Page 86 of Queen of the Wicked
Full capacity?
How dare she talk about Erebos merely as an object? Like he was only a battery to charge her up before sending him on his way?
The smoke acted on its own accord, wrappingaround her mother’s throat to force her gaze to hers. “And what happens to him now that I have one hundred percent of his powers?”
Fear entered her mother’s eyes, but her expression did nothing to change the hold Alessia’s smoke held around her throat. It was as if Elyana severely underestimated how powerful she was now, and the knowledge thrilled her.
“The lord is no longer immortal,” she replied solemnly. “His body is deteriorating, as he has been alive for many years.”
Alessia’s heart fractured in that moment, splitting right down the center and erupting into millions of tiny, excruciating shards. Every moment repeated in her head since they’d met, wondering why she never pieced it together until now.
How he allowed her to sleep in his study, even if he was furious with her, ensuring that fire was always raging when she visited. His inability to sit idly by when she had a nightmare abouthim.Their mind connection, the tether that held them together, and every emotion that had transpired since they laid eyes on each other finally settled into place, but that place was empty now as she tried to reestablish the mind link. She could no longer brush against his mind, and that string between them floated empty in the wind, clinging to nothing but despair and sorrow.
“How long does he have left?” She was full-on sobbing, but she didn’t stop her tears this time. They were a reflection of how much she cared. Of how much she realized that, despite how quickly they rushed intothings, she wanted this bond between them more than anything.
And now it was being stripped away before she had the chance to say yes.
“It varies,” Elyana replied in a strained voice. Alessia hadn’t realized how tight her smoke had gotten and instantly released it from her throat. “He could have weeks. Possibly months.”
How could the Makers be so cruel? Erebos was hermate,and she refused to believe their connection was all due to the mating bond the gods and goddesses forced upon them. Cursed bond or not, her feelings for the lord werereal.Fuck the balance. Fuck whatever the Makers were trying to push her into. Earth was in unrest, Heaven was turning evil, but one thing she knew for certain? She’d obliterate all the realms entirely before Erebos, hermate,died as a means to an end.
An uneasy calm settled upon Alessia as she diverted her attention to the witch with her eyes still cast on the floor. “Do you have something to reverse it?”
Elyana’s mouth gaped open. “Reverse it? Alessia, the Makers wanted you to have these powers. You aredestined?—”
“I am not speaking to you,” Alessia snapped. “You knew all along what the Makers' plans were because of Mom’s vision. You knew I was the lost heir and never said anything until now. YouknewErebos was dying before we left this morning and chose to remain silent.”
“Aside from the gardens, we have not gotten a moment alone with each other for me to explain everything.” Elyana defended herself with wide eyes. “As forthe bond, Erebos did not wish for me to tell you. He ordered the entire realm to keep the knowledge of your connection to themselves.”
Alessia scoffed at how naive she had been. Izara, Eryx, Isla,Ambroz…It explained so much; she was more angry at herself for pushing away her feelings toward the lord when it was apparent to everyone around herwhy she felt so drawn to him.
Again, she turned to face Brienne, deciding to table her stupidity for a later time with more pressing matters at stake. “Can you reverse it?”
“I do not know, Your Majesty,” Brienne whispered. “We would have to inspect the lord to see what mending is required.” She chewed on her lip, deep in thought. “Going against the Makers requests for destiny will be difficult, to say the least.”
Alessia quirked a brow at the new title that stirred something deep within her soul. “Is it something you are willing to do?” She wouldn’t blame the witch for siding with the Makers. After all, theywerethe ones who created the very realms they exist in, but it didn’t make sense why they were still controlling destiny from the afterlife, a realm created solely for royalty, when their time came to an end. It was a separate realm, and she didn’t think the balance of Heaven and Hell affected their peace there, so why intervenenow?Why did they care if these realms went to shit?
“I will speak with my mother upon her return,” Brienne replied. “That is the best I can do.”
“And do you know anything of Mose’s amulet?” Alessia asked, inching towards the door. “That’s thereason why we came. We’re searching for the gems to complete it.”And now Alessia needed them more than ever.
“I have not heard of it,” the witch said. “Although I have not existed as long as my mother. Her knowledge of history is far superior to mine.” A moment later, she added, “I will inquire about that too and send a message if we can help.”
“Thank you.” Alessia opened the door to the cottage with her head held high, unwilling to succumb to the gut-wrenching agony tearing at her heart. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to have a discussion with mymate.”
This was not the time to break down. This was not a moment to falter when every second she wasted was seconds spent apart from Erebos.
“Alessia, where are you going?” Elyana called after her, following her onto the porch.
The lost queen of Heaven whirled to face her, nothing but the promise of retribution reflecting in her blood-red eyes. “I’m returning to Hell to find a cure for Erebos. You have done nothing but cost me precious hours with the person I’m fated to be with,Mother, and I refuse to waste another second not by his side.
A realization dawned on the woman who had raised her, and if Alessia didn’t know any better, she might have guessed her expression to be disappointment. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
But Alessia had already vanished, leaving her mother to find her own way home.
Chapter 35
Alessia
