BOUND: Mates at War | 18+

20 The Truth is in the Orb

Romans POV

I'm not in control of my body as I fumble with the cage, pulling the small door open and reaching my hands inside. I vaguely register the tiny bird slipping past me, flying out of the cage but I can't tear my eyes away. It's like I can hear the orb, like it's calling to me, whispering my name.

As soon as my hand grazes over the unexplainably cool orb it's pulled, like a magnet. My skin pricks and I feel an indescribable drowsiness coming over me, almost like intoxication. My legs wobble as I try to remain upright. My vision goes blurry, I pinch them closed and shake my head, trying to clear my head.

I open my eyes but I don't recognize where I am. A door opens and I crouch down, hiding. An elf enters the room.

What the fuck is going on?

I shoot up, almost hitting him but he doesn't react at all, it's as if he doesn't see me. I watch him as he walks into the room, he stumbles slightly, like he's drunk or tired. His skin is pale and slick with sweat, his hair is sticking to his face and neck.

Where am I? This isn't the castle. It looks like a small cabin. I scan the room but nothing is familiar.

The door opens again and I recoil in horror. My mother. She looks...different. Her hair is longer than it was last night and she's... pregnant.

"Edrym," she cooes sweetly.

Edrym? My mind is racing, surely this isn't Edrym Ilitris, the elf that killed my father.

"Have you done as I asked?"

"Yes, my Queen," he drops to his knees and pulls a dagger from beneath his cloak.

She takes the dagger then rubs his head gently, "well done."

My body trembles uncontrollably and I pull my eyes closed. Why are they meeting? Why is he giving her a dagger? I can't comprehend what I'm seeing.

When I open my eyes I'm not in the same place, I'm back in my mothers quarters but it's different. The dark decor is different, lighter. The terrace doors are flung open and a warm breeze blows through the room. The bed is made with crisp white linens and the smell of flowers is wafting through the air.

A large man with dark hair is sitting an arms length away. He is staring out, toward the open doors, looking over the kingdom. There are tears streaking his face and a deep sadness in his eyes.

I recognize him instantly. Father.

I reach out for him, trying to touch his hand but where our skin should connect, I feel nothing. He doesn't move or react, he can't feel me either.

Tears wet my cheeks as I move to sit in the chair beside him. It feels almost real.

He hangs his head and runs his hands through his hair, breathing a deep sigh.

The doors open and mother floats in, her dress billowing in the breeze behind her. Her hair is down, soft around her shoulders. She looks almost unrecognizable. The light, creamy color of her dress, her soft makeup, she looks innocent, sweet even.

"What's wrong, my love?" she rushes to his side, holding his face between her hands.

"Loreil," his voice shakes as he reaches his hands forward, rubbing them softly over her protruding stomach, "is this my baby?"

My heart stops beating. What did he just ask?

Mother gasps but I can see it in her eyes, she's not shocked at the accusation she's trying to figure out how he knows.

"W-What are you talking about? Of course this is your baby! How can you even ask me such a thing?"

She backs away, tears in her eyes, moving to sit on their bed. He stands, pulling at his hair.

"I-I have to know. I need you to look at me, Loreil, look me in the eye," he pleads, his voice cracking.

I watch in horror as she reaches down pulling something from beneath her pillow. Everything stands still, her movements in slow motion as she lunges forward, plunging a dagger directly into his heart.

He stumbles back, the look of betrayal in his wide eyes makes my heart ache. He leans forward, grabbing onto the bedding before falling onto the ground.

A loud sob wracks through my chest as he gasps for his last breath. I feel like I'm dying along with him, the fiery sting of betrayal burning in my chest.

She killed him.

She murdered my... the king. I'm not even sure what to call him now.

I sway on my feet and hold my head in my hands.When I open my eyes again I'm on the floor in my mothers quarters again, dark and sterile.
I look down at my shaking hands before running out onto the terrace and jumping over the railing into the garden below.

The wind whips against my face as I sprint through the grounds. Tears flow freely down my cheeks and I run, seeking the only thing I can possibly find comfort in.

My whole life has been spent killing to avenge my father and protect my mother. I have to wonder now if the prophecy is even real. It seemed she lied about everything else, why not that?

The pain in his eyes as he died is burning into my brain.

If he wasn't my father, who is?

I feel like I'm choking, my lungs burn as I heave, unable to get enough oxygen. I don't want to believe that what I saw was true but I know in my heart, I can feel it.

The truth feels different than a lie. My mother killing him hurts in my soul with the kind of agony that can only come with truth.

I run at a grueling pace, putting as much distance between myself and the castle as I can. My muscles ache and my heart beats wildly. I don't let myself stop until I'm miles away from the city, deep in the quiet of the forest.

I know where I'm going, I know where she will be. The eerie quiet of the trees around me is calming, like I'm alone in the world. I can forget all of the evil I've done and just breathe.

My hands start to shake when I hear the sound of the river, each step bringing me closer to the water, closer to her.

My soul is damned, I'll never be able to fix this, to bring back the countless lives I've taken, the families I've ripped apart.

When I finally reach the edge of the trees my stomach rolls and nausea settles in the pit of my stomach. Part of me hopes she'll shoot me on sight, it's what I deserve.

I step into the frigid water of the river, I can feel her, she's close. The soft thump of her heart pounding in time with my own.

I frantically search the tree line.

"Roman," her whisper is soft but I hear it, above the rushing water, above the ringing in my ears, above the hammering of my own heartbeat.

She steps out from behind a large tree, her feet dipping into the river. I can feel her blue eyes on me, drilling into me, cracking me open.

I fall to my knees in the shallow water, unable to hold myself up for another second.

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