gccdstories

[gccdstories]

Maybe he should be nice, take pity on Elianna this once. And yet, Sotoria was happy, and who was Kaden to deny her this? Besides, it was all just for fun; it wasn't like they were actually having a wedding now.

❝ But don't you want to see what they've chosen, Elianna? ❞ he teased her, nodding towards Sotoria's very serious look as she motioned to the binder--the very big, very full binder, actually. ❝ And she's right, you know. You do look beautiful in absolutely everything. ❞

"Obviously! Neve says Eli can't wear fuschia though -"

"Yeah because she doesn't like it!"

"But she's so pretty! Elli you have to try something in fuschia for your wedding!"

Elianna hid her face in Kaden's shoulder whining softly. Of course the girls ignored her, Sotoria dragged a binder and set it on the table.

"Kade look!! Look we found all the flowers and everything!"

"Yeah! Papa says you marry by the willow trees Eli! Didn't you say you had a dream about -"

Elianna set Kaden a look, gripping his collar.

"Kaden can we leave now? Please?"

Sotoria leaned closer and tapped the binder.

"You should buy her a fuschia dress! Eli looks beautiful in everything!"

[gccdstories]

Neverra giggled and shoved Sotoria away.

"I'm gonna ask."

"Don't! He won't do it then!"

"Well he has to! We have to be real sisters Ria!"

"We -"

"Kaden! Are you gonna marry Eli one day?"

Elianna went red and looked to Kaden her eyes wide.

"I told her not to ask."

@siderealxmelody

Kaden, his arm draped over Elianna, can't help the grin that splits across his face. Neither can he help the laugh at the way Elianna's face reddens at her sister's question.

❝ Is that what you two have been doing all morning? ❞ He looks between Neverra and Sotoria. ❝ Planning the wedding? ❞

[gccdstories]

Natalia swallowed a sigh as she watched Sebastian follow Kaden to another part of the island to train. Apparently they distracted each other too much.

Deanna snorted softly twirling a dagger in her hand.

"He's gonna break your heart. I'm sure he's fun but he's really only good for warming your bed."

Natalia stiffened turning to Deanna. She should be calm, composed and icy like Rhiannon and her mother.

She only felt rage. Deanna was the second person to say this nonsense she was getting sick of it.

She focused on the weapons behind Deanna, calling on her magic to Cut them in half. She didn't bother waiting for Deanna's reaction.

"Not sure why you're a bitter old hag, but Sebastian would never."

She winnowed to where Sebastian was. He was still stretching, drinking water as Kaden got his targets ready. His eyes light up and he glanced at Kaden's back before moving toward her.

"Don't you have practice too? Are we ditching -"

@siderealxmelody

Natalia grabs Sebastian's wrist, pulling him closer. The anger that floods through her at Deanna's words hasn't exactly disappeared, and she needs a stronger distraction to make it do so.

She needs something more than tearing things to pieces, Cutting things to ash--

❝ Forget about practice. ❞ Natalia shakes her head, a glance over Sebastian's shoulder to make sure Kaden's back is still turned. ❝ I don't want to practice anymore today... ❞

Trailing off, Natalia stares pointedly at Sebastian, the answer obvious.

Yes, yes. We're ditching. They'll deal with it.

❝ Come with me? ❞

[gccdstories]

Imogen's gaze drifts back to the door, like a part of her can still feel the way Isaiah's arms felt around her, mere moments ago. Had they really been so blissfully happy just a short time ago?

Before this?

She sighs, but her eyes are hard once more as Imogen stares back at Kertayan. She is every bit as much of a warrior as the rest of them, even if she doesn't always look like it. A part of her can only think of all the things she's heard about Kertayan, all that he's done. All that he's responsible for--

But at the same time...

Imogen shrugs at her brother's question. She doesn't want to answer it, to confirm anything. If she says it aloud like that, what if it breaks? What if it shatters?

Even if, deep inside, Imogen knows it won't. That there is nothing in any realm that will make her not want Isaiah.

❝ Oh I know well who you are, Kertayan. ❞ Her eyes find their way back towards the door, though. That closed door that has Isaiah on the other side. Like she can feel him, like she just wants to step beyond it...

❝ I know that I chose him. That-- I am here because I want to be here, Vincent. ❞ And while she believes that bond exists, while she feels it, the pull--

What if she's wrong?

❝ Wait. What do you mean, he talked about me? ❞

~

If anything, Isaiah's threat only angers Kaden more. Only makes the inferno inside of him blaze hotter, stronger. A raging fire he can't silence, can't still--and it has nowhere to go, nowhere to truly escape without burning down and destroying everything.

❝ You wouldn't dare. ❞

The words are quiet, more of a growl undercutting them. Every muscle coiled too tight, Kaden's nails dig deep into his palms as his fists form. As he holds to whatever fragments of shattered control he might still possess.

Because the thought of being stuck, without any outlet at all... stuck with only thoughts and silence and nothing more...

Kaden can't do it. Can't do that utter silence--

The rage will eat him up, destroy him.

Even more than it already has.

❝ Nismera wouldn't let you anyway, ❞ Kaden scoffs, ignoring the entire idea that he's a liability in any way. It's bullshit and he's not going to acknowledge that.

Kaden shakes his head, already moving back to the door. ❝ I told you that I'm not listening to this shit again-- ❞

~

Go to sleep.

Elianna doesn't need to be given that permission twice. The exhaustion--mental, emotional, physical--it all pulls her under as she curls back under the blankets, her eyes shut. It takes nothing at all for her breathing to even out as she drifts off to sleep...

To sleep and dream...

To hope for things that had died long ago.

"I chose Isaiah."

Kertayan looks to the doors and back to Imogen. Slowly the meaning of the words sink in.

Did she mean like Melinoe had wanted to chose him?

Like Elianna had chosen Kaden?

Like -

He growled stepping toward Xander.

"Step back."

"She's my friend Kerta. I -"

"Step. Back."

Gold flashed in this eyes and Xander finally stepped back. Whatever else they were, Vanir ranks trumped all of it when they were together. Xander didn't have the violet of Damien's eyes, he was a soldier, he was no one among the Ranked Vanir here.

Even if he was a honor guard of Vincent, that didn't matter here. Kertayan dragged his eyes to Imogen and rubbing at his temples.

"You're Vincent and Anaxia's sister right? You're that Imogen?"

Vincent bristled stepping toward Imogen, at her side.

"Anaxia is a shit representative as my sister Kerta -"

"So she's not - you're not certifiably insane?"

He looked past her to the door, tisking under his breath. He gave her nod, crossing his arms.

"In Kertayan I assume you know that give your standing among Samkiel's side, Isaiah's second. I'd offer my hand but if he finally pursuing you enough that you're here....I don't want my arm ripped off."

