Page 180 of Wrath of the Fae

I finish doing up my buttons and still as I look at my arms. The rune markings have spread over my shoulders now. They are terrifying but also extremely beautiful. They all link together perfectly, creating such a glorious pattern.

‘They’re nothing you need to worry about, Rhea,’ I tell her, rolling down my sleeves and facing a full-length mirror hanging on the wall.

‘I barely recognise myself anymore,’ I tell her, watching the strange reflection mimick my every move. ‘I never thought I would miss my scars. But I do. I miss my old face. I miss how others would sneer or look away. How they would avoid me. Call me cursed. A freak.’

‘You miss that?’

‘I miss being the only one I needed to worry about. Well… I guess I had Ahriella to worry about. Back when she was alive, and I thought she loved me.’

I lift my gaze to Rhea, who shrinks into herself a little.

Rhea killed her. Tore her head clean off her body and shredded what was left. She struggles to maintain eye contact with me, and I know she remembers that moment.

‘I’m sorry about Ahri. For your scars-’

‘Don’t.’ I rush to her, taking her sweat-slick hands in mine. ‘I don’t want an apology from you. Not for anything. You have done nothing but survive and do everything in your power to protect others. To protect me.’ Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, I smile. ‘I’m proud of you, Rhea.’

‘Proud?’ she asks, her voice breaking a little.

‘Absolutely. After everything you have been through, you’re still standing. Still sweet and kind and full of fire. If anyone is sorry,Iam.’

She shakes her head with a look of horror creeping across her face.

‘No. You? Never!’

‘Yes. I should have come and gotten you from the First Kingdom as soon as I was back. I should never have left you there.’

‘I don’t blame you for a single thing. Not one!’ she insists, her hands tightening in mine. ‘I deserved what happened in that place after everything I did.’

‘You were under Ivan’s control when you were Dark. Nothing you did was on you.’

‘I’ve done unforgivable things, Raven. Such evil things.’ Her lip trembles. ‘If only you knew.’

‘Stop. Okay? There is nothing that you have done I could hate you for. Not a thing.’ I kiss her cheek. ‘Rhea. You look ill. Are you sure you’re alright?’ I rest my hand on her forehead. Her skin is coated in sweat, and she has a slight fever. ‘I thought exhaustion had you looking so pale and sickly and made you sleep. But I think you might actually be sick. Do you feel okay?’

She chews her lip and continues looking deep into my eyes.

‘I’ll fetch you some water. Sit. Rest some more,’ I offer, pointing to the bed.

I grab the jug of water left on the table and start pouring it for her.

‘You’re safe now. So is El. We’ve won the fight for this Realm.’ I sigh happily, looking at the Mate markings on my body as I fill the cup. ‘I have Reid and Cyrus back. I have you back, and you have El. We'll win as long as Ivan doesn’t get the last dose of power he needs. Ivan won’t stand a chance now we’re all back together. Everything is finally going to be okay.’ I lower the jug.

‘I had sex with Cyrus.’

Her words echo all around me. Words of truth.

I lower the cup. My entire body is frozen, and I can’t catch up with what she just said.

‘He… he doesn’t know,’ she continues, her voice still trembling. ‘I… I mean he… El and I… It was a mess. I had no choice.’

‘He doesn’t know?’ I manage, my words a chilling calm.

She sobs and becomes hysterical, her words high-pitched as they tumble from her mouth.

‘The king… I mean Jonah… he had plans to publicly disrobe me by Cyrus or anyone else he deemed worthy unless I got pregnant by the year’s end.’ Her words fall from her mouth in an endless tumble. She doesn’t even catch her breath. ‘A public disrobing means people watch as you have sex. Cyrus knew the plans, and it destroyed him. The idea of being with me was too much. He saw it as the ultimate betrayal to you. Something unforgivable. He couldn’t… you know… he tried to get ready. To… get hard… for me. But he couldn’t, and I knew it wouldn’t work. I was in a panic. El was freaking out knowing that I was likely to get raped in front of everyone, and she had already suffered such a thing and knew I wouldn’t survive it, so… so we…’

I still can’t move. I face the balcony, looking at the eternal night ahead.

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