Chapter 204

There was a noticeable tension in the air, dense as a storm that was about to blow. Thalia was standing just outside the tree line, her body in a position as she gazed into the darkness, where the Queen's emissaries were waiting, their eyes shining with an intensity that could not be read. The weight of the past seemed to compress the air between them, but Ryker was at her side, his posture firm and unwavering, as if nothing in the world could make him falter.

Standing a few steps behind, Killian resembled a shadow hovering on the periphery of a world that no longer accepted him. His face was empty and sunken from the weariness of everything that had transpired. His once-powerful, bloodshot eyes were now clouded with desperation. Neither with her nor with anyone else did he belong here anymore. Still he was, struggling, holding on to what was left of a life he had abandoned long ago.

“Thalia,” Killian called in a hoarse, unidentifiable voice. Please refrain from doing this.

She took a while to turn. She remained motionless instead, as though she needed to muster the effort to even move her eyes toward him. Then she did, her eyes narrowing as they met his, with a quiet precision.

"Killian, what do you do?" With a steady tone and a sharpness that sliced through the silence like a dagger, she questioned.

“I—” Killian stammered as he spoke, not knowing how to express the regret and shame that had been gnawing at him. He swallowed forcefully. I apologize. I did not— He clinched his jaw, angry at himself, and his voice broke. "I had no idea what I was doing. Everything, even my ego and authority, had me completely blinded.

Thalia arched an eyebrow, her face expressionless. "Blind? Is that what happened? An easy error? Do you believe it was that?

“Thalia—” He moved in her direction, but Ryker moved in front of her right away, his stance a quiet warning. Killian's gaze darted back and forth between the two as he felt a wave of emotion. "I was mistaken," he remarked in a raspy voice. But now I can see it. I see it all. I can see what I done to us, to you.

Thalia's mouth curled into a scowl that was half growl and half bitter smile. Do you believe that now matters? Think I'm interested?

Killian pleaded, "Please," his hand out as if he were seeking for something he was unable to fully grasp. "Give me a chance. A genuine possibility. I've lost everything that was important to me, and I He faltered, unable to utter the words that would never be able to reverse the years of damage.

Thalia remained unflinching. Not even blinking.

She responded, "No," in a chilly tone. "Killian, you are not allowed to do this. Now is not the time for you to sneak back and act like you know what you took from me. It was your turn. You squandered it!

Anger briefly flared in Killian's chest and his breath caught, but it was swiftly put out of his throat by the weight of what he had done. Nothing was left to protect. There's nothing more to dispute.

Even though the words were bitter to his tongue, he muttered, "You used to love me." "You were concerned once."

Thalia's eyes grew stern. "I did. Just once. The person who loved you, however, is no longer with you. She passed very long ago.

"Thalia..." The traces of past anguish were still present in his voice, but the break was so deep that it might never fully heal. I am capable of becoming different. I promise I can. Please just give me a chance.

For the tiniest of seconds, her eyes softened—just a flicker—but then they vanished, like a shield snapping back into position. She said, "I don't care," and her tone was so definitive that it might have broken glass. "I'm not the same person I was when I was standing next to you. Furthermore, I will never again be that person.

Killian was unable to turn his head away from her as the words struck him like a blow to the chest. He wasn't finished yet. Not yet. He couldn't be.

He grew softer and more pleading as he replied, "I know I hurt you." But I was terrified of everything, and I did everything. threatened with power outages. fearing a loss of control. Thalia, I allowed myself to be manipulated. I allowed them to make me turn against you.

"Where did you go when I needed you?" Her voice was frigid and icy as she shot back. "Where were you when they took away my life, my freedom, and my dignity?"

"I—I couldn't." He stumbled, the allegation weighing heavily on him. He had no response. There is no explanation that could possibly compensate for that.

She narrowed her eyes. Indeed. You were unable to. because you were never willing to stand up for me. I was dropped, Killian. Instead of doing anything, you just watched as I was broken.

"I apologize," he replied, his voice akin to ash. They felt hollow today, even though he had uttered them so many times before. Nothing was left to fill them.

Thalia slowly shook her head. "No." You no longer have the right to apologize.

Between them, a chilly stillness hung heavy with all the things that were left unsaid. Every second seemed to drag them more apart until Killian became aware that he was staring at a lady who was no longer his. He had previously broken her into something else, but now she was whole. It was whole in a way he would never be able to touch again.

And she was aware of it.

He repeated, "Thalia," his voice softer now, his throat constricted with grief. “Please.”

"Please what?" With an unvarnished voice and a look of bitter amusement in her eyes, she questioned. "Ask for another opportunity? That's what you believe you deserve?

Killian parted his lips, but nothing came out. It dawned on him suddenly: he had lost her. All that mattered to him was gone. And there was no turning back.

She turned aside, but her eyes remained fixed. "We're finished here."

Ryker's body moved slightly in front of her, perhaps to protect her from Killian's next words. Now there was no space for argument. There are no more words to say.

However, Killian wasn't done yet. He was unable to simply walk away and let her go in this way. Especially when he was so close to losing everything.

He reached out once again, his fingertips grazing the air before him as if attempting to grasp something invisible, and a wave of emotion flashed across his face. "Thalia..."

For an instant, her steps wavered, but she didn't turn. She failed to recognize him.

In that instant, Killian came to a terrible realization. She had already moved on.

He had lost what little of her heart he had. She was not his anymore.

She had not just lost her love for him.

She no longer needed him at all.

Her gentle yet powerful words, "I was never yours to keep," sent a shockwave through him.

She left without saying anything more.

Killian realized for the first time in his life what loss really meant. It was more than just power. It was not about domination, prestige, or pride. It was realizing that someone he had previously trusted and who had once been his was no longer there.

It was all ruined by him.

Ryker purposefully approached to stand next to Thalia, his presence a strong wall. It wasn't necessary for him to speak. His quiet was powerful.

Then they vanished into the woods, leaving Killian alone himself.

A tempest was building inside him as his hands tightened at his sides. A fresh voice pierced the dense silence as his gaze strayed to the shadows. It was slick, strategic, and had a lethal edge.

The man remarked, emerging from the shadows with a laugh in his voice, "Well, well, well." "I think you've lost the battle."

As Killian turned to face the intruder, his heart began to rush. The tall man had pale eyes that glowed with icy laughter. There was something disturbing about the way he handled himself, a predator's grace in his motions.

"What is it that you desire?" Killian's voice was raspy, his thoughts still spinning from what Thalia had said.

The stranger's lips curled in a sinister smile. "You seem to understand what I want."

The man stepped forward, his voice becoming a whisper. "I can give you the opportunity to take everything back."

Killian felt his pulse quicken for the first time in a long time.

Perhaps he hadn’t lost everything after all.