Soul Relenter (Soul Saga #3) (19 page)

Accacia looked away. She had gotten what she wanted; Aleco’s cooperation. Now she didn’t have to worry about his opposition to her fighting in the battle, but she regretted what she had do
ne. She shouldn’t have kissed him. Aleco was right; it was wrong. Accacia hated how she had damaged him. She saw the light leave Aleco’s eyes and knew she had broken him permanently. “I think I made things worse.”

Zyle stared at her. “Well, that was productive.”

Accacia sighed. “I challenged Aleco in a fight to prove that I was able to defend myself, that I was a warrior worthy of battle. He promised he wouldn’t object to my decisions if I was the victor in the match.”

“Then you got what you wanted, Accacia.”

Accacia shrugged. “I suppose.”

“You aren’t telling me something.” Zyle’s words were
strung with power. His voice always adapted an aggressive tone when he felt he was being betrayed or doubted. Accacia knew he was growing angry for being left in the dark.

“I took advantage of Aleco’s feelings during the battle—I would have lost if I hadn’t done so.”

“So you don’t feel like you earned the victory?”

“Yes and no,” she said. “I feel like I proved that I could defend myself. That was the only point I wanted to make. But I know I hurt Aleco with my actions—he feels cheated.”

“I understand his position,” Zyle said with a nod. “However, he used his elemental powers against you along with the weight of his strength. I think you are still the better warrior—he must realize that.”

Accacia shook her head. She didn’t know what to say. “I need to talk to him.”

Zyle sighed. He had felt distant from his life partner since they arrived here. They hadn’t been on the shores for a very long but it seemed like they were never together, and whenever they were Aleco was always on her mind. Zyle was growing impatient. He had expected these difficulties to arise but he didn’t realize how excessive they were going to be. If Aleco weren’t the Nature Priest, it would have been easier. They wouldn’t have to see Aleco every day and he could depart from the forest, leaving them in peace. “Very well,” he said with a sigh. “But I expect you to return to me immediately. I haven’t spent any time with you today.”

Accacia kissed him. “I know,” she agreed. “And I’m sorry for that. I doubt it will take me long. Aleco will probably refuse to see
me anyway.”

Zyle hoped he did. He wasn’t nervous about his life partner being alone with her former lover. Now that Aleco vowed he wouldn’t press his advantage on her, and he couldn’t lie, he wasn’t worried about their love rekindling. He k
new Accacia wouldn’t betray him. He trusted her. “I’ll see you soon.” Zyle kissed her then walked over to Laura. Together, they left the grounds and headed back to the ship. Accacia assured everyone she was alright, that she needed no aid or healing. Aleco had disappeared from the grounds and she assumed he returned to his home of Asylinth House. Lydia and Penelope were still sitting on the grass. They knew Aleco wanted to be alone. Accacia felt a pinch of jealousy for Aleco’s closeness to the woman named Penelope. It was obvious the woman loved him with great affection. She had insulted the queen of an entire race in his defense. Accacia wasn’t angry for what the woman had said. She knew Penelope was just concerned about Aleco. Accacia was happy he had someone to care for him.

Accacia headed through the forest and approached the house on the back side, where the secret doorway was hidden. She decided to use this entryway because Aleco probably wouldn’t allow her to enter the
house through the main entrance. She opened the door and entered the study. What she saw caused her skin to prickle.

Aleco was standing in front of Roxian and they were very close to each other—to
o close. When Aleco heard the door open, he stepped away from her slightly, but Accacia had caught the movement. Aleco stared at Accacia. “Well, that’s rude. Please use the main entryway, Accacia.” He leaned against the desk. “That doorway was constructed for me alone.”

Accacia fixed her gaze on Roxian. The blonde Asquithian met her gaze with a smile. “Why are you here, Roxian?”

“I’m here to visit Father Rhonian. He gave us permission to venture into his lands. I’m not committing any crime by conversing with him, nor am I violating the conditions you set out for me.”

