Page 138 of Fated

“Oh, go ahead, Calyx. You and my granddaughter are free to leave,” she said with a dismissive wave, as though we were mere nuisances.

“I’M NOT YOUR FUCKING GRANDDAUGHTER!”

The words ripped out of me, fueled by a rage I didn’t knowI possessed. Throwing all my weight toward Cynthia, every muscle was straining to break free of Calyx’s hold. Savage, guttural sounds erupted from me—feral, vicious, uncontrollable.

But Cynthia just smiled. She fucking smiled.

“You see, Areya, the poison lacing the dagger with which I stabbed your precious fated one is quite ancient and extremely hard to come by.” Her voice was light, almost conversational, but every word dripped with malice. “It’s so rare, in fact, that there is no cure for the slow and painful death it brings … except—” Her smile twisted into something purely evil. “If one possessed a certain healing power, well, I suppose that could save him.”

I bared my teeth at her, snarling like a cornered animal.

The blood beneath my skin boiled, and the rage inside me was no longer just an emotion—it was a living, breathing beast. I wanted to rip her apart, piece by piece.

“Tsk, tsk,” Cynthia tutted, eyes gleaming with cruel delight. “Such a savage one you are, Areya. Nothing like the gentle creature your mother was. I might have kept her around if she’d shown half the spine you possessed.”

The world around me ceased turning. I stopped breathing.

“You have her eyes,” she added, her voice sickeningly sweet. “What a sad and pathetic waste of life my Everleigh turned out to be.”

“I’M GOING TO KILL YOU. I’M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU. YOU’RE A MONSTER.” The words exploded from me as I violently thrashed against Calyx’s arms, my fury like a wildfire consuming everything in its path. But the fury, the rage—it wasn’t enough. My legs gave out beneath me, and Calyx held my weight, keeping me from collapsing completely.

“ASH … ASH!” I sobbed, pulling at the bond between us withevery ounce of strength I had left, but it felt muted, distant, like trying to grasp something submerged underwater.

Cynthia’s cold amused eyes landed on me, seeming to relish my desperation. “Ah, another perk of the poison. His magic will soon be completely nullified.”

I was spiraling and had to do something—anything. “Please, Calyx, please help him,” I begged, my voice raw, broken. Tears blurred my vision as I glanced at Ash—my Ash—lying on the ground lifeless, his chest barely rising, every breath a struggle.

Cynthia rolled her eyes, a mocking sigh escaping her lips.

“I’m tiring of this,” she whined. “Let us get to the point, shall we? Sebastian will live, for now. His wound will heal—slowly—but the real fun begins after that. The poison coursing through his bloodstream will start to eat its way through his body. The pain will be exquisite,” she purred, practically trembling with excitement.

I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms as I stood frozen, utterly helpless.

“Then the poison will slowly consume his mind. He won’t be able to tell nightmare from reality.” Cynthia continued, her voice brimming with glee, “He’ll live his final days trapped in an infinite loop of his darkest fears. Can you imagine, all that suffering, all that despair?” A delighted, twisted chuckle bubbled from her throat. “I do love that part.”

She paused, her gaze shifting from Ash’s crumpled body to mine.

A twisted smile played on her lips. “If Sebastian isn’t healed within two weeks from now, well, he’s as good as dead. And as it turns out, we don’t really need him anymore. Not when you will be the lucky new owner of Ambrosia’s heir power.”

Ash seemed to summon every last ounce of strength in hisbody, fighting against the poison’s cruel grip. His voice came out broken and hoarse as he lifted his head, his eyes filled with desperation. “Calyx,” he rasped. “As my friend, please … take the charger. Get Areya to Ambrosia. I need you to do that for me.”

My heart shattered as Ash’s eyes found mine.

I already knew what he wanted me to do, but I couldn’t—I wouldn’t.

“No!” I screamed, my voice cracking as fresh tears poured down my face. “No … no, Ash!” I shook my head violently, unable to accept what was happening. “I am going to save you, Ash. I swear it! Do you hear me?” My voice was raw, barely recognizable through the sobs and the anguish. “I promise,” I cried, my hands trembling, my entire world unraveling before me.

“I love you, Areya.” His voice was barely a whisper, fragile and fleeting.

“No.” I shook my head, as if repeating the word could undo this nightmare.

“I am grateful for every second I got to spend with you, even if it wasn’t as long as we hoped it would be. I regret nothing.” His words were soft but carrying the weight of a lifetime. “Areya, you are good, you are brave, you are strong. Lead our people. They will follow you.”

An instant later, the world shifted. I felt the rush of wind and the rustling of wings as I was swept off the ground into arms that weren’t Ash’s.

Calyx held me tightly as we soared upward, away from the nightmare below.

My heart shattered, watching Ash’s body become a distant speck on the desert floor.

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