Eternal Kingdom
Chapter Twenty Four

*Fuck*.

*What the hell is wrong with him?!*

I froze, unable to move an inch.

I wanted to scream, cry, punch Lysander in the fucking nose for breaking his promise. He said that he wouldn't tell Bastion! He swore to me, before I ever agreed to be his 'friend with benefits.' And he just fucking told him!

My body wanted to tremble in fear of Bastion's reaction, but I felt as if I had been doused in concrete, locked in place.

Nobody spoke. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath, the air thick with suffocating tension. Why wasn't anybody speaking? I needed someone to say something, or I would go insane!

It had to be me. They were waiting for me to defend myself, or at least offer an explanation. I had to come clean.

I forced myself to move, rotating almost robotically, terrified of what awaited me. I first met Lysander, who I wished I could turn to stone like Medusa with just a glance. He appeared determined, watching me with a clenched jaw and powerful eyes. Why did I think he would just let me walk away? Of course he would rather reveal our affair.

I moved on, skipping over Bastion to steal a peek at Rory, who was actually watching Bastion, his eyes cold, but curious. He wanted to see how he would react.

Trying to swallow the massive lump that had grown in my throat, I finally met Bastion's eyes. His mouth was shaped into a flat line, his eyes void of his normal passion and affection.

What could I possibly say to him? I couldn't lie, not again. And I sure as hell didn't have a good excuse. I opened my mouth, prepared to spout whatever desperate apology I could conjure to keep my mate from leaving me, but he held up his hand.

Then, looking me dead in the eye, he muttered two words that floored me.

"I know."

I fell to my knees, no longer able to hold myself up in my shame and sorrow. He knew? For how long? Why didn't he say anything? Oh gods, I was hurting him and he knew. He just silently took it.

I didn't deserve him.

My mouth was dry, and I was afraid that if I spoke, it would come out as a raspy huff. Thankfully, Lysander spoke in my stead.

"How?" He sounded just as shocked as I was, but at least he could stay standing. Bastion's eyes flickered to the floor where I was crumpled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I could smell you on her lips." He replied calmly. Too calmly. Rory stepped forward, dropping our bags in a clatter.

"And you were just fucking okay with it?" He barked, clearly appalled. Bastion shot a fierce glare to my royal, his hands fisting.

"Of course I wasn't 'okay' with it, asshole. But what the hell was I supposed to do?" Bastion threw his hands in the air. "I expected her to leave me. I expected her to at least tell me herself, but no. This shit happens!" I flinched at his harsh words, hearing the babies begin to cry at his outburst from down the hall.

"Bastion, I assure you, it wasn't done lightly. And it was only a few times. We never had sex." Lysander attempted to defend me, but it just pissed Rory off.

"Yea, never had sex. You did have your fucking tongue between her legs, though!" He sucked in a harsh breath as realization hit him. He turned to me, kneeling to eye level and forcing me to look at him with his firm hold on my jaw. "Is that how you got away with answering my question? I asked if you fucked him and you went off of technicality." His voice was a mix of rage and sorrow.

"I'm sorry." The first words I could say, and they weren't even directed at the one I had wronged the most. I was trembling, melting into the floor in a pile of anxiety and guilt. Rory looked betrayed, his eyes watering at my subtle confession. "You didn't give her much of a choice when you were assaulting her, you sick fuck." Bastion snapped, his eyes black. "What the hell did you expect her to say when you were raping her when you asked?"

I flushed with embarrassment. How could he bring that up?

"Are you seriously defending her?" Rory retorted, looking almost amused, before darkening his gaze. "And you'd be wise to get your facts straight. I did NOT rape her. I would never do that to her. I love her." He stood, pulling me up by the arm. "Come on, Aria. Let's go."

But before we could even take a step, Lysander was blocking us.

"There's no way in hell you are taking Aria. Your blackmail didn't work, so you can leave now."

Rory rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't have had any blackmail if it weren't for your dear old sister. She's the one who showed me the memory she received from your thoughts."

Lysander shook his head, his glare piercing.

"Bullshit. Luna wouldn't do that to me."

"Ha! Sorry to be the one to tell you, but your confidence in her is misplaced. She showed me everything! Every fucking detail from the beach, even my royal telling you that she loves you." Bastion's heart sped up, pounding aggressively against his ribs, and Rory noticed it. "Yea, that's right. Our 'Queen' was confessing her love for this bastard she claimed was just her 'close friend.' And that's not all!" He redirected his gaze back to Lysander, pointing an accusing finger at him. "Your sister is the reason I haven't been able to see Aria. She made me swear that I wouldn't contact her ever again if she could prove her unfaithfulness."

No.

"Luna." Tears were flowing from my eyes at a rapid rate, and I had never felt more vulnerable and exposed.

"Aria, come with me, love." Rory's hostile voice turned soft and gentle, and his hand dropped from my face to my hands, pulling me up to my feet. I staggered, allowing him to take control of my ragdoll body. "You aren't taking her, Rory!" Bastion's calm voice finally grew into a sinister growl, and he stepped forward to grip my other arm.

"Why do you even still want her? Don't you feel the least bit betrayed?" He shouted back, crushing my static heart.

His words hurt, but he was right. Why would either of them want me? I didn't deserve their love or their affection. Hell, I deserved both of them rejecting their bonds with me, certainly not fighting over me. This was all too much. The lies, the deception, the pain.

