Chapter 34

34

T he moment I step through the doors of my old home, my stomach twists. The former king’s dark and twisted powers caress my skin. “ Why does it feel like I’m walking through molasses?”

Dax looks at me with an arched brow. “ What do you mean?”

My eyes roam the halls as we walk. “ Do you not feel it? The oppressive feeling of the magic used here?”

Dax shakes his head. “ I don’t feel anything.”

“ Maybe , I’m …”

Dax interrupts me before I can finish my thought. “ Do not discount your feelings. We will follow your lead. Take us to where you feel the magic is the most powerful.”

I freeze at the trust he is putting on me. “ You —you believe me?”

His gaze softens as he nods. “ Of course. You were the one who killed my father. It’s possible his magic attached to you, and it could be that what you are feeling is the residual power he left behind here.”

Taking a deep breath, I nod with renewed confidence. The feeling of the dark tendrils of power caressing my skin is less disturbing with my men by my side. “ This way.”

My hands tighten in Dax and Bene’s as we continue through the castle. The magic becomes so thick it’s getting harder to breathe. I fight my way through the need to gulp down air as we approach the throne room.

The moment my hand touches the door, I have to suck in a deep breath as the feeling almost overwhelms me. Dax’s hand tightens in mine. “ Eira ?”

Squeezing my eyes shut, I try to breathe through the uncomfortable feeling. “ In here,” I choke out.

I hear the clang of swords being drawn behind me as Dax releases my hand. “ I'll take a quick look around first. Stay here, Little Raven .”

I nod and try to focus on taking deep breaths. The last thing I need is to have a panic attack. The moment he opens the door, I’m bombarded with echoing screams. My hands immediately rise to cover my ears, and I let out a scream of my own. Dax’s wide eyes meet mine as my vision changes. I know my eyes are engulfed in black as colors around me sharpen, but so do the sounds.

“ Make them stop!” I scream as I drop to my knees. Thousands of screaming voices surround me at once. They beg and plead for me to end it all. To free them from their eternal torment. I feel someone shake me, but I pay them no mind as I’m locked in my own eternal hell.

One voice rings out louder than the rest. A feminine voice yells, “ Free me!”

“ I don’t know how!” I scream back.

The voices begin chanting in sync, “ Mirror . Mirror . Break . Break .”

I try to focus through blurry eyes from the outside of the room. I can’t see anything from my vantage point, so I scream, “ Mirror ! Break the mirror!”

I’m sure only a few moments pass, but it feels like an eternity before everything goes silent again. Taking a deep breath, I chance uncovering my ears and look around. Shattered glass is spread across the room, and I look up to find seven males peering down at me in worry.

Asher is the first to break the silence. “ Are you okay, Eira ?”

I take a shuddering breath and give him a hesitant nod. “ I think so,” I whisper.

“ What the fuck just happened?!” Kas yells.

I hiss as his loud voice makes my head pound. I hear a thump and look up to find Kas holding his face and Rev giving him a death glare. “ Did you not just see her screaming in pain from voices we couldn’t hear? I don’t believe you yelling will help!”

I chuckle at my dark shadow. “ I’m okay, Spooky .”

Rev’s eyes shift to mine, softening when he says, “ I do not like seeing you in pain.” Then he smirks. “ Unless I am the one causing it.”

I shake my head but regret it when my head starts to pound. Pressing my fingers to my temples and wishing this headache would go away, I ask, “ Is there anything else we need to destroy while we are here?”

Dax kneels in front of me. “ The mirror was the most important thing. We can wait on everything else.”

“ No , we should get everything done now, so we can return home.” I lift my eyes to meet his bright blue ones and say, “ I do not wish to return for a while.”

He nods in understanding before leaning to press a kiss to my forehead. “ I will get it done, Little Raven .” He looks to Kasim and Reverie . “ The two of you will stay here until we are finished.”

They nod and make their way over to my side, taking a seat next to me while the others leave to take care of everything else.

“ Are you well?” Kasim asks softly.

He looks properly chastised by Rev , and I can’t help but chuckle. “ I am well, Grumpy Man .”

I look to Rev next. “ Can we go outside. I really don’t want to be here anymore.” He nods and lifts me into his arms. “ I am perfectly capable of walking myself, Rev .”

He hums but continues to carry me out of the castle anyway. “ I know. But I wish to hold you close for a bit. To know you are well.”

I keep forgetting that it hasn’t been long since I technically died in the battle for the kingdom. I snuggle into him and say, “ I do not mind being spoiled for a bit.”

He huffs out a laugh, then Kas snorts and says, “ I told you; I knew you were a spoiled princess.”

With a smirk, I tease, “ Do you not like spoiling me, Kasim ?”

He grunts. “ I did not say that.”

Before I can reply, the others march out of the castle. I look over Rev’s shoulder. “ That was quick.”

Dax is in the lead, and he shrugs. “ You wished to leave as soon as possible.”

I roll my eyes and reply, “ We do not need to leave immediately. You could have taken your time.”

Asher comes up beside Rev and me and presses a kiss to my cheek. “ We would much rather be with you, Snow Bunny .”

I snort a laugh. “ I know you would rather be with me, but that doesn’t mean you have to rush to destroy the items in the castle.”

“ We didn’t rush around the castle destroying things if that is what you are implying,” Bene tells me with a smirk.

“ The look on your face has me doubting the truth to your words.”

He shrugs as Mir asks, “ Would you believe it if I were to say the words?”

I shake my head with a laugh. “ Nope .”

“ Shall we return home now that we have finished?” Alair asks from atop the front stairs of the castle.

Dax nods. “ Let’s head back before it gets dark. We may have destroyed the king’s items that held the magic, but we don’t know how it will affect the land and its creatures now that he’s gone.”

I nod in agreement. I know that the death-bringers will still be wandering around, but we don’t know if the magic held in the castle allows them free will or if they are still tainted by the magic.

“ Let’s go home.”