Vincent stiffened and looked to Imogen, a hand on her elbow. His voice softening.

"Is that it. Is there....is there a bond Imi?"

Xander flinched stepping backward, looking at his feet. Damien rolled his eyes and turned to the hallway. Maybe if he left now Amalie would be awake from her duties in the gardens.

Kertayan snorted leaning against the wall to rub at his neck.

"If there isn't one there will be. He talked about her enough in the prison even if he never gave me a damn name."

------

"I don't give a fuck what you do or don't want to hear. What the fuck is wrong with you?! She could have died! And you were have what - simply stood there like a statue?!"

Isaiah rolled his shoulders back, brushing off Kaden's rage.

"Az says he's going to call them. That Eli needs to be taken out of active duty. I half a mind to tell our parents and Nismera the same thing about you. You're starting to become a fucking liability Kaden -"

------

Neverra curled into her side, gripping her hand. She sniffed, pressing closer.

"It - it's okay, sleep now Eli I won't let them disturb you okay? Go to sleep."

But she was done staying out of this. If Azrael was just going to roll over and pretend it was some boy's club she'd make them see how wrong they were.

[gccdstories]

Elianna doesn't say anything as she hears them leave. Doesn't say anything in the intervening moments. Doesn't really move at all, as she lets the exhaustion weigh her down in the bed, her eyes heavy with it. Her entire body feeling tired in more ways than just the physical, than just the fact that she'd almost Yielded--

It isn't until she hears Neverra that Elianna makes any sort of movement at all, her head turning to look at her. She blinks; it's almost as if the question is muted, faded. Has to fight its way through a thick fog in Elianna's mind to even be understood.

But she nods. She can't make herself move any more than that, but she can nod.

❝ I'm just... so tired, Nev... ❞

~

Isaiah exhales, breathes in Imogen's scent and, ignoring Kaden's comment, drags his brother into the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

❝ I don't fucking care what you want to hear. You're going to fucking listen this time--! ❞

~

Imogen doesn't get a chance to say anything to Vincent before she's pretty much swallowed up by Xander and Damien. And while it does bring a smile to her face at first, she can't seem to get a word in otherwise as they constantly talk about her, and over her--

❝ Shut it! ❞

Okay, perhaps Imogen might have said that a little louder than she intended, but at least they're going to listen to her now. Xander, at least, surely. Hopefully Vincent too.

❝ First, quit talking about me like I'm not right here. Like I can't say what I want and answer for myself. ❞ They all know how much she can't stand that, and yet, it seems like it always happens, without fail. ❝ Second, no one forced me here. No one ever forced me here. ❞ Imogen looks back at the closed door, at (one of the) males behind it, as if she wants only to feel his arms around her again.

Couldn't they just go back to just hours ago, before all of-- this?

❝ I chose Isaiah. ❞

~

Kaden whirls on Isaiah the moment the door shuts, barely caring if it's locked or not. The rage slips free, overpowers the exhaustion, and the fire blazes inside of him, his eyes reflecting it.

That fire, that power, lashes out, shoves against his brother.

❝ Fuck off! ❞ His voice is a low growl, the anger something he can't contain, he can't push down.

❝ I'm not listening to this shit again, Isaiah! So fuck. off. ❞

"Choosing yourself now means we don't rank huh? Come on Einar."

"But -"

"No. Let her choose herself alone."

------

Neverra leaned into Nephry shaking. She barley felt his hands rubbing up and down her arms.

"I - what do you mean she - no."

Azrael sighed and crossed his arms.

"Sure, let's say I'm lying for fun. She did Nev. She -"

Neverra took off, shoving Nephry and Azrael out of her way. She stormed up to Elianna's bed. She wanted to yell, to beg. To -

She toed her shoes off and reached for her blanket.

"Can - can I lay with you Eli like we used to?"

Was this because of Kaden? Because of everything?

She swallowed the urge to grab the nearest scalpel and carve his eyes out. How dare he?!

------

Imogen flushed, leaning back into him. Fingers tangling with his.

"I'm not leaving you. You've met Vin and Enva, they're not exactly drama-free."

She ignored Vincent's snort leaning up to kiss Isaiah's cheek.

Vincent watched Isaiah go and slid his eyes to Imogen.

"Seriously? Are you really here? Imogen if this just lust -"

"What's just lust?"

"Imogen?!"

Damien sighed watching Xander nearly shove him to the floor to reach her. Damien looked to Vincent as Xander reached for her hands. He pulled her into a tight hug, cupping her face.

The joy morphing to fear for a second.

"You're not a prisoner right?"

Vincent sighed and looked to the ceiling.

"Of course not. She came with Isaiah."

Xander blinked at Imogen twisting to look at Vincent.

"What do you mean came with? Is she switching sides?"

He beamed looking back to her.

"Did you finally decide to choose the winning side? You should come out with us, there's these gardens you'll -"

Damien sighed and looked to Kertayan. He'd at least taken off his dragon-scale armor and changed into training clothes.

"Why did Isaiah kidnap Imogen? Are we going to have a problem?"

"No one kidnapped my sister Damien -"

"Why else is our Princess here?"

Kertayan dragged his eyes down Imogen and looked to Damien and shrugged.

"He wanted her into his bed? What do you want from me? Maybe it's a psychological tactic Kaden told him to -"

Xander growled, barring his teeth at Kertayan. His hand tightening on Imogen's. He looked back to her.

"He didn't kidnap you did he? Imogen I'll help you get back to Samkiel's side. I - Mera may not like that but hopefully she's too busy to care about any of this."

Kertayan had dismissed this entire conversation looking to Vincent as he stretched his arms.

"What's with the tension with the Thralls?"

"Elianna tried to Yeild."

"What?! Why - fucking Kaden wasn't it?"

[gccdstories]

"No. I'm sorry son, but no. After the way you treated her these last centuries. I don't see why you should deserve now. Or why I should believe you've finally come to your senses."

Oshuna sighed and looked to her mate. Zain was at least relaxed even if his eyes were filed with rage.

"You're being ridiculous Zain. Like Elianna will simply not do what she pleases -"

"She can, but Kaden asked for my blessing. I refuse to give it twice and be made a fool...twice Oshuna -"

"Yes, yes, you're whining. I'm speaking now."

She waved Zain off who huffed and rolled his eyes. Oshuna set her tea cup down pointing the finger at Kaden.

"You both owe me a Mating Ceremony. A beautiful, wondrous one like her siblings got -"

"Oshuna. Don't encourage -"

"Be quiet Zain. Or leave."

Zain looked ready to protest but decided the wisest response was to sip at his tea. Oshuna eyes narrowed at Kaden.

