Destined

22. Unraveled Betrayal

A few days passed by, Alva had his monsters babysitting me anywhere I wandered by myself. I sneered at the pair he tasked to watch me since they attacked me on the mountain with Artemis there to help me. This time I did not have her here to distract me from the irritation running through my veins.

I sat up in the sycamore and took in what breeze there was to enjoy, which was a bristle now and then. I sighed and leaped down from the thick branch I lounged on all morning. It was the same since I left my friends to hunt the answer I needed while I played nice with Alva, irritating.

"Your Majesty, our master wishes to speak with you regarding a matter of importance." His voice grated on my nerves, especially since he dared to threaten me on the slopes. I glared at him, but he smirked instead of trembling like most of Alva's beasts. "He asked for you rather incessantly."

I did not have time for Alva's nonsense. I strode past the beast ignoring his close footsteps behind me. I strolled past all the beasts, and they bowed to their real threat as I passed them. I made my way to the dining hall to find Alva seated down on the far end of the ebony marble table with a silver goblet. I frowned at him. "Make this quick, Alva. I don't want to hear another lecture about foolishness."

Alva eyed me for a long moment like he chose his words wisely. He sipped from his goblet and set it down. "I never lied to you." His words slid off his tongue with ease, but I scoffed.

"Lied or refused to tell me, they are the same, Alva." I glared at him. "I will not erase this world to start all over again. You will never be the man you were when I met you. I am not trying to salvage you anymore." I tried to leave, but my guard dog followed me in and locked the door out of the dining hall. "Just what good will detaining me do?"

"My friend, whatever could you be hiding from me?" Alva's question hung in the air. "You seem anxious and irritable these past few days. Whatever is troubling you, you know you can trust me."

I glanced over my shoulder to see him getting up from his chair. "Trust you, what in Terra made you believe I have any trust in you anymore?"

He smiled, and my body recoiled. "Do not tease me, my friend. I know you dislike me, but some part of you still knows me." He paused before me. "I thought we could talk like we used to, but for some reason, you would rather run amuck in the Soul woods around the manor."

"I need anywhere that's not here with you."

His eyes gleamed, and he grabbed my arm. "You say that as if you meant it, but we both know that some part of you missed me."

I tore my arm free. "Miss you? Alva, stop assuming you know my feelings."

He watched and waited like a pet until his master told him to pounce. He was far from tame and harmless with the glint in his eyes right now. "Is it so wrong for me to enjoy your company? After all, it has been a few centuries since I have seen you. I missed you, my king, more than you know."

I felt my heartstrings tighten at his words. "And as I recalled, you deserved to be alone. After what you did." I crossed my arms and scoffed. "You did not do yourself any favors, Alva."

"You cannot be serious that this is still about that trivial matter."

I scowled at him and dug my fingers into my flesh. "Trivial, was it?" I wandered over to the table and kicked it. The whole table slammed into the wall spilling the goblet's contents on the floor. "I chose the world over you every time, Alva, and you still think caging me here will force my hand to be a tyrant like you. Trivial was a poor choice of words."