Chapter 204
Nora heaved where she stood a few feet away. It was a morbid sight- all the bodies that lay scattered, some in pieces and others like dolls- you’d think they were just asleep.
The smell of decay rose in clouds; my eyes wouldn’t be able to see in a shade other than red for quite some time.
“You did good,” Zade stopped in front of me.
“So did you,” I said.
I looked at his hand, remembering the Elder’s wound.
“You were tied to him,” I said.
“Like a dog on a leash- all Demons were. Some gnarly witch told him about the spell, she’s next on my list before I head back. Can’t let this be repeated. The bastard built himself an army. With the tie came certain rules, we couldn’t disobey his orders, forced to live by his word until he died. Only then would the bond break,”
“You couldn’t ask someone to kill him?” I asked.
“His orders were very clear, he was a paranoid, power-hungry, tyrant, he took every aspect of safety into consideration,”
He grabbed my hand and Darian’s chest pressed against my back, his shadow covered me and I felt his aura radiate power across the field.
“You’re safe here,” Zade smiled. “That’s good, but if you ever need anything, just say my name and I’ll be there,”
“She won’t.” Darian’s words were definite and strong but I gazed into Zade’s eyes and smiled.
“Thank you. For everything,” he bowed his head and looked at my stomach.
“I can’t wait to see the havoc you bring down on this place. Nothing compares to the wrath of a mother,”
“How do you know?” I asked.
“We all have a mother, Hazel. Those little ones are lucky,” my eyes widened a fraction when used the plural. “I heard you with the Elder,”
I gulped and looked up, Darian drew a sharp breath and his chest pressed against my head.
“Three’s my favorite number,” he said but I saw the fear in his eyes, it mirrored mine.
Zade looked behind me and reached out his hand to Darian.
Darian pressed the palm of his hand against Zade’s and circled his fingers- his knuckles were red and covered with sores and his brows gently pushed together.
“Why’d you do it?” Darian asked.
“My boss greatly benefits from your rulership; he wants you on the throne, but personally, I want Hazel to fix the shit that you and the predecessors have caused,” he didn’t hold back but Darian’s eyes softened and he pulled his hand back.
“So do I,” Darian said and rested his hand on my hip.
Zade and I shared a look, a flutter spread through my chest and my lips tugged in a tired smile.
“Goodbye, Hazel Grey, keep in touch,”
“I will,” I said with a low tone and Gabe barked behind me.
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Chapter 204
“No you won’t,” he shook his head in disbelief and my chest rumbled from a chuckle as I looked up at Darian. He was smiling fondly, a great softness rested in his eyes and he stretched his hand around my stomach.
Zade had left and the Guards were putting away their daggers. They cast tired gazes over the covered field and I exhaled a deep breath- now came the hard part, it was time to say goodbye.
Everyone helped with covering the bodies and carrying them to a pit outside the forest line. The bodies in good shape would be put in caskets and their families would get proper funerals but the others would be burned. No family would want to see a loved one in that shape, no family should ever have to.
The humans and Rogues were discarded with less respect and dignity and I honestly couldn’t care less. We would hold a gathering for the families of the Royal Guard, they would be able to say their goodbyes and we’d light a fire and pay our respects. Many of these men died unnecessary deaths- war in the name of greed.
I wish I could awaken the Elder and kill him all over again but I had to seek comfort in knowing that he wouldn’t be getting an honorable funeral- he would be thrown into the woods where scavengers and worms would feast on his decomposing flesh.
“Hey, come with me,” Darian took my hand and led me back to the house. The field felt like quicksand and my body was exhausted. The smell of blood and decay was turning my insides into a war zone but I was also starving. This pregnancy thing was a bitch and it had only just started.
Darian led us around the stairs and into his office.
The door closed and my stomach growled but the thought of eating was mute for the moment.
Darian turned and flicked his tongue.
“You’re pregnant,” he stated.
“Oh yeah? Thanks for telling me,” I kid but Darian’s face was softer than I had ever seen it though there was a turbulent fog in his eyes.
“How are you feeling about that?”
I drew a breath and shook my head.
“I don’t know what to say,”
“Try the truth and we’ll take it from there,”
The truth. I didn’t know the truth. Everything else had taken precedence these last few hours and I had barely had time to let it sink in.
“I’m scared, and a little sad,”
“Why are you sad?”
“I’m sad for the future I saw for us, just the two of us. We were just getting to this place,” I said and hung my head. “This good, calm, peaceful place. And we barely spent a month in it, we were supposed to have more time,”
His brows pinched together and he cocked his head.
“You don’t want them?” My heart sank when he asked me.
“Of course I want them, I love them, they are my children,” I raised a shoulder and licked my lips, “I’m just not sure about us,” I said.
The way that his eyes formed into oval puppy eyes and glistened with something deep and sad pulled my heart from my chest and slammed it into the wall.
*I love you, Darian,” he pinched his lips and lowered his chin.
“I love you too,” he said in a hoarse whisper.
“If we’re in this together- then we are in this, together. All of it. My voice is as valuable as yours,”
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Chapter 204
“More valuable.” He said and stepped closer.
“My thoughts and my way of ruling will be equal to yours,”
“More than equal.” He was in front of me and cupped my cheek. He dragged his thumb across my temple and ran his fingers through my hair.
“It’s yours, all of it. It’s all yours,” his lips crashed down on mine and he claimed ownership.
When he stepped back after having filled me with a burning heat, he raised his chin.
“But Nora has to go.” He said.
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The Alpha’s Hunt
