𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐄

Chapter 24

Kaida looks up at where his voice came from.

And there he was up in the rafters, leaning over the balcony.

He had a direct sight of the throne. Of where Kaida and Elias stood.

His hands are clasped, his fingers locked between each other.

Elias turns slowly and him and Maven make eye-contact.

Kaida's eyes dart between them and she suddenly becomes hyper aware, sensing each shift in their body language, knowing one sly movement could ignite the whole throne room.

Elias's hands flex slowly, but there is a slight shake to them.

"Stay calm."

Kaida whispers to Elias.

They watch as Maven hops over the railing, straight down.

It must have been a 20 foot drop, maybe more, but Maven is unscathed.

He lands in a crouched position, his head down.

And he rises with such grace and confidence that if Kaida didn't know Maven, she would be intriguingly terrified.

He was so raw. Kaida's heart begins to steadily pound louder.

Elias's legs part slightly as he shifts into a fighting stance, he closes his tunic once more.

Elias can only use one of his hands. But he is ready to do so.

"Tsss!"

Kaida hisses, putting him off. If he's preparing for a fight then there would be one.

She proactively steps in front of Elias, pushing him behind her.

She faces Maven. He is stoic but Kaida sees a hurricane behind his eyes.

"Maven won't what?"

He repeats.

He approaches them both, with a slow sauntering walk.

"I mean, how gracious of him to deliver himself to us, right? We know what has to be done."

Us. We.

Kaida makes note of his language. They were one entity again, but she cannot even focus on that now.

Maven is almost in front of them, he doesn't have to project his voice anymore.

He comes to a stop, a few metres away, but still, it is not far enough.

"Maven won't, because you will. Right Kaida? That's what you told me. For what he put you through, you'll end him. Your words."

Kaida knew she had to tread carefully.

"I'm not going to kill him."

She says it very slowly.

A look of exasperation crosses Maven's face.

"Oh. Are you still on your holier than thou bullshit? You don't want the blood on your hands? That's fine. Step aside."

Kaida does not budge.

"Move, Kaida."

Kaida knows Maven will not repeat himself.

His tone isn't biting, he isn't scolding her. He's not angry with her, he's just tired that he's not on his side. Yet again.

When she should be.

She had all the reason to be.

Kaida's eyes are apologetic.

"Wait, okay, wait. Hear me out. You don't want to, I mean, you can't."