Chapter Forty Four

Aerilyn

The walk to his room felt all too familiar. It brought back the memories of the night she’d shown up there in hopes of killing him for what he’d done but instead had met Rose. She knew the young girl was only across the hall from the king’s room, but the conversation she needed to have with the man couldn’t wait. Especially with Everett’s desperation to leave, she knew there wasn’t much time left. When she had slipped out of their room, the man was in a deep sleep that she prayed he stayed in until she returned.

Her knuckles hit the wooden door with more force than she’d intended, the knock echoing through the empty hallway. It was only a matter of seconds before the door flung open to reveal the king in a disheveled state. His normally perfect hair was a mess on top of his head and there was a darkness forming under his eyes that hadn’t been there before. The perfection of his appearance wasn’t up to his usual standard. She could tell that something about him wasn’t right.

“What do you want?” His voice was void of emotion as he lazily leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed. The large size of his frame blocked her from being able to enter the room. He was trying to keep her out. It was obvious from his stance that he didn’t want to have any sort of company.

“We need to talk,” she pressed her lips into a tight line, mirroring his stance as she crossed her arms across her chest. “Then talk,” he shrugged, waiting for her to explain why she was there. She looked around once to make sure nobody was around to hear what she was about to say. “The prince is needed back in Orissia. He can’t stay here forever. You need to let us return to the kingdom. That woman even said we started a war. The kingdom needs their heir,” Aerilyn tried to explain without giving away too much information. The queen had threatened them, but they had no idea what that threat entailed. It could’ve been a threat against Korth, but it could’ve also been a threat against the entire continent.

“Orissia doesn’t need a goddamn thing,” he snapped, moving to close the door. She quickly shoved herself past him, stepping deeper into the king’s bedroom. His eyes widened in anger as he slammed the door shut behind him. “Just let us go, Azazel!” She finally raised her voice at him, letting the anger and frustration come out in her tone. He only laughed, but the sound had no delight in it. It was emotionless.

“Not a chance, Aerilyn. I’d kill all of you before I let any of you return to that place,” he approached her quickly. She didn’t have time to process what he was doing before her body was slammed back into the wall. He had her pinned in place, his hand gripping both of her hands above her head. His movements were too fast to escape and she hadn’t predicted that he would make a move to harm her.

“Please Azazel,” she tried, her voice going soft as she looked up at him with wide eyes. She had to find a way to get under his skin. She needed him to let them go. Everett was determined to leave whether or not they had permission. She didn’t want to risk losing their lives over it. If Azazel just agreed, it would make everything so much easier. She knew that the king of Korth would come after them if they tried to escape. He knew where the kingdom of Orissia was and she wouldn’t put it past him to attack her home.

“Don’t give me those eyes,” he growled, his grip on her arms tightening as she tried to pull herself away from him. “Those eyes are just asking for it. I swear to god, Aerilyn, don’t make me take you to my bed. I mean you did force yourself into my bedroom…” he trailed off, his jaw tightening as if he were trying to find restraint from continuing what he was about to say.

“That’s not what I’m here for. You’re disgusting,” she rolled her eyes, trying to force her knee into his groin, but he easily blocked her from the movement. “Besides, I’ve already been satisfied for the night,” she smirked up at him, watching as his expression twisted with anger. She was successful, her words finally getting to him.

“How about I propose a deal?” His lips curled into a devious smirk and Aerilyn knew that whatever he was about to say couldn’t be good.

“Your freedom in exchange for his,” he began, taking her silence as a cue to continue with his proposal. “You stay here in Korth forever and I’ll let your friends go,” he tilted his head, moving his face closer to hers. “That’s it? I stay here and you’ll let Everett and Blaise go?” She questioned, her eyes locked with his. There had to be more to it. He wouldn’t just let them go that easily.

“You have my word.”

“What’s the catch?” She tried to push further to see what he was hiding beneath the proposal. “They will both have no memories of their time here in Korth. I cannot risk them going home with the knowledge of this kingdom. I will leave important things, like the woman in the cave with her warning. I’m sure the king of Orissia will be thrilled to know of the new threat. But I will have to replace their memories of Bastian and Brinley’s deaths. They’ll believe their two friends died in a hound attack,” he explained, choosing all of his words carefully. “Will they remember me?” She whispered, her voice suddenly feeling too soft and small.

“They will both believe that you are dead” he chuckled softly, the sound full of the evil that he’d shown during their first encounter. “I can’t have either of them going out looking for you once I let them go. Besides, the prince is too in love with you to ever give you up,” he finished, plopping down in a chair lazily. The king of Korth truly had no good left in his soul. Everything he did was for his selfish reasons. She knew he wanted to keep her there for his entertainment. She wanted to scream no in his face and run away in the night with Everett and Blaise. But at the end of the day, she hated to admit that he was right. If Everett knew she was still out there, he would never stop searching for her.

As much as she loved Everett, she knew this was a decision she had to make. Orissia would crumble if the prince didn’t return with the news of the coming war. She would sacrifice herself to save the kingdom that was full of the people she had cared for. She knew that’s what her parents would’ve wanted her to do.

“If this is your cruel way of attempting to make me care for you-” she began, letting out a sarcastic laugh. “I would never do such a thing. My sweet doll, there are plenty of women here who I can have. I’m not going to force you into my bed when I can have any of them. You aren’t that special,” he rolled his eyes, but something in his tone sounded off. The words felt hurtful for a reason she couldn’t quite explain.

“You’re disgusting.”

“As you’ve said before. Now do we have a deal or not?” He tapped his foot on the floor impatiently. He wanted a response then and there. He wasn’t going to give her any time to debate the answer to his proposal. She had to make her decision.

“I guess I will live in this hell hole until the day that I die. You have a deal,” her voice felt foreign as she agreed to Azazel’s terms. The smile that spread across his face was void of happiness, only a purely wicked intent. The weight of the agreement seemed to settle on her soul as she realized she’d just given up a life with the man she loved. The dreams they’d discussed of going back to Orissia and Everett convincing his father to allow her into his palace were all gone in a matter of moments. Her entire future changed with only a few words.

“Now I own you forever, little doll. Go say your goodbyes before I change my mind."