Page 97 of A Reign of Malice
“Doesn’t seem like it,” Julian says, dragging a hand through his hair. He takes a fresh handful of matches from Clara once she rejoins us and strides to the curtains lining the grand windows.
No one speaks as we watch him move, measured and deliberate. The matches flare to life in his hand then vanish into the fabric, igniting the drapes in a wave of flames. The tapestries follow. Then the furniture, one piece at a time.
There’s something sacred in the silence. A shared understanding.
This is an ending.
Noen returns not long after, streaked with soot but smiling grimly. “Dining hall and a few other rooms along the way have been handled.”
The fire is everywhere now, roaring up the stairwell, devouring every inch of Aeson’s legacy. Orange. Gold. Blue. Black smoke curling through the rafters like a curse exorcised. The heat builds and a wall behind us groans as if the castle itself rises in protest. Its bones cry out, mourning the death of a kingdom that never should have come to be.
Julian returns to my side, sweat dripping down his temple, eyes locked on the inferno behind us. “Let’s go.”
We step into the night just as a stairwell crumbles inside. The flames consume what’s left of our past, the smoke rising to the stars above us like a funeral pyre lit for every soul Aeson ever wronged.
The air is thick with ash, heat, and vengeance, but at the same time, it’s also fresh, like Venaris being reborn.
Julian’s hand finds mine, rough and warm. We don’t look back.
Still, our night isn’t over.
Elyn waits for us somewhere out here, and I don’t presume it’s for anything good after the way we departed the god realm.
“We’re going to go check on the wounded,” Theo announces with Estee tucked into his side.
I nod respectfully. “Thank you. And if anyone asks or seems unhappy, let them know that no decisions need to be made tonight, but the pack members are welcome to leave Venaris of their own free will. We won’t keep anyone who doesn’t want to be here.”
Isla reaches for my shoulder. “We’ll welcome anyone we need to. Everyone will have a home and then we can begin working together like we always should have been.”
Nothing has ever sounded better to me.
The four of them go off, but Clara and Noen linger.
“You don’t have to watch my every move,” I say. “The war is over.”
She grins widely. “And you have your mate. I know. Old habits are hard to break. I’ll go check on our pack.”
“Thank you.”
She hugs me, almost tight enough to make me wince but then pulls back and winks at Julian. “Don’t burn anything else down without me.”
“Or me,” a welcome and familiar voice says.
We turn to find Garron approaching us. He’s limping and there’s blood on his clothes, but he’s alive and that’s most important.
He glances at the burning castle. “Nice touch. I assume you left Aeson in there?”
“He doesn’t deserve a proper burial,” Julian replies gruffly.
Garron shakes his head. “No, he doesn’t. Did you at least let his advisor live?”
The reminder of Dasha has unexpected emotions rising within me. I didn’t know her, I didn’t even really care for her demeanor, but I understood her. She was doing the best she could given the circumstances, and I can’t fault her for that. She also didn’t deserve to die for her choices either.
“Aeson killed her when she tried to stop him from attacking me,” I say solemnly.
“Well, at least they’ll be together,” Garron says, confusing me until he adds, “I was here to deliver a message from her brother. He didn’t make it either.”
I lightly shudder. So many lives lost for such a selfish man.
