The Barbarian Mate [Edited]

Chapter 30

The air was thick with tension as Yeilk and Althea faced off against Ruel. "We meet again, brother," Ruel sneered, his dark eyes gleaming with malice.

Yeilk's expression was calm, but his voice was laced with concern. "Stop this nonsense, Ruel. We don't have to do this."

Ruel's laughter was cold and mirthless. "Yes, we do, brother. You betrayed me."

Althea stepped forward, her eyes flashing with anger. "No one betrayed you, Ruel. You let your own greed blind you."

Ruel's gaze shifted to Althea, and for a moment, he seemed taken aback by her beauty. "You must be Chief Althea. You're as beautiful as they say."

Althea's expression remained calm, but her eyes narrowed slightly. Ruel was tall and muscular, with shoulder-length hair and dark eyes that seemed to bore into her soul. The black veins covering his skin seemed to pulse with dark magic.

Yeilk's voice was urgent. "Stop this, Ruel. You're killing yourself."

Ruel's face twisted in a snarl. "You're the one who is killing me! You make me do this!"

Yeilk took a step forward, his eyes pleading. "Stop, Ruel. We can work this out. You're my brother, and I don't want to hurt you. Let me help you."

For a moment, Althea saw a glimmer of vulnerability in Ruel's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a blank expression. "No, you will not change my mind!" he spat, throwing an orb of dark magic at them.

Yeilk and Althea barely dodged the attack, and Yeilk quickly retaliated, shattering the orb with his sword. "Ruel, I don't want to hurt you. This isn't what Father would want us to do. This isn't what our sister would want to see you do."

Ruel's expression faltered, and for a moment, he seemed uncertain. "You think I'm a fool. We don't have a sister."

Yeilk's voice was gentle. "She was born after you left. She's as hot-headed as you most times, but she's as good as you were."

Ruel stumbled backward, clutching his head in agony. "No. No."

Althea's eyes widened.

"That's not Ruel, Althea. The veins...step back, love. I'm about to break my own promise. Whoever you are, I want my brother back."

Ruel's laugh. "Your brother? Your brother is long gone. He made the perfect vessel. He put up quite the fight. It was fun breaking him."

Yeilk's face twisted in a snarl. "Well, I want my brother back!" He raised his sword above his head and brought it down into the ground. Althea covered her eyes as a blinding white light grew from the hilt of the sword.

"No!" Ruel's voice was shrill, and Althea covered her ears to block out the sound.

Yeilk twisted the sword, sending a large orb of light at Ruel. "He might have practiced dark magic, but I will always bring light. He's my brother, despite the path he took, and I'll rather die than see someone hurt him."

When the light cleared, Ruel was on the ground, unmoving. No one moved, unsure if it was Ruel or the entity controlling him.

Yeilk finally broke the silence. "It's over." He went to his brother and fell to his knees. The black veins were gone, and Ruel's skin looked healthier.

Ruel's eyes slowly opened, and for a moment, they seemed unseeing. Then, they focused on Yeilk. "It's okay. You're safe now," Yeilk whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.

Ruel looked around, confusion etched on his face. "Where am I?"

Yeilk smiled, helping Ruel sit up. "You're where you belong, brother. You're home."

Althea joined them, her eyes shining with tears. "Welcome home, Ruel. I'm Althea."

Ruel looked at her, his eyes still cloudy with confusion. Yeilk sat him up, and Ruel looked like he hadn't aged in years.

"I'm sorry. I tried. I tried to stop him," Ruel whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.

Yeilk's expression was gentle. "It's not your fault. We know now. But he's gone, and that's all that matters. That entity will never get to you again."