From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 110

Chapter 110

“There are many of them, from what I could see through one of the outside torches. They’ve multiplied during this time. They’re thriving.”–She drifts into her own thoughts before contiming–They’re led by a woman, seated on a throne of fangs and claws, with a white wolf by her side and another with golden eyes and scars.”

“Were you able to hear anything?”

“Eleazar was speaking with her. Apparently, he’s not happy about what they’ve done to Ebra, and they were arguing. The deal was that he would bring her to them and in return, they promised not to hurt her.”

“He’s even dumber than I thought if he believes the word of one of them means anything” I say, my voice full of disgust. “Anything else!”

They believe she is the key to eliminating the Purebloods,”

Drystan and I look at each other, knowing it’s as strange as it is possible. If everything Drystin has said is true, Elara is something unknown- something that could have unimaginable abilities and gifts. A feeling I thought I’d never feel again overwhelms me.

Fear. Fear of what Elara is–not because of what she might do to me, but because of what others might do to eliminate her, use her, possess her.

The truth–the mystery we Pures have hidden for so long–is that only that which gave us life can take it from us. We were born from Lilith’s tears, and only her tears can bring about our death. Years ago, humans, through pacts with demons, managed to obtain them. They used witches–whom I later annihilated–to create weapons that, with a single tear, had the power to kill us. The boldest injected them into their blood and killed many of us who fed on them, unaware of what they carried. The image of my mother with a dagger in her heart, her skin turning gray and her eyes filling with blood, will never leave me–nor what they did afterward with her body and my father’s.

ay from Drysian, Ank in my hand again. When I’m sure we’re alone. I let the thought torment me aloud,

I move away

“Let me see her. She shivers-“Is it as horrible as it sounds!”

“She has fear eiched in her gaze.”

“Let me sEC,

Because of Ank’s close friendship with my mother and her loyalty to me, I promised never to enter her mind without her consent–so when she lowers her head in agreement, I dive in and search through her latest memories. I see a room where, as she said, a woman sits on a throne, guarded by two wolves. Despite my curiosity, Elara is more important now. I search and search until I find exactly what I want. Elara’s gaze is fixed straight ahead. A horrible muzzle covers the lower part of her face, and from its color, I can tell the metal is burning. She has dried tears on her checks and bloodshot eyes. Her nails are broken, and the pain is so immense that she’s dug them into her skin unul she bled.

I want to reach out and touch her cheek, but this is only Ank’s memory. Reluctantly, and with my heart in a state I can’t even name, Lexit the salamander’s mind.

“Please, stay alert, and if anything happens that I need to know–inform me immediately.”

I retum Ank to the flame and she vanishes until further notice. I move across the deck barking orders, organizing how we’ll act with what we now know. It doesn’t matter that I want to get there as fast as possible–there are things even bean’t fight against. We still have a long journey ahead.

Day turns to night, and several Diluted relieve the Purebloods so they can rest and feed. I wish I could say the same for myself; instead. I stay awake the entire time reviewing old maps hidden in one of the drawers in my cabin. Drystan and I plan several strategies, though we both know they’re expecting us—and there’s little we can do against that. We’re clearly at a disadvantage without the element of surprise.

During one of the moments I’m alone, I try something I haven’t been able to do since last time. Elara’s mind has remained closed to me, but I make one more attempt, thinking it will fail. But it doesn’t. I manage to be there, sitting beside her. I feel the cold soaking into my skin–but I don’t care,

“Flora”

I reach toward her and gently brush one side of her head with my fingers, careful not to startle her. Only her eyes react to my call; everything else remains the same. Her body doesn’t move, and her lips have been denied the option of speech. I feel her body trembling beneath my hand and, by pure instinct, I pull her armall and fragile frame toward me. Right now, I hate not being someone warm. I don’t know if my embrace can soothe the cold–1 just know I can’t watch her tremble

“Hold on a bit longer, little wild thing,” I murmur into her hair. “I’m on my way, and when I get to you, I’ll make them pay.”

I run my thumb down her cheek until it reaches the horror on her face. The contact is hot–abrasive. I don’t even want to inugine what that thing is doing to her skin. 171 make sure they pay, and theis I’ll have someone erase every trace of this torture. I won’t let her live with the reminder of

This

She moves against me, raises her gaze, and in it, she shows me all her fear. It lodges in my chest like a heavy slab.

“If I hadn’t been such an idiot with you, you never would have left.” I whisper. “No words I can say now could express how sorry I am. I’ll never forgive myself for this.”

1/2

Chapter 110

She blinks, brushing away the tears that threaten to fall from her eyes. I don’t know where she finds the strength and even more, the desire touch me, but that’s what she does. She places her hand over mine, and I can feel that she’s comforting me. This girl is far too good for someone

like me

On the tip of my tongue, so many words gather–among them, the ones that would let me tell her that we’re not just a simple coincidence. We are the result of a destiny twisted by vile hands. Instead, I decide she’s had enough. She doesn’t need me to add more to her fragile mental state. I don’t know how much she knows–but I won’t be the one to drown her in information.

I caress her hair again and again, with the urgent need to feel connected to her in any way I can during the time I have left. I curl up next to her and let her fall asleep against my shoulder. 1 look around at everything, memories of my youth assault my mind and make me sick. Attentive to her heartbeat and steady breaths, I begin to speak to the void.

“There are many emotions I haven’t felt in centuries, and now you make me feel so many, so fast, that I’m terrified. I don’t want to think we are a result of fate, I want to believe I would have chosen you myself in any circumstance, because you can’t just be something designed for me. You’re Elara, with all the things that make you who you are just like I’m Cassian, and I hold hope, in the atrophied organ in my chest, that one day you will accept me—your enemy, your nightmare. I believe I would die for you, I’d put the world at your feet, little wild thing, and I don’t have the courage to say it when you can hear me. You make me a coward.”

Her breathing grows heavier, and her body moves toward mine, seeking me. A solitary tear escapes from the corner of her eye, and I catch it before it continues down. Could her tears really be lethal? I rub the moisture between my fingers in anger, swearing til make rivers of blood run over the floors of this place. I realize there’s blood dripping from the edge of the muzzle, staining one of my hands. I close my eyes, see everything in the red of rage, and wait patiently for her to wake. Many hours pass, but I don’t care—there’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now.

When she begins to stir at my side and opens her gray eyes again, I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead,

“I’ll be back soon,” I say, feeling a tug pulling me somewhere else. “Be that little wild thing that tormented me in the castle, okay?”

I can hardly see anything of her face and it drives me mad. Reluctantly. I leave, exit her mind and find myself back in my cabin, alone. Someone knocks on the door. On my way to it, I ran my fingers across my face and pause at my lips. I can taste the distinctive wild flavor of her blood. I try not to think about why I’m stained with it and open the door.

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