Who The Fire Favours (ONC2023) gxg

Chapter 23: Aria

Aria couldn't look her Regent in the eyes.

The paralytic had worked far better than she expected. Rider's frozen was body completely immobilised in a matter of seconds and lying at the foot of Ixis' bed. Perfect proximity for her grimoire. Wiping away the medicine with her sleeve, Aria summoned her armour just in case and the moment she did a pint sized projectile crashed through the window.

Night resized immediately to dwarf his brother Ethros who was casually resting near the secret entrance. He had her cornered in seconds. Normally she'd be delighted to see her partner but Aria knew if he found out she would stop him. Ethros wasn't just her business partner. He was her future.

"I thought you said you dealt with him." Aria addressed the dragon coolly, the sight of her exhausted Agar frustrating her more than anything else.

Ethros rolled his eyes, bouncing off the painting he was teetering on and returned to his usual size. Aria had been naive. She thought the moment Rider had been taken care of she would be free to use their grimoires however she wanted. They would thank her once the demons were gone.

"Aria? What's going on?"

"Nothing, my Agar." Aria said, attempting to soothe him the same way she did to Rider.

But he wasn't buying it. His amber eyes glared at them both, passing from one to the other with a snarl the moment Ethros met his gaze. The albino dragon raised his head, daring his younger brother to challenge him with his wings flared. Aria was immediately glad she had cleared out her room beforehand.

"I don't believe you. Whatever he told you, just ignore him. Step away from my partner Ethros before you hurt yourself."

Aria stepped in front of Ethros, Light Trait flaring in her hands. Night backed away, heartbroken at the sight of her defending anyone over her Agar. He couldn't go against her. His morals wouldn't allow it. He was loyal to her just like Rider. He couldn't get in her way. Not now. Not when they were so close.

"No. Leave him be."

"What're you doing?"

The horror on Night's face made her wince but Ethros was right. All of this was necessary for the future of Opalis. For her new vision of the Excelliars. For her new Agar. The Timekeeper could change the future and Night would understand in the end. It wasn't supposed to be forever. No Agar partnership ever was. But that didn't mean it didn't hurt when he was standing over someone else. He was supposed to protect her. Not Ixis. Not Rider. Her.

"Doing what's right."

Ethros' confident stance gave him an air of superiority that extended to Aria, the two working in tandem already solidifying her decision to support him in eradicating the demons. Risking the lives of a few Traited was nothing compared to the lives the demons had taken. Hellgrind wasn't a place to be discovered. It was a realm that needed to be eradicated.

"You've gotten weaker, brother. We Excelliars need a beacon of strength as a leader not a dragon shrouded by darkness. Having a Regent demon child is bad enough. We'd be on the wrong side of the war." Ethros insisted, trying to reach his brother the only way he could.

Night shook his head, his eyes full of conflicting emotions but Aria wasn't worried. He wouldn't attack her and Ethros would be safe while she stood in her Agar's way.

"There is no war. Not until you came along, brother. Now let Rider go. She's your Agar. You should be protecting her, not me."

"Don't tell me you'd thought I'd be stuck with that cripple forever? Look at her. She can barely stand."

Night winced as if visibly struck, growling furiously at his brother. Every step he took towards her Aria matched it and she could see the gears in his brain trying to find a way to reach her or get around it. Aria smiled grimly, completely aware that wasn't gonna happen.