Autumn Dawn (Fate's Intent Book 11) (5 page)

Chapter 11

Adele

Zayden was hurt and I couldn’t just stand here and watch. I took a deep breath and stepped forward but Troy grabbed my arm, pulling me back towards him. “No. It’s the battle of the Kings. We can’t interfere.”

My heart sunk and I looked back. Sedrik stepped toward Zayden, just letting him stay there and lose all that blood. “What’s the matter, Zayden? Can’t heal yourself? I guess no one can be as lucky as me and soon to be more.”

Sedrik looked up at me and drove his sword handle into the back of Zayden’s head, knocking him to his stomach. A tear fell from my eye when he landed. If we couldn’t help, I was going to lose Zayden and the thought of it tormented me. I looked at Sedrik for mercy and he made a simple movement to come over to me. I didn’t move while he lifted his hand towards me and wiped the tears from my cheeks, holding my head gently in his hands.

“All the time in the world couldn’t hide our love. Say you’ll come with me and he lives. If not, I’ll have to win you as planned and he dies.”

Another tear ran down my face to the reality in all of this. There was a chance for me to save Zayden. He was giving me a chance and almost every ounce of me wanted to take it.

“Adele. No.” Ruby whispered.

“Quiet.” Sedrik said, never taking his eyes from mine. “So, what will it be, my love?”

The one lonely ounce magnified and I knew that I couldn’t truly help Zayden. He may kill him anyway and I had to be loyal to him and only him.

“I remember feeling for you once but all the time in the world couldn’t hide just how much I hate you now.” I hissed my words and spit on him to end them.

Sedrik got mad obviously and slapped me in the face then wiped the spit from his. “Very well then, you have chosen his fate.”

Zayden was moving along the ground backwards like he knew death was coming and it frightened me. Sedrik kicked him in the side and he rolled to his back in agony.

“You should have killed me when you had the chance eighteen years ago but it’s too late now. It looks like I’m going to win. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her and in my bed she’ll forget you.”

Sedrik held up his sword over Zayden and I began to breathe heavily. It was happening right now with nothing we could do. The sword started to descend down and I closed my eyes and turned into Troy’s arms. I couldn’t watch my husband be taken from me this way but there was no hope. I was about to lose him forever.

Chapter 12

Zayden

I watched her turn away with her tears. Everyone was watching but it was Adele who affected me the most. I remembered what it felt like when I thought I lost her twice and I didn’t want her to go through that. I held back the pain from this wound and lifted my left arm to knock Sedrik’s sword out of the way then took one of Seth’s weapons from my belt and pointed it at Sedrik.

It was enough other movement for Adele to look back when Sedrik laughed. “And what are you going to do with that. Looks very dangerous.”

I couldn’t move enough to get up but I mustered all my strength to keep my arm straight while I held the weapon. “Eighteen years ago I told you that you would never have her and even now, you won’t.”

He only seemed amused. He didn’t think that I knew about this gift and he clearly didn’t know about our family if he made that assumption because I knew exactly how to kill him. I just didn’t want it to be like this. I never wanted to have to use this weapon but being this immobile, I didn’t have a choice. I would have died otherwise.

I pulled back the lever at the top but Sedrik remained to have his confidence. “You just don’t know when to give up.”

“Because I know how to win.”

I pulled the trigger and the lever was released, hitting the flint and igniting the powder. The little iron ball exited the barrel flawlessly and found a new home in his skull, causing him to collapse to the ground with me. His brain disconnected from his body without having to remove his whole head and Sedrik was finally dead.

It was a rush but when it was over, that’s when I felt the effects again of what had already happened to me. I was weak from the blood loss during those few minutes and dropped my arm but Adele was immediately at my side. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again.”

“I’ll try not to.”

Darius and Troy were being very gentle while trying to get me to my feet.

In my head I knew this wound could still kill me but I didn’t want to show that weakness with all my men watching like they were all expecting me to be okay. “Well done. It’s officially over as we honor our dead. Let’s take this victory home with us.”

Everyone scattered and started packing up but I was brought into my tent.

“Father!”

“Back away.” Darius demanded as he and Troy brought me over to a cot and set me down.

“I’m all right, son.” I replied, holding my side. “Just stay over there.”

Seth listened and stayed back while Darius and Troy started taking my armor off. It was painful to move during it but I couldn’t breathe fully with it on.

“Get Jaylyn in here!” I said, continuing to bleed out and started feeling faint.

“I’m right here, Zayden, don’t worry. You won’t feel it soon. Just hang in there.

Her voice was sweet and I wanted to believe everything she said but I didn’t know how much longer I really had.

Her hand slipped from mine and she pulled up my shirt. The wound was deep and I felt it worse when the air hit it. My breathing became rapid.

“How bad is it?” Adele asked.

“It’s bad. He has internal bleeding. We can’t let him lose consciousness.” Jaylyn touched me to begin the healing but my breathing was only getting worse from the contact. “Zayden? You need to stay with us. Stay awake.”

I could see Adele over me. She looked sad and worried. “Zayden? Don’t you dare die on me. I won’t lose you like this. Look at me and stay awake.”

I could just barely see her now and all my eyes wanted to do was close but she was persistent.

“Please stay awake. Don’t you dare close those eyes. Keep showing them to me.”

I was fighting to but couldn’t. All sights and sounds of them faded from me and I was alone.

“Zayden. Zayden?”

My eyes opened to the voice but I wasn’t where I remembered. It was a completely black scene.

“Zayden.”

I tried to focus and saw my father in front of me but he was much younger than I remembered. “Father?”

“What are you doing?”

I looked around but there was nothing here. It was just all black. “Am I dead?”

“Not yet. You’re in the void that separates our two worlds.”

“Jaylyn was healing me. How do I get back?”

