#siderealxmelody

[gccdstories]

"Where is she?"

Kaden glanced up from his work.

"Who?"

"Who is the only female in this fucking fortress I care about that isn't my fucking mate Kaden?"

Azrael leaned over his desk, glaring at Kaden. Kaden's grip on his pen tightened.

"I don't know."

Azrael sneered and turned away, yelling for Einar.

"Where is Elianna boy?"

Einar looked to Kaden and shrugged.

"She was in her rooms when we all left this afternoon? Maybe she went out?"

"This late?"

"She'll be back. She can take care of herself Unc - Azrael -"

Azrael scoffed, shoving Einar away from the door as he stormed off.

"Thank the Fates your mother didn't give you siblings, you'd be a shit older brother."

Einar stiffened and looked to Kaden. Kaden ignored him, focusing on his work. On ignoring the steady growing awareness that Elianna was out there alone. It wasn't his problem, it wasn't his responsibility -

"Did she?"

"Hmm?"

"Did Mama have -"

"Stop while you're ahead Einar. Close the door on your way o -"

He stilled, feeling it. A thin slice of fear, of confusion. That wasn't his, it must be strong for him to even register.

He barley heard Einar's questions, winnowing to where she was. She was clearly drunk, no not just drunk - drugged stumbling as someone tugged her to an unused storage shed. A commander or something judging by the brass on his shoulders.

"You're out late Eli."

It felt like a dream, for her to turn to him. To reach for him, like she would have before. So confident she'd catch him. Sotoria had always looked at him like that too, like he could solve every problem in front of her.

Look where that had lead -

The male tugged Elianna away, a hand in her hair to turn her to him. Kaden moved, there was no rage. No it was cold, a killing calm to wrench his neck back and snap it. He wanted to set him on fire but Azrael should have a body to work on. He set the unused shed on fire instead.

He turned, catching her as she stumbled in the snow. He tisked, that dreamlike feeling coming back. She curled into his arms, her eyes closing.

"Kaden? Am I - am I dreaming?"

He inhaled her, his mind spinning. Was this a dream? Could he pretend too? He was loosing his senses, his reasons with her this close.

Why was he fighting it? Why was he pushing away the one good thing left?

"Of course you are. I don't want you now remember?...Clearly this version of me is an idiot."

Elianna hummed and burrowed into him.

"A very big idiot.....take me home Kade?"

He picked her up, winnowing to her rooms. He didn't like he knew where to go. That her wards let him in at all. Why? She should hate him, she shouldn't -

"Kaden?"

He shook his head, pulling away as he moved the blanket over her.

"Getting you water."

She hummed, giggling into her pillow.

"You really a dream, he wouldn't have done that now."

"He's an idiot remember."

He got her a water, some medications for eventual headache tomorrow morning. He should go, she was falling asleep. He couldn't seem to think, he wanted to live in this dream. Nothing bad happened here, his sister was alive. His family was whole, Einar was -

They were all happy, safe and -

"Eli? Where did you -"

Kaden glared at Azrael who stopped short. Maybe it was at the glare, maybe it was Elianna holding tighter to his hands. Kaden turned back to her, but the illusion was broken. He pulled one of his hand away, lingering. He could -

"Don't. Even if she remembers none of this....don't make it worse Kaden."

Kaden exhaled, his other hand moved from her wrist to her mouth, thumb running over her lips. Still so soft like he remembered them to be, still as warm as -

He pulled away, touching his thumb to his lips, biting down till he tasted blood. Azrael eyes went wide, maybe he saw it.

Kaden looked away tearing his thumb away from his teeth. He needed out of this fucking room. He -

Azrael grabbed him, ignoring his growl. He was brought to the other's rooms. He was shoved away and the door closed. Azrael raised his hands and stepped backward.

"You still love her -"

"I don't time for this -"

"Make fucking time. I need answers, not some fake shit. I mean real ones. I'll never bring it up again but you owe me answers! You owe me explanations!"

Azrael moved toward him, knocking glass vases away to have it shatter. He pointed his finger at Kaden.

"I see it. It's all destroying it her. You know how deeply she loves, you know how she will work herself to bone for everyone and never complain! So you're going to give me a real fucking answer. Not some hollow bullshit. I need that so I don't one day kill you. Because I will, I can't see her like this Kaden -"

"I don't owe you shit Azrael. Let me leave."

