“I know that but I never wanted it in the first place. You just couldn’t leave things the way they were.”
“My reasons were—”
I got to my feet and spoke the truth before he could give his excuse. “Cruel and misjudged! I was never a part of this and you know it!”
He paused like he was thinking about every possible outcome and turned away with a subtle head shake. “This isn’t—”
“It never is but sometimes you just need to let it go. Let me go.”
“You know the consequences if I do that.”
“Don’t try and use that on me. You’re never without help. It doesn’t need to come from me.”
“I wasn’t speaking of that consequence.” I closed my eyes with a silent sigh and couldn’t turn my head around to look at Adele behind me. I knew what Trever meant now. “You know what that will do.”
“But I can’t stay. This body—it’s—you wouldn’t understand.”
“Then I’ll do it. I’ll release you but you have to tell her. That’s something I never wanted on me.”
I dreaded what I was about to do but I knew I had to. I turned from Trever with a mere agreeing nod and looked upon Adele’s face. It still struck confusion but worry was there as well and I took just a single step towards her.
“Back off!”
Zayden and his bodyguards got in the way and stood defensive so I couldn’t get to her.
“Not a step closer.” Darius said.
Their hands found their way to their weapons and I looked upon it with amusement. “And what exactly do you plan to do with that? Think it will work?”
“Stay away from her.” Zayden said, keeping Adele behind him who was still dazed in shock. “I don’t know what you were thinking but you’re not—”
“Me?” I laughed for the wrongly accused. “You honestly think that I chose this? They decided this for reasons that are always their own.”
Zayden looked to Aleks and Trever standing farthest away and shook his head like he was still trying to understand it. “Why?”
“You should understand why.” Aleks answered.
“No. I don’t. You’re just prolonging it. That’s all.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be now.” Trever said.
“Think it’s a little late.” Troy replied.
They turned and we all had our eyes towards the three women.
“Do we even want to know what’s going on?” Jaylyn asked.
Troy shared a look with Trever and approached her side, taking her gently in his arms like he was already prepared for another breakdown. “No but you will.”
No one said anything and Adele was still staring at me, unblinkingly.
“Well?” Ruby wondered, getting a little inpatient.
“You want me to?” Zayden asked.
I turned my eyes from Adele and smiled. “Why? Think it’s the least you could do, brother?”
“Well, you’re just standing there. She may not quite understand it.”
I looked at Adele again and she was still staring at me. She hasn’t moved.
“I don’t think she blinked yet.” Trever said. “You better do something before she falls over and joins you.”
“Don’t even suggest that!” I quickly looked back at him with my whole face expressing a sincere hatred for his words.
Trever just pointed back with his eyes like it didn’t bother him and I turned back with a solemn breath.
Zayden was still in the way but moved himself and made sure Darius and Troy moved as well. They didn’t seem to understand why he did it but kept quiet while I finally got the chance to step in front of Adele. “I—”
She brought up her finger to my mouth before I could get out another word. “Don’t. I don’t want to hear it.”
“How do you know?”
“How could I not?” Her voice was low but not yet seeming upset. “I just ignored the signs because I didn’t want to think it could be true.” She looked down at my chest and slid her hand from my mouth to the punctures in my armor. “But then there was this. It didn’t affect you. You’re not even bleeding.”
“You’re taking it better than I thought you would.” She still had her hand and eyes down on my chest but then she started getting shaky, letting out tears at the same time. “Okay, I take that back.” I pulled her into me so I could try and comfort her the best I could. “It was just delayed.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It wasn’t my decision to make or I would have.”
She started crying harder like she was in a deep panic and Ruby and Jaylyn were the only ones standing by that didn’t know what was fully going on.
“I think we’re stupid.” Ruby said, leaning slightly forward towards Jaylyn.
“Yeah. It’s starting to look that way. What’s—”
“He’s dead.” Troy whispered just under the sound of Adele’s crying.
“What?!”
Chapter 31
Jaylyn
“No he’s not.” Ruby said, her eyes tracing all over Ryon’s image.
“No he’s not.” I echoed. “He’s standing right there.”
“Don’t believe everything you see.” Ryon replied. “You should have been the first to know.”
I squinted my eyes in his direction and looked him over a little more carefully because I was still skeptical. I didn’t want to believe it or maybe I couldn’t think to but I felt it for myself. My squinting eyes shot open and I let out a sudden gasp while grabbing Ruby’s wrist. “It’s true!”
“But how? You look so—fleshy.”
Ruby poked his right cheek and he pushed her hand away with an annoyed sigh. “Please don’t.”
“Don’t let me go!” Adele’s voice was panicked and Ryon quickly put his arm back around her so she stayed close. “Don’t ever let me go.”
“I can’t stay here, Adele. Not anymore.”
“But why? You’re here now.”
“I never wanted it this way. I never wanted to have to do this but some people didn’t want you to be like this too soon.”
“Why can’t you just stay?”
“Even if I wanted to, it would be hard on me.”
