Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

T wo weeks later

Helheim

Aria

The heaviness that had lingered in my heart since I'd been brought to Helheim was slowly lifting, replaced by a warmth I hadn't expected to find here.

It was starting to feel like home.

I opened my eyes and stretched beneath the soft blankets, relishing the luxurious comfort of the bed for a few moments longer before I climbed out of it and got ready for the day.

Hades had seen to my every need and desire, his care more attentive than I could have ever imagined.

Each day, he showered me with gifts—exquisite gowns of the finest silks that made me feel like royalty, delicate jewelry set with gems that sparkled like the night sky, and even books filled with stories and knowledge from realms I had never heard of.

It wasn't just the gifts that made me happy, though. It was the way he looked at me, the way his eyes softened when they met mine, the way he listened to me, truly listened, as if every word I said meant something to him.

Somehow, in some way, Hades had become more than just my captor, more than the powerful king who ruled over Helheim. He had become someone I deeply cared for.

Someone who I might even love.

I shook my head, trying to push away thoughts I wasn't ready to contend with yet, and headed down to the dining hall for breakfast. I ate my fill, picking through the pastries until I found my very favorite apple ones and piling three of them on my plate.

After I was full, I decided to take a walk in the castle garden. It had become one of my favorite places, a quiet haven where I could escape the castle walls and breathe in the fresh air.

I rounded a corner, only to find the massive hellhound that had fought at my side in battle waiting for me.

The giant creature lifted its head as I approached, its blazing eyes locking onto mine. There was an intelligence in those eyes and for a moment, it gave me pause.

"Hello," I said softly, feeling slightly foolish for talking to a creature like this, but unable to stop myself. "I wanted to thank you… for saving me."

The hellhound tilted its head, as if considering my words, and then, to my shock, it began to change. The dark fur receded, the huge form shrinking and shifting until, standing before me, was not a beast, but a woman—a woman I knew all too well.

"Liora?" I gasped, my eyes widening in disbelief as I stared at her.

She smiled a little sheepishly as she stepped forward, her form now fully human, though there was still something wild and untamed in her eyes for a moment before it was gone.

I blinked, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. "You… you were the hellhound? All this time?"

Liora nodded, her expression both amused and a little sad. "Yes. I've been watching over you, even when you didn't know it."

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice filled with genuine gratitude. "You saved my life, more than once. I don't know how I could possibly repay you."

"You're welcome," she murmured and shook her head. "There is no need to repay me, I'm just happy you're still alive."

For a moment, we stood in silence, the garden's stillness wrapping around us. I bit my lip, my thoughts swirling with everything that had happened, not just with the battle, but with Hades. There was so much I wanted to say, so much I wanted to tell her, but I didn't know where to start.

Liora seemed to sense my hesitation, her eyes twinkling with a knowing light.

"You care about him, don't you?" she asked gently.

I felt my cheeks flush, warmth spreading across my face as I looked away, embarrassed by how easily she could see through me.

"I… I don't know," I stammered, though the words felt hollow even as I said them. "It's complicated."

"Of course it is," Liora said with a soft laugh, stepping closer. "He's the Dark King, after all. But that doesn't change what's in your heart."

I looked down at the ground, fidgeting with the edge of my sleeve. "He's been different lately… softer, kinder." I paused, biting my lip as the next words tumbled out. "It scares me how much I'm starting to care about him."

Liora's expression softened and she reached out, placing a comforting hand on my arm.

"There's nothing wrong with that, Aria. It's natural to feel conflicted, especially with someone like him. He's powerful, yes, but there's more to him than just his darkness. And you've seen that side of him—the side he doesn't show to anyone else," she offered.

I nodded, my heart racing as I thought about all the moments we'd shared, the way he'd held me, the way he'd allowed me to show my strength in battle even when it had frustrated him, the way he'd just let me be me.

"Do you really think he could care about someone like me?" I asked, my voice hesitant.

Liora's hand squeezed mine gently, her expression warm and reassuring. "I think he already does, more than you realize. And if you care for him too, then maybe it's time to stop being so hard on yourself and let yourself feel what you're feeling. The heart knows what it wants, Aria, even if the mind tries to resist."

I nodded slowly, her words resonating deep within me. Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time to stop fighting against the tide and allow myself to embrace what was happening between us, to trust that what I felt was real.

That I loved him.

The realization hit me all at once and for a moment, I was at a loss for words.

Liora glanced over her shoulder, her smile tinged with a hint of regret. "I wish I could stay and talk more, but I need to get back to work. The castle doesn't run itself, you know."

I chuckled softly, grateful for the lightness she brought to the conversation. "Of course. Thank you, Liora, for everything."

She gave me one last smile, full of warmth and understanding. "Anytime, Aria."

With that, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the garden, and leaving me alone with my thoughts. As I watched her go, I felt a genuine sense of peace settle over me.

