Aria's POV
The room descended into an uncomfortable silence. Kael was staring off lost in thought while I sat stiffly thinking on how to leave the room without any further confrontation.
I slipped the vial Killian gave me into the pockets of my dress. I looked down at the dress wrinkling my nose at the torn and dirty mess that became my dress.
I stood as slowly and quietly as I could hoping to make it to the door without his notice.
"Where do you think you're going" Kael's voice interrupted my not so subtle attempt at escape.
I looked at him like a deer caught in the crossbow, "To my room?" I said uncertain.
He arched an eyebrow taking me in. "Do you even know the way back?"
I opened my mouth to argue only to shut it back as I realized that he was right, I had no idea where I was or how to get back to my room.
But my guess was that I was in Kael's room given the massive size and grandeur of the room.
"Ryker is outside, he'll escort you to your room." He sighed.
I was surprised by the excitement I felt that he was back. I hadn't realized how much I missed his grumpiness.
I ran out of the room excitedly. I almost ran into Ryker whose face twisted into a scowl.
I didn't allow it to deter me as I gave him a big hug.
He went stiff as if unsure what to do. "I missed you so much" I ranted off about how my imprisonment became boring without him.
"Get off me" He grunted.
I tightened my hold instead. He sighed defeated, before awkwardly patting my head.
I beamed up at him.
"Lets go before your bath water runs cold" He said, wrinkling his nose.
Not even him calling me smelly could wipe the wide smile off my lips. So, I nodded still smiling and followed him to my room.
Kael's chambers was at the opposite end of the castle from mine. His wing was more populated than mine, I hardly see people aside from the maids and the few guards but this part was brimming with finely dressed Lords and Ladies, one's who look at me with disdain.
I brushed off their stares determined that nothing would ruin my happiness. If only I knew how wrong I was.
Elara gushed over me immediately I entered my room. She patted my body looking for signs of injury even after I assured her that I was fine.
After a long soothing bath and a hearty meal, Ryker informed me that Kael required my presence.
Not thinking anything of it, I followed him. I was expecting us to go back to Kael's room instead, Ryker led me to the throne room.
A large number of people were gathered in the room, looking as confused as I felt. My stomach churned, something was wrong.
Ryker weaved through the throngs of bodies pulling me along till he reached the throne where Kael sat.
I was distracted by the sheer amount of power emanating from him. He looked borderline scary with how the shadows seemed to cling to his skin.
His face was blank aside from his clenched jaw as he returned my stare.
He turned away from me facing the agitated crowd which quietened when he turned to them.
Kael walked down the steps of the throne, towards me.
He pulled me to him none too gently, My back was pressed against his chest. I was so close to him that I could feel the soft beating of his heart, feel every breath he took.
"She is under my protection," Kael said, his voice carrying across the quiet room.
"And anyone who tries to hurt what is mine welcomes an early grave" He said darkly.
My heart fluttered at hearing him call me his. I ignored the damned thing. Reminding myself that he felt nothing for me. I was nothing to him, the only reason he cares about my well being was because he needed me to break the bindings though I still wasn't sure how he planned to achieve that.
"Bring him to me," Kael's voice commanded.
I was confused. Who was Kael talking about and what was this whole thing about. There was no way Kael called a gathering of this number just to warn people off from harming me.
My questions were answered when a bloodied Jax was dragged in by two guards.
I turned to Kael, my gaze questioning. What was going on.
He walked towards Jax, ignoring me.
"Do you know what I hate the most?" Kael asked the puzzled crowd.
"Lies, deceit and betrayal." He said rounding a trembling Jax.
"Jax here did not only do all, he allowed Aria to get hurt." He snarled.
"What should I do to him" He said humming an eerie tune.
The crowd was death still, frozen in fear at the sight of Kael.
He looked at me before grinning manically, "What do you think I should do princess"
The hairs at the back of my neck raised at the question directed to me.
"Let him go Kael, he did nothing wrong"
Kael clicked his tongue, "Wrong answer princess, you're mine remember. Anyone who hurts you shall be received by death's cold hand"
Familiar dark tendrils start seeping out of Kael, crawling towards a terrified Jax. His eyes welled with tears as tried to he scramble away from them. It didn't matter, they filled him moving faster. He opened his mouth letting out a garbled sound revealing a severed tongue.
The sight jolted me out of my shock. I turned to Kael seeing his eyes have turned into those dreadful dark pool.
"Kael," I shouted running up to him.
"Kael please stop" I yelled as I noticed that the dark tendrils have made their way up Jax's legs.
"Please Kael," I pleaded.
"Stop this he did nothing wrong. Punish me instead, please" I sobbed
If Kael heard me, he made no indication. I slumped dejectedly as I watched the darkness spread over his body.
What Kael did to me was nothing compared to this. The shadows seemed to be squeezing Jax from the inside. Every part of him was bleeding.
Blood dripped from his eyes, ears, mouth, there was blood everywhere.
Bile rushed up my throat, I was too weak to stop it as I emptied my stomach to the gargled scream Jax let out.
I puked until there was nothing left in my stomach but Kael didn't stop. Not even as Jax gargled screams came to an end.
He didn't stop till all that was left of Jax was blood, mangled flesh and bone.