Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

A maros glares down at me, a deadly combination of anger and lust in his gaze as he awaits my response.

An icy chill seeps into my chest as I try to come up with a good enough excuse. There’s only one thing I can do here. I’m unsure whether it’ll work, considering the way things have been between us, but I have to try.

I give him my most innocent smile and lick my lips. He follows the movement carefully.

“I felt lonely, and I wanted to come and find you,” I say.

His grip tightens on my wrists, and for a moment, I think he has realised I’m fooling him. But a smirk curls his lips, easing my fears.

The anger melts away, leaving only lust in its place. His gaze traces my body, and he leans down and kisses me.

There’s nothing I can do but accept it, despite my body screaming at me to get away from him. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.

“I knew you would come around eventually.” He nudges my nose with his then glides it along my neck as he breathes in my scent.

Will he be able to sense I hold no lust for him? I need to do better. Alaron’s life depends on it.

He plants a kiss against my neck. “I want it to be extra special when we consummate our bond. Now isn’t the time.”

He releases my wrists and rolls onto his back, and I let out a quiet sigh of relief. I shift toward the edge of the bed, but he grips my wrist, preventing me from going any farther.

“Just because we cannot mate doesn’t mean you must leave. I want you to stay.” He climbs out of bed and walks to what I assume is the bathroom.

“Whose quarters are these?” I ask, glancing around the unfamiliar space.

He pauses in the doorway and looks back at me. “They are my private quarters where I bed other females. If you prefer, we can go back to my quarters.”

I shouldn’t be surprised, and quite frankly, I’m not. Yet this information still shocks me a little, him openly admitting that.

Gods above, I despise this male. How was he able to fool me so easily?

I climb out of the bed.

“Where is she?” I ask, folding my arms tightly across my chest as I do my best to pretend I’m jealous.

He crosses the room toward me and brushes his fingers across my cheek. “She left once I was done with her. We can leave, if you wish.”

I swallow hard, allowing a little frustration to play out in my features. “It’s okay. You can stay. As you said, now’s not the time. I’ll go.”

He caresses my cheek, and I’m surprised to find warmth in his eyes. He likes the fact that I’m jealous but pretending to be okay with this. Good. Although the truth is I couldn’t care less if he beds every female in this Kingdom because I know I will never be one of them.

“Yes, all right, then. I think I may need to call upon another female after having you here. But I will be thinking of you while I am with her, just so you know.” He steps closer, taking my face between his hands.

I close my eyes as he kisses me again. Playing this role is proving to be harder than I ever imagined. But I must do it.

He lets me go and disappears into the bathroom, and I quickly leave these quarters the same way I entered them, finding my way back to Amaros’s quarters.

Just as I reach the door, I spot one keeper waiting outside, and I recognise her as Sevina.

“Apologies for the intrusion, but I thought to inform you that Demetros and Lacinda have arrived in the Kingdom. They have Finlay’s body.” Her expression is grim, and yet her eyes hold the same kindness I remember from the last time I saw her.

I like this keeper. I can trust her. I know it.

“Thank you for telling me, Sevina,” I say before I slip inside Amaros’s quarters.

I assumed they brought Finlay back here on the night Em tricked me and Amaros stole me. They were planning to come back then. I wonder what changed and made them wait until now?

I find my cloak and throw it on, and then I hurry to the balcony. The two watchers still stand outside, but now that it’s dawn, I am allowed to move freely about the Kingdom. With the watchers close behind, of course.

I leap off the balcony, and they hurry to keep up with me. Unsure exactly where Demetros and Lacinda will be, I head for Finlay’s manor, assuming they would take Finlay there to his parents.

When I reach the manor, I spot Finlay’s parents, Kastal and Nethelia, in the courtyard outside the main entrance. Demetros and Lacinda are there, too, flanked by several guards as they gently lay Finlay on the shingle before his parents.

I swoop down and land near them, and Lacinda and Demetros stare wide-eyed.

“Gods above, you’re alive!” Lacinda squeals, and then she rushes toward me.

I wrap my arms around her, more thankful than ever to see my friends.

Demetros comes up next to us and wraps his large arms around the both of us. “We’ve been worried, Zarla. As has Kyle.”

The mention of his name jolts my body, sending an ache right through me, a longing to be with him. My mate. My bottom lip trembles as I desperately attempt to hold in the tears.

“We need to understand what happened, but now’s not the time,” Demetros whispers, glancing over to where Finlay’s parents are crouched next to his body.

Nethelia screams then cradles her son in her lap while Kastal rubs gentle circles over her back to soothe her. His gaze catches mine, and I see hatred in his eyes. Hatred for me, as he blames me for his son’s death.

