The Light Within Her - Book Nine

Ch. 33- Double Crossed

"The shadows betray you because they serve me."

***

Shadows and sunlight whispered in my soul at full force, fighting for control. Erebus's mouth opened in shock–in betrayal whereas I held my grin even if my body was burning from the inside out. "Was it all a lie, Lianna?" he grunted out. He and I were immobilized, unable to move at all except for our mouths. In a few seconds, I will be able to overthrow him and control his shadows. His gray eyes were darkened with rage and for once I did not let it terrify me. "You were mine."

"I was never yours, Erebus. Nor anyones for that matter. You were the one that murdered my people so you can find me once you escaped. Children died because of you! And you held me captive and forced me to marry you because my family's lives were on the line. Still, you decided to make me yours even though I already loved someone else? Did you really think I would be so weak? That I would move on so easily and fuck you because I lied about my feelings for you?" I shook my head, steam flowing out my own flesh but ignoring it. "It was all so fucking easy to make you fall for me, Erebus. I gave you a pity story about being lonely all of my life and you fell for all of it. Eris wasn't blind about my games and guess where that got him? Dead because of you. Artemis? Part of my plan to make you think I would betray my own flesh and blood so easily. And that part where I let go of Amias?" I gazed back at the man I loved in the crowd. He was still standing as he fought the urge to protect me. Luc was doing the same. "It was all part of my game to end you. Tell me, where do you think your brother is now?"

"I will fucking kill you, Lianna." he threatened.

"No you won't," I said, twisting the blade even more. "You cannot kill the woman you love because you are weak. A bastard that no one loves. Not even your own family did so he cast you down in a prison for all eternity."

A dark male voice spoke from the entryway and the both of us immediately turned to see who it was and I smiled even more. Moros and Verena stood beside each other with a cocky grin on their faces, while Lyssa gasped at the sight of them. Verena focused on the two lowly gods, Selene and Achlys and with one flick of her hand, turned them into blood-red ash that collapsed into nothing. Moros tilted his head at his brother, analyzing him for the first time. With every force I had in my body, I plunged the blade out of my chest and took a step back. Erebus was stuck in the same spot because of the sunlight in his body–burning him from the inside out. "You bitch!" he yelled at me.

I laughed. "A bitch you kneeled for like a fucking dog. And you knew better than to trust a snake in your bed. They know when to strike at the right time." Verena's words to Erebus, and he recognized it immediately. He tried to force his way out of my sunlight–trying to grab a hold of me like a rabid dog but there was no use. I was in control now.

Light.

Princess Soari Breevort.

He has waited a long time for you.

Shadows whispered in my head again but the sun forced her way into my flesh again, pushing the shadows out like an annoyance. "What does it feel like, Erebus?"

"What?" he growled.

I laughed again, shaking my head because winning was addicting. There were so many things people were addicted to–power, blood, drugs, alcohol. Yet, this one was at the top of my list and I wanted more of it. More of the look he gave me when I revealed more of my lies I told him during the months we shared together. Yes, I cared for him. But it was not enough. "You escaped your prison and then caged your brother. Then, you sought out me because you were jealous of Moros and the life he has. You had the girl for a good two seconds before you lost her. How does it feel to lose before you ever begin?" I turned toward Moros, a shared understanding between us. He was my godfather, after all. "Do you want to say something to your bastard brother before I end him?"