"Do you know the Vanir way of things? There were many times mating fell apart because of intra-colony wars. But males who survived still needed to prove themselves to their Mate. They'd do trials, would you do them for her?"

She leaned back, a sharp manicured nail tapping at her armrest.

"I'd oversee them with your mother's input of course. Would you agree to that Kaden?"

@siderealxmelody

Kaden says nothing in response to Zain. Even if there are so many things that flit across his mind in response to the other's denial. To the other's refusal. While Kaden might have been able to assume its arrival, it doesn't mean he has to like it.

Or agree with it.

Or not think Zain is an absolute idiotic bastard for not understanding that he doesn't care what he thinks, that he and Elianna are going to do as they wish regardless, that he's only here out of a formality, that--

It takes a certain amount of control that Kaden harbors in that particular moment not to let the frustration show. The rage that twists in his veins. He still can't silence it, destroy it. He knows he never will.

Good thing Elianna knows it too.

Gaze turns to Oshuna instead as she takes the reins of the conversation, because Kaden is pretty sure if he looks at Zain any longer, that grip on his control will slip. It wouldn't be good. At all. And he's already coiled too tight, here without Elianna to take some of that pressure off, so he has to keep that grip, that composure.

❝ What type of trials? ❞

Kaden directs the question only to Oshuna, of course, his eyes locked on her. His nails dig into his palm, his muscle tight. The tension hasn't left his shoulders, any part of his body, even as he sits there and tries to make it. He's not so much of a fool as to say he'd agree to anything (even if he would), and while Kaden has a vague sense of the history--

It's not enough to know exactly what she might have in mind.

❝ What is it you're asking me to do? ❞

[gccdstories]

He can't let her go, because as Elianna speaks, Kaden has to remind himself that she's alive. That Death didn't take her. He shakes his head.

❝ I'm not leaving. ❞

Of course, there is that part of him that wishes to burn this entire fucking place down--and everyone in it--for keeping her, for hurting her, for trying to control him through her. But he can do that later. He can come back and do that afterwards.

Or they can do it together.

Doesn't matter right now, as the rage is still, only slowly bubbling and twisting inside. The fact that Elianna is alive, that Kaden made it in time (even if just barely), is enough to keep the inferno from exploding.

❝ I'm not leaving... ❞

~

Luther is quick, but not quick enough to stop Sebastian's movements, Charmaine's cry as he grabs her wrist echoing off the stone.

❝ Papa! Wait! ❞ His magic rushes out, just enough to try and push Sebastian back. He doesn't want to hurt his father, he doesn't want to hurt any of them.

This is too messed up. It wasn't supposed to do this!

❝ Don't hurt her, it's-- We're going back home, Papa. ❞

Elianna woke in pain, whining as she curled onto her side. Her ribs hurt, her heart felt like it had been squeezed to an inch from rupturing.

"Kaden?"

She could hear the children whispering frantic to open the cell, Sebastian not responding when Luther finally opened it. She should tell him to stay, that they should do something - be the leaders these kids needed.

She focused on him, feeling his fingers in her hair.

"Can - can we leave? I - I don't - I think I'm done."

Maybe she meant it, most likely not. Maybe she'd want to more soon. She placed her head in his lap, inhaling him.

"You - you promised it would be different this time. You promised not to leave me."

Maybe she was being selfish, maybe she was being cruel. She didn't have the energy to care anymore.

--------

Charmaine stepped into the cell, seeing Sebastian staring at a mirror, a finger petting it.

"Sebastian? Sir? Hi we're here to help you. We -"

She moved to pull the mirror away, to try to get his attention. He growled, lunging fast to swipe at her skin, reaching to grab his wrist and twist.

"MINE."

[gccdstories]

Elianna doesn't say anything; the exhaustion weighs on her now, and she almost doesn't care. Can she make herself care right now? Can she make herself feel anything enough to want to argue with Azrael? To reassure Einar?

Pieces of the discussion--if it could be called something so simple--with Kaden dash across her mind. They're jumbled, mixed up, but enough that Elianna can piece a certain amount together.

She's just so fucking tired.

❝ Maybe I just wanted to choose myself for one damn moment, Azrael, ❞ she mutters.

~

Isaiah isn't sure what the truth is when Imogen asks that question. He shrugs. A part of him never wants her to walk away; a part of him wants to not have Imogen anywhere near this, to prevent her from this entire catastrophe that his family has become; a part of him wants to walk away from this entire fucked up mess--

And he still hasn't made up his mind whether he wants to murder Kaden completely yet. Or not.

Maybe just harm him.

A lot.

For being such a fucking idiot. Again.

❝ She'll live, yes. ❞ Eyes turn hard in Kaden's direction as Isaiah answers Imogen's second query, every muscle coiled in his body like he can barely hold himself back from strangling the other male right now.

Isaiah turns back, just for a moment, to slip closer to Imogen. To breathe in her scent--just in case she does decide all of this is too fucked up and disappears forever.

❝ Don't go far, ❞ he whispers, barely loud enough to even speak the words, Isaiah's lips barely moving as he does. The please is there in his gaze as it softens, for just a moment, with her.

~

Kaden's head is pounding, every fiber of his being so tired. Exhausted. He wants to sleep more than ever before, he wants to go back to when he could feel nothing--because this? It's feeling everything too much, the emotions suffocating and overwhelming and he can't turn them off. They're drowning him, swallowing every bit of sense, of control, and he can barely breathe--

No, he can't breathe at all--

❝ Fuck off, Isaiah. I don't want to hear it. ❞

Because Kaden knows exactly what the other is going to say. He knows every word, every expression that will cover Isaiah's face. He's heard it all before--many times.

And right now, Kaden is just too fucking tired to deal with ignoring it.

Again.

------

She didn't remember how it ended. She didn't rememeber the fall out, just screaming arms dragging her away and -

"Ma? Mama?"

She inwardly cringed and looked past Einar to Azrael.

"What happened?"

He looked exhausted, slumped against a wall.

"What the fuck Eli? You don't get to leave me with these idiots."

----

Imogen hovered in the doorway, ignoring Vincent's stare at the side of her head.

"You - you sure you don't want me to stay Isaiah?"

She eyed Kaden warily looking back to where the infirmary was.

"Elianna will be alright, right?"

She didn't particularly like the other female, she was a hell of an opponent on the battle field. But they weren't at war, and she was Neve's sister and...and she felt how ready she was to die.

Something was very clearly wrong.

[gccdstories]

As she seems to melt into him, Tobias does the same, the feel of her nails in his hair only making the possessiveness that floods through him intensify.

You're mine, he claims, over and over. And while he knows she speaks truthfully about the fish-- well, it doesn't mean he has to like the other male, either.

A brief mental image of a very overcooked and barbecued scrap of seafood flits across Tobias's mind for a moment--and eases the tension inside of him.

