Savine’s eyes widened. He understood then that there was only one way Avery could come out of this alive. If she killed Jasper tomorrow night. But how would an untested human be successful in killing one of the most powerful fae in all the world?
He needed Rylo to know the truth about what happened all those years ago. Perhaps it could make him angry enough to do the job himself.
“Rylo, you do realize my father played both me and the Nepheli court all those years ago? It was Jasper all along. Jasper who manipulated Lilith into loving me in order to get you to kill me. He is the reason your whole family is dead.”
The Nepheli King looked like he’d seen a ghost. “No! That was your fault. You took a woman who wasn’t yours. She was married, and only a soulmate can override a marriage. You caused her death, and as a direct result, my mother's and father’s death. While we are at it, you should still be rotting in the Tower of Teeth. After all, you never finished your sentence.”
“It was him. He told me shortly before I rebelled. I would have rebelled sooner had I known what he was capable of. I cannot lie about this, and you know it.”
Rylo’s body shook. Pure rage blazed in his golden eyes. He turned and pointed to Avery.
“Tomorrow you will kill Jasper. You will end his life,” Rylo hissed.
Avery, Savine was surprised to see, didn’t back down from the Nepheli King. “Why don’t you kill him? You’re not his citizen.”
Rylo took a long sip of his tea and scowled as he said, “I may not die if I killed Jasper, but I would never threaten my country’s peace. A king killer, even another king, would face retribution from other nations. Why do you think nobody has ever allied with the noble young Savinehere? Everyone hates Jasper. That doesn’t mean his death is worth sacrificing our nation.”
Avery frowned. She scooted closer to Savine, but he could see the fire in her as she spoke. “You’re fucking planning an assassination through me! You’re involved! Word will get out regardless when Jasper dies!”
Rylo let out a shrill laugh, reminding Savine that the man was insane. “You’re in my house! Why do you think I actually bothered stealing you and inviting all you fools here? I control the narrative here. There will be no repercussions from me when the man who has openly rebelled against the King of Latiah was unexpectedly here, and his soulmate is the one to deliver the killing blow!”
Savine shook his head. There was only one way to survive this test, and it would be to make sure that Avery killed his father in two days.
Chapter fifty-four
Savine
“Again. Try to knock me down with even more force,” Savine said. He and Avery had been practicing her magic for hours. Savine was exhausted from the strain of the last twenty-four hours and the mounting pressure, but he was trying not to get testy with her. Her life depended on how she did when she faced Jasper. Yet, he wondered if this was all she had in her. Her magic was nothing like the powerful force that consumed him when they healed the forest together. Was her fear of killing Jasper holding her back?
“Savine, this has to be the last time. I’m exhausted. I need to sleep and let my magic restore itself before tomorrow night,” Avery panted as she leaned against the wall.
“Show me what you got then, my little witch.”
Savine watched as Avery’s legs wobbled a little, pushing herself off the wall. She was worn out. He could see the look of determination on her face as she dug into the reserves of her magic. That look, like nothing in the world could stop her, made him chuckle. “That’s my girl,” he whispered as her eyes seared into him.
There was so little they knew about a witch’s magic. He didn’t know if he was correctly teaching her how to best harness her power. There were so many unknowns to training a witch that it made his need for order and control creep up. If they made it throughthe next night alive, Savine would graciously request to peruse Rylo’s bookshelves for manuscripts on witches.
While Savine thought about the unknowns within Avery’s powers, she blasted him with a force that knocked him to the ground. Okay, admittedly, he didn't expect her to attack. But damn. She knocked a good hit that time.
“Now, that’s what I want to see more of!” Savine said as he brushed himself off. Thank the Goddess for his fighting leathers. Otherwise, he would have been ripped to shreds by that illuminating green light. If she could hit with that kind of force, she may do some damage.
Avery didn’t look back at him with triumph, but with a weariness that tugged at Savine’s heart. She looked at him like she was defeated before she’d even tried. Dropping her gaze from Savine and shrugging her shoulders, Avery sank into Savine’s chest. She let out a shaky breath that tore Savine’s heart into pieces before she spoke.
“That’s all I’ve got. That’s it, and there’s no chance that it’s going to be enough.” Hot, wet tears slicked off Savine’s leathers. Oh, this woman. This beautiful, kind-hearted woman should never have been pushed into this world. She should not have to suffer to make him a king. She shouldn’t even be in this world. She should be back in Montana, blissfully unaware of Aeritis and all its pain and terrors.
Even if that made her unaware of him. If he knew what horrors he’d be pushing his mate towards, he’d never wished she had come. He would rather suffer the loss of never uniting with his soulmate if it meant taking away her suffering.
But that wasn’t an option. Avery couldn’t go back to Earth. And it was impossible to live without her as his. Not now that he’d felt her, tasted her. The need for her to be near him was like a madness coursing through his veins. The only way to have her would be through Jasper’s death.
“That last hit could do him in if you combine it with iron and if he is dressed in formal attire. Abyss, it nearly knocked me out flat with my leathers on.”
“I don’t know how I will possibly defeat such a powerful man on my own.” The weariness on her face cracked through her strong facade. He would be breaking her by allowing her to do this. Her soul wasn’t meant for causing pain. It was meant for healing, for being a light to this broken world.
“I will be there. Every step of the Goddess-forsaken way. I cannot make the killing blow, but I will make it easy for you to do it. Now let’s get some rest.”
Avery looked at him with the most mournful expression, sending Savine back to when she’d first arrived. To the sad, scared woman hiding in a little tent.
“Savine, I have to tell you something. Something I did.” Her voice shook with emotion, and she sank to the floor.