"No! No. You really telling me they won? You're telling me the Aesir and their fucking mind games finally won huh? They broke you that it? That you're that fucking weak?!"

Kaden could feel that rage rising and rising.

"Careful with your words, doubt your mate wanted to come back to sweep your ashes."

"Yeah? You're going to fucking kill me? Fuck off. You wouldn't. Or maybe you would, but you can't face her. She isn't - I can't watch her slowly destroy herself. If I kill you she won't survive it -"

"Yes she will."

Azrael surged forward and shook him, gripping his collar.

"They won then? That it. The Aesir truly destroyed you there didn't they? Unir and Zaysn actually won is that what you're telling me? Is that really the legacy you want to have here in this Fortress? You survived by you're some fucking shell -"

Kaden wanted to kill him, could feel the urge burning and burning. But maybe it was see those eyes, Elianna's eyes meet his. Maybe it was still able to smell her on his clothes that had him finally exhaled and just ask one question.

"Will you tell her what I say?"

Azrael froze and stepped back.

"No. No provided you're fucking honest with all of it. No Kade, I won't."

@siderealxmelody

The rage floods through him, burning. Every fiber inside of him feels on fire, like he cannot escape the skin of his body, like every piece wants to explode in a way that will leave only ashes behind in this entire fucking realm.

He wants to yell and rage. He wants to scream. He wants to make every single being tremble and break and shatter. Ice-cold stare turns on Azrael, and Kaden can barely seem to hold himself back at first, his fingers curled tight into fists, the tendons and muscles in his arms straining as he holds it back.

Keeps it down.

Silent.

Tries to calm the raging, tumultuous seas that are roaring inside of him, that haven't silenced in too long--

But at the same time, Kaden is also exhausted. He refuses to show it, refuses to let that weakness out, but clinging to these edges, digging the claws in to grab onto whatever he can to maintain even the tiniest hold, the smallest grip on control that he has--that keeps him from ripping it all apart--

It's truly, completely exhausting.

Kaden's drowning in her scent, in Elianna. Just that little bit of touching her, of having her near him, and he's already spinning. Losing it. It's why he pushed her away, why he made her hate him.

He had to.

Because Elianna would kill herself trying to save him--

When there wasn't anything left to save.

❝ You said it. Elianna loves so deeply, so completely... ❞ The words are rough, his nails digging into his palms hard enough to break through the skin. To let Kaden focus on that physical sting, rather than anything else. Rather than the flood of memories, of feelings, that always tried to drown him whenever he let himself get too close to her.

❝ She'll try and find what we were. Who I-- She'll try like hell to bring back the male I was before, and she'll end up killing herself to do it, because she won't give it up. What I might want, what I might still feel-- ❞ Kaden shakes his head, the stirring in his chest, that possessiveness wanting to rear up, to twist free; he digs his nails in harder, droplets of blood slipping over his hand.

❝ I can't make it like it was. I can't be like I was. So if that's them winning-- fine. Whatever. They fucking won. In some way, at least. I don't know... At this point, I don't fucking care. ❞

Turning, Kaden stalks away, having to put some distance between him and Azrael. Needing just that little bit to clear what he can of his head. Maybe. If it's even possible. The steadying breath doesn't help, the distance barely does anything, and the roaring in his head hasn't quieted much at all even as he'd opened up. Even as he'd tried this talking with him, tried being honest-- for once--

Kaden sighs.

❝ Whether I still love her or not, whether I still want her or not-- None of it matters, Azrael. None of it. ❞ Because it's too different. He doesn't even know if it can be called love anymore, or if it only a possessive want, a primal instinct that says Elianna is his and no one else's, a raging ownership, a control that he can barely wield, barely manage to understand--

❝ The male she loved did die. Centuries ago. Every single piece of him stripped away... ❞

And I can't get him back. And she won't accept it, if she knew of that lingering little desire. Of that lingering little instinct. If she knew, she'd destroy herself trying to rescue, to find, to save something that didn't exist anymore.

[starlsssankt]

:: ANSWERED ASK ::

"He will grow tire of you, as he does with the others."