He quite likes that image of the male better, personally.

Nails dig into Ariadne's skin as Tobias's arms tighten, as he refuses to let her go. Bargain or not, it doesn't matter. She's not leaving his side again.

❝ You are mine. She is absolutely nothing. ❞ He'd forgotten, for a moment, about Deanna even. That he'd even been with her earlier that day. All thought had turned completely on Ariadne from the moment he'd seen her again--sensed her, felt her.

Tobias shakes his head. ❝ The darkness won. That's all the past was, Aria. The darkness won... ❞

~

Eyebrows raised, arms crossed, she surveys this Elianna. Glances at Alister, and she knows there are things between the lines. A past, something more; he knows her, or she knows him, or something, and fuck if she can't figure out all of the pieces and it's driving her crazy--

❝ So who exactly is she? ❞ Dianna mutters to Alister under her breath, a hint of distrust in her tone as she nods towards Elianna. ❝ And what the fuck does she know about the Viper Queen's magic? ❞

Alister closes his phone and turns toward the safehouse. He doesn't respond till they're away from the Viper Queen's immediate territory. The cafes here were bustling, hopefully no one would over hear them.

Or if they did, they had a head start.

"It's his mate. We thought - he thought she died centuris ago before the war."

Alister payed for some food grabbing it from the vendor. He rubbed at his forehead, and looked to the sky.

"I can't believe Tobias is directly antagonizing the Viper Queen for her. Oh my -"

"Tobias is doing what? Why?"

Alister spun rubbing the back of his neck.

"Elianna. I didn't see you - didn't know you were a fan of cafes."

She rose an eyebrow and held up the pastry bag.

"For Neve. What did Tobias do to piss off the Viper Queen?"

"Nothing, it's -"

"Alister. I consider him a friend so if he's in trouble you need to tell me."

Alister really wished he didn't have to be the one having this conversation. Elianna looked to Deanna and he really rather that less.

"Tobias found his mate, she's alive. She's also in a bargain with the Viper Queen and -"

"That all?"

Elianna set her pastry bag on a nearby counter, light magic flowing from her finger to just singe the bag, winnowing it to her sister. Alister resisted the urge to shiver, she weilded the marks as if it didn't tear peices from her soul.

As if it couldn't do it without consequences. Did she not feel the tug of it? The way it whispered and seeped into the world.

She turned back to them, crossing her arms.

"Let's go then, the Viper Queen's bargains aren't really that difficult to break once you know how her magic works."

"And her wrath? Any fun tricks for that?"

Elianna's eyes went cold, and she began to walk.

"I think that's why you have Kaden yes? Shall we Alister? We're wasting daylight."

------

Ariadne melted further into him, hearing that growl. She didn't want to move, didn't think she could.

"There - that fish male doesn't mean anything to me. Beyond a friend Tas. He - he's helped keep me alive. I hoped, I hoped you'd be alive. I -"

She reached for his face, nails dragging through his hair.

"You're still mine right? That female isn't yours right?"

She'd slaughter the thing herself, perhaps make a bag of her skin for daring to touch her mate. Tobias was grieving, that whore was just taking advantage of him.

"Tell me everything? Tell me what - what happened to you my heart?"

[gccdstories]

Without a word, Kaden takes the items from Airmed, his burning glare saying it all.

If I don't, you'll be the first to know.

Because he'd already promised his uncle what would happen if Elianna died. And Kaden would not be breaking that vow--

The paths deeper into this particular part aren't ones that they'd ever let him go. They're unfamiliar, and Kaden can tell when he starts getting closer to Elianna because he senses her.

Just a little, and it's too faint.

The rage twists stronger, and he moves quicker, not caring about anything else--

Fire blazes in his veins, in his eyes. Every part of him is nearly shaking with the rage he cannot hold back, that underlying fear that he won't make it. That he'll lose her. That Death will take her and he can't let that happen.

Kaden is at Elianna's side after what feels like forever, while in reality, it might have only been a mere few minutes. Too long, he thinks, as Kaden ignores everyone else.

Luther. Sebastian. Some other female around Luther's age.

It took too long.

His entire focus is only on Elianna as his fingers gently brush her skin, her face. The black veins are deep, cutting their way right towards her chest; they are right there--

And Kaden can feel the way it's killing her, the way Death is too close. It's right there, it wants her.

You can't have her.

❝ Do not die on me, Elianna. ❞ Breathed words, whispered in an almost commanding way. Because Kaden doesn't know how to plead, but dammit, he cannot lose her. He cannot let Death have another.

Death doesn't get to have another.

❝ Do not die on me. ❞ What little of his soul might still be there, not lost in that darkness--it is hers. It's always been hers. And if she isn't here? If he loses her?

❝ Everything--everyone--will burn if you do. And i know you don't want that. There won't be a single fucking living thing left in any realm if you're not alive... ❞

Airmed sighed and opened his desk drawer, handing him the cure and the map to her cell.

"Good luck nephew. Hopefully you arrive on time."

------

Elianna has slumped over, her vision darkening more and more. She could hear voices, young, far away. Like they were away, far, far away.

Were they mocking her?

Her eyes closed, the pain was too much, too unbearable. She thought she felt his touch on her face, her skin.

She wanted to open her eyes to check, but maybe this was for the best. He'd promised this time was different, he had promised he wasn't going to abandon her.

Perhaps she was still the fool.

Maybe Azrael was right, there was nothing in worth saving.

She wished she could move into a better position. But the pain was receding, the darkness was growing. Maybe she'd finally, finally know peace.

[gccdstories]

Kaden can barely feel anything past the fire, the inferno that is a constant burn, a constant thing that never, ever stops. That fuels as much as it destroys. He feels Elianna's magic swelling, but it barely registers at the same time.

She'd never wanted a war fought in her name.

❝ She's not alive to make that decision! ❞ he growls, the explosion still twisting like that bomb inside of him, the fire that won't still. It won't die, it won't lash out enough to destroy everything like Kaden needs it to. He needs everyone and everything to burn to ash-- at the same time that he's so fucking tired.

Because that's when it started. That's when it all really started to fall apart. Every piece, fractured... every path, broken...

Every single one of them utterly destroyed when she was taken like that--

❝ She's not alive... She's not here... She's dead! And they all deserve to burn... ❞

Every. Last. One.

~

Isaiah can tell just who else is behind that door, other than Elianna. And he doesn't know if it's a good thing--or the opposite. The sense of her magic, of Kaden's rage brewing in a way that he hasn't felt in quite some time--

Fuck.

He pretty much ignores Einar (at least for a moment) as Isaiah turns to Azrael. ❝ Why are they both in there alone, Azrael? ❞ Because any idiot could tell that was an explosion waiting to happen.

