Page 35

LARS

I race to the doors of the palace as I hear the pounding of hooves trailing away. I send a quick prayer to Zothos to guide me in the next phase of the plan as I enter through the doors of my personal Hel. I need to convince Erebus I am back on his side so he will let me go to Eza. I can guarantee he already has plans to send an army their way. He’s too predictable.

I check every part of the palace where I think I might find him, running into flustered guests from the ball in the process. It seems Erebus is holding them hostage for the time being.

I stumble into the map room and find him hunched over a large oak desk, running his finger along a newly drawn map. Tarron is by his side, arranging little figurines on the table and formulating an invasion plan. As I said, predictable.

I clear my throat, and their heads snap up. “Oh, Lars. I thought you would be halfway to Eza by now with your Fated .” Erebus raises his chin. How does he know about our bond?

In a collected, calm voice, I answer him. “You thought wrong. She told me she didn’t love me and that I was nothing more than a body that kept her bed warm. Why would I pine over a woman who sees me as nothing but an object? She’s a waste of my time. I no longer wish to aid her in whatever ridiculous scheme she comes up with next. I mean to see her to her demise.”

“I’m sorry. I love you; I love you.” I repeat this chant in my head as I verbally betray the one woman I cannot live without.

“This is a fascinating turn of events, but very rash. Why should I believe you? You threatened to burn my entire country down just yesterday.”

The moment the words leave his mouth, I vanish then, reappear directly in front of Erebus. I kneel before him and bow my head, swearing to myself that this is the only time I will be on my knees for anyone other than Silia.

“Please, I beg you to believe me. My loyalty is yours.” I grab his hand in mine and squeeze it tightly, hoping my gift will flow through me and into him. “Should I betray the kingdom, you may punish me to the highest degree.”

I can physically feel him recoil at my pathetic display. If there’s anything he hates more than not holding power, it’s weak, pathetic men.

“Get up, boy. Enough with this.”

I rise to my feet and give him a low bow. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Now, we are sending an army out tonight to Eza.” Erebus returns his gaze to the map, and I circle around the table to see the plans more clearly. By the looks of it, he intends to send only a quarter of his army, maybe one hundred men total. I can work with this.

“I could show them a quicker way to Eza than the one you have mapped out. We will arrive by tomorrow evening if we use my path.” I pray that my gift is working its magic as I coat my tone with an element of certainty that no man can refuse.

At my words, Tarron’s ears perk up, and he interjects. “That sounds like a perfect idea. Isn’t it important we get there as soon as possible, Your Majesty?” He nudges Erebus in the arm. I silently thank the Gods that Tarron is dumb enough to be charmed just by my words. I didn’t even have to lay my hands on him.

“Fine, whatever will get us there quicker.” Erebus waves his hand, dismissing us both from the conversation. That was suspiciously easy.

“Tarron, deliver this to Silia once you both get there. Lars, be ready in thirty minutes. We do not have the luxury of wasting time.”

I lower my head in understanding and exit the map room.

“I love you, Silia. I’m coming.”

If I am to never return to this palace again, there is one person I need to see before I depart.

My mother.

The door to my mother’s room creaks open as I poke my head through. She is sleeping in her bed, her head gently resting back on the headboard. Quietly, I close the door behind me and make my way to her bedside.

Before I wake her, I delve deep into her mind and sever the connection Erebus had me put in her long ago. My gift has never been at its full potential, because I have been forced to control my mother for years, coaxing her into submission for him. I’d allow her to regain consciousness now and then when we were alone, but now is the time to permanently release her.

She slowly opens her soft brown eyes, the usual glazed-over look no longer apparent.

“Hello, Mother.” I sit on the side of her bed and tuck a strand of loose hair behind her ear as she smiles up at me.

“My son. What have I done to deserve you relenting your control?”

I smile back to her as tears begin to sting my eyes. Her appreciative tone holds no malice or resentment. She is simply happy to see me in an unfiltered state. Years of regret hits me all at once at the sight of her gratitude. How could I have done this to her? Why did I not protect her more?