Accacia stared at her. She felt her heart race in her chest at the sight of them together. They weren’t touching each other but Acca
cia felt a warning in her heart. She felt like she was missing something. “What were you discussing?”

Roxian opened her mouth to speak but Aleco spoke first. “That is none of your concern, Accacia. We were not discussing anything related to the plans we have made or your government system so we aren’t required to tell you anything.” Accacia stared at him in surprise. He was growing crueler every day. “Tell me why
you
are here, Accacia. That is something I am entitled to ask.”

“I want to speak with you.”

“As I already said, I have no desire to talk to you, Accacia.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “How many times must I repeat
this
? I have made my wishes very clear.”

Accacia looked Roxian. “Leave us, Roxian.”

Roxian nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.” She walked to the door of the study and left the room.

Aleco fixed his
glare on her. “You may be the queen of your people but I’m the ruler of this house and you have no authority under it. I will excuse my guests when I’m ready.”

“She is my subject.”

“Not when she’s here.”

Accacia returned his stare. She felt her heart turn cold at the possibility th
at Roxian was more to him than he was letting on. She couldn’t imagine the betrayal. Aleco would never do that to her. She knew he wouldn’t. “Why was she here?”

Aleco shook his head. “I don’t have to answer your question.”

“Are you hiding something from me?”

“I have nothing to hide from someone I have no connection with—you are practically a stranger, Accacia. The events and people in my life are none of your business.
I have never concerned myself with your personal affairs.”

Accacia took a seat in front of him. “I’m sorry about earlier,” she said.

“I truly don’t care, Accacia,” he said. “Let’s move on. You are free to do whatever you wish. Your safety rests in the hands of your husband.”

“No,” she said. “It
rests in my own hands.”

Aleco looked away and said nothing.

“I think what I did was unfair and I want to forfeit the match. If I hadn’t taken advantage of your vulnerability I never would have won—you’re right. You’re the victor, Aleco. I will hold up my end of the bargain.”

“It doesn’t change what you did, Accacia.”

“I know,” she said. “But I hope this makes up for it. I know how important this is to you.”

“If you really cared for my feeling
s, then the challenge never would have happened to begin with. You can’t take it back, Accacia.”

“I’
m trying to make amends, Aleco. Meet me halfway.”

“No,” he said as he shook
his head. “Do whatever you want, Accacia. If you want to risk your life and immortality, then I won’t stop you. I’m moving on, Accacia. I have no hold over you and you have none over me.”

“Nature Priest
s aren’t allowed to lie.”

“Then it’s a good thing
I’m not.”

Accacia felt the blood drain from her face. Aleco was pushing
her farther way. He was barely hanging on by a thread. A few days ago he was in love with her and now he was on the verge of hating her. “Please don’t hate me, Aleco.”

“Then don’t give me a reason to.”

“You told me you would always forgive me. You said I would never be able to keep you away.”

Aleco remembered what he said. He had meant it at the time.
Now he was a whole new person. “I’m not the same man that I was then, Accacia. So it doesn’t matter.”

Accacia recognized the words she had said to him long ago, when they were in Asylinth Cottage making love. It seemed like an eternity had passed since that moment.

“I want you to leave, Accacia,” he said. “This conversation is over.”

“No,” she said. “You owe me an explanation.”

“And what explanation is that?”

Accacia felt the tears fall from her cheeks. She hated to fee
l the moisture dampen her skin. She had cried more in the past few days than any other time in her life, even when she had been captured by the duke. “What befell my father?”

Aleco lo
oked at her. “I’ll tell you only because Father Giloth would want me to,” he said with a sigh. “Otherwise I would throw you out the door. Don’t expect me to comfort you, Accacia. You weren’t there to comfort me through the nightmare I experienced.”

