Page 41 of Cages and Crowns
And then I see it.
I see him.
Them.
Two figures step out of the darkened stables. Both with black hair, but their eyes glow different colors in the fading light. Amethyst and emerald. Calling for me.
The green eyes widen in panic. Enzo.
He’sreal.
They are both yelling, the other one ripping off his weapons.Enzo’s hands are waving, his mouth moving but no words reach me. I push faster, I can feel the guards right behind me, ready to grab me. Ready to take me back to him. I won’t go back alive. They’ll have to ki—
“Get down!” The words break through the bloodpumping in my ears. “Get down!” Enzo screams again and I throw myself to the grass.
Lilac light explodes, filling the courtyard before a roar deafens my ears. I squeeze my eyes shut, slamming my hands over my ears. A scream tears through my throat as I feel my heart stutter.
Heat lances my back as another roar shudders through my bones. A sound so deep, soanimalistic, it infiltrates my very soul. Fire erupts around us, burning my skin. Screams echo around me. I part my eyelids slightly and look up. Another scream tears through my throat and I scramble to my knees.
Black scales of an underbelly tower over me, a light purple fire exploding out of the beast’s mouth as he decimates the men who were behind me, turning them into nothing but ash.
My throat grows hoarse, and another stutter of my heart causes my breath to catch. I try to crawl away, my hands going numb as they grip at the grass before I lose feeling completely.
The wet ground caresses my bare skin as I collapse, a contrast to the heat around me. I vaguely see a tan arm reaching for me, but it doesn’t matter.
Nothing matters anymore.
My eyes relax, staring at the fire catching as I take one last breath.
Part Two:
Crown Of Silver
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Caged
My body feels like it’s floating. As if I am nothing more than a speck in the sky, floating along with all of the other specks and stars. Floating with the other planets and universes. No desires or needs. No fears or sadness. Just existing to exist. But that isn’t what is happening.
I wish I was just existing to exist.
It would be better than the alternative.
Better than the unknown.
Better than the pain that has followed me since the day I left Chatis. The pain that is a permanent reminder that happiness has never been in the cards for me. Fate has made sure of that.
My eyes flutter open, sunlight blinding me. I blink a few times, begging my eyes to adjust to the harsh light. Puffy white clouds and bright blue skies greet me. Birds fly overhead, trees rustle in the summer wind. It’s quiet, calm. It almostfeels surreal.
Am I dead?
Peace. This is what peace looks like. What I imagine the afterlife would be. What I imagine my mother is experiencing wherever she is.
What Theo is experiencing.
Something shifts below me, and I freeze, my eyes slowly panning over to the man sitting next to me.
His skin is tan, golden and slightly olive, as if he spends his time in the sun. His dark hair is tousled, as if he is constantly running his hands through it. His skin is flawless and smooth aside from a long scar that goes from his high cheekbone, through his eye, and up into his dark brow. It’s a soft, flesh color, indicating it wasn’t recent. His eyes are closed, his long lashes fluttering against his cheek. My eyes trail to his plush lips, perfectly framed and rosy. His jaw is hardened and sharp, with a spattering of dark facial hair; short and well-groomed. He is attractive, almosttooperfect.