Anastasiya flinched and stepped away.

"You lie."

Jurian crossed his arms, held her eyes.

"You know I do not. We aren't children any longer Anastasiya. If you're the sacrifice for power...why wouldn't he take it. You're just one female."

------

She stared at the sky, the stars twinkling above. They were others, far too many people for her to say what she wished.

"They say you grow tire after the first night. No mistress last longer than a night with you. If you'd take me, just this once I'd consider it a great honor."

She smiled at him, the din of of courtiers probably not loud enough to hide her words.

"Besides I know a way around a male body. Aren't you tired of bedding virgins?"

But didn't she know everything she did because of how they'd been when they'd been younger? Before war and strife had destroyed all the good in them?

She slipped the note into his coat pocket as she left for her rooms. It had been years since that moment with Jurian on the terrace. She felt her fingers touch the bone necklace around her throat. The feeling of his aura still there, still alive.

Would the male she loved even be there? Did she want whatever version existed now?

Yes.

Yes she would not forget who he was. Even if maybe he had.

Aleksander if the male I know is still there seduce me. Write letters to me. And poems, I love poems. Ravish me with your words. Seduce me.

@siderealxmelody

Dark eyes barely move to watch her as she walks away, to follow her as she moves further down the halls, disappearing from his sight. Aleksander still feels her--sometimes. Like there's still a tiny, minuscule part of him buried somewhere that can remember what was.

Once upon a time.

But it also feels strange, foreign. Like it isn't him any longer. Like that feeling doesn't belong in him--not even in that tiny way anymore.

Most nights, he tires of the constant people around him. Vying for attention, for one favor or another. Tonight is no exception, and perhaps the rage is clear enough on his face even more than usual, for even the ones who don't normally take such a hint seem to do so this time.

Aleksander sits in front of the fire as the flames flicker, crackle as they eat up on the wooden logs in the hearth. Anastasiya's words repeating in his head, circling around and around. He had felt her hand slip against his coat, but he has yet to reach inside to see what she'd left.

He knows her well enough to know there is something. A note. A trinket.

Something.

Because she's still foolish enough to believe in him.

To want him.

But perhaps, if he does accept her offer, it will be enough. It will purge her from his system--purge everything of that past, that lingering and clinging emotion that won't go away--as well as serve the purpose of proving such to Anastasiya herself.

Aleksander knows it.

Anastasiya needs to accept it.

Fingers close around the note, Aleksander pulling it from his pocket and letting his dark eyes scan silently over the scripted words. Her handwriting just as beautiful as ever--

He shakes his head. That is not the point, he thinks, as Aleksander crumbles the note...

And tosses it into the flames, not even bothering to watch them eat it up just as quickly, burning it to ash.

❝ Send the Lady Anastasiya to my chambers, ❞ he commands one of the soldiers at the door, without even sparing them a glance as Aleksander strides back across the room. ❝ Tell her I'll be there shortly. ❞

[etdraconis]

//ball or something to welcome Rig as governor 👀. Also I added in some half-demon children because CC would have been amazing with them. Rioben, Ethine, & Nephamael - tripet children of Jesiba and Eldrin. For Bryce!!//

Eldrin held his position, watching at Apollion turned away the priestess didn't fall. She held herself, watching her sisters burn.

He slid eyes to his king, Apollion remembered the Dark Days when the Asteri had come to Helheihm and subjugated them.

When Orcus, Mantyx, and Erawan had rose up and rallied their people and overthrew them.

Those memories were faint for him, so many generations removed from that. He met Apollion's eyes as he passed him.

His voice, the voice of ancestors in his mind.

"You're welcome. You'll be weaker with something like that."

Eldrin didn't comment, simply watched Jesiba as they were called to turn away.

Eldrin slipped out of the camp, his brothers waiting. They dissapered into the dark.

The landspace was ravaged with death and bodies. Was this what his ancestors faced during the Asteri Civil War? When titants made the skies bleed?

------

Jesiba stared at Eldrin as the fire crackled in front of them. His brothers moved silently around the camp.

"I thought Valg couldn't rebel."

Eldrin tilted his head and slowly shook his head.

