75. The Pain Inside

ROYCE.

The only way to end this… is his death.

The moment is before me as he lays there

bleeding out, and it hurts.

Despite everything he has done and I know he deserves what is coming, but… he is still my

brother.

I look at her as I pass her the sword, hiding the pain in my chest.

For her, I need to stay strong.

You’ve hidden your emotions for years, Royce. What are a few more moments?

I look into her eyes, which are now green, but they remain cat-like.

“Let’s do this.” I say.

I look at Aleric as he lays there on the floor, trying to get up when he sees us approaching, but he is beyond the point of recovering, and it’s clear Apophis is focusing on the barrier…

The darkness that is pushing against the barrier is spreading from Aleric.

“Break his tie from this world and it will

weaken him.” Skyla murmurs.

“For the Gods,” I say quietly as I place my hand

over hers.

We raise the sword as one and I look down at

him. Our eyes meet and I remember the little

boy who once played by my side. 5

The one I sparred against, the friendly competition, the pranks we’d pull… the way he always tried to protect me.

“Apophis!” He hisses. The darkness seems to spread, returning around him with vengeance and he begins laughing brokenly.

Too weak to do anything, but his confidence in the snake god remains.

“Kill me then, if you can,” Aleric says, his eyes locked with mine.

you took everything I

wanted… you even

nothing more than

my mate… you are

selfish… you always have

been…”

me from my thoughts and I realise I’ve

her voice makes me glance around and see that the entire area

blacked out.

shaky exhale. I could talk big, say I will kill,

sword. My hand is over hers, and

makes me ill every time I hear it rings in the

‘NO!’

open my eyes and stare into Aleric’s wide

begins to lighten around us are shrill and ear-splitting, but

back at

before my eyes. 13

think I’d do

his life finally fades away, I let go of my grip on her hand and the sword

down, cupping my face, and I

sorry.” She

head. This is

tightly from behind as I press my fists to my forehead, refusing to allow any sound

is no victory

SKYLA.

broken; he was acting strong when his heart was

of my sibling, even if

he’ll feel that guilt every time he

his mother…

option, but that is something he will carry

even when everyone gathers. I hold my king close, wanting to take

pain.

stopped, but his head

bowed.

Even if he’s injured,

majesty…” one of the witches

a man says quietly.

drown them out, kissing Royce’s neck from behind as I keep my hold on him tight until I sense Catherine approaching. That is when I let go of him. No matter how hard it is, they need one

Catherine sobs as

back. “You did what you had to.” She says through her sobs

into her embrace. 3

them space to mourn their

why must they suffer… at least make

her tightly, trying to control my

time in my

changes you… something

now understand what it means when they say, every

the Solaris King,

has spoken. I’m still in my armour, and I know they are all looking

Are they that stupid?

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