“You have to wake.”

“But how? I already feel awake.”

“Find a way out of the darkness. You’re not ready to come with us.”

“Are you and mother okay?”

He smiled. “Don’t you worry about us. You need to find your way out. I won’t let you die. Go back. I’m proud of you, my son.”

His image was fading and the next thing I knew, my eyes were opening again and Jaylyn was leaned over me.

“Thank goodness. Thought we lost you for second there.”

I was feeling calmer than before I blacked out and my breathing was normal but I still felt tired. “I think for a second, you did.”

“Are you okay?” Adele asked.

I could have mentioned seeing my father again but I didn’t want to worry her. “Yes. Thank you, Jaylyn.”

“Of course but next time don’t try and prove your worth through something this stupid. It’s going to get you killed someday.”

I laughed to the irony. “It would have been sooner but how was I supposed to know he was going to show up with improvements from our last meeting?”

“You wouldn’t have.” Adele said. “It surprised us all.”

“As it was his plan, I’m sure.” Ruby griped. “I just hope his heir doesn’t take revenge.”

“He doesn’t have one.” Darius said.

“Which is probably why he came back, to get the one he found worthy to provide such.” Troy joked.

Everyone looked at Adele and she sighed. “Yes, there are a few things I would have done differently.”

They laughed about it but I was just glad it was truly over.

“Well. Good work everyone. Today was a long awaited victory and I couldn’t be more thrilled that it’s on the record.”

Darius smiled. “Just like old times.”

“Exactly. Burn the valley of dead but send them back their King. Even one such as he deserves a proper burial.” Darius and Troy nodded as they left the tent to give the word and I stood up to get dressed again. “Well, now that we’re done here, let’s go home and you three—” The boys stood up and approached me. “Not a word out of any of you until we get home and we’ll see what your punishment shall be.”

They put their heads down while I finished dressing then we left the first barricade together and made our way north on the road. The word was sent to the remaining barricades that the war was over and the battle won by us of course.

Chapter 13

Ruby

The boys stayed silent the whole way back like Zayden had asked and we got back just in time to meet Aleksander and Ryon coming through the portal.

“We bring praises to your victory.” Aleksander said.

“Thank you.” Zayden replied, shaking his hand.

“But there’s something else.” Ryon said. He didn’t seem happy at all like something was wrong.

“Then let us discuss it more privately.” Zayden gestured his hand towards the conference room then turned his head. “Boys, to your rooms.”

“But father—”

“We will address your punishment later!” Zayden’s voice was very harsh and they left to do what they were told. “Pardon that.”

“It’s all right.” Aleksander replied. “But this is important.”

Of course we were all curious and gathered in the conference room to find out what this was about but even when we were there, Aleksander and Ryon seemed hesitant to say anything.

“Why didn’t Trever come to celebrate our victory?” Jaylyn asked.

Aleksander and Ryon looked at each other again.

“He’s—not well.” Aleksander said.

Jaylyn instantly worried. “What do you mean not well?”

“Emotionally.” Ryon clarified.

“What happened?” Adele asked.

They shared that look again but it was worse, only fuelling our thoughts to all the wrong ideas.

“Bianca is dead.” Ryon said it so emotionally stale like it didn’t matter one way or another but we all reacted verbally.

“What?!”

“What do you mean she’s dead?!” Jaylyn demanded. “What happened?!”

Aleksander exhaled loudly. “They always knew it would happen eventually. Bianca’s life has always been tied to Sedrik’s. If he dies, so does she.”

“Wait a second.” Zayden said, standing. “What are you saying? I killed her by killing him?”

“Surely they don’t think of it that way, Zayden. It had to happen. You know it did.”

“But I killed his wife!” He started around the table like he needed to see him.

“You can’t go to him.” Ryon said, appearing in front of the door before he could go out.

“Why not?”

“He won’t see anyone. He has to do this his own way.”

“Did you always know this would happen or did you just find out?”

“We always knew.”

This was seriously frustrating Zayden as he turned away from the door. “Why doesn’t anyone ever tell us these things?!”

“Because then you wouldn’t have done it.” Aleksander said. “And you needed to. It’s what’s best for the world.”

“I thought he was done with all of that. What about living his own life?”

“He’s done that.”

Jaylyn verbally panicked. “He’s not going with her, is he?!”

“Of course not. There are reasons for him to be here. He’s just going through a grieving stage as anyone of you would if you lost someone you love.”

“You can’t expect me to do nothing.”

“We don’t expect anything from you. It was just something you had to know.”

“Fine. Now we know. Leave.”

“Zayden!” Adele snapped.

Zayden took a breath. “I’m sorry. You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like.”

“Thank you but there are a few girls back home who are waiting for their masters that wanted us to remind them about their next mission.”

“We haven’t forgotten.” Adele said. “We’ll be right there.”

Aleksander nodded and he and Ryon left.

“I trust you can see to the punishments without us.”

“Once I try to shake this off.” Zayden said. “Yes.”

“It wasn’t your fault. He knew it was going to happen, remember? He asked for you to make it quick.”

“Yeah but I didn’t. Not really.”

“Don’t worry. When Trever is ready, he’ll talk.”

“Will you see him when you go back?” Troy asked.

Adele looked at Jaylyn and I, unsure how to answer.

“I doubt it.” Jaylyn said. “Not if he doesn’t want to be seen.”

Darius slowly started to take my hand next to me. I think he was worried that I’d go to him but I don’t know what I would say. Trever just lost the love of his life. I couldn’t imagine that ever happening to me but I knew there would be no words of comfort that would heal me any faster. I’d forever be hurt. Trever didn’t need pity. He was never good with it. He just needed time and no matter how much I wanted to go to him and give him my condolences, I’d let him have that time; however long it takes.