Scars and Burns (No Light Without the Dark #1)

55. Aeron

Saphrina was not pleased with the discovery of Dinalia and myself together but I could care less. Dinalia is mine and I will not deny myself any longer. Not with Prince Proteus attempting to claim her as well.

The landscape the Celestial Realm has provided me with is not ideal. Especially since they seem to have intimate knowledge about my Father that I do not. How would this have happened? When could this have happened?

Estelle is right. There is more at work here. The Goddess has something planned with all our fates.

I’ve returned to the hall where I saved Dinalia. Something about this just is not sitting right with me. Besides the obvious reason that King Elio tried to rape Dinalia. Anger begins to grow inside of me once again at the thought of him harming her. How could such a worthless male think he can defile such an exquisite female. Regardless, of whether he wanted to use her and sire another heir, only to kill her after the deed was done, he should not have had a substance that could restrict her magic.

I kneel down, picking up the hard rock but it’s not rock. Perhaps stone or granite. But even so, such material would not and should not restrict one’s magic. Especially, someone as powerful as Dinalia. King Elio said to ask my Father but that is not longer an option.

Unable to shake these questions from my mind I teleport to King Elio’s study but I’m shocked at what I find.

King Elio is on his knees, beaten and bruised. Blood coating his face and his clothes are torn. He is being restrained with the same substance he restricted Dinalia with. Standing over him is Prince Proteus. They whip their heads toward me when I appear.

“What are you doing here?” Prince Proteus asks.

I smirk, “I could as you the same thing.”

“That’s not your concern.”

I look down to King Elio, uncertainty in his eyes. “What is going on here?”

“King Elio had some information I needed. Some information he was a little reluctant to give.”

“I see. And what information might this be?”

Prince Proteus huffs, “Why would you think I would divulge that to you when you are trying to steal my mate.”

Anger rushes through me at Proteus calling Dinalia his mate. I recall what Estelle informed me of about mates. How it is a choice. But how is there a possibility for two?

“She is not your mate. I’ll make sure of it.”

“You think she’ll choose you? You, the malicious, ruthless, torturous prince of death when she is everything light and good.”

He cannot be her mate. He doesn’t see the true darkness in her soul. Darkness that cannot be denied.

“No matter,” Prince Proteus continues, we look to the door as the screaming begins. “The raid has started and I will sweep her off to the Celestial Realm. Saving her from your wrath.”

My brows furrow, “Wrath? The Shadowlands are not raiding the Middle Kingdom.”

“No, but we’ve expanded the manipulation magic one uses to change their appearance to most of our ranks. All those that fall will appear to be from the Shadowlands in line with the reputation of your realm. Now, if you’ll excuse me I have my mate to go save.” Then he is gone in a cloud of blue smoke.

King Elio stands and walks over to me. I snicker at him, “You’ve looked better.”

“Yeah. Get these off of me.”

“And why would I do that?”

He huffs, “You can’t be serious. My realm is under attack and yours is being blamed. We must do something.”

“Yes, we must. But we are not allies. This will be used to my advantage.” I break the bonds that restrict him. “Thankfully, Prince Proteus has already beaten you enough that I won’t have to.” I grip his arm, transporting us to the throne room.

“Why are we here?”

“So Dinalia will find us. And you can die in the very hall that is meant to emulate your power.”

“What makes you think she will come looking for me? She doesn’t care about me. And how would she even know to come here.”

I walk up the steps, turn around and sit upon his throne. Making myself comfortable. “Because she has a curious mind and she will not accept Prince Proteus blindly saying the raid is from the Shadowlands, not after what has transpired between us. She will find us. She will find me.”

King Elio shrugs, “So, not what?”

“Now, King Elio, we wait.”

* * *

She’s here. I felt her the moment she walked through the side door.

She’s listening.

It’s time. Time, she knew the truth.

I look down at King Elio on his knees, “Look where our actions have brought us, King Elio.”

He smirks up at me, “You sit on my throne. Why? When you have your own to warm.”

“At least you and your daughter are still alive.”

“For now.” He doesn’t know Prince Proteus intends to cast her aside and when he does. He will not be alive to witness the betrayal.

“Yes, for now. But neither of you will die by my hand or my people.”

“Why? Because you think since you and Dinalia bear the same Goddess mark you are fated. You two together will bring about the world we all dream of. The world prophesied?”

He mocks me. Thinks since he lost the only woman he ever loved, the one he chose to make his mate did not love him in return, the Goddess does not bless us with mates anymore. For how could I receive a mate and not the great King Elio.

He doesn’t know what it means to not have a whole soul of your own. To have a piece of you missing. A piece you didn’t even know was gone until they are presented in front of you. Walking your whole life ashamed and out of step with the rest of the world.

“I would leave the world prophesied to burn for all eternity if it meant I could spend a lifetime with her.”

King Elio laughs. Well, an attempt at a laugh. He’s already been beaten pretty badly. “You hold such hope for the life you might share together. But does she know?”

Anger flashes through me.

“Tell me, Prince Aeron, does Dinalia know? You have gone to her since so gallantly saving her from my assault, I’m sure. Enraptured with one another but have you given her the opportunity to know your true self? That you were there the night her Mother died and you did nothing!”

She does now.

“She will know in time. I will present her with the one who killed her Mother. The one responsible for his Queen’s death.”