“Because of my choice, you mean.”
Ryon got a light smile on his face and pulled Adele back away from him. “It has nothing to do with that. You don’t even realize how fragile you are being alive. I can feel your body dying as we stand here and it’s the pain of it that can never go away as long as I’m here. I don’t want to feel that anymore. I can’t.”
“Then you don’t have to because I’m coming with you.”
I tensed and my eyes opened only merely a millimeter more but it was surely noticeably in correspondent to her words. I wasn’t sure what to do but I did look at Zayden.
He barely lifted his arm to reach forward to her but Ryon stopped him with a hand signal, doing well to keep his eyes down on Adele. “You’re not. This is something I have to do alone. Your place is here—with Zayden.” He broke from his seriousness with a smile he tried to maintain to a certain degree by holding back as much of it as he could. “He’ll need you around so he doesn’t go completely insane from the pressure that will hit him in the future.”
“Thanks.” Zayden muttered.
“No one else can do that but you. We both knew this wouldn’t last, remember?”
“But it wasn’t supposed to be like this.” Adele fell into his arms again with heavy tears, putting everyone in a silent mood.
She was heated from crying so much and Aleksander leaned into Trever. “Stop this, please. She’s hurting too much and I can’t—”
He turned away from looking at her and Trever nodded, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Okay. I will.” He turned his eyes back to Ryon and spoke to him without him having to listen. “You’re free.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.” Ryon said. “But I have to go.”
“No.” Adele cried, trying to grip him even t
ighter so he wouldn’t leave. The image of him in her arms started to fade and Adele’s hands went right through him. Her eyes welt right up even more and she shook her head at him with a cracked voice. “No. Ryon.”
She looked upon his regretted eyes and he just smiled lightly, reaching for her face but stayed away from actually touching her. “You’re staying but we’ll see each other again. Zayden, will you do me a favor?”
“Of course I’ll take care of her.”
“No. Watch out for Rift for me. He won’t survive on his own.”
The young pup ducked his head and took slow steps towards Zayden like he was sad that his owner was leaving. It was sad to watch.
“I will.” Zayden leaned down to pet his head and he stayed loyal at his side.
“Thank you. Goodbye, Adele.” Ryon lowered his hand and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath in. With every second of it, he was vanishing even more.
Adele stood emotionless in disbelief like her pulse was stopped and she was frozen in time. It didn’t last long. Zayden reached his hand out to her and Adele just fell to her knees back in heavy tears before he could even touch her. No one knew what to do at this point. We all had our eyes down on her and our moods were becoming the same. Everything seemed to be happening all over again like a couple of nights before.
I had to turn into Troy’s arms and Ruby leaned herself back on Darius, bringing his arms up around her. The long pause lasted while Adele’s tears didn’t seem like they were going to ever stop.
“Well, perhaps we should press on, hmm?” Trever started to take a few steps to the east like this was over.
Ruby’s head snapped up from watching Adele and her eyes turned red while she had them on Trever, stopping him in his tracks. “No! How could you even say that?! Did you not see what just happened?! It must be because you don’t care!”
“I care! I got that out over a week ago when it actually happened!”
“What did happen?” I asked.
Trever didn’t respond. He stood still and just turned away from answering.
“It was a self-choice.” Aleksander said.
“You mean he—because of—” I pointed down at Adele while I covered my mouth from the shock. He really did it. I knew he wanted to but I didn’t think he actually would have.
“We did all we could.” Trever said. “Not even you could have helped again. It was the only way he thought to give her to Zayden forever. It was his final wish.”
I felt the sorrow in Trever’s voice just from having to say it and I went to him, putting my hand on his arm without a word.
He nodded and Ruby groaned in the background. “I think I’m going to throw up now.” She walked to the edge of the wall and stepped out beyond it.
I heard this strange sound and Darius quickly grabbed her hand, pulling her within the safety of the wall just as an arrow passed by. “Ruby!”
“Thank you. It appears we still have a problem.”
“We’ll take care of it.” Zayden said.
“No.” Aleksander cut in, stopping him from leaving. “It’s apparent they were after you. You cannot go out there.”
“Then how—”
“I know how.” Trever said. I released his arm when it moved and he pulled a small vial from his shirt that hung on a chain around his neck with the key to our father’s journal hanging below it. “Everyone needs to stay calm. Do not show your fear and they won’t hurt you.”
“They?” I wondered.
Trever finally regained a smile on his face and took the chain off to hold the vial in his hands. He opened it up and sprinkled golden flakes on the ground in front of him then took out a dagger from his side and cut his finger.
“What are you doing?”
“Jay, relax and move back.” I did what he told me and Trever let a drop of his blood fall onto the golden flakes. It started to bubble like it was boiling and the mixture turned black and moved along the ground, finding the nearest crease to seep into.
“That was it? Helpful.”
“Don’t speak too soon.” Aleksander said as he joined us a distance away.