"No. We - we do not need mates to reproduce. Valg reproduce asexually, forming children from our energy. Children are always born in clusters of 2 to 6. Apollion is the progenitor of my line, stretching back to the first Kings we ever had after the Asteri tried to take our world. It's not that we can't rebel, many choose to follow their last living ancestor, we venerate our ancestors."

He looked to his hands, flexing them.

"He was trying to kill you, break you because -"

"We're mates, I know. I felt the bond snap when you looked to me."

Jesiba stared at the fire, did any of her witch magic remain? What was she now?

She exhaled, nails digging into the sand. She didn't have the luxury to wallow. She needed to understand this, use it to her advantage and keep going. That's what she owed her sisters, her coven and books.

A thought formed and even now, even knowing so little about this male - she recoiled at the mere idea.

"It's why he ate Sirius didn't he?"

Eldrin gave a grave nod.

"His mate, she was a threat. But perhaps he didn't want to kill her but keep her for himself."

"Jesiba do you have a plan?"

Lykos walked to him, his voice soft gentle. A healer's voice, patient. Jesiba swallowed the tears, the pain and stared at the fire.

"Protect the books, survive long enough to kill them all."

Eldrin's other brothers Noxtis and Faelan snickered.

"Suits us, I've always wanted to taste an Asteri's heart."

------

Rioben gritted his teeth he'd drank far too much last night. And these events were best enjoyed sober.

He gravitated to where Danika and Bryce stood. He thankfully hadn't seen either of his parents yet - he didn't much need their looks of disapproval. Not everyone was as doom and gloom as them.

"You seen the new hotshot governor yet?"

His brother Nephamael snorted and gestured to the doors with his chin. Rigelus has stepped through, he cut an imposing figure in black. His eyes flickered to them and away as people he seemed to know reached him.

He smiled leaning down to whisper something in the female's near him. Silarial, she was beautiful Rioben thought. She glittered and glowed like the Asteri she was.

He felt Nephamael's irritation in their psychic bond.

"Please don't start mooning over someone too. I can barely stand it when Ethine gets all starry eyed about Talathain."

Danika rolled her eyes sipping at her drink.

"So he's going to pretend he doesn't know us? Alright then."

Rioben and his siblings had come to visit their mother antiques shop soon after Bryce had started. They'd all clicked with her quickly, becoming fast friends with Danika, and Bryce. Ethine in particular was always excited to do girls night to get away from her brothers.

On cue, she came to their side. Her fingers intertwined with her fiance's. Talathain was downright kind for a fae knight. Chivalrous and devoted. He and Ethine had been together since they'd met during his Ordeal in the Underkingdom.

Ethine's eyes glowed with excitement, a sharp contrast to her parents and brothers more reserved nature.

"Bryce! Danika! Hi! Oh you both look gorgeous! Sorry we're late -"

"Talathain isn't."

Nephamael murmured earning him a glare from Ethine.

"I told you to stop reading his emotions Neph."

"I would if he didn't broadcast them so loudly."

Talathain watched in amusement as they began to bicker. He was used to this, especially when all 3 of them could read emotions, must be the demon blood in them. He didn't care, Ethine was it for him - he didn't want anyone else.

He looked to Bryce, reaching to give her and Danika quick hugs.

"Where's Connor? He's coming right?"

Bryce had strongly considered not coming to the ball. Learning that Rigelus, of all the people in the world, was going to be the new Governor of Lunathian had been hard enough. Knowing that he was going to be there in the city again, so close to her physically yet so far away in every other sense, had been hard enough. She had never gotten over him; not really. The thought of their kiss before he had left her always lingered in the back of her mind.

Even after the dreams had started, when she was so sure she had started speaking to her mate.

But, Danika had convinced her she needed to go. It was expected of her, of course, but it was also a way to make sure Rigelus didn't know how much power he held over her. She had even talked Connor into being her "date" for the evening, just to fuck with Rig a beat. As far as she knew, the male didn't know that Connor already had a mate and that he and Bryce hadn't been a thing since just after college. She was more than happy to make Rig think they were dating - and Theresa, Connor's mate, had thought it a hilarious idea. She was more than happy to agree, and Bryce was more than happy to treat her to a spa day in return.