I feel her heart begin to race at the news. She emerges from her hiding spot behind a pillar. Her demeanor is dark. Rage and anger evident in her stance. Seething with the knowledge that has just been presented. My cock jerks at the site of her. She’s covered in splatter blood, blades drawn. That’s my estrella.

“How dare you. Both of you. Discussing my future. Exchanging secrets that involve me, my Mother, my life!”

I look at her with a blank expression. This is not how I envisioned us coming to terms but her vengeance towards the murder of her Mother, towards King Elio, will outweigh her anger towards me.

She’s pointing a blade at each of us. But I know deep down that she could not harm me.

Because I could never harm her.

“Dinalia!” King Elio shouts. “Listen to me! I loved your Mother but she had to die.”

“My estrella,” she looks over to me, my heart racing, my Goddess mark burning, “There is much to explain.” My voice is calm and neutral. The remorse evident on my face. Seeing her this way, in anguish, tears my soul apart.

I should have told her sooner.

“Dinalia, please! Help me!” It’s King Elio. Groveling, begging for her assistance.

Grief is consuming her. She clenches her jaw, shutting her eyes in the process. Coming to terms with this reality. I wish I knew what was going on inside her head. To peer into her black dahlia eyes and see the thoughts unraveling behind them .

She turns barreling her blades at him. Although he has some magic to counteract her own. It will not last.

Her magic is intoxicating. Covering her blades in white flames and sparks of starlight. Spreading throughout the area around her. Engulfing her as she battles through. Emerging as a formidable force. As if the Goddess herself has been unleashed once again.

Darkness becomes hers.

She is relentless but all he does is evade. Then I see her blades transform. Goddess, where did she get this weapon. What once was two dual blades are now steel whips.

She flings them towards King Elio. Causing him to falter.

Her magic coils around him. Searing his skin. Turning it black from its touch. He’s struggling to breath but I know her. She will not want to suffocate him to death. She will want to be up close. Forcing her blade through his heart. To watch the light fade from his eyes. To see the soul leave his body.

I watch the encounter. They are engulfed in her magic. Her magic that is burning and swirling. Illuminating the room with its moonlight glow and the hues of purple and blue. Sparks of starlight shooting out and coating the floors. And although it is a flame the entire hall is cold. As if her magic has sucked all the warmth from the air. The sadness and despair laced within her soul.

King Elio is on his knees. And although he tries to portray vengeance I see the fear in his eyes. Fear of the tormented soul he helped create.

Then I hear her say, “Blood for blood, King Elio, blood for blood”

And it’s done. King Elio is dead.

Smirking at her comment. So, she did catch that from the Greeting.

I walk over to her. Her breathing is heavy and sweat coats her brow. Her flames are dwindling around us.

Placing a hand on her shoulder, she whips towards me. Blades ready to attack once again.

I grab her wrist as she does. Restricting her movement.

“Let me go.” She says, through gritted teeth.

“No. You know I can’t do that.”

She squirms and fights against me. But it is no use. My strength diminishes her own. Besides she’s spent from fighting against King Elio.

“We must go, my estrella. King Elio’s soldiers are coming.”

She shoves against me, “Don’t call me that! And what makes you think I would go anywhere with you!”

Streams of sweat dripping down her blood splattered face. Anger rising once again in eyes. “You were there. You let her die.” She croaks out.

Swallowing, “Yes, I was and there’s so much I need to tell you of that night but not now.”

“Why not now?”

“Because this raid is not being led by me! It is being led by Prince Proteus. The royal family from the Celestial Realm are not what they appear to be.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “But they fled to the Celestial Realm! Saphrina went with them!”

“Saphrina is collateral damage at this point. She will be used as leverage to get to you.” We don’t have time for this. Guards will be here any moment. I need to at least get her to the Shadowlands. In my kingdom where she will be safe.

“Wh- what do you mean? None of this is making any sense!”

“I know, my estrella, I know but I can explain if you only give me a chance.”

“I’m not your estrella! I don’t even know what that means! You lied to me, manipulated me!You’ve kept so very much from me!” She almost breaks down. “This is not how it was supposed to be. I thought…” Her voice trails off.

“Dinalia, you are my heart and soul. You are the very air that I breathe. You have put every piece of my broken self back together and even then I was not complete. You are the light of my life. You’ve shown me the way home because you - ” I pause, trying to get this out, “You are my home.”

Our eyes meet. I feel the familiar burn of my Goddess mark. She needs to see it. She deserves to see it. I release the hold on my magic I constantly maintain to conceal my Goddess mark. Bearing it for her to see.

Then I look down at my chest and then to hers. They are glowing and pulsing in tandem with one another. She feels it. I know she feels it. Our hearts and souls as one.

She stares at my mark, sheathing her blades. She places one hand on my Goddess mark and the other on her own.

The bond has been confirmed.

I smile down at her. Ready to take her into my arms but she stops me.

Only to say, “I do not accept.”

My soul shatters. This can’t be. She can’t deny this. Can’t defy our Goddess.

I look into her eyes. Those eyes that have enraptured me since the moment I saw her. Eyes now filled with sorrow and grief all because of me.

“Y-” But before she can finish soldiers are bursting through the door.

We whip our heads toward it. “Dinalia!” It’s Christopher. He’s charging at us, sword raised. But he’s too slow.

We vanish in a cloud of black smoke.