Chapter 307: _The Last Shred Of Denial
"You’re... You’re lying." I shook my head, my face twisting with anger as I glared at Ryker. "This is just another one of your tricks to get into my—"
"Spare me," Ryker said with a long sigh. Then a smirk rested on his face. "What did I expect? Even with all the signs already in your head, you still don’t believe someone else telling you the truth."
He sniggered, proceeding to slowly walk around me, each step sending a shiver down my spine. I struggled not to follow his movements, standing my ground and keeping my head held high.
"My mother, Seraphina, was known all around the world. If Kaelos truly did what you said, he would’ve known and he would’ve—"
"Told you?" Ryker chimed. He seemed to be enjoying this way too much.
Enjoying watching me unravel. Break.
Like some toy.
Well, screw him!
"Listen here, Ryker." I finally turned around, facing him when I felt him lurking behind me. "Say all you want but Kaelos and I share a bond that lets us share everything with each other. You can’t—"
"Almost everything with each other." Ryker raised his finger, waging it with a smirk. "Like the way he didn’t tell you about him killing our father."
He let out another sigh.
I’d had just enough of this.
"Listen... I can’t do this right now." I raised my hands in defeat, my voice trembling. "You won, okay? I’m here now and you can take my magic if you want it. I don’t care anymore."
And I meant every word.
Yes, I’ve been a powerless witch all my life. Yes, I’ve been ostracised for my lack of magic. Yes, I’ve felt whole ever since I awakened my hybrid nature.
But the problems I’ve faced as a hybrid are vast in comparison to my days as a powerless witch.
And even though my powers and my connection to the Vein meant I was a danger of apocalyptic proportions to the planet—
’What the heck are you thinking?’ Sirena finally spoke up in my mind for the first time since my miscarriage.
I let out a gasp, about to speak to her when Ryker blurted. "Cute offer. But as much as I would love to have your power for myself... I can’t. Yes, I can take your magic with the right rituals but you see this..."
He suddenly grabbed my right arm, causing me to gasp as I struggled to slip out of his hold.
But then he raised my arm, showing the coiling black sigils within my blood. They moved like snakes, pulsing with energy and life even though I wasn’t using my magic.
"I can’t take these." He echoed finally, voice dripping with both envy and reverence. "This is your connection to the Vein. Your connection to the great witch, Nyx. It makes you and your blood the key to endless chaotic magic underneath this continent."
This continent...
Well, it was good to know we were still on North American soil at least.
I tightened my jaw, pulling my wrist free of Ryker’s grip. I stumbled a bit from the force I used, but that didn’t stop me from raising my right hand again and sending a slap to his face.
I expected him to dodge, catch or disappear.
But he didn’t.
Smack!
My slap landed with a crisp sound that echoed like a gunshot around the walls of the throne room.
But Ryker barely flinched, his expression stoic as he stared down at me.
Meanwhile, his henchwoman, Regina, chuckled, staring at me from behind her master like I was screwed.
Maybe I was...
"Are you done?" Ryker asked with a cold voice that reverberated with authority. His silver eyes glinted with a dangerous light, causing me to withdraw my hand and take a few steps back, my chest heaving heavily.
’Try and relax.’ Sirena echoed in my mind. ’I’m trying to find ways to bypass that necklace so we can use our sonic howl attack.’
But I shook my head, both mentally and physically. ’How can you tell me to relax, Sirena? My... My—’
’Yes, Apollo.’ Her voice was filled with sadness now. She lost her usual edge, like she was grieving as well. ’My essence was involved in his conception too, you know? I feel the pain of his loss too. But we can’t afford weakness right now.’
Ryker’s eyes were locked on me, his head tilting ever so slightly. "It seems playing nice and patient wouldn’t work in this situation."
I trembled at his words but I didn’t dare tear my gaze from his face, curling my fists beside me with defiance.
"If you can’t take my power... Then what?" I muttered, furrowing my eyebrows. "You want to force me to join your side? W–Well, give up, Ryker! I’ll rather burn you and myself if that’s what it takes."
Without warning and with pure rage and instinct driving me, I lunged, my hands outstretched and aiming for his neck.
My wolf claws stretched out and so did my fangs.
