Aligning the Forgotten ✓

Chapter 59: Roux

I reach my hand out towards Binx's throat as the king's command urges me to. He doesn't know what is coming, is too busy calling for help that he doesn't witness the impending doom in front of him. The power of ground fights for control inside my body, and as my hand wraps around Binx's throat, gripping tight, he finally comes to the realization that my anger is not directed at anyone else but him.

He grabs onto my wrist, attempting to shove back, but I claw for his eyes. That's when my power regains control and I take a deep breath of fresh air, loosening my grip long enough for Binx to push me off.

"Chains," I pant, my voice sounding like nothing of my own. "Get chains."

Although I'm still wearing the titanium band around my wrist, a precaution until it's definite that the king's command is out of my head, that won't be enough to stop what is about to come next. I must do what the king tells me to, there is no other alternative, and if he tells me to come back to the capital by any means necessary...I have no choice but to obey.

Binx doesn't move, he's frozen in shock, so I take it upon myself to stumble towards the village until he grabs onto my arm and tugs me the rest of the way. Renit meets us at the edge of the street, brows drawn inwards in concern, and takes me in his arms without a first, or second, question.

"Be careful," I hear Binx warn. "She nearly clawed my eyes out."

My head pounds as the two powers fight inside my body for dominance. I can't control who will hold sway, the only thing I can do is grip my fists tight, squeeze my eyes shut, and hope for the best. I am not hurting anyone today; I am not going back to the capital to serve the king, only to have him kill me for leaving.

No, I'm going to get through this.

By the time Renit is taking me inside one of the empty buildings, Binx following closely behind and now Bren, demanding to know what the hell is happening, the king's command is taking over again. When the prince sets me down, I lunge at his throat and he dodges out of the way, forcing me to land against one of the wooden tables in the room.

Bren is my next target, and he absorbs the blow, grappling hold and slamming my body against the floor. The next second, he's sitting on me, pressing so much weight onto my chest I can hardly breathe. "Hold down her arms!" He demands.

I kick for his groin, but from where he's positioned, I can't reach. I use the next best tool at my disposal, my teeth, and lift my head enough to bite into his arm. The king's command sings in answer as Bren cries out in pain, lurching his arm back and giving me enough release to drive my fist into the side of his face.

Here's my chance. I wiggle out from underneath him, only far enough before my shoulders are slammed back down onto the floor. Renit is hovering above me, holding tight, and shouting at Binx to hurry along with the chains. Otherwise, the banished prince will let me choke him.

I come back, only for a second, to usher them along with a shrill cry as the powers continue to battle it out inside my skull. The king's command pulls me in the direction of the capital, I must please him, I must obey his orders. It's my life, my reason, my calling, my purpose in this world and if I do not obey, I have served wrong.

Something cold clamps around my wrist tightly and I throw up my arm, only to have it snap back from the chains attached to the shackle. Binx secures that arm into the wall, dragging me back, and I kick wildly. One of my boots slams directly into Bren's face and he falls, blood streaming from his now broken nose.

The snarl on his face proves I'm going to pay for that later. To make matters worse for me, he rushes forward, grabs my other wrist so tight the skin burns, and helps tighten the shackle around my exposed skin, still healing from the day before.