Crown of Shadows

Chapter 20-Aelin

As I wandered the corridors of the Keep, my mind felt like a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. I had promised myself that I would stand up to the darkness that threatened to consume me, but now, in the quiet solitude of the empty halls, it seemed like an impossible task.

Every step I took echoed the turmoil within me, the weight of my experiences weighing heavily on my shoulders. The memories of Phantom's cruelty, of the men who had violated me, haunted my every thought, refusing to be silenced.

I tried to push them aside, to focus on the present moment, but they lingered like a shadow, lurking at the edges of my consciousness.

I knew I couldn't let them win, couldn't let them break me. But as the memories threatened to overwhelm me, I felt myself teetering on the edge of despair.

I decided to walk outside into the rain, my mind was a tempest of conflicting emotions, each thought crashing against the shores of my consciousness like relentless waves. Seeking solace in the cool embrace of the rain, I hoped it at least bring calmness to me.

As I leaned against the wall, seeking refuge from the storm both outside and within, I spotted Kodlak approaching. His presence sent a shiver down my spine.

Before I could react, his hands gripped my shoulders, his touch both comforting and commanding. "Who hurt you again?!" he demanded, his voice tinged with urgency.

Caught off guard by his sudden question, I faltered for a moment before responding, my voice barely above a whisper. "What do you mean?" I asked.

Kodlak's grip tightened, his frustration evident as raindrops mingled with the tension in the air. "Who hurt you?!" he pressed, his voice tinged with desperation.

My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled to find the words to explain, the weight of my confession heavy upon me. "Three men," I admitted, my voice barely audible over the sound of the rain. "Friends of Lyra."

Kodlak's reaction was immediate, his anger palpable as he stepped back, his hands moving to cradle his head in a gesture of disbelief and fury. He then gripped my shoulders again. "Why didn't you come to me?!" he demanded, his voice strained with emotion.

I met his gaze, my own eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Because I'm trying to keep you safe!!" I shouted, my voice trembling.

Kodlak's expression softened, his features contorted with a mix of understanding and anguish. Rain continued to pour around us.

"I don't need protection from you, Love," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the drumming of the rain. "We're supposed to protect each other."

His words pierced through the haze of my turmoil, offering a glimmer of solace in the midst of my despair. But even as his reassurance washed over me, a nagging sense of guilt gnawed at my insides.

"I couldn't bear the thought of losing you," I confessed, my voice barely a whisper. "I couldn't bear to see you hurt because of me."

Kodlak kept looking at me, his gaze gentle as he reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from my face. "You don't have to face this alone, Aelin," he murmured. "We're in this together."

As the rain continued to fall, Kodlak wrapped his arms around me in a comforting embrace. The weight of his presence grounded me, offering a sense of security amidst the chaos.

"I won't let anyone hurt you again," he vowed, his voice firm with determination. "We'll face this together, Aelin. You don't have to carry this burden alone."

Tears mingled with the raindrops on my cheeks as I leaned into his embrace, finding solace in his unwavering support.

With his arms around me, I felt a flicker of courage ignite within me, a determination to rise above the pain and reclaim control of my life. Together, we would navigate the storm, emerging stronger and more resilient than ever before.