Curious, I kept watching while Adele remained on the ground with her tears, completely unaware of what was happening. My eyes were on the spot where the black liquid disappeared and the ground started to crack and rumble around it. We were startled and stayed close to each other, not to fall from the unsettling ground but Trever had a somewhat different reaction. He stayed completely still, able to keep his balance perfectly in his straightened stance and even when the ground at his feet started to split open, he did not move.
The sounds of thundering growls started to echo from underground and I watched as if I forgot how to blink. Large muscular paws, black of the darkest soot, started ripping through the very rock with hook claws sharper than any blade. My breaths stopped and eyes widened when the earth birthed two great lions, solid black from their nose to the tip of their tail. They roared loudly in the direction of us.
“Lex! Rouge!” The growling started to settle as the two large beasts turned towards Trever. They walked just a few feet and knelt down in front of him like they were bowing.
“Trever—” I stuttered to see the lions at all, let alone how obedient they were being to his voice.
Trever didn’t respond just yet. His eyes were down on the beast in front of him with their golden eyes peering back. “There’s a new target for you. They need to be dealt with before we can leave. It’s time to go hunting.”
The lions roared again but it seemed they were more excited to the thought of hunting rather than sounding angry.
“Trever.” Aleksander spoke up among the noise and Trever put his hand up for them to stop so he could finish. “There are only two. One should be left alive so we know who planned this.”
“Of course. You’re right. Lex. You better let Rouge handle this one. He’s more—subtle than you.”
One of the lions laid down in place without a disgruntle sound of objection and let the other head off around the wall.
“Sorry, old friend.” Trever smiled, kneeling down and stroking his thick black mane. “Maybe next time.” The lion, Lex, flopped over to his side and let Trever scratch his chest.
“Trever—” I said again in the same manner I did before, hoping to get a response out of him this time.
He looked up to my expression and smiled while keeping Lex’s mood calm by petting him. “It’s all right, Jay. He’s not a threat to you unless I say so.”
“It’s a lion.” I stuttered. “And it’s black. It’s a black lion.”
“Yes.”
“How is that even possible?”
“When is the last time you looked at our flag?”
“Yes, I know but I didn’t think they were real and that one has wings.”
Trever let out a long breath while he rose up and Lex stood up at his side. “And that’s the one I hope you’ll never have to see.”
“Lex and Rouge are brothers.” Aleksander said. “They’re better known to the ancient world as Shadows.”
“Shadows? Of what?”
Aleksander had his eyes directly on Trever while he answered in a perfectly clear voice. “The King.”
My head snapped over to Trever with wide eyes and he worked to avoid the conversation completely as usual by straying from my eyes.
“Shouldn’t they be shadowing you?” I asked Aleksander.
He looked between Trever and I before he answered. “I meant Kalu’s true King.”
It was slow at first or maybe I just didn’t want to believe it. It couldn’t be true.
“You’re—we’re—how?”
Trever finally looked at me again but not a single lie came from his lips. “Father never had the heart to tell you and I guess that I didn’t either.”
I wasn’t sure what my reaction should be. How was I a Princess? I didn’t feel like one. Adele was our Princess and it made more sense because she was with Zayden. Is that why Aleksander became King, so
they could be together?
“You don’t have to say anything.” Trever said. “It’s not your responsibility to fix.”
“Is that your reason for not telling me?”
“Of course not. Father never wanted you to feel pressure in your life and I guess it makes more sense now.”
“How do you mean?”
“You know, not being leader of the Assassins and the more obvious one, Troy.”
I looked back at him and he look sorry, like he thought he was going to lose me or something and I knew what Trever was telling me.
“It was never planned for me to be with him, was it?”
“No, it wasn’t but Arianna screwed that up when she sent Adele into Seni instead of you. We didn’t know until you met that she was already so attached to Zayden and the plan changed.”
“Wait. What?” Zayden seemed curious now.
“It’s no longer an issue.” Trever said. “I got over it. We currently have everything under control.”
“Not everything.” I looked at Adele and she was still on the ground. Her tears were more quite but they were still present while she was almost completely forward over her knees.
Zayden sighed rather loudly. He probably hated to see her this way and knew he couldn’t do a thing.
“That can be fixed.” Trever said. “Lex.” Lex took a couple steps forward and looked up at Trever. “Perhaps there is something you can do after all.” Lex looked over at Adele crying on the ground and started to approach.
“No!” Zayden tried to get to Adele first.
Lex growled to his sudden movement in his direction and started to become defensive.
“Zayden, stop.” Trever said. “I would never want her hurt. He can help. I promised Ryon I’d do whatever I could and this is what I can do. Just let him pass.”
Zayden slowly started to move aside while Lex lost his snarling look and he passed him, coming up to Adele. He stood in front of her, towering over her head and leaned down to gently nudge her with his nose.
Adele began to look up with short, quick breaths and they were immediately halted when she saw the sight in front of her. She pushed herself back from the surprise but couldn’t seem to pull her eyes away from his golden gaze.
Raining Light (Fate's Intent Book 5) Page 17