So he should. I feel responsible for it.

Lacinda rubs my arm, pulling my attention. “Kyle is worried. He can’t get into the Kingdom, and he can’t sense your bond. We all thought you were dead. What’s going on? How did you end up here?”

I glance over to the two watchers, staring at me with a warning in their gazes. Even if I wanted to explain this to my friends, I can’t. Not here, anyway.

“You!” Nethelia screams as she gets up and storms toward me.

I barely have time to register what’s happening before she slaps me hard across the face. Demetros throws himself between us, and Lacinda grabs her wrists.

“Let go of me! She did this!” Tears stream down her cheeks, and she angrily yanks her arms free to wipe them away.

My cheek burns where she hit me, and I gently rub my fingers over the tender skin, shocked at her outburst. If it weren’t for my healing abilities, it would definitely leave a mark.

Lacinda tries to hold Nethelia’s arms down. “Nethelia, stop. It wasn’t Zarla’s fault.”

But Nethelia isn’t listening to a word of it.

Kastal pulls her into his chest. “Whenever there has been trouble for our son, it has always revolved around you. Why is that? What did he do to deserve a fate such as this?”

Kastal’s voice is surprisingly calm, considering the circumstances, as he stares at me, awaiting my response.

I back away. They’re right. This is my fault. All of it.

Nethelia steps toward me, but Kastal restrains her. “You are not welcome around here. You are not welcome at our son’s wake. Just stay away from us!”

She drops to her knees at Finlay’s side, leaning over his lifeless body, and presses her forehead against his, crying for the loss of her only son.

A sob escapes my lips. I try to hold it in with the back of my hand, but it’s no use. Tears pool in my eyes, and I release my wings and take off into the sky.

I fly toward the Dark Forest, the only place that still feels like home around here. The small huts Kyle and I once built together appear so small from up here as I glide down to them. Two thuds sound behind me, and I look back to find the two watchers staring at me.

“Can I not have just a moment alone?”

They glance at one another but don’t say a word.

I turn back to the huts and wipe the moisture from my cheeks. Life can be so cruel. I don’t blame Finlay’s parents for their reaction to their son’s death. I feel at fault, and I have since it happened. Of course I also blame Em, but at the end of the day, the blame lies with me. I chose to take him to Galespo, and I put him in harm’s way.

The wind picks up, howling like a wild Zelon crying out for its mate.

Another thud sounds behind me, and I let out a long breath. Three watchers? Really? I spin around, about to tear into them, when I spot a pair of familiar blue eyes staring back at me, and any resentment for their presence melts away.

“Leave us,” Grazen demands, his gaze never straying from me.

The other two watchers hesitate then fly away.

It’s too much. I can’t control these emotions. I feel as though I’m going to explode.

Grazen takes several large strides forward and pulls me into his chest. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

I allow myself to break down, knowing I am safe in his arms. He holds me tight as my tears stain his shirt. How have things become this bad? I have made so many stupid mistakes, put the lives of those I love the most in danger. Trusted those I shouldn’t have, and look where it’s got me.

“How are you here?” I ask, stepping back.

He presses his lips into a firm line. “Once Amaros killed Zalore, he became my King. Whether I agree with it or not.”

I shake my head at the nerve of Amaros. “And do you? Agree with it?”

He steps closer. “Of course I don’t. But there’s nothing you, or I, or anyone else can do about it.”

“Wrong. We can stop him.”

He rakes his hand down his face. “How?”

I shrug. “I don’t know, but I’m going to.”

Releasing my wings, I prepare to take off when he grabs my hand.

“I’m sorry he hurt you. I could hear it. I could hear your screams…and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.”

The agony in his eyes tugs at my heart, and I reach up and stroke his face. “It’s okay. He’s a cruel male, and if you had tried to help me, he would have killed you. And I can’t bear to lose another friend.”

“Please, just try not to provoke him again. Just do as he says. For now, at least.”

I nod, knowing he’s right. Avoiding the wrath of Amaros isn’t impossible. I just have to learn to keep my mouth shut. As difficult as that is.

I pull him into a hug. “Be careful. Do not let anyone know about our history. You can’t trust anyone around here, okay?”

“Okay.”

I pull back and shoot him a stern look. “I mean it. He’ll kill you if he finds out. He already knows a watcher helped me in Galespo. He just doesn’t know who it was.”

He lets my hand go, and I drop it to my side.

“I’ll be careful. And I’ll keep an eye on you. I’ll be there for you if you need me, no matter the consequences.”

I know there’s no arguing with the male. He’s more stubborn than I. So I leave it, knowing I don’t plan to put him in such a position anyway.

