“Fine,” I mutter after the visions have stopped. If talking helps end them, so be it. “You want me to talk. Let’s talk.”
Decius cocks his head ever so slightly, his hands behind his back.
“Why go through all this trouble now just to absorb some Tether?” I ask. “Why didn’t you just take me while I was young? You had plenty of chances. I used to do some of my studies with you. I spent night after night in your home whenever my mother was away.”
Snow falls, and I shiver as more flakes land on my scalp and shoulders. He looks all around, pointing his face upward, letting the snow pelt his skin.
“I do love snow.” He sighs, then he turns his head only a fraction to eye me. “If only it were that easy. As I told you, the torment is what I feed on. It fuels me, makes me powerful. Plus, you had to mate, and believe me, I never thought that day would come. Mating is not optional when it comes to the Tether. When you succumb to the desires and have that urge to fuck her constantly and to kill anyone who dare touches her, that is what I need. That is what truly fills me.”
“My mother…” I start, but I can’t go there—not without getting angry—so I rephrase. “You’re the one who told Magnus about me when he needed an heir.”
Decius shrugs. “I may have sent him a letter or two.”
My hands ball into fists. “She trusted you. You made her carry me, give birth to me, and all for it to come to this?”
“What can I say, Caspian?” He cracks a demented smile. “I have so much time on my hands.” He folds his arms over his chest. “Listen, for what it’s worth, I have always liked you. Much more than any other Tethered male. And considering you’re a descendant of Lehvine, oh…you should be grateful I like you because I hated that bastard. You and I? We were close, and for a long time, I thought of you like a son, so don’t think for a second this doesn’t pain me to do. I like you and Willow, and it’s nice to finally see you coming out of that depressing shell and being happy with someone…but at the end of the day, I killed my one true love—my mate—just to continue living. And I loved Oriah with all my heart, but this hunger inside me is unstoppable. Whether I cave to it, or allow the darkness inside me to take over, it will be done. There is no stopping it.”
“You’re making people suffer,” I snap. “Why not just disappear? Kill yourself? You have nothing to live for—no purpose other than sucking away Tethers. That must be a terrible life to live.”
He’s quiet a moment, lips twisting as he conjures an answer. “You’re right, there is nothing for me to live for. I’m an old being. I can’t procreate, and I can’t die unless Selah kills me herself. I suppose I continue living because my life was going to be robbed from me, and by having life still…well, it’s a wonderful slap in the face to those who were so ready to betray me. I never asked to be created. I never asked to fall in love, or to mate, but I did. And because of that, I live in spite. I live because it’s a good reminder to feel all those original Tethers again when I’ve absorbed a new one. It all comes back to me, brings me to life, makes me more powerful. And you know what it’s like to have power, Caspian. You’re a ruthless monarch, one so many people fear. Having even one sip of power is enough to change you.” He moves closer. “And I want to let you in on a little secret. Seeing as you’re the son of a hybrid Mythic, a descendent of a Tethered male, and you share blood from a line of monarchs…well, my boy, your soul is enough to fill me to the brim. With just yours, I can kill Selah while she’s in her eternal slumber and become the primary Regal. Then no one will be able to stop me. There won’t be any more suffering for the Cold Tethered. They’ll have no choice but to come to me if they seek peace, which is much more than Selah ever gave them. I’ll be king, and all of Vakeeli will be mine. Hey, maybe Willow’s universe will be mine too. I’ve always wanted to travel to Earth. I suppose I’ll do it with a lasting impression.”
Every time he says Willow’s name, a flame builds in my chest that wants to shoot out like the fire of a dragon. But as angry as I am, I know this anger won’t protect Willow.
Raising my chin, I lock on his eyes as he conjures up yet another chair with the snap of his fingers and sits across from me.
“What if I make you deal?” I ask.
“A deal?” He tips his chin. “This should be interesting. What sort of deal?”
“You say you only need me to fulfill your plan. What if I let you take me…willingly?”
Decius scoffs. “How so?”
“I don’t know how—perhaps I can cross thoughts with Willow, tell her this is my choice, and she can tell everyone to stop trying to save me,” I state quickly. “But if I do, you must leave Willow out of it. Let her live her life. Let her forget about me and the whole world of Vakeeli. Keep her and my family out of all of this Tethered mess.”
“Do you really think Willow would want that?” he asks, sneering.
“No,” I whisper. “But she’ll do it. She loves me, so she’ll do it.
“Do you love her?”
His question torments me. A knot forms in my belly, tightening with each cold second.
I carry my gaze to his. “She’s my mate. I loved her before I even met her.” I lower my head in shame—not for loving Willow. I’d never be ashamed of that. But because I finally found a slice of happiness and someone who completes me, and I must give her up. I must sacrifice my love for her so she can live on.
Smirking, Decius rises and leans down, his face so close that his hawkish nose almost touches mine. “Very well. We can do it your way. It is true that I don’t really need Willow’s half of the Tether. I just don’t like leaving loose ends, but seeing as she’s not from here…well, I suppose this is a risk I can take to get this over with sooner rather than later. So long as she goes back to her world and doesn’t return to Vakeeli, she should be safe. And if she does come for me, well, that’ll be her mistake. I won’t be able to control what I do to her if she does.” His eyes darken. “Better that you warn her.”
“Do I have your word, Manx?” I demand.
“Decius,” he corrects, face twisting.
“Do I have your word, Decius?”
He grins, revealing slick white teeth. “One thing about me is that I keep my word. Willow will remain untouched, so long as she doesn’t come after me when this is all over. Now, hold still.” He grips my head, holding on to it tight. I cry out as his talons pierce my skull, and he groans too, yelling, “Send your message to her now!”
I let the words form in my mind, despite the pain and the cold. They’re likely the last words I’ll ever tell her, so I make them worthy.
I love her so much. I only want her safe. It sucks to die this way, but it must be done. I’ve wanted to die for a very long time, and now the moment has come. So long as my mate is spared, I’ll let my fate be.
Decius’ talons release my head, and he pants raggedly, staggering backward. I drop my eyes to his hands, and they’re no longer the talons of Mournwrath, but mortal hands…just like Manx’s. His hands are charred, like they’ve been burned or forced into a fire. Black smoke whispers off of them, and he hisses in pain, staring down at them.
Decius’ eyes flicker to mine, and we stare at each other without a single world. I’m not sure what the hell just happened, but it feels like it was more in my favor than his.
With a grimace, he steps away, and his eyes drag to mine once more, burning with furious curiosity, before he vanishes into thin air.
