Chapter 74: Chapter 74: SAVED BY THE WRONG MAN

VALORIA WILDEROSE

I don’t know how long I am in this darkness, fading in and out of consciousness, but I suspect it’s been hours.

The maids patch me up before locking me in the darkroom that has been an active part of my childhood, hoping I don’t bleed out while I’m in here.

I still haven’t figured out if that is a good thing or a bad thing.

On one hand, I want to die. I want to fade out of existence into nothing, because nothing is better than this endless pain.

Nothing doesn’t hurt; I wouldn’t even have a consciousness to feel anything.

On the other hand, I want to live long enough to experience freedom. True, hopeful freedom that I’ve always wanted.

But I am cursed, just like Father said — unable to attain either. I will continue to suffer in life and in death, eternal damnation for the sin of being born with no one to mourn me.

No one except Calliope, Elodie, and Yara. I’ve had a couple of conversations with them over the phone.

They seemed happy waiting for my return. I wanted to hear their stories of the things that have transpired with me gone.

I wanted to laugh more with them, enjoy more days of friendship with them, no matter how far-fetched that dream is.

I guess that’s all behind me now, because I’m going to die.

Father’s never letting me go, and Azrael probably won’t care — especially now that he’s tired of me.

The fact that he’s avoiding me is clear enough for me to understand my time is already up.

It’s over.

The door in front of me suddenly pulls open, letting in a gush of pure white pristine light into the darkness all around me.

Light that blinds my eyes. A tall masculine silhouette stands in the doorframe, staring down at me.

Tears well in my eyes.

“Azrael?” I whisper.

The fact that I’m seeing him now, even in my final moments, makes me realize my fear of being abandoned by even him — the man I hate so much, the person I must kill to save the world.

Because if he abandons me now, doesn’t that mean I am truly alone in this world?

“It’s me, Valoria.” He speaks, coming closer and touching me even.

Hallucinations don’t have physical touch. And he doesn’t sound like Azrael.

“R–Ronan?”

My vision adjusts to the light and his face becomes as clear as day. The tears dry fast, followed by clear bewilderment at seeing him — here of all places.

And then the other fact: he seems taller and bulkier, even much taller than he was a few days ago. Tall enough that my haze-filled mind confuses him with Azrael.

He smiles with relief.

“Yes, it’s me. Thank goddess you’re okay.”

“W–Why do y–you s–sound glad?”

“Because I am,” he replies, oddly genuine.

Hands fall underneath me, picking me up from the floor and into his arms, whisking me away without asking.

I’m confused by what’s going on yet too exhausted and tired to argue or fight. I let him take me away from the confinement room without asking what’s going on.

I don’t care anymore — whatever Father wants to do with me next.

I only hope that it kills me painlessly.

I feel myself succumbing again to the darkness that pulls my consciousness and pass out in his arms.

I wake up once more minutes later, laying on something soft and hard at the same time. My eyes open slowly, staring into a dark familiar room.

Everything about this new small space is familiar — the textures of the bed, the smell of mold and dust, the stiff and stale air.

Even without my eyes adjusting, I can instantly tell I’m back in my old room again. The tiny dingy space I lived in underneath the stairwell for twenty years.

“You’re awake.”

I sit up abruptly at the sound of that voice — fast enough that my head throbs painfully and every part of my body aches. I fight through it, staring at Ronan again.

He’s still with me, sitting on a chair, watching me ominously as I lay on my small, deflated mattress on the floor.

I stiffen, instinctively putting more space between us when I realize he’s here and we’re alone in my room.

I still haven’t gotten over the obvious bodily improvements either. It’s terrifying how much muscle he’s gained in two days; there’s no amount of steroids that can get anyone to this level so fast.

“What’s going on? Why am I here again? I thought Father told you to get me?” I blurt out all my questions with my mind still hazy.

His smile widens. Leaning forward, he shrugs.

“He didn’t. You being here has nothing to do with Alpha Ottomar.”

My eyes narrow to slits, watching him with suspicion. Discomfort settles in my gut and the already small space around us feels smaller.

“Then why am I here?”

“I saved you, Valoria… it’s unfair that all I get is a glare.” He chuckles, faking an offended pout afterward.

Something about how casually he’s playing off this situation sets me off into a fit of rage.

“Y–You call br–br–bring–ging me ba–back to t–t–this pris–son sav–ving m–me? I–If yo–you want–ted to save me yo–u’d h–have taken m–me f–far aw–ay from t–this place. As f–f–far away as–s pos–ssible.”

“I can’t, Valoria. I need you here.”

He rises from his chair, gets closer, and settles right next to me on the mattress. I flinch further away until my body is pressed against the wall.

“W–Why the f–f–fuck d–do I ca–c–care what y–y–you need!”

He frowns.

“You’re shouting and swearing… you didn’t used to do that before.”

He complains, ignoring everything else I’m saying. He chooses not to listen or care — so much that it’s obvious there’s no point talking to him or attempting to speak reason again.

I’m too tired to continue.

“Pl–please… j–j–just le–ave me al–l–lone. I’ve already g–given up o–on running. Just let m–m–me die in peace.”

He shakes his head, reaching out to touch my hair, caressing it softly with arms that can easily snap my neck in two.

“It’s okay. You’re scared, so your reaction is understandable. But soon enough you’ll get used to it and you’ll be happy, just like you used to be. I’ll make you happy.”

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