“I would have been if you hadn’t sent me away.” Accacia felt the anger rise in her body. If she hadn’t left she could have comforted her father in his last moments. She could have been there for Aleco, supporting him with her weight. She never would have met Zyle and this would never have happened. Aleco wouldn’t hate her. “You are to blame for this, Aleco. I never would have married someone if you hadn’t sent me away or left me that memory. You can keep blaming me for this but you are equally at fault.”

“You didn’t have to open your legs, Accacia.”

Accacia slapped him across the face, leaving a red imprint on his skin from the impact. He closed his blue eyes and breathed for a moment before he bore his gaze on her. She could see he was livid by her actions. A part of her wanted him to hit her, just so she would have a reason to hate him, allowing her to move on from him.

“Sit down,” he hissed.

She fell into her seat and waited for him to do something. He stood in silence for a moment, controlling the fury circulating in his veins. Aleco didn’t react because he knew his words had crossed the line. He was surprised the smack hadn’t come sooner.

“I will tell you what befell him,” he said. “Then I want you to leave.”

Accacia stared at him, waiting for him to tell the tale.

“Immediately after Drake was crowned the Sole Sovereign of the Unified Continent, he gathered his force of two-hundred thousand men and marched to our border, preparing to demolish the forest and kill Father Giloth.”

Accacia shook her head. “Isn’t that excessive?” She was referring the size of the cavalry he had brought along.

“He didn’t bring them because he needed them. He just wanted to display his power to intimidate Father Giloth. I doubt it worked.”

“What happened?”

“I can’t say,” he said. “I went to aid Father Giloth but he instilled a projection wall around the center of the forest, prohibiting me and the other Naturalists from coming to his aid.”

Accacia nodded. “That sounds like something he would do. He didn’t want any of his
subjects to die protecting him. He would rather deal with the challenge alone.” Accacia looked away from Aleco and gazed into the fire, which was burning low from the lack of wood. “I can’t believe the king defeated Father Giloth. With his elemental powers, he should have killed him.”

“Well, he didn’t use his powers.
”

Accacia stared at him. “Why not?” she asked.
“I understand why he didn’t use them to protect me when I was captured because Drake would have retaliated against the forest and its inhabitants, but Drake was intent on destroying the forest. Father Giloth had every right to unleash his force.”

“I thought the same thing.” Aleco sat behind his desk and looked at Accacia. Discussing Father Giloth brought him to
the past, when he and Accacia were friends and beginning lovers. Their conversations were easy and unforced. He felt like he could tell her anything. Their current relationship pained his heart. “It turns out Father Giloth made a promise to my father to protect Drake and I in the event of his passing, along with the death of my mother.” He ran his fingers through his hair before he continued. “Accacia, I never told you this but you should know something about me and Father Giloth.”

“He’
s your uncle.” Aleco stared at her in confusion. He didn’t remember telling her that and he was certain Father Giloth had never mentioned it. “Yes, I already know. I’ve been aware of it for some time. Lydia told me when I saw her in Morkarh. Apparently, she used to work in your palace.”

Aleco nodded. He knew Lydia had even though he didn’t remember her. She failed to mention this part. “Well, because of the oath he made he couldn’t move against Drake, his nephew, because his vow was tied to the powe
r of his office. So he let the king kill him.”

Accacia closed her eyes and looked down. She hated Drake more than ever. The man had ruined her life, taking everyone she loved away from her. She had to kill
him. It had to be done. “I hate him, Aleco.”

Aleco knew who she as referring to. “Hate isn’t strong enough.”

“No,” she said. “It isn’t.”

They sat in silence for a while and they both brooded over the death of Father Giloth. He was important to both of them. For the first time
, Aleco and Accacia felt connected, thinking about their beloved family member together. Accacia looked at him and met his gaze. “I’m sorry that I wasn’t there for you, Aleco. I know how hard this must be for you.” Aleco didn’t respond but continued to look at her. “For what it’s worth, I wish none of this had happened—I wish I had never left.”