Daevari -II-

Chapter 7.2: A Price to Pay

Mars had left him when he neared the gates. An irritating twist gnawed at Ari, each step dredging up fragments of memories he would rather forget, but the memory itself was the worst of it all. He hated how he had lost control in that moment—heartbroken, helpless, and adrift in a weakness that clawed at him even now. Mars' presence only served as a lingering reminder of that vulnerability.

His gaze fixed on the forest beyond, shadows lengthening as the sun began setting, an uneasy chill settling in his bones. Ari clenched his jaw, confronting a truth he could no longer deny. Sascha had been part of this—of that he had no doubt. Their closeness had been forged in struggle and loyalty, tested by every hard-won understanding between them. He cherished every bitter word exchanged, every argument that had eventually led to trust and then love. But now, the weight of doubt pressed down on him. If Sascha had known about this, about the secrets lurking around him... why had he kept it from him? The thought prickled his nerves, flooding him with unease.

He felt the stir of familiar emotions, the way his chest tightened when he thought of Sascha's reluctance to let him leave. The earthy scent of moss and decaying leaves reached him, grounding him in a way words never could. Maybe that was why Sascha had not wanted him to go—afraid of what he might find. If Sascha had hidden this, though, Ari was torn between anger and understanding. He knew the price of secrets, of their corrosive weight on one's soul, but even then, the need for answers tugged at him.

Sai had stood firm in his plan, and Sascha had once been part of it. Sai had wanted Ari to join him as well, but Ari had refused, knowing it would mean harm to Auovin—something he could never allow. Sai had accepted his refusal, though it had left a haunted look in his eyes. The memory still weighed on Ari. Yet, what choice did he have? He would not fault Sai for following his convictions, just as Sai could not fault him for doing the same. They had parted with those feelings between them, unspoken but heavy. So why did it still ache?

After all, Auovin had done terrible things. Ari knew better than most the destruction his anger could unleash. He had witnessed what Auovin had done to humans. Would Freir approve of his actions? Would he not be ashamed and disappointed, ignoring wrongs simply because the perpetrator was someone Ari loved with all his being? It was wrong. Freir would say so.

By the time he pulled himself from his thoughts, he was deep in the forest, twilight descending. Silence wrapped around him, broken only by the soft crunch of leaves beneath his feet and the occasional gust of wind stirring the branches. One strong gust carried with it the faint scent of someone familiar.

Ari stopped, scanning his surroundings. He continued forward until he reached an open clearing, where the rush of splashing water from a nearby river reached his ears, signaling someone's timely approach. It seemed he had been followed from town. Though he was too lost in thought to pay it much mind, the scent made him alert. As it grew stronger, a faint smile crept onto his face. He should have known Inge would not allow him to leave peacefully. Inge had never liked him, not once.

Ari kept his back turned, unimpressed by Inge's arrival.

"What do you want, Inge?"

A rich laugh slipped past Inge's lips as he stepped closer, eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Oh, Little Ari, do you still believe yourself safe from what waits ahead?" he taunted, circling Ari with a predatory ease. "So much time has passed, and you still understand nothing."

"And why should that concern you?" Ari replied, turning to face him.

"Because you are a Daeva. With that comes... certain expectations. Challenges. You have proven unworthy of every challenge, a Daeva in name alone."

Ari's patience waned. Rolling his eyes, he tried to step around him, unwilling to be drawn in. But Inge blocked his path with a flicker of satisfaction glimmering in his eyes. "Not this time," he murmured, voice like velvet over glass shards. "There is no Auovin to shield you now. No Rein's favor."