The wind whips my hair around my face as I take off and fly back to the castle. There’s no point attempting an escape now, despite it being one of the few times I’ve been left unguarded.

Leaving this Kingdom without Keva isn’t an option. And I made a promise to Alaron.

I wait until dark before I slip out into the empty castle corridors. It could be pitch black, and I would still manage to find my way to Keva. I have visited him and Alaron every night this past week, and tonight, I’m getting Keva out of here.

I haven’t been able to take Alaron’s powers back from Amaros. That is still a work in progress. But I will. First, I’m going to free Keva and send him deep into the Dark Forest, where he’s protected by his kind and where Amaros wouldn’t dare to venture. The only reason he locked him up down here was to protect himself. He knows Keva will defend me to the death, and Amaros will be first on his kill list given half the chance.

After taking a lantern, I hold it up to light my way as I creep through the tunnels below the castle. The air is damp and scents like dirt. It’s both refreshing and disturbing, knowing how deep below ground level I am.

It’s not long before I hear someone following me. They are careful with their footsteps. My angel senses are on high alert, though, and I don’t think anyone could evade them.

I whip around to find Grazen, and despite knowing he’s there, I’m still startled.

“Gods above, you scared me,” I breathe, my hand on my chest.

He strides toward me, his jaw clenched. “What are you doing down here? What part of ‘just do as he says’ does this fall under?”

I roll my eyes at the huge male, despite knowing he has a point. I did say I would do as Amaros says. But there’s only so long I can keep that up when those I care about are being mistreated. I won’t just sit back and do nothing.

“I need to get Keva out. He can’t stay down here much longer, or he’ll die.”

I carry on down the tunnel, and Grazen grabs hold of my arm to stop me.

“Nope. Not gonna happen. It’s too dangerous.”

I open my mouth to protest when footfalls echo down the tunnel. We both stare at one another, and he then hauls me to the side of the tunnel, taking the lantern from me. In one swift motion, he extinguishes the flame. Darkness surrounds us as we press ourselves hard up against the stone walls, but it won’t be long before whoever is down here shows up with a lantern of their own.

It’s Amaros. I can sense him through our bond. He’s looking for me.

Zarla…I know you’re down here. I can feel you.

Crap. This is bad. I need to get us out of here. Now.

Why do you continue to defy me? I thought my last punishment set you straight. Oh, was I wrong.

“It’s Amaros…” I whisper.

“Fuck. Get us out of here.”

I attempt to open a portal, but the damn wire prevents me. Grazen slips his fingers under it and tears it off my wrists, and before I can question why he hasn’t done that for me sooner, voices fill the air. We’re running out of time.

“She’s down here. Find her.” Amaros’s voice echoes through the tunnel.

I look forward to hearing you beg for mercy, down on your knees. Amaros’s cruel voice sounds in my mind, laced with an evil excitement for what he’s going to do to me when he catches me.

A vision enters my mind of me on my knees before him, my wrists bound together as he whips my naked body.

That’s exactly what I’m going to do to you. But that’s not the worst of it.

He plants another vision in my mind of me lying naked on the cold stone floor of his quarters, covered in blood, barely conscious and begging for him to stop before he grabs hold of my hair and drags me toward his bed.

I cringe at his sadistic plans for me and fight the tremble that starts to overtake me.

“Zarla,” Grazen whispers and gently shakes my arm. “We’ve got to get out of here. Now.”

My breath catches as I try to close off from the endless visions and images Amaros plants in my mind. I press my hands against my head, squeezing as I let out a scream, and Grazen grabs my hands.

“Ignore it. He’s not here. He can’t hurt you. I’ve got you.”

I nod and attempt to do as he says, focusing on our bond and closing it off from the section of my mind I’ve managed to keep out of his reach. It works, giving me the time I need to clear my head.

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and reach my hands out and dig for the cooling sensation inside that I have grown so familiar with. Despite not being able to reach it for some time, I am relieved to find it’s still there. I grab onto it and will it to the surface. I visualise opening a portal, but I don’t put much thought into where. It just has to be anywhere but here.

“It’s working!” Grazen says.

I open my eyes to find it has worked, then I grab Grazen and haul him through it. He trips on the way, sending both of us tumbling to the ground in a twisted heap.

The portal snaps shut behind us, and I scramble to my feet and try to make sense of where in the gods I’ve sent us. I glance around at the unfamiliar blood-stained skies and barren lands before us. Thunder roars overhead, and lightning tears across the sky above several large volcanos in the distance.

“Where the fuck have you sent us?” Grazen questions in wonder.

His blond, dishevelled hair hangs over his forehead, covering his left eye, and he runs a hand through it, taming it somewhat as he stares out over the foreign lands.

“I have no idea…”