Again? What could Alva mean by again? None of what he said made anymore sense than it had before. It all felt as if he stranded me in an ocean with no ship.
"Please, my king. Do you realize what you gave this world by siding with the Elements? They don't wish to better this world, otherwise they would've stopped wars and sieges. They sat by and let you take it on for them." Alva's eyes burned with ire. "You deserve more than that!"
A man so covered in shadows and blood stood before me. His only concern is the desire I shoved away for the world. He said he takes on what I will not do like it is merely a chore and nothing more. I do not get Alva or what he knew of me before he destroyed my life.
"Idiot," Kay teleported me away from Alva before I realized it. If you're going to stand there, stay away from him.
"He knew the burden I bore this whole time." He knew what I hid away from everyone, the burden that weighed me down all these years.
"I can look after his highness. Go ahead." Zelme steered me away from the battle. "Annalise," she summoned a water barrier around Zelme and me. "Kid, listen up. You cannot give in right now."
The shadows grew in number around my friends and family. Eulis struck the shadows with his lightning, and they weakened.
"You, again. How lovely to see you enjoying the blessing I gave you, King Eulis." Alva snared. "Sadly, you still meddle where you shouldn't."
Kay drove another dagger through Alva's shoulder. Within a second, Alva struck Kay before he could teleport away. Lightning erupted around the meadow in a frenzy.
"Kid, get a hold of yourself. You walked this path, so do not turn back. He is the reason you lost family, friends, and anything resembling a life." Zelme's words numbed me.
I saw Alva, not as a Corrupted King, but a void to absorb all my burdens. Torn away from Zelme, I gripped the amulet. I stared down at the mark of the Thorn Claw. If I surrender, would it be wrong to throw this fight? I used to be Aiden Jormero, but that is not me. At least not anymore.
"Kid, stop," Zelme's command went unheeded.
I launched the amulet into the sky. A flurry of ice formed around me and a bow was ready to fire. I drew back the bowstring. "This ends no matter the cost." A tear fell when I let the arrow fly. The arrow struck the amulet. My bow vanished and all my attention went to the ghost of my father, who smiled. His ghost faded because this was not the decision I had failed to make back then.
"Why would you?" Annalise asked. I trudged forward toward Alva and Eulis. I burst through her barrier.
As the rain continued to fall, I remembered something I could not ignore. I ran toward the battle. It always called to me because I ran from the battle in my heart. The Soul wood is my beginning and end.
Eulis sent down a bolt over Alva, but it did nothing against Alva. He chuckled at the feeble attempt.
I am not a Thorn Claw anymore, just Jaiden. I have a life outside of my clan's responsibilities, and Alva's whims.
As Alva lashed out at Eulis, I took the hit instead. His eyes widened. "My King, please stand down."
I cringed. "I can't. Whatever you saw no longer exists." White flames rose around me. "You want me to be selfish, then fine." I struck him back for all times he hunted me. Alva stunned searched me over for where the strength came from. "You do not decide what I love or hate, Alva. I told you I will fight you if you betray me."
YOU ARE READING
Destined
Fantasy*The 3rd and final book to the Tarnished Series.* Two months have passed, since the deaths of Judas and Ravela. Jaiden has been tirelessly training for the final battle his father warned him was on its way. However, he still has not unlocked the pow...
