Chapter 137 part 2
**Avery**
Then I looked at Cassius, whose pride is both his strength and his downfall. I imagine him, bound to the Ancient One, his spirit broken by the entity's relentless taunts. I know he would never admit to struggling, never ask for help, and that thought terrifies me. Conner's reserved nature makes him a logical choice, but I know that isolation would eat away at him, that the lack of connection would drive him to despair. I can't bear the thought of him suffering in silence, his emotions locked away. And James—the King of Kings, I know he would face the trial head-on, but I also know that his arrogance could be his downfall. The Ancient One would exploit his vulnerabilities, his fear of being seen as weak, and I can't risk losing him to the entity's manipulations.
"I can't choose," I said, my voice breaking. "I can't condemn one of you to this. There has to be another way." I let out a breath. “Take me. Take me instead.”
The Ancient One's laughter fills the room, a chilling sound that sends shivers down my spine. “Such a tempting offer, but I won’t allow you to be the choice. Pick one of your mates, as there is no other way, Avery. The choice is yours, and the clock is ticking."
My mind races as I search for a solution, any solution. I think of the trials we've faced, the bonds we've forged, the love we share. I know that our strength lies in our unity, in our ability to face challenges together. "What if..." I began, my voice steadying. "What if we all face this trial? What if we share the burden, so none of us has to bear it alone?"
The Ancient One's eyes narrow, his expression unreadable. "A noble sentiment, but impossible. The binding requires a single soul, a single sacrifice."
"Then bind us all. That will be the single sacrifice that you claim to need," I commanded. "If one of us must suffer, then let us all suffer. Let us share the burden, so none of us is torn apart from the others."
The room falls silent as my mates exchange glances, their expressions a mix of shock and admiration. Cassius's lips press into a thin line, Clint's eyes widen, Conner's brow furrows, and James's jaw clenches. "Are you sure, Avery?" James asks, his voice low. "This would mean all of us facing unspeakable torment. It would test us in ways we can't even imagine."
I take a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. "I'm sure. If we're going to face this, then we face it together. We've always been stronger together, and I won't let the Ancient One tear us apart."
The Ancient One's gaze is unyielding, his voice cold. "Very well, Queen Avery. If you wish to share the burden, then so be it. But know this: the consequences will be far greater than you can imagine. The binding will not only test your loyalty but also expose the darkest corners of your souls. Are you prepared for what you might find?"
My eyes meet each of my mates', seeing the determination in their gazes. I know the road ahead will be fraught with pain, with challenges we can't even begin to comprehend. But I also know that together, we can face anything. I know that no matter what we find, we can forgive one another and be stronger for it. I forgave the Trio for their torment, and I forgave James for not rescuing me from the orphanage, and I forgave Typhon for marking me when I was a child. If I can forgive all of those transgressions, I can forgive whatever this last trial unearths. "We're ready. Bind us all. We'll face this together, no matter the cost."
The Ancient One's lips curl into a faint smile, a chilling sight. "Then so be it. Let the binding begin." As the Strigoi raises its clawed hands, a surge of dark energy fills the room, enveloping us. The air grows heavy, the temperature dropping as the Ancient One's power takes hold. I feel a tug at my soul, a connection forming between my men and me, a tether that binds us to the entity. The world around me fades, replaced by a swirling void of shadows and whispers. I reach out, my hands grasping for my mates, but they're pulled away, each of them disappearing into the darkness.
"Avery!" Cassius's voice echoes through the void, his tone desperate.
"I'm here…I'm here, Cassius. Hold on."
"Avery, where are you?" Clint's voice is laced with fear, his tone pleading.
"I'm with you, Clint. We're all together. We just have to find each other."
"Avery, this is madness." Conner's voice is calm, but I hear the underlying panic. "We need to stay focused. We can't let the darkness consume us."
"I know, Conner. We'll find a way. We always do."
"Avery, I won't let you go," James's voice is a low growl, his tone fierce. "I'll find you, no matter what it takes."
My heart aches as I realize we're being pulled further apart, the darkness threatening to swallow us whole. I know we have to stay connected, to hold onto each other, no matter how far the Ancient One tries to tear us apart. "We're in this together. No matter what happens, no matter how far we're pulled, we'll find our way back to each other. We're bound by more than just the Ancient One's tether. We're bound by love, by loyalty, by the strength of our bond, and by our lights. I love you and I will find you."
As the darkness closes in, I reach out, my hands grasping for my mates, my heart aching with the knowledge that we're facing our greatest challenge yet. But I also know that together, we can overcome anything. The void swallows me whole, the whispers growing louder, the shadows pressing in from all sides. But I hold onto my mates, my love for them a beacon in the darkness. When bathed in darkness, the light seeks to shine brighter. Guys, please feel me. Please see me. The darkness deepens, the whispers growing louder, but I stand tall, my heart filled with determination. I will not let the Ancient One win. I will not let my mates suffer alone. I will face this trial head-on, and I will emerge victorious, my bond with my mates stronger than ever.
As the void consumes me, my last thought is of my mates, of the love we share, of the strength we draw from each other. I know that no matter what happens, we will find our way back to each other, our bond unbreakable, our love eternal. And in the heart of the darkness, I wait, ready to face whatever comes next, ready to fight for my mates, for our love, for our future. I am ready, my heart filled with hope, my spirit unyielding. Life didn’t break me, and Ancient One, you won’t either!
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