Nothing good could come from it. Not like this, anyway.

The magic grows stronger, more oppressive. Suffocating in its weight as Isaiah knows Einar speaks truthfully. Of course Elianna is gathering it all, pulling every bit of herself in...

Her magic is weakening on the door, and Isaiah slips a thread through, just enough to make her heartbeat slow a little.

❝ Kaden! ❞

Both of you fuckers snap out of this, because you're not allowed to leave us alone!

She barley heard his words, felt the sting of his touch on her arms. Her own magic was rising and rising. Yeilding.

She was so tired, maybe she was still that weak female. Maybe she was still that little girl who desperately thought kindness would come through. That if she wished and gave enough the universe would reward her.

She smiled down at her hands, the magic beginning to pulse in her veins in tune to her heart.

"I suppose you're going to get your wish then. To be rid of me, aren't you tired of it? She'd hate all this you know that. Hate what Einar had become, she never wanted him to become this, to be raised in a war. She'd never wanted a war fought in her name."

------

"Then don't."

Was it that simple? To just let it all go? To relax?

Walking with him through corridors of Nismera's palace she waited for the other shoe to drop. To think this was a mistake.

She couldn't stop smiling, couldn't stop leaning up to kiss him. She was -

"What are you doing?"

"Einar this is -"

"I know who she is. Why is she -"

Einar eyes went to their joined hands and they narrowed at his uncle.

"No."

Isaiah's jaw clenched.

"Your opinion is noted but it's my life -"

"This war is fought in my mother's name. You're spitting on her fucking legacy by keeping your whore around."

Isaiah could feel his heartbeat under his skin. Had none of them shoved him down a couple pegs yet? Since when did the brat get spoiled.

He stepped toward Einar.

"You little -"

"What? You going to -"

Einar stopped talking his face going pale. His hands beginning to shake. Imogen frowned, stepping toward the boy he was still a boy at 300. Gods, had it only been 300 years?

"What is it? What's happened?"

Einar ignored her, tracing the gold along his wrist vein. The filiment that ran up his hand to the center of his palm.

"She - she said I'd be able to always feel her. I wouldn't - I wouldn't be blindsided if something happened to her like I was with -"

He took off on a run.

Azrael looked up from where he was slumped against the wall.

"She's fine, she won't open the door. Apparently she can't hear -"

"She's not alright! She's - Ma!!"

He pounded on the door, growing frantic as he felt the magic push against him. Trying to resist him, trying to hold him back. But it was breaking down, siphoning away.

This wasn't - she wasn't attacked. No this wasn't a diversion to protect herself. He had been taught that difference.

This was a gentle swell, a concentration. He slammed against the door, feeling it shake watching it splinter.

He spun to Isaiah gripping his shoulders.

"She's Yeilding! Stop her! Put her to sleep, do something!"

Why was she in Azrael's rooms? He turned back to the handle, shoving at the door.

"She promised! She promised not to leave me! Ma! Mama! Don't! Please don't -"

[gccdstories]

You want to tear me to pieces, don't you?

Yes. No.

He does--and he doesn't. He wants to rip every single apart, burn every tiniest little thing to ash--and at the same time, not let a single bit of harm befall her. Or maybe a part of him does want to rip her apart just like everyone else. To not spare her, to destroy Elianna just as much as all the others--

She's too close, her magic against his, meeting his rage, the burning inferno he can't seem to still, to silence, to quiet at all--

❝ Elianna. ❞ Her name is growled more than spoken, Kaden's hands grabbing her upper arms. Hard. Bruising. Nails dig into her skin, and in that particular moment, he doesn't seem to care if he breaks through. If cuts might form or blood wells up.

Go away. He wants to scream the words at her, because Kaden knows he's going to destroy her. Whether he wishes to or not, whether he loves her or hates her, none of it matters. He told Azrael as much, even if the exactly words hadn't been spoken.

Kaden knows this will destroy her. He will destroy her.

Let them fight their wars without us.

Even the brush of her lips on the corner of his mouth doesn't keep Kaden from shaking his head, his eyes falling closed, the slight scoff of breath from leaving. Perhaps a part of him might want to do such a thing--or at least, might have wished to do so once upon a time.

Now the rage is all there is. Now the anger that has fueled him for centuries, that he's wielded with Nismera because of how she'd helped--

He can't just let it go.

He can't let the realms get away with all of it. He can't just turn away, walk away, let it go--

Kaden can't take any sort of peace.

He doesn't know how.

❝ Don't, Elianna. Just don't. ❞

~

Isaiah shakes his head, hand lifting to wipe at the tears falling from Imogen's eyes. I don't want to leave, she's said, and he can't keep his own response silent, can't keep the words from instantly being spoken.

❝ Then don't. ❞

How any of this would work, what any of it would ultimately mean--fuck it all if Isaiah knew right then. He just doesn't want to let her go. He can't.

Her magic rose to meet his and she laughed. She could feel the rage, she could always feel the rage. And maybe she was suicidal, maybe she didn't care anymore.

The changelings had been called, no one would be coming out of this alive.

What did any of it matter?

She stepped closer, sneering up at him.

"You want to tear me to peices don't you? You want me to run? Fuck you Kaden, no. You think I want what we had? That female was weak, she couldn't do what was needed to be done. She had pride, trust, kindness where did there get her? Still stuck in a war that is going to kill everyone she still loves."

She cuts at his skin, stepping closer, gripping his collar.

"We are going to have this conversation as many times as it takes for you to understand I don't want before. I don't want to be that female who simply went along with things. Who took what was given and swallowed it all down, who made herself small to appease everyone else."

She blinked the tears away, angry as they were.

"I don't want to go back to the female who only one male saw. Who only one male listened to her crazy ideas."

Her grip tightened, smiling now. Her magic growing brighter and brighter under her skin.

"I want you, whatever version is alive. That exists, you exist now, so we exist in some form. Of course we do, it is in the only constant left."

She leaned up to kiss the corner of his mouth.

"It's okay Kaden, let go. I'll take the pain away, we can both have some peace. Let them fight their wars without us."

------

Imogen's breath caught and she slowly looked to him. She should leave, yell, deny him. She only felt her shoulders shake. Who was the last person to even ask her that? Who saw her?

"I - I don't want to leave."

She wiped at her eyes but the tears kept coming.

"I - I don't think I can leave you again."

[gccdstories]

The fire burns inside of him as Kaden weighs it. Weighs just how close he could get to ripping Airmed apart right then. But he still doesn't know precisely where Elianna is, where they've kept the cure to that deathly poison--

Too many unknowns, too many variables, and as much as he wants only to destroy every single living thing in this entire place, as much as Kaden knows he'll always choose Elianna over any other, it doesn't mean he necessarily desires ripping into Luther. Breaking Sebastian into pieces that can never be healed.

