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Chapter 31
Lily
My mind spins as I try to make sense of Theo’s words. How did we go from us about to come together to him worrying about Asher, again? I shake my head in frustration.
“No one within The Keep will care or bat an eye at us being together, Theo.”
He stares at me, seeming to study my face as I rack my mind for a way to explain everything better to him.
“How do you know he won’t see it as a betrayal and lash out? We could leave before anyone finds out. You could be free. No longer living a life in secret,” he says with such hope and determination it makes my heart ache.
“No one knows we’re here. We can sneak away, grab Midnight and the mare, and head to Lux. We’ll be long gone before anyone notices.” He stands and offers me a hand up. I take it, but a knot twists my stomach at the thought of leaving Umbra.
“You want me to leave? Run away from my kingdom?” I ask, knowing I could never do that. Not anymore.
“Yes. Let the king finally do what he’s supposed to do and rule over Umbra. We could be free in Lux together. You would no longer be his little secret. A new life. A new identity with a name,” he cups my face. His eyes glow with the idea of a fresh start in another kingdom.
“I don’t want that, Theo. This is my home. This is my kingdom. I worked to make it what it is today. I helped my people create a place they could be proud of, and I won’t leave them to fend for themselves. You know I can’t do that,” I say, taking a step back. His hand rubs the back of his neck as if in deep thought.
“We’ll go talk to King Leopold. You know King Asher’s weaknesses so you can help King Leopold figure out a way to kill King Asher. After the shadow king is dead, you can come back and rule over your people again. But we need to leave now.” He grabs my hand, trying to pull me after him.
Rage coils within me, hot and unyielding.
“If you think that’s what Leopold will do, you don’t know who you serve. Leopold would never allow that. If he saw a chance to kill Asher, he would take over Umbra and slaughter any who opposed his ruling.”
“My king may be far from kind, but he’s more merciful than yours,” he turns to me, fists clenched at his side. “What about yours, queen? Do you truly know who you serve and who you’re married to? What kind of monster he really is?” His voice grows in agitation, echoing off the stone walls.
He stands rigid, tension rolling through his body. His hatred for Asher burns deep from all the lies told by his precious king.
What happened to believing me?
“Yes, I know exactly who Asher is. I also know what lies under your king’s stoic façade. The evil that lurks there. If you think Asher is the monster, you still haven’t opened your eyes,” I sneer, letting parts of my anger and frustration boil to the surface. Even now, he stays loyal to a king who offered him up as a sacrifice.
“Do you know how many innocent people have died at the hands of King Asher? Because if you did, I don’t think you would be defending him so fiercely. I think you’re the one who doesn’t want to face their king’s cruelty, not me, queen,” he shouts back. His nostrils flare with anger as he stares down at me. His eyes burn with all the hatred he has for Asher.
All the years of pain and suffering wash over me like a wave. But this time, all that’s left is a burning rage. The carefully placed mask I use to keep everything pushed deep down in the darkest parts of me falls, and I don’t stop it. I welcome the fiery anger ripping through me.
“Yes, I know exactly what Asher is, because IamAsher,” I seethe, taking a step forward, causing him to flinch. I tilt my head to the side, staring up at him. My shadows hum under my skin, itching to be released from their well.
Shock flashes in Theo’s eyes.
“What? That doesn’t make any sense. You’re not King Asher. I’ve seen him. I’ve talked to him. He’s a monster. That’s not you.” His face pinches as he continues to deny the truth.
“No, Theo. I’m the monster that lurks in the shadows. The one with blood-soaked hands.” I say, unleashing some of my power. Shadows swirl around me in agitated circles, lifting me to eye level with Theo. He stumbles backward, his eyes wide in fear.
“No, that’s not possible. You’re kind and caring. You’d never do all the horrific things King Asher has done,” he says, narrowing his eyes.
“Do you think I wanted to do any of those things?” I ask as the shadows lower me to the ground. “Are these the scars of someone who willingly did all those things?” I turn with my arms stretched out, letting him see every inch of marred flesh.
Theo’s jaw flexes as he clenches his teeth. “Who did that to you?”
The hair on the back of my neck rises as the air becomes charged with our growing anger. “The man who created the monster to enact his vengeance upon this realm. The one who spread all the lore about Asher to ensure no one would cross him.”
Theo looks away and his lips press into a thin line. “King Oren,” he answers his own question, finally seeing the whole picture.
“Yes. I was the unfortunate soul who got Oren as a father. Lucky me.” The depths of hatred reflecting in his eyes match my own.