But just when my hands were inches away from dicing his neck... He smirked.
Suddenly, he raised his hands, using his left to shove my arms casually with a single strike and then stepped aside.
I grunted, almost stumbling forward but then he caught me by my forehead, pressing his fingers on it.
I blinked, trying to stand straight again but everything around me slowly dissolved into darkness.
No, no, no!
"Get out of my mind!" I screamed, falling to the ground, my arms breaking my fall.
I glanced over my shoulder and witnessed Ryker, the throne room, the pillars... Everything was disappearing until there was nothing left but darkness.
I shivered.
The darkness changed around me, shifting into a recognisable landscape.
My eyes widened, my heart dropping into my stomach.
This was a living room. And not just any living room too...
This was my childhood living room, back in the Luminari coven territory.
"Your mate bond with Kaelos gives me just a little access to his thoughts through you. His memories included." Ryker’s voice echoed around the living room as I slowly rose to my feet.
The place was trashed, walls blown into rubble, ceiling caved in, smoke, dust and blood lingering, furniture tumbled.
That’s because this... Was the aftermath of the attack on the Luminari Coven territory.
"What you’re seeing now is a scene that’s been foggy in your mind since you were only five. But for Kaelos who was about thirteen? He remembers it almost like it was yesterday." Ryker continued as the sound of footsteps suddenly sounded.
I stiffened, turning my gaze to what used to be the door leading into the living room but was now a blown-up hole in the wall.
When I saw who was stepping in... My eyes widened further.
Kaelos.
In his wolf form.
He stood at over ten feet tall, blood sticking to his crimson fur like an extra layer of skin. He raised his snout, sniffing into the air.
Suddenly, his bones and fur began shifting, his height dwindling until he was the size of a young teenager.
I squinted my eyes, staring at his young form and his black hair which was surprisingly long at that age.
"You’re telling me... This is Kaelos? At thirteen?" I muttered with disbelief, realising that he couldn’t see me, and this was just a projection of a memory.
"What? He’s never shown you his childhood photos?" Ryker’s voice echoed as he chuckled darkly. "Just keep watching, Odessa..."
"Gamma Kaelos!" A male voice suddenly yelled from outside, causing the young Kaelos to glance at the door.
"Yes?"
"We have to go. Now! The Luminari coven elders brought reinforcements." The voice echoed outside.
Kaelos nodded, drawing in a deep breath. His body trembled with... Fear. The poor boy, Kaelos, was afraid.
There was also guilt in his silver eyes which were now locked on a corner of the room.
"What... What did I do?" He whispered to himself as the sound of explosions and yelling boomed outside all over again.
My heart clenched.
"Think... Odessa." Ryker’s voice was a whisper in my mind now. "That night, your mother made you leave for the basement. But you lingered in the living room long enough to see this same beast Kaelos transformed into, walking into the room."
I shook my head, my heart thundering against my rib cage.
This couldn’t be...
"He saw you and you saw him. But he didn’t go after you... Perhaps because you were a child." Ryker continued, his voice dripping with disdain as the young Kaelos finally turned away and scurried out of the house.
"But you know the truth..."
As the young Kaelos left, it felt like the last shred of denial I had been clinging to ripped out my heart and faded into dust...
My breathing became hoarse as my knees buckled, causing me to fall, my lips trembling. Tears stung my eyes and I felt like my heart had been trampled on.
Images flashed in my head so violently they made me dizzy — Kaelos holding me after the miscarriage, Kaelos whispering "I’ll protect you" on the night after he proposed, Kaelos fighting at my side against impossible odds...
All of them shattered, collapsing into the image of a blood-soaked wolf standing in my childhood home, silver eyes glinting under the moonlight.
The same silver eyes I had kissed a thousand times.
Kaelos.
My mate.
The only man I’d ever truly loved... Slaughtered my parents.
I was so dissociated from my surroundings that I didn’t notice the living room finally shifting back into Ryker’s throne room.
My gaze fell on a pair of black boots in front of me, forcing me to raise my head only to meet those devilish silver eyes.
"Now that I’ve... Enlightened you." Ryker drawled, leaning closer with a grin. "It’s time I told you where exactly you fit in my plans and why you belong with ME. Luna Queen."