Because he knows how. And he knows which parts to push, what pressure to apply, where the exact breaks need to happen in order to ensure that the damage is lasting, that Airmed gets everything he wants out of it.

Still doesn't mean that Kaden wants to--

Blazing eyes glare at him, the rage boiling, twisting within Kaden's veins. He doesn't want to put a single bit of trust in any of them, doesn't believe any of them will keep to a deal, that any bargain struck can be honored...

Nails dig like claws into the skin of his palm as Kaden glares. He wants to deny Airmed. Wants to tell him to shove it, pictures the life draining out of the other male as his corpse burns to ash--

Kaden's harsh eyes remain on Airmed, never wavering. Ignoring everything else--

❝ Give me the cure to the poison, ❞ he growls. ❝ Now. ❞

~

Luther shakes his head, even as his movements are quick. ❝ I-- ❞ This wasn't supposed to happen, he keeps thinking, the guilt growing stronger, eating at him deeper and deeper. None of this was supposed to happen.

A talk. A discussion. A chance to speak of peace between all sides--

That's what it was supposed to be. That is all it was supposed to be. Not this. Never this.

❝ It's getting too close to her heart, ❞ he mutters, dread turning his chest ice cold. It's like Luther could feel just how close Death hovered, how much it wanted to take the female. ❝ I don't-- I don't know if she'll make it-- ❞ If she has the strength to move with us...

Airmed snorted and gestured to the mirror.

"She's strong one, she'll survive. Better yet, here's the last thing I want out of you. Break the boy, get Sebastian to share everything about the defense's if Eternal Court. And Elianna is all yours cure and all."

He held his hand out to him, eyebrow rising. If he held Kaden any longer he'd shift from a weapon to a liability.

"That work for you Nephew?"

------

Charmaine looked back to Luther, crouching before Sebastian's cell.

"You sure we can leave before anyone else sees us?"

Charmaine glanced at the female in the cell across from Sebastian. Her eyes went wide as she saw black veins.

"She's infected with Godstone. Luther that's -'

------

"Enough brother. Leave him be, let her go."

Airmed turned to the doorway, tisking.

"Hello Karn. Here I thought you were going to let yourself be a coward."

Karn slid his eyes to Kaden, anguish flashing there before resolving itself to hardened determination.

"Take care of your mother will you? Let me atone for my abandonment of the cause Airmed. Surely father will see that as an admirable act. I know you're taking his orders. Ophion isn't as dead as Auraline whispered he was is he?"

Airmed barked out a laugh.

"Father is a snake, he will not. Even the Mighty Unir could not kill him or break him. Of course Pa isn't dead. He went to the Archipelago in the East. Last I heard he's going to take Achlys throne, and then we will have another army to draw from."

[gccdstories]

Kaden stands so still, he might as well be made of stone. But the buzz that comes off of him clearly shows he's alive, that the power thrumming in every vein is aching to explode.

To lash out. To burn.

He could barely cling to the control before. It had already been slipping, his grip almost nonexistent. Elianna cornering him like this, forcing this conversation--

Kaden shakes his head, every muscle so tight, so tense, it's as if the slightest little whisper will spring everything. The slightest breath will fire the trigger, but he doesn't care if Azrael is outside the door, he doesn't care if there are hundreds or thousands near or far.

No.

His eyes narrow on her. Only on her.

The one being in all of these fucking realms that he can't escape.

❝ You do not want to go down this road, Elianna. ❞ Words are barely spoken, barely distinguishable over the growling tone that coats every little syllable escaping Kaden. Eyes blaze, the power twisting inside-- burn. destroy. burn. destroy.

Kaden steps towards her, each step slow. Heavy. Weighted. Like he's still trying to keep some control, however slight it might be right now. However tiny it might be, however (nonexistent) it is quickly becoming.

And his gaze never once wavers from her, as the rage, the burning inferno that had only slightly settled moments ago rears up, now stronger, more powerful than ever.

A destructive storm that seeks to tear everything apart--

❝ How many times must we do this? How desperate do you have to be, to cling to what is not here? To beg for something that doesn't exist? ❞

To someone that died and can't come back? To someone that cannot return--no matter how much I might want to?

~

Isaiah just smirks, but doesn't immediately respond aloud, his arm only tightening its hold on Imogen. Here, at least, he doesn't have to dwell on a lot of the other things.

He can pretend--for at least a little bit, perhaps--that so many other lines, so many other events, haven't happened. Won't happen. That paths haven't been drawn, or choices haven't been made.

❝ You could stay. ❞ Isaiah finds himself saying the words aloud before he even really thinks about it, before it's even really thought through. Just instinct, and a desire to have her with him--to not have to part from Imogen--had expelled such a wish from his lips right then.

"You don't get to run away from me."

She steps forward, gesturing back to the door.

"It's locked and Azrael was never good with magic to break it. What did you tell him to no slaughter you? Something truthful wasn't it? Don't look at me like he spilled some secret, it was written in everything he didn't -"

"Elianna? Elianna! Open the damn door. Eli -"

"No."

She turned to the door, glaring at it, weaving more of her magic through. Smiling in satisfaction as Azrael yelped when her light touched his skin.

"You don't throwing your tantrum Azrael. Come back later."

"Elianna! Open the fucking -"

"Here's how the rest of night is going to go. This is my relationship. He is mine."

The candles and chandelier flared with her words, the heat climbing higher, phantom - momentary. It wasn't fire, she couldn't hold it. And she was still so damn cold.

She stalked toward the door, staring it down.

"Elianna. He isn't safe to be-"

"He is mine. And he will not hurt me, whatever version he is now. He will not hurt me,"

She turned to him, demanding he hear the rest.

"And I won't let him if it comes to that. If it comes down to it...I will put him down. Now go away -"

"No! No -"

"I'm muffling this room now Azrael, have fun with your tantrums."

She waved a hand at the door, the silence muffling Azrael's rage. The door still shook but she couldn't hear it, hear any of it. She turned fully to him.

She eyed the window behind Kaden and tipped her bottle back.

"So do I have to tie you down to damn chair and get something sharp? Or are you going to start fucking talking?"

She was tired of playing the soft one, of being the one who gave space. Who walked on eggshells around him, around Isaiah. Who treated him with gentle hands because he was hurting and needed time.

What about her?! What about what she'd endured?!

Sotoria had been her family too! Her death has affected her life too!

Kaden and Isaiah hadn't been there to keep their family together - she'd done that. She'd been the one to keep Azrael from loosing it and getting himself killed.

She drained her glass, staring Kaden down and throwing the bottle into the fire. She barley hear it when the bottle exploded into sparks.

"TALK!"

