Page 78 of Oath of Betrayal
I looked at the man who was like a brother to me, wondering if I knew him at all. ‘Then why? Why did you have me bring her here? Did the Lich King force you to do it? Was our friendship a lie too? Help me understand because I don’t want to believe you’re my enemy.’
‘I knew the Barrier was fading—it was only a matter of time until it was gone, especially near the Rift. I didn’t plan it, but that chance meeting with Annika made me realise that with her, I might have enough power not just to pass through to the Barren Lands, but to kill the Lich King.’
‘So you were lying when you agreed to abandon that idea?’
He looked me in the eye and didn’t even flinch under my stare. ‘Would you have brought her here and let me leave if you knew what I intended?’
‘No, strategically, it makes no sense. You’d be killed the moment you made it past the Barrier, and she’d be captured and forced to serve that monster …’ I said, looking at his all-knowing smile.
‘That’s why Orm. Sometimes you just need to follow your heart, not your logic, and I wanted to be free.’
‘Do you still want it? To Anchor her, to risk her life on the slim chance you might succeed?’
‘No, Annika has become more to me than I ever believed possible. I don’t need a reason to bind our spirits. I already belong to her, and I wouldn’t hurt my Domina, not even for my freedom.’
‘I want to believe you, but it’s hard. You lied to me. You may have thought you had a good reason, but you’ve broken my trust, and I can’t let you break my Nivale’s heart,’ I insisted, my voice hoarse with the hurt of his deception.
‘I know, and I’m not trying to, but you have to understand something. Annika isn’t mine or yours; Vahin has more right to that claim than either of us. If you want to Anchor her—and I can see that you do—you need to understand that she will never be just yours.’
‘I know! I returned to tell her I would take whatever she offered, that I would accept … Fuck, I should lock you in a cell or send you back to your empress. Why do I still want you around …?’ I rasped, my throat tightening before I leaned on my desk, hiding my face in my hands.
Alaric approached my chair and kneeled next to it. I frowned when he placed his hand on my thigh, but when I turned my head, I saw him looking at me with sadness in his golden eyes.
‘That is your right, but what wouldyouhave done if someone who was supposed to love you tricked you into a curse that burns through your body day and night? I didn’t know Ani would become so much for so many. I just wanted my freedom. Four hundred and eighty years … I barely remember my life without pain and nightmares. What would you have done in my place?’
I jerked to my feet because he looked so … vulnerable, kneeling like that, but I didn’t want to think about it. I diverted my thoughts to the subject I knew best: war. ‘You should have told me to prepare for war rather than chasing a mirage. I could have helped my brother build our forces. Even if I start now, I fear it is too late. We won’t have an army ready to face the monsters.’
‘We wouldn’t have an army even if you knew. You can’t prepare if the king you serve doesn’t want to fight—look at the soldiers he sent you. Annika is our only chance and the best weapon you have. I brought her to you … to us,’ he said, standing up and giving me the space I needed.
I started pacing. Alaric’s words came too close to the truth for my liking, and his following words brought my pacing to a halt.
‘I can’t change the past, Orm, but you have me, a necromancer, and even if Annika can’t Anchor me, I still can help. We were working on a binding glyph that would enhance my power. I can be your weapon too … or I can go to Katrass … alone, and try my luck with the immortal bastard.’
Before I knew it, my hand was locked on his throat. ‘You are going nowhere!’ I snarled before realising that the beast had slipped my control, and I loosened my grip. I swallowed hard, stepping away. ‘As for Ani, I need a blood oath from you. I know you are fighting him, but if the Lich King … I need your blood oath that you won’t seek the Anchor bond until you are free of your curse.’
There was no hesitation as Alaric drew one of his deadly daggers and cut his forearms, letting the blood flow freely beforehe used the tip of the blade to draw a sigil. ‘I swear on the Dark Mother’s blood that I, Alaric’va Shen’ra, will not seek the Anchor bond with Annika Diavellar until I rid myself of this curse. Should I falter, may the Dark Mother take me to a world of eternal torment,’ he swore with a bitter smile before looking me in the eye.
‘You have my oath, Orm. I only ask that you not separate us. She is … she means so much to me.’
‘I couldn’t keep her away from you even if I tried. I thought about it, Ari. I will not cause her pain and make her choose. I will respect whatever decision Ani makes.’
‘Thank you,’ he said, but I couldn’t take my eyes from the fading mark my hand had left on his skin. ‘I should take you to the training ground and beat you to a pulp for this,’ I said, feeling less uncomfortable than I thought I would. The damned image of the three of us together returned, and I had to shake my head to dispel it. I wasn’t ready for that thought, and I’d made enough concessions today. This time, when Alaric passed me the goblet, I accepted it.
As I gulped the mead down, I felt the sweet, burning liquid extinguish the fire in my heart. Somehow, despite the threat of an impending war, this moment did not feel as catastrophic as I’d feared it would. That Alaric had come to me with this information … Yes, he’d withheld it for so long, but now there were no secrets between us, and the longer I thought about it, the more relief and apprehension replaced my anger.
I held all the strings in my hand, and I could start planning my next moves.
‘I’ll recall the units from the mines and build outposts near the border. Starting tomorrow, you will train with Annika and see what you can do without Anchoring her. I need you to send letters to the fae courts. Give them all the information about the situation here. I want them prepared and ready when mybrother raises his banner to call them to stand with the Kingdom of Dagome. Then we will decide what to do next.’
Alaric nodded. ‘I don’t deserve your trust, but I can swear that I won’t betray you. You will have my assistance in any way you need,’ he said before coming closer, a small crease forming on his forehead.
He looked at me as if he was weighing a decision before his shoulder slumped. ‘What is it?’ I asked. This was not his normal behaviour, and Ari’s body tensed in response. ‘I need to tell you something else. The Lich King—’
His words were cut short by the doors bursting inwards, a pale messenger falling into the room.
‘Lord Commander, biesy! Biesy have attacked Vodianka!’
‘Fuck, what now?’ I cursed, looking at Alaric.
