Chapter 7: Echoes of the Past
Darius's POV
With a painful thud that echoed throughout the cave, the silver knife sank into Aria's chest. It screamed, a sound of utter, unadulterated rage. Then there was quiet.
My body burned and my eyesight became blurry as I laid on the cold stone. Aria's eyes were wide with anguish as I watched her fall, and then everything became black.
I found myself back in the holding room as I opened my eyes. Aria's complexion was pale and her chest was still as she lay on the cot. The animal has vanished. Roman had left.
There was a thick, suffocating calm after the storm had gone.
My thoughts spinning, my body hurting, I sat up. What had taken place? Had she—had she passed away?
I staggered over to the cot, staring at her still body. My hand was shaking as I stretched out and caressed her face. chilly.
"Aria," I said in a weak murmur.
Then a wave of warmth under my fingertips, a faint pulse. She was still living. Berely.
With shaking arms, I drew her close. She was delicate and light. I had an intense, burning yearning to protect her, a wave of protectiveness.
I carefully placed her on the bed after carrying her to my room. I sat next to her, waiting and observing her.
Hours went by. A faint golden light came through the window as the sun rose.
Aria stayed still, inhaling heavily.
Then she opened her eyes. Weak but silver-blue, with a nagging ache in the distance.
"Darius," she said in a scarcely discernible whisper.
"Aria," I murmured, my voice full of relief. "You're still here."
She searched my eyes as she looked at me. "Is the creature no longer there?"
"Yes," I murmured softly. "It is no longer there."
She let out a sigh and closed her eyes. "Well done."
She opened her eyes once again and stared at me. "What took place?"
I trembled as I replied, "You stabbed yourself." "With Severance of the Moon."
Her eyes expanded. "Why?"
"To save me," I answered in a harsh voice. "To halt the animal."
Her face was pale as she averted her gaze. "You mean it didn't work?"
"No," I murmured quietly. "But it weakened it. For now, it's gone.
She nodded, her eyes filled with a faraway melancholy. "It will be back."
"We'll be prepared," I said firmly. "We'll figure out how to put a permanent stop to it."
Her gaze searched mine as she turned back to me. "There's something you must understand."
"What is it?" My voice was gentle as I asked.
After a moment of hesitation, she reached up and stroked her shoulder with a shaking hand. She said, "The mark."
I noticed it as my eyes followed her hand. A mating bond's faint, fading mark. It was unquestionably ancient.
"Whose?" My voice was low and threatening as I asked.
Her face was pale as she averted her gaze.
"Roman's."
I clenched my jaw. Roman. The guy who caused her pain. She fled from the guy.
"He coerced you," I remarked in a cold tone.
With sadness in her eyes, she nodded.
"I was seventeen at the time. A ceremonial. a connection I never desired.
I extended my hand and traced the fading imprint with my fingertips. It was a scar, a reminder of her history.
"It's still a bond," I remarked in a harsh voice. "Even in the event of coercion."
Her eyes were filled with anxiety as she gazed at me. "Is it breakable?"
I answered softly, "Only with the Moon Severance." "And it's risky even then."
Her voice trembled as she questioned, "A risk?"
With a sad voice, I murmured, "Severance takes a memory." "A memory that molds your identity." A large one.
Her gaze expanded. "What sort of memory?"
"The strongest one," I murmured quietly. "The most significant one."
She averted her gaze, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm unable to," she muttered. "I am unable to lose... Nothing else can be lost.
With my arms wrapped tightly around her, I drew her near. I responded in a gruff voice, "You won't." "We'll figure something else out."
She let her tears fall across my chest as she shook her head. "There is no other way.
The link is connected to the creature. The bond will be returned if it is kept.
My thoughts were racing as I hugged her tight. There must have been another route. It must have been possible to rescue her, to sever the connection without erasing her memories.
And then I had an idea. An ancient tale, told among Alphas. A method of breaking a tie using blood, not magic.
I answered softly, "There might be another way." An ancient tale. A custom.
Her eyes were full of hope as she looked up at me. "What sort of custom?"
"A blood ritual," I murmured quietly. It necessitates a sacrifice. a blood sacrifice made by both of the bonding wolves.
Her gaze expanded. "The blood of Roman?"
I gave a nod. "And yours, too."
She trembled as she added, "But he's gone." "The creature..."
"We'll locate him," I said firmly. "His blood will be found." And we will permanently sever this connection.
With a mixture of dread and hope in her eyes, she gazed at me. "Then?"
Then, with my eyes fixated on hers and my voice quiet, I said. "You'll be mine then. Really mine.
Her fingers cupped my face as she reached up.
With a calm power in her voice, she said, "And you'll be mine."
The air crackled between us, the unsaid words hanging heavily. The monster, the ritual, the tie. Everything was a jumbled mess.
However, one thing was evident. Together, we would confront it. We would sever the connection. For our future, we would fight.
Then, a sudden, sharp pain ripped through my head. My thoughts flashed a distinct, vivid visual.
Roman stood on a precipice, anger shining in his eyes. A black entity, shaped like fire and darkness, was moving and twisting behind him.
Then I heard his voice, reverberating in my head. "She will be mine."