------

Imogen wants to say she fought it, that she tried hard to make him worth for it. She did none of those things, her laugh was soft as she melted into him.

She turned to look back at him, fingers trailing along his jaw. The hairs on her skin raising.

"I don't know, I'm liking the company here now. He's very handsome....and has a nice, well everything."

She flushed, burrowing into him. She didn't want to leave, she couldn't go back to Samkiel's side. Vincent wasn't there, Neverra and Nephry were drifting away too.

She couldn't do it alone. She couldn't.

She didn't want to.

[gccdstories]

Fingers curl, his muscles tight. Every single part of him wants little more than to rip this place apart--rip all of them apart, burn it all to ash--but they're smarter than he'd hoped.

Kaden despises that.

There's a part of him that can still sense Elianna, even here; it's not strong enough to take him to her, though. Not with whatever other magic they've got which locks this all down. Keeps him leashed. They're using her to control him, and he hates it but what other choice is there--

Eyes pierce in Airmed's direction, rumble of a growl in Kaden's chest. Oh what little effort it would take, to break the other's neck. To burn that body to ash... It's a beautiful image in Kaden's mind, the destruction of every single one of them...

❝ Torturing Sebastian won't break him. ❞ Kaden shakes his head. ❝ Everything about him is tied to the others. His family, his mate. You don't have her, but you have one of the sons. Use him. Do what you must to Luther, and Sebastian will shatter. ❞

His steps bring him closer to Airmed, Kaden coming to intrude into that space. Fire seems to blaze off of him, the rage in the depths of his eyes, in every way that he holds the tightest grip on control that he can--

❝ If she dies, I swear I will burn it all. There will be nothing of any realm remaining, do you understand? ❞

------

"How do you break him? He's growing delirious Nephew."

Airmed tossed the mirror down on the desk, shutting the door to his office. He leaned against it, hands in his pockets.

Auraline was the face of the Guardians here, the Keepers of the Flame. But the other cells deep in Eternal Court answered to him.

Airmed flicked his eyes to the mirror and back to Kaden.

"She's running out of time Kaden. Would Sebastian break faster if he was tortured? Or better, Luther is here. The boy could probably be broken within an hour."

Less, probably. He was soft, he hadn't gone through a Trial by Fire yet. It was a shame about Deim's affection for him. But his daughter would learn, she'd grow from this experience.

As she should.

------

Teller stared at the mirror, his fingers itching over the knife. Should he do it? Betray his entire family for one person?

He saw Lilian again, devasted when he'd walked away. When this had begun to pick up steam 7 years ago.

She had sworn she and Roderyck were simply friends, and maybe they had been. Maybe he had pushed them to be more. He remembered that moment on the coast two years ago. He'd been there to grab some rare plants...the ring on her finger has sparkled in the sunlight. Roderyck and her laughing, he twirling to music Teller hadn't been able to hear.

She hadn't waited, but he hadn't given any indication for her to had he? Would she even recognize his signature now?

He bit his lip, thinking back to Charmaine, she seemed nice enough. Enough she should have never been part of this.

Enough that Luther should take her and the baby and run.

He cut his fingers on the athame knife, letting the blood pool in the obsidian altar bowl. He swallowed a hiss at the sting. His fingers touched the blood and began to draw.

------

Roderyck glared down at Lilian, shoving some of her books back to put the food down.

"You aren't starving with her Lilian. You need to eat."

"I'm fine, you're hovering -"

Roderyck leaned over her, gripping her chin to make her look at him. She glared pulling back.

"Roderyck -"

"Eat something or I will tell them."

His anger melting to near panic. He'd lost so much in this fucking war. He didn't have anyone else. If he lost her, lost the life inside her....he'd climb to the highest point in this fucking court.

"Flowerheart please. Please at least for the child?"

Lilian sighed and threw his quill down. She glared at him but nibbled on some of the crackers and grapes. Roderyck sighed and fell into the chair next to her desk. His smile tired as she intertwined their fingers.

"I'm sorry."

He shook his head, kissing her temple.

"I know you don't mean it. If any of my family had survived that fucking -"

They turned to the mirror, Lilian scrambling to connect with it.

"Tell?"

Roderyck leaned forward trying to see past him.

"He's alive right? Both of them -"

"We don't have a lot of time. Lil you need to listen to me."

Roderyck swallowed the rage. If old love got them answers, then - he felt Lilian reaching for his hand away from the view of the mirror. He laced them together, squeezing. He grabbed a peice of paper writing as Teller spoke in a hushed whisper.

He froze as Lilian came to the same conclusion he had.

"Luther set him up?! If you think I'm going to believe that for a second -"

"Will you listen?! Yes! He lured your father here. There's other prisoners here, someone named Elianna. Another female, a scholar named Charmaine, she isn't imprisoned yet, but I -"

[gccdstories]

He's too tired right then to argue, perhaps, so Kaden just nods as Azrael goes off to find the alcohol. Just collapses back down into one of the chairs, his eyes falling shut as he lowers his head, shaking long strands of loose hair around his face.

Tired.

The rage has quieted--a little. Maybe. There's still a roaring, that wild sea inside of him that just can't ever seem to let things be still. He ignores the broken glass of the vase, he barely speaks much more when Azrael returns with the liquor.

Just drinks... drinks... drinks...

Anything to drown out what is still there, what hasn't faded enough for him to push down, for him to bury, for him to ignore and kill off--

Kaden feels her before he sees her. Senses her before she ever even utters a word. His shoulders tense, his head lifts, his fingers having tightened in their grip on the glass that rests on the table in front of him.

Her scent is stronger right now, and not even the liquor--strong as it is-- can push it away. She's so close, and Kaden's fingers dig harder into the table, the glass, whatever he can as that control slips more.

More.

More.

❝ Elianna... ❞ Her name, it's growled under his breath, Kaden's eyes hard. The fire twisting inside, trying to destroy every piece of him just as much as it tries to fuel him. Every muscle too tight, every inch of him on alert, coiled too intensely and ready to spring at a moment's blink--

He pushes back from the table, shakes his head, takes steps further back.

Away from her.

❝ Forget it. I'm leaving. ❞

~

Isaiah pulls her close, like he cannot get enough of her. Like no matter what this entire fucking world ends up becoming, at least that part of things makes some sort of sense.

❝ This place isn't all it's cracked up to be. ❞ Muttered words, a shrug, his fingers begin to dance over Imogen's arms, up her side. ❝ Or are you trying to argue otherwise? ❞

Azrael falls back against the wall pinching his nose. He bite backs a scream, because all he heard was that Kaden was terrified of who had to have become there. That the prison held a mark on his soul still and his sister was suffering for it.

He swallowed those words down, the urge to point that all out. Kaden would just do what he always did.

Shut down.