“I am afraid this is the last time I will see you. Erebus has begun his plans, and I need to flee the kingdom.” I hold her frail hand in mine. Many years of mind control has taken a toll on her once-youthful state. Sudden wrinkles appear, and her cheeks begin to hollow. Within the span of ten seconds, she’s aged at least fifty years.

“I feared this day would come too soon.” She tries to muster another smile, but the muscles in her face do not allow more than an unamused glance.

“I wanted to say goodbye, and that I am sorry for everything. I never wanted to do this to you.” I try to hide my tears as they begin to pool in my eyes.

She bends forward, reaching for her nightstand. I meet her halfway and open the drawer. A small dagger catches the firelight, and I look back at her, confused.

“Mother, why do you have this?” I move to shut the drawer, but she grabs my hand before I can grasp the knob.

“My sweet boy, I need to ask a favor of you. I cannot go on like this any further. I want to depart this disastrous world.” The bewilderment must be plain on my face, because she slowly reaches up to press a hand to my cheek. “Please, Lars. This is the only thing I ask of you.”

“What? No! I will not allow you to do this.” I rest my hand over hers and dart my eyes between hers, searching for any sign of doubt. There is nothing there but pain and suffering.

“I will rot to death in this bed anyway. I am of no use to anyone anymore, and I miss your father dearly. Do you know how painful it is to have the one you are bonded to die? It’s unbearable.” She darts her gaze to the drawer and releases my face. “The dagger Lars, if you would.”

Hesitantly, I reach into the drawer and pull out her death sentence.

“Why don’t you leave with me? You can start a new life far away from him. Odious is leaving too.” I don’t want it to come to this, but if this is truly what she wants, I would do anything she asks of me to alleviate her agony.

She shakes her head and grabs my hand with the dagger. She presses the tip to her chest, aiming right at her heart. “You two have beautiful lives ahead of yourselves. My presence is no longer required.”

“Required? Of course your presence is required! What are you talking about?”

Her eyes shift down to my hand, where Father’s ring used to lie. “I think you already know, sweetheart. Follow your instincts. She will come around.”

Mother closes her eyes and whispers a prayer to Hecate as I lean down and give a kiss to her temple, my tears dropping on the dagger in between us. “I love you, Mother. I will see you in the next life.”

“I love you, sweet Lars. Do good things. Be the good person that I know you are. Tell your brother I love him as well.” She takes one final, shaky breath. “I am ready.”

Before I lose my nerve, I drive the dagger through her chest, piercing straight through her heart. She slumps back down against the bed as the final breath leaves her lips. My heartbeat catches in my throat as her hand slips from mine and falls to her side. On instinct, I grab the material of her dress and rub it in between my fingers. Memories of myself doing this exact thing when I was a child mix in with the heavy tears obscuring my vision.

“Mother?” My voice cracks as I call out to her, knowing she won’t answer. Nothing greets my ears but the sound of blood trickling on the wooden floor.

I watch as a single tear runs down her face. I let go of the dagger and reach up to wipe it away. The mixture of her cold body and her warm tears sends a shiver down my spine as my knuckle grazes her cheek.

I killed my mother, my own flesh and blood. Why did I let her convince me to do this? I’m nothing but a coward. I should have grabbed her and taken her with me to Eza.

“Fuck, fuck!” The reality of what I’d just done finally kicks in. I launch from the bed and kick the first object I find across the room. The sound of wood shattering echoes through her chambers, and I slam my back against the wall and slide down.

“Coward. Pathetic. Liar.” I pull the hair at my scalp hard, affording myself any kind of punishment I can provide in this moment.

Follow your instincts. She will come around.

I lift my head from between my knees. This dagger killed her instantly. Usually, an injury to the heart wouldn’t end a life in just a split second. There is something special about this weapon.

I rush to my mother and slowly remove the dagger from her chest. The blood sticks to the dagger, no matter how many times I try to clean it off. I sheathe it in my belt and pull the sheets up, covering the rest of her body as blood quickly soaks through the cotton fabric.

I need to leave for Eza. Now .