Page 112 of Draekora

Knowing secrecy didn’t matter anymore, Alex answered with one word: “Aven.”

Niyx reared back in disbelieving shock. Alex watched his face contort into a painful mixture of emotions: devastation, anger, sadness; both surprised and strangely not surprised at what his friend was capable of when pushed. Then, with the purple of his eyes standing out vividly against the black of his mask, he whispered, “The Meyarin in your future. The enemy of yours—the one who Claimed you, who wants to destroy the world…”

Alex nodded, the truth settling like a vice against her chest. “Yes, it’s Aven. That’s who you were training me to fight. That’s who I need to defeat to keep that vision from coming true.”

Niyx looked as if his world had just crashed around him. “How could he—Why would he—How could he—”

“I’m sorry, Niyx,” Alex said for the third time. “But for what happens next, you shouldn’t be anywhere close to here. You should get away, as far and as fast as you can. Trust me on that. It won’t—” Her breath hitched, but she caught the sob before it could escape. “It won’t make much of a difference, but it might make some.”

“Aeylia—”

“Don’t follow me, Niyx.” Despite her whispered words, her voice was firm as she broke her promise to not give him an order against his will. She felt the tugging between them, and tears welled in her eyes at his anguished, knowing look.

“Aeylia, what—”

Before he could finish his broken question, she reached forward and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close for a tight, desperate embrace. “I’m so sorry, Niyx,” she whispered one last time into his ear—sorry for everything he would go through, sorry for everything she couldn’t protect him from. “But this, at least, is one promise Icankeep.”

As he stiffened in her arms, she silently summoned A’enara behind his back, slicing the blade along the scar at her palm. She was so numb that she barely felt the pain as she pulled back and, quick as a flash, reached for Niyx’s hand, her blade carving open his flesh. His eyes widened in understanding and he tried to break free, but it was too late. Alex had already joined their bloodied hands together—red and silver.

Trae Gaverran sae, she whispered into his mind, the power of the words flowing between them. With tears of apology, regret and fear in her eyes, she gave her final order to him aloud as well. “I Release you, Niyx.”

As if the line tugging between them was suddenly cut, Alex felt the link that had connected them start to uncurl with the Release of her Claim on him.

His expression was ravaged as he looked down at her. “Aeylia—”

She wouldn’t let herself wait to hear whatever he was going to say. She knew the words would kill her, just as she knew she needed to get inside the palace to find Roka. History told her that Aven and hisGarsethtook off after their slaughter before onlookers could capture them, but she knew he would soon be found and brought before the king, and when that happened, she had to be prepared.

… Because after he offered a feigned apology for his actions, he would then try to kill his father and brother.

D.C. had said their deaths were only avoided thanks to the arrival of the guards, but looking around at the mayhem in the streets, Alex guessed that might not be an accurate retelling. She was the only one who understood the threat Aven posed to his family. She was the only one who knew to stop him before he could do more harm.

“Don’t follow me,” she whispered again to Niyx. While he was no longer bound to follow any new commands, that one was given before she’d Released him and would remain in effect, hopefully giving him a fighting chance to stave off his inevitable imprisonment for as long as possible.

With one last look at his tortured face, she spun on her heel and took off into the palace.

Alex sprinted up the spiral towers, passing traumatised Meyarins along the way. She didn’t slow, not even when she sailed by Kyia who had her arms around a shell-shocked Niida, both looking up just in time to catch the blur of Alex running by. The queen’s sorrowful golden eyes told Alex she knew Aven was responsible—that her worst nightmare had come true. But it was Kyia’s emerald gaze that almost caused Alex to stumble in her near-flying steps, because the Meyarin’s focus was locked onto the blood of the scratch on Alex’s face. Too panicked to care about hiding her mortality anymore, Alex didn’t stop, ignoring Kyia when she choked out a sound of shocked alarm.

Alex! Talk to me! What’s going on down there?

Running through the palace, Alex realised she had been so lost in her own fear that she’d not heard Xiraxus screaming for her attention ever since she’d left the Golden Cliffs. Now heading up the grand staircases towards the throne room, she called back,Aven just killed the humans, Xira! They’re dead! And it’s all my fault!

A stunned silence reached her before he replied,I’m almost at the city, Alex. We can’t wait for tomorrow—we need to get you back to your time now, before anything happens to you.

I have to save Roka and Astophe first, she said, nearing the throne room.I have to—

She broke off when the sound of a struggle reached her ears, along with the shouted yells, “I’m not with him, youkregons! I’m the one who caught him—Ibroughthim to you! Prince Roka just told you to let me go—solet me go!”

“It doesn’t matter that you’re not a traitorousGarseth; you’re still a wanted criminal,” came a grunting reply as the struggling sounds continued. “We’ll lock you inTaevargand deal with you once this situation with the prince is under control.”

As Alex rounded the corner and reached the hallway leading to the throne room, she came to a sliding stop at the sight of Zain fighting not one, not two, but sixZeltora, trying to free himself from their hold.

“Aeylia! What—”

Alex spun around at Kyia’s voice, the female Meyarin having chased after her. But she didn’t have time to deal with Kyia right now, nor did she have time to deal with Zain—and that was because she’d heard his shouted words: ‘I’m the one who caught him—Ibroughthim to you!’

Aven was already in with the king. And so was Roka, according to Zain’s other exclamation. If Alex didn’t hurry…

“Help him!” she screamed at Kyia, pointing to Zain. “I need to get past them!”

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