"That fucking place really did a number on you huh, all of you it seems. Isa isn't..."

He shoved off from the wall and ran a hand through his hair.

"I'm getting us alcohol don't go disappearing on me."

He pointed at him, funny he couldn't call on his anger now.

"I want my best friend back Kaden. So we are going to get drunk."

He shoved his hands into his pockets and sighed as he looked at the shattered glass. Nyra had loved that vase....dammit.

"I should also probably clean that."

He turned on his heel, slipping out of the room. He looked in on Elianna but she was asleep, small miracles then.

------

Elianna woke, she curled into her pillow. She was probably dreaming before, has Azrael walked her back?

That seemed to be the way of things now. But - she grabbed the bone quill heating the tip on the candle near her bed. He never lit her candle, he said he always forgot. And she could smell him on her pillowcase, nearly feel the pressure of his touch on her skin.

She draw the rune for everlasting on the corner of her pillowcase. It took her longer to wake, to even move from her bed. It was late, or probably very early in the morning. She rubbed at her eyes, she needed a drink.

Whatever mask she could keep for the children was slipping, but this war was grinding everyone down.

She found Azrael in the celler muttering about the lack of light and theives. She recognized the bottles he'd set aside, they'd been Kaden's favorites before.

"He doesn't like those now."

Azrael jumped, slamming his head against the rack above him. He hissed and looked to her.

"What happened? You okay? Eli I've told you if you're going to go out don't go -"

"So you didn't find me?"

Azrael stilled and went back to the bottles.

"Drop it El. It doesn't -"

"He found me didn't he? I remember fire and...."

She moved forward, pulling her robe closer. She couldn't seem to get warm. Despite the heat coming off the warm stones. She pulled out the harder liquor Kaden seemed to like now. Deciding to take his favorite herself.

Azrael took some of them and stood. He set them aside and eyed her.

"You sure you should be drinking more?"

"What are you? Ma now?"

Azrael sighed and began to walk away.

"Just get to bed okay? I -"

"He told Einar to bury it."

Azrael turned to her, frowning.

"Bury what?"

Elianna stared at the bottle in her hands.

"The bond. That - if Einar couldn't seem to get over Lorin, if he couldn't fuck the need out to bury it."

Azrael groaned and gently hit his head against the wall.

"Dammit Kaden."

"You're taking those drinks to him right? I could -"

"He's not right El. He's not sane. Please, please just stop. You don't desvere that, just let it go okay?"

Elianna frowned but nodded, letting Azrael walk away. He was being far more relaxed about everything than usual.

So Kaden had probably said more than just that he'd found her if that. She uncorked the bottle and drank.

She'd need the liquid courage.

She slipped into her room and nursed her bottle. Hearing Azrael open his door, his voice and the clinking of bottles. She hoped he'd come back out, that he'd -

"I'll be back, I need to get a dustpan, or maybe some tools to fix the vase. Don't drink all of that without me."

She waited till the footsteps sounded down the hall, and then for the silence. She stepped out into the hallway. What was she doing? What was she going to say?

He had lit the candle she usually did for the Fates?

He'd found her when she'd been absolutely unable to protect herself?

That because Azrael hadn't clearly slaughtered him for some reason that made the last centuries all okay?

Maybe she did desvere better. He wouldn't have made her second guess his thoughts before. He would have been horrified if she had gotten this worked up without just asking.

She took another long drink of her bottle, shoving the doubts back. Magic being all equal he probably already knew she was standing in the hallway like a creep. Maybe that Kaden was dead...

Maybe the old Elianna was long dead too.

She threw her shoulders back and slipped into the room, locking the door behind her. Her eyes fell on the glass shattered everywhere first.

It was cowardly not to look at him.

"So Azrael did go for a weapon first. Idiot shouldn't have shattered that vase, Nyra really liked that."

She gripped the neck of the bottle tighter and looked to him finally. She could speak about what Einar had told her, the dream, the candle...

"You want to start over? Have a drink with me Kaden? You're not the only one who died in those intervening centuries."

------

Imogen ran her fingers through her hair, brushing it back away from her neck. She looked to Isaiah from the bed.

She shouldn't be doing this, they absolutely shouldn't be doing this. Nephry and Neverra were different, they had station and -

"You sure no one would miss you?"

They shouldn't be doing this but she was so fucking tired of this half-life. They could all die tomorrow, tonight. If the rumors of changelings being brought into all this....if Nismera was truly mad enough to do so...

They were all living on borrowed time.

[gccdstories]

There's a rumble in Tobias's chest, that deep growl as his arms tighten in their hold around her. Feeling the way Ariadne presses into his chest, hearing her-- It only makes him want to burn this world down more and more. Faster. Quicker.

Why are any of these little things running around alive? They're all a waste. Destroy them. Burn them. Ashes is all they should be...

❝ I'm not letting her take you again, Aria. I'm not... ❞

~

She shrugs, not caring a lick about how long Tobias usually keeps whores. ❝ The fact that you know such a thing is a bit concerning, but whatever. You've always been a bit of a stalker, haven't you? ❞ Arms crossed over her chest, Dianna barely catches where the conversation goes as Alister dials up Kaden.

❝ Wait-- Who's alive? You saying he already knew the female? ❞

~

Fingers curl tighter in their grip on the phone at Alister's words, Kaden's eyes hard with every comment. Ice cold anger mixes with the burning inferno that is almost a constant inside of him, the fury that floods every inch of his veins.

It weighs with the exhaustion, and a heavy sigh escapes as it feels like every muscle in Kaden's body coils tighter.

❝ He's already done something insanely stupid. Just stop him from doing more, Alister. I'm on my way. ❞

Fuck.

She curls into his arms, unable to do much else. To do more than run her fingers over and over his pulse point on his neck. It beat for her, hot and steady.

"Y - Tobias. You're real. Thank The Everflame."

She shook her head, pressing into his chest.

"I can't get out of their contract. That Queen - I can't go back, I can't leave you again. I can't -"

------

Alister tilted his head, something didn't make sense. His easy smile falling away as he looked to the Meat Market.

"He doesn't keep whores for 24 hours."

He barley kept them for an hour, it was a release it didn't mean anything. He looked back to the factorieis and quietly cursed.

Wasn't there some whispers about a dragon shifter free? Something from the reports he had colated for Austrus....

"She was a dragon shifter right? One of Viper Queen's - fuck Tobias."

Why didn't he just wait?

Alister sighed and rubbed at his temples. He fished his phone out, dialing Kaden. He didn't wait for him to speak.

"She's alive, T's - she's alive. She has to be if he took a female for 24 hours Kade. We need to get to the Safehouse before he does something insanely stupid."

Like level this meat market to free her. Like level this entire city to free her from snake's clutches.