Now she was watching as the new Governor entered and immediately started whispering to a gorgeous female Bryce could only assume was an Asteri. The two of them seemed so... close. So intimate. The wave of jealousy that washed over her was almost overwhelming, and she was surprised that she didn't break the stem of her champagne flute with how tightly she gripped it.

He barely even looked at me, that bastard...

Her friend's words pulled her out of her sulking and she forced a smile to her face as she returned Talathain's hug.

"Hey! Yeah, Connor's coming tonight; he should be here any minute, actually. We were supposed to come together but we couldn't convince him to let his mate go just yet," she replied, rolling her eyes with an affectionate smile.

[sankta-alina-s]

(continued from here) @siderealxmelody

Each moment that passed was one less opportunity for her to get up and go where she was expected. How could Alina go now, what with Ivan making another mark she'd need to hide with a high collar or concealer?

Her hips moved, echoing the probing of his fingers. She paused as he did, looking up at him in confusion as to why he'd stopped. When he questioned her willingness to go, and then presented an alternative idea, she couldn't help but raise a brow.

"Hmmm," she said, humming softly as if deeply considering his suggestion.

What he was suggesting was positively filthy and so unlike anything that she'd ever done. If only her family knew- the very people who'd hired him to protect her- what he'd done to her.

"That does sound tempting....."

Alina clenched around his fingers, sparking a shiver down her back. When he thumbed at her lip, she responded with a swipe of her tongue over the pad of his finger.

"I'll think about it.....if you let me cum first."

She'd been fully prepared to get up and go on with her day, but he'd riled her up and she couldn't go forth without being sated.

[mornings-ofgold]

Andras crept through the underbrush. His arrow raised as the deer meandered through the wood. He turned catching the eye of another hunter. His lips pulled back to sneer at her. To warn her away from his prey.

But then he felt it, the tether snapping and snagging between them. His eyes went wide and his arms went numb.

He stepped toward her, a twig snapped and the deer bolted. He barely noticed, he needed to know her name at least!

//For Feyre!!!//

Hunting wasn't exactly a ladylike activity, but Feyre took part nonetheless. She had little care for the expectations that the elder High Fae had in her, perhaps to her parents' chagrin.

The sight of another hunter had her gritting her teeth and adjusting her grip upon her bow. She'd been moments away from loosening an arrow toward the deer, a guaranteed takedown. Her eyes flashed as she took in Andras as a peculiar feeling rooted within her.

She shied against the sensation, debating whether or not to take off, when her quarry darted into the woods. Feyre didn't lower her bow and instead swiveled the weapon toward the strange male.

"Who are you? Back up!"

[gccdstories]

Tobias barely listened to Deanna's snarky comments. It didn't much matter, none of this did. It was all dreary, sameness.

The Viper Queen was holding some match, he stayed back against the railing watching Deanna and Viper Queen conduct business. Till he felt flames at his back, flames he would know like his own magic.

He was turning without meaning to, his fingers gripping the railing. It was quick, enough to identify it, to understand he wasn't hallucinating.

He shoved the thoughts, the questions, the emotions down.

"See something you like Tobias?"

He cast the Queen a snide smile.

"She's wasted on this match. With her fire she should be fighting against something poisonous."

"Oh? Is that so. I have many."

Deanna snorted and eyed the female.

"She looks alright. A little worn and stretched."

Tobias barely held back the impulse to snap her neck. Now wasn't the time, and definitely not here.

The Viper Queen signaled Ariadne making her look up. She nearly stumbled, seeing him there. She didn't keep her eyes on him, looking to Her. She wouldn't give that snake anymore ammunition.

"Yes?"

"Finish the match, this one thinks you can win against one of my poisonous fighters."

Ariadne fought a smile, he wanted a show - he wanted to see if she took any of this bitch venom.

Good mate.

"Give me one. This idiot probably couldn't get his magic up fast enough."

Tobias glared down at her, but her opponent was easy. The scorpion shifter who came after was harder.

Would she have to him walk away with the bitch at his side?

Would he?

Fates, don't let him do anything stupid.

"She for sale?"

Tobias asked looking to the Queen. Deanna snorted, munching on some popcorn.

"Since when did that matter? You don't pay for -"

"How much are you willing to give?"

