“He sure did a number on you.” Posy whispered, examining my arm.
“Zel, why didn’t you just tell them?” Zeke asked softly. “You didn’t have to be tortured.”
“I couldn’t let them win.” I muttered. “I’m-we’re the only ones who can save Uquix. They never could. They weren’t really us. And Uquix comes before anything else.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t save you earlier.” Penn hung his head. “I was trying-”
“It’s okay. Everything worked out. We faced ourselves and we’re not stuck here.” I stated.
“Are you in pain?” Hunter asked, holding my other hand and kissing it.
“I’m fine.”
Cedric approached us. “Can I clean the blood off your arm?”
“Um...I guess.” I answered slowly.
“I kind of owe you.”
Hunter frowned. “What do you mean thank you?”“I mean it’s so sweet of you to feel that way about me a-and I’m appreciative of your feelings for me.” I explained.“But you don’t have those same feelings?”“Well...Hunter you have to understand-”Tears filled his eyes. “Zelda I thought you cared about me.”“I do, I do babe!” I insisted. “I care about you very deeply. But love...is a strong word.”“You’ve used that word with Cedric and Penn.”“Um, yeah. Look Hunter, we really just started this thing.”“Thing?” Hunter cried. “Is that how you see our relationship? Just a thing? Is this just sex for you?”“Of course not! I’m giving this a chance, I just don’t love you right now.”“I think I’d like to sleep alone tonight
Wyatt made me sad.I couldn’t imagine not being loved.Wyatt actually confused me completely. He was very soft spoken and pretty nice and yet he was an Aleni. A creature that feasted on others and was determined to take over the world.I was starting to wonder if what Cedric had said those years ago was true.“What if they’re like me? Just misunderstood.”I think they might be.“Wyatt, what was your life like before becoming an Aleni?” I asked.“Um, pretty sad. Like I said I had issues with my mother. I don’t think she liked me very much. I’m guessing her having to raise me on her own had something to do with that.”“What about your dad?” Hunter questioned.“Oh I never knew him.” Wyatt informed him.“So why did you become an Aleni?” Zeke asked.“Cedric was nice to m
It all came down to this moment. Cedric and I each had all of the items and now we were climbing The Shadow Precipice. We were neck and neck. “You can do this Zelda!” Zeke shouted. “Go Zelda!” Posy cheered. I couldn’t help but smile. I was so glad they were cheering me on. My stomach dropped as my foot slipped and I slid down the side of the volcano. “No!” I screamed as Cedric reached the top. He looked back at me and grinned before tossing the items into the volcano. I couldn’t see what was happening and what his reward was. I looked back at my team. They all looked devastated. “I’m sorry.” I whispered. “Zelda, no.” Penn breathed. Cedric reached the bottom again with ease. I hated the grin on his face. He helped me to my feet before getting down on one knee. “Zelda, will you marry me?” He asked. “You can’t say yes!” Hunter exclaimed.
Being Queen of the Aleni was not what I thought it would be. I thought I would hate every second of it, but I was starting to enjoy it. I even enjoyed being with Cedric.Luckily I didn’t have to participate in any of the massacres or raids. I didn’t even care about them. Being Aleni truly does warp the mind. I didn’t care about any of the things I used to except being a good leader. That mostly meant supporting Cedric.“So, how do you like your life as Queen of the Aleni?” Oz questioned.“It’s amazing.” I smiled. “You were right. I understand now.”“Have you heard from Zeke?”I nodded. “I used the crystal and mirror to talk to him. I think he misses you, he just won’t say it.”“Do you think he’d turn?”“No. He won’t. I’m sorry.”“It’s fine.” Oz sighed. “I should
“Killed you?” I asked. “How?”“You cut my heart out.” Cedric answered.“Well I’m sure you deserved it.”“Maybe, but it was horrifying.”“Yeah, so was my nightmare.” I stood up. “Well that was the last of what Moxdea said we would go through, right?” I questioned.“Yeah, I’m pretty sure.” Cedric sighed, also getting up. “What was your nightmare?”I didn’t answer, I just kissed him. After that dream, I had to know if I had any feelings for him. Dread filled my body as I realized I did. Possibly powerful feelings. It wasn’t my fault though. Our relationship abruptly ended with no kind of real closure.I pulled away. “Sorry.” I whispered.“Don’t apologize.” He smiled. “I knew you still felt something for me.”“I don’t want t
Cedric’s POVI was pretty sick of losing Zelda at this point.I watched helplessly as the stupid fucking Griffon carried her away from us. Where the hell was he taking her?!Posy was falling quickly to the ground. I should save her. It would get back to Zelda that I did and maybe that will make her like me a little more.I was more than aware of her feelings for me now. Leading up to that kiss in the cave I was sure she had no more feelings for me. I thought I had really screwed up, but now I knew there was still a chance for me. She would still be my Queen, I was sure of it.I positioned myself and opened my arms. Posy fell into them. I nearly collapsed. Who knew fairies were so fucking heavy?She sprang out of my arms. “Why did you do that?”“Do what?” I questioned.“Save me?”“So Zelda will like me more.”“Damn it, I should have
Zelda’s POVI was starting to feel like a damsel in distress!How was I always getting kidnapped and needing to be saved? It’s actually kind of exhausting. Especially when I was brought up to believe women were the most powerful people in the world. If that’s the case, then why the fuck was I always needing rescuing? Why couldn't one of the boy get kidnapped instead?The Griffon finally set me down in what I believed was his nest. He was quite gentle. He closed his wings and looked curiously at me. His head tilted to the side.“Hi.” I forced a smile. His head tilted to the othe rside. “Um squel esh wullop Zelda.”I hoped he realized that I said my name was Zelda. My Yanesh was extremely rusty.“Squap rius Nerius.” He squawked.“Nerius. Cool, great name. Now is there a reason you brought me here? Not that I’m not grateful for the flight, it’s just I&rsq
The others didn’t seem as thrilled with flying as I did. They all looked terrified, but I knew I was safe with Nerius. Maybe a little too safe with him.I felt bad that he wanted me to stay when I couldn’t. I figured he must be extremely lonely if he wanted me to stick around just after one conversation.The Griffon’s lived in treehouses. They were of course incredibly large because of how big the Griffons were. Szan was accompanying us to dinner to be our translator.The Griffons did not look especially thrilled to see us. I imagine they don’t like people coming to their land and participating in these trials. I’m sure it was a disruption to their lives.According to Szan, Nerius insisted that I sit next to him.“So what do they even eat?” Cedric questioned.“Since you are guests, they have a very special meal prepared. There are seven courses and you must eat all of it to be prope