they just wouldn't be caught. There should be secret places in the—”
“There will be too many unnecessary deaths,” he ended.
Was he even listening to her?
“But mine is necessary?” Anger ran through her veins like lava. “You should have just allowed me to escape.”
“My father would have caught you if I didn't.”
“I was close to the door!”
“That is what you think.”
“Why didn't you help me?” Her voice broke. “We could have escaped together. Be together like mates.” She added the word at the end, even though she didn't fully understand what that meant.
Someone flashed in his dark eyes and he went still for a moment, like the word had slammed right against him - like he was considering it, before he shook his head.
“It wouldn't have worked.”
At that moment, Aniya noticed something about his demeanor.
He had tried.
The words he said later confirmed her thoughts.
“Every portal that leads outside the Realm has been blocked sometime after our return. The Alpha has taken the recent intrusion importantly. No one can leave here without the Elder Superior and the Elder Superior answers to my father.”
Silence filled the room as Aniya watched him with tearful eyes.
“Why did you bring me here, Ikrus? You should have just left me in my home, in my own Realm, where I was safe.”
“Safe?” He frowned at her implied accusation. “You were dying! What do you expect of me? To just leave you there to die.”
“And what benefits have your “saving” brought to me?” She scoffed. “Tell me because I do not see it.”
He opened his mouth to speak but shut it back, as guilt filled his eyes. “I thought I could create a better life for us. I really wanted to save you.”
“Those are undeserving words from my murderer!”
His expression hardened. “Don't call me that.”
“Mate Killer!”
“Be Quiet!” He slammed his fists against the table, breaking it, his fist going right through it.
Aniya's eyes widened and she stepped back, but her venomous words weren't over.
“You ruined my life!” She yelled as she backed away to the door. “Who even are you?!” Angry tears welled up in her eyes. “I thought I was doing good, I thought I was doing better. My sister forgave me, Lytio did too, I was living a better life! I had a friend, a real friend. By Ignas, I had Zesika!” She wiped away her tears angrily and pointed at him. “This was my second chance and you ruined it!”
She stopped.
“I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!” She was crying now, a hand on the doorknob.
She felt that sparky feeling in her veins before she felt his arms around her.
Rage.
“I'm sorry. Forgive me. I shouldn't ha—”
“Don't Touch me!” She yanked herself away and gritted her words into his face, her voice husky as she pulled it from the depth of her throat. “I Hate You. May your life meet a quick and painful end before you can take mine. May you all meet death in the most gruesome way!”
With that she slammed the door in his face.
___
___
For three days, Alaris and Belladonna had journeyed through this cursed Garden with no food and no water. It was mostly Alaris walking and carrying Belladonna.
She was too weak to do most things.
They were losing hope when finally they got to the Tree of Life.
It was a massive tree in the middle of a vast dry land, emitting a golden glow despite the fact that the sun had risen. The fruits looked healthy and when they touched it, it didn't turn into ashes.
Alaris didn't have to fight any beast to enter into the path that led to this tree, that was a strange thing. At every junction, there had been a beast to kill, all except this one.
He ate from the tree first and when he saw that it was good, he gave her a fruit from it.
Belladonna bit into the fruit, while Alaris went around to ensure the place was safe. It was still suspicious that he had met no beast at the turning point, maybe there was one hiding around here.
When Belladonna swallowed it, a strange sensation took over her, her wounds healed and a small reflection of the tree flashed in her eyes, till it was gone as quickly as it appeared.