I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

One week later

I sat alone at the long table in the dining hall, absently picking at the food in front of me. It was a lavish spread—succulent meats, fresh fruits, and delicate pastries—all prepared with the same care and attention that the servants in the kitchen always showcased, but today, the food tasted like ash in my mouth, my appetite dulled by the weight of my thoughts.

Hades was away, dealing with matters of the realm, and the castle felt emptier without him. I missed him more than I cared to admit. I tried to push my feelings aside, focusing instead on the quiet luxury of the meal, but it was no use. My mind kept drifting back to our time together, to the way he had looked at me, the way he had made me feel—cherished, desired, even… loved.

I hadn't told him I loved him yet.

I was waiting for the right moment.

I sighed, setting my fork down and reaching for the goblet of wine beside me. As I took a sip, the door to the dining hall creaked open, and I looked up to see Mais sauntering in, her hips swaying with a practiced confidence that made my stomach tighten with unease.

"Enjoying your meal, Aria?" she drawled, her voice dripping with disdain as she made her way toward me.

I forced a smile, though I could feel the tension in the air thickening with each step she took.

"It's delicious, thank you," I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral, even as her presence set my nerves on edge.

Mais didn't sit down. Instead, she stopped beside me, her gaze raking over me with barely concealed contempt.

"Can I help you with something?" I asked, not rising to the bait she was practically dangling right in front of my face.

She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a sneer as her eyes flicked down to my waist. I followed her gaze and felt a jolt of unease as I realized she was looking at the king's dagger, the one I had kept at my side since the battle against Sungard. He'd given it to me the morning after our time in the grotto.

I blushed just thinking about it.

"So," she said, her voice laced with venom, "he's given you his dagger. How charming."

I resisted the urge to flinch, lifting my chin instead. "He gave it to me for protection."

"Protection?" Mais scoffed, her sneer widening. "Or perhaps it's just a leash, to remind you of who holds the power here."

The tension between us crackled like electricity, the air thick with the unspoken animosity that had been simmering beneath the surface ever since the day we met. I could feel her jealousy radiating from her like a dark cloud, and I knew there was more to this conversation then I had originally thought.

"I don't know what you're trying to imply, Mais," I said carefully, meeting her gaze with as much strength as I could muster. "But whatever it is, I suggest you keep it to yourself."

She laughed, a sharp, bitter sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "You really are clueless, aren't you?" she sneered. "You think the king cares for you? You think you're special, just because he showers you with gifts and kind words?"

My heart pounded in my chest, the unease turning to dread as I listened to her words. "What are you trying to say?"

Mais leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper, her eyes gleaming with a cruel satisfaction. "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into, but I suppose it's time someone told you the truth," she snarled.

I felt my breath catch, my hands gripping the edge of the table as I waited for her to continue.

"Do you know about the prophecy?" she asked, her tone almost mocking.

My stomach dropped and I shook my head slowly.

Mais' smile widened, her eyes glittering with malice. "Of course you don't. The Dark King wouldn't want his precious little plaything to know what's coming."

"What prophecy?" I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

She straightened, her expression growing more serious, more menacing. "The prophecy that says the Dark King will gain ultimate power by sacrificing a woman touched by dragon magic. A woman just like you."

My heart stopped, the blood draining from my face as her words sank in.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief. "That can't be true."

"Oh, but it is," Mais said, her voice cold and matter of fact. "You're nothing more than a means to an end for him, Aria. The moment he has what he wants, he'll kill you without a second thought. And with your death, he'll reign supreme over all five realms, with no one to stand in his way."

I felt like the ground had been pulled out from under my feet, the room spinning as the weight of her words pressed down on me. Everything I had felt, everything I had believed about Hades, suddenly seemed like a cruel joke, a lie designed to lull me into a false sense of security.

Did he really love me or was that just a lie, too?

"No," I said again, my voice trembling with the effort to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. "He wouldn't… he wouldn't do that."

But I knew better. I knew he would.

Mais shrugged, her expression cold and indifferent. "Believe what you want, but the prophecy is real. And so is his ambition."

I felt sick, my mind racing as I tried to process the horrifying truth. The man who had held me, cared for me, made me feel safe and cherished—was he really planning to kill me? To use me as nothing more than a sacrifice to gain the ultimate power?

"I thought you should know before you get too comfortable in your little fantasy," Mais said, her voice cutting through the fog of my whirling thoughts.

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. It couldn't really be true, could it?

The problem was it could…

Mais gave me one last sneering glance before turning on her heel and sauntering out of the room, leaving me alone with the crushing weight of the truth.

The silence in the dining hall was deafening. I felt a tear slip down my cheek, and I wiped it away with trembling fingers, my mind spinning with the enormity of what I had just learned.

I needed to get out of here.

I had no choice. I couldn't stay here, couldn't let myself be the pawn in some deadly game of power. If the prophecy was real, then I had to escape, to get as far away from Hades as I could before he could fulfill it.

So much for hope. And love…

With a heavy heart, I rose from the table, my legs unsteady as I made my way to the door. I had to leave, and I had to do it now, before it was too late.

Before the man I had come to care for became the one who destroyed me.