Zone Zero: Vengeance (Book 3 of 3)

Chapter 7

The sound of the door to the library chimes through the room but I barely hear it. I'm too engrossed in my own thoughts to even realise who it is.

Large hands rest gently on my shoulders and I feel the normal wave of ease flow through me. It's the same gentle flow that I only ever receive from Alex.

Cail was taken back to his cell a little while ago but I stayed to be alone with my thoughts.

"Are you ok?" Alex asks breaking the silence and my train of thought.

I hum a small response but don't make an attempt to move.

His hands slowly rub circles into my shoulders and I close my eyes from his touch.

"Were you listening to us?" I ask to break the silence.

Alex stops rubbing my shoulders but keeps his hands on me.

"I was."

"How much did you hear?"

I feel Alex's touch leave my skin and slowly he comes into view in front of me. He chooses to sit on the coffee table directly in front of me instead of the seat next to me. I guess this way I have to look directly at him.

"Everything. I was standing pretty close to the door." He smirks at the end and I find myself smiling softly.

I'm not mad at him for eavesdropping. I guess I knew he would stay as close as possible.

I sigh loudly and run my hands down my face before looking back to Alex with a question on my lips.

"So, what happens now?"

Its alexs turn to sigh as he moves onto the couch next to me and opens his arms so I can nestle into his side. I do so willingly.

"Well, most people expect me to step up and take over as king. And the first action that everyone expects and wants is for me to execute Cail."

I look up and into Alex's brilliant blue eyes and find a hint of sorrow. Even after everything we have been through, he doesn't want his brother to die.

I must admit that given everything Cail just told me, I don't want him to die either.

Alex sighs again as he feels my sadness through our bond.

"I don't want my brother to die. It finally feels like I have the old Cail back and now he is getting taken from me."

"Was what he said..." I ask drifting off at the end, unsure if I should actually finish my question.

"Was what he said true? Yeah. He was so different back then but he just lost his humanity over the years. I think everything we went through in Zone Zero was the final straw for him. He threw away any sentiments that he had and became the most brutal version of himself."

"I don't think I will ever be able to understand just what you went through back then." I say as Alex nods silently. "But what about you? You still had your humanity when I first met you." I ask curiously.

Alex toys with a stray messy curl of mine that escaped my low ponytail and places it behind my ear. He then lets his fingers slowly trace the curve of my jaw until it reaches my chin.

"I never truly gave up on human kind. I always hoped that we could peacefully resolve the war but each year it got harder to cling to that notion. After everything that's happened over the years I must say I hardened my heart but I never gave up. But meeting you changed me in a way I didn't expect."

"Meeting you changed me as well," I say softly before pressing my lips to his sweetly.

.....

My hands are shaking as I make my way to the courtyard. It is time for Cail's execution but even though he has caused me nothing but heartache and pain, I can't bring myself to want him dead.