Tobias smirked and tapped the iron railing with a finger.

"I want her for a day Viper Queen. Can she be spared that long?"

The queen smiled and shrugged.

"For 2,000 gold she can be."

Tobias held out the gold card, turning to watch Ariadne rip the scorpion tail and stab it through its own neck.

That was his mate.

------

"Clean up, you're going to be sent to the male who payed for you."

Ariadne gave a nod, walking to the tiny bathroom to clean her face. Tharion snapped to the guard.

"She whoring people out now? No. No absolutely -"

"I can handle some handsy male Tharion."

"But -"

"Aw you have a pet fish, how adorable."

Tharion lunged for Tobias, screaming when his legs buckled, the skin flying off. Tobias grinned down at him, his smile widening as Tharion screamed and screamed.

"Will you heal him?"

Tobias snapped his eyes to hers. A rage there, deep and volatile.

Dragons did not share.

"Why? I didn't realize whores got says in how their clients behaved."

She laughed, if only because she could feel it now. Feel his absolute relief down the bond. A thing she had thought atrophied. They had appearances to keep though so she huffed and leaned back against the door.

"He isn't mine, she's just fond of him. Wouldn't want you to be charged anymore by her."

Tobias flicked his fingers turning away as Tharion began to heal. He moved toward her and she gave him a thin smile.

"Good luck, I'll be fine."

"Ariadne -"

She turned away, falling into step with him. He shoved his hands in his pockets. Jerking his chin to where the Queen was, as he spoke to the female.

"Don't do anything stupid like self your yeah?"

Ariadne looked between them, the girl seemed claimed but the scent was stale. Tobias looked at her as if she was a stain of mud, perhaps she'd be allowed to live.

Deanna rolled her eyes and turned away.

"Since when do you care?"

"Oh I don't. But I'm not here to babysit you."

"Fuck off Tobias."

"Happily. Come on little dragon. And try to keep you yeah? I'm not wasting hours on walking with you."

------

The walk to the safe house was quiet, tense. Too many people out this warm summer evening. Tobias opened the door, holding up a finger as she shut the door behind her.

He moved through the safe house, small, clean. She wondered if this was all his, if she -

"All clear. I -"

She turned, falling with him to the floor. His hands traced her face shaking, they were both shaking. She shook her head, risking at the tears running down his face.

"No. No tears my King. No. -"

"Aria. Aria I -"

@siderealxmelody

His mind is a whirlwind, a constant mix of things he doesn't even want to try and decipher. Memories, emotions, fears-- it all tumbles over one another, fighting for focus, for attention. Trying to make Tobias show a crack in the persona, to show even an inkling that she means anything to him in this place.

To let any of them know the truth--

All the while, there is a single word that keeps echoing under everything else. A single word that he cannot help but cling to, because for the longest time--for decades and centuries and he doesn't even really remember how long exactly--the word didn't exist when it came to her.

Alive.

Alive. Alive. Alive. Alive.

It goes through Tobias's mind on a loop, underneath every thought, every emotion, every single other flicker inside of his mind and he focuses on that word. Keeps to that word because it allows him the ability to keep to the persona, to the male he needs to be right here, right now.

In front of all of them, until they are away.

She is alive. She is not dead. She is alive.

~

Tobias doesn't let himself speak truthfully until they're in the safe house, until he lets the defenses down. Or, more truthfully, he simply cannot hold up those shields anymore and they completely shatter. Hands trace over her face as he takes in every inch of Ariadne, as he looks over every single part of her, trying to memorize all that seems to have faded. That time seems to have tried to take, no matter how much Tobias tried to keep it from doing so.

❝ I thought you were dead. ❞ The confession slips so quietly from Tobias he isn't even sure that he utters the words aloud at first. His fingers shake; he never shakes, never trembles, but in this moment, it's like he cannot help it. ❝ They-- I thought you were dead. I couldn't feel you-- ❞

It had been all Tobias could do, molding that anger and rage at her being taken from him, at what little pieces he'd been able to put together.

That she was dead. Destroyed. Executed. Worked to death.

Too many things contradicted as to what had precisely happened, but it always ended up with her dying. With her gone.

The fact that he'd been able to feel her, sense her--anything--had only confirmed that much for him. And Tobias hadn't had a reason to question it, but rather used it fuel every ounce of his hatred, his rage; to increase the burning inferno that kept him going.

❝ I'm sorry, Aria. I-- I couldn't feel you, I didn't find you, I-- ❞

[gccdstories]

"She can't hear me. Elianna she can't hear me."

He had to watch her waste her away in real time, he had to watch her slowly fall apart and loose hope. Sebastian whined, pawing at the mirror. He was growing weak, tired too with the Flameroot pumping through the air vents.

He didn't know why he was talking to her, why he thought she'd care. But didn't she? All the stories Einar and Isaiah whispered said they -

"Ready to cooperate Sebastian?"

Sebastian dragged his eyes to Airmed, crawling toward the edge of the cells. He didn't know anymore what he wanted, what he gained from this.

"Why?"

Airmed's smile was grim, he crouched before him.

"I was just a boy, just your age when I saw my mother slaughtered. My mother Deia was as vibrant as the Everflame she held. That was passed down, and my brother Karn has it now. It's bred into Autumn -"

"Why me?"

He couldn't follow anymore. He moved back to the mirror, curling around it, holding it to his chest. Airmed snorted, standing as he turned away.

"You? I just want Unir to feel the horror I did knowing I couldn't save my mother."

Airmed turned to Elianna, smiling at her with icy smile.

"How is the wound? How far has the black veins spread now little one?"

@siderealxmelody

There is a fog around her. Everything hurts, and every part of her body feels weaker than she has ever felt before. Whenever Elianna tries to reach for the tiniest bit of power, the tiniest flicker of magic that might be inside of her-- it is like trying to push through thick sludge.

Impossible.

She cannot move an inch forward, she gains nothing and if there is any magic there, any power--it flickers so faintly, it might as well not exist at all. Perhaps Elianna is imagining its existence entirely.

Every breath feels like it attempts to pierce her lungs, like there is fire racing through her blood.

She cannot think. She cannot focus. Her mind is far too hazy, too tired, too...

Sometimes, she thinks she can hear Sebastian, and a part of her wonders why he is there. Why him--

And where has Kaden gone?

The voice speaks, and Elianna lifts her head towards the sound. Even that movement feels like it is too much. Using her arms to push herself against the stone walls feels like she's trying to lift thousands of weights, trying to carry dozens of boulders that are the sizes of monstrous mountains--

When it is just her thin frame she is pushing so weakly up, hazy eyes turning to face that harsh, mocking voice.

Elianna frowns, her jaw hard. Her nails dig into the dirt at her side. Even exhausted as she is, she can still feel the anger towards him roiling through every inch of her.

❝ Do you... Do you always ask stupid questions... to which you already know the answer... just to hear the sound of your grating voice speak? ❞

Because the wound hurts worse than ever. Because the veins have only grown, inch by inch making their way closer to her chest...

[gccdstories]

Einar drained the fifth glass looking to his uncle.

❝ You have reputation for your handling of women. How do I get Lorin off my mind? ❞

If it was as simple or fucking her he would have. But something time him it wouldn't be that simple. That their connection ran deeper than physical, that she could be -

He shoved the thought away and signaled for another.

"I need to make it stop. I will not be as foolish as the others. Love destroys you."

@siderealxmelody

Kaden isn't nearly intoxicated enough for this. Or at least, he doesn't feel like he is. Eyes narrow as he downs another glass. He doesn't remember which one it is, but that isn't important. Details like that aren't important.

His free hand drums its nails on the table, the other gripped so tightly around the drink as Kaden watches Einar whine that it's almost a miracle the glass is unbroken (unlike the previous two).

❝ Exactly what do you think I will tell you, Einar? ❞ he says, eyes hard, voice low, the edges of a growl mixing in the tone. ❝ If fucking her hasn't gotten the female off your mind, I doubt anything will. ❞ Kaden shrugs, downs the rest of the new drink that had been sat in front of him mere seconds ago.

He leans forward, voice even lower now. ❝ You either fuck her until she's out of your system, or she's never leaving. There is no in between those two. ❞ As much as Kaden might wish like hell there was, as much as he'd tried to pretend there was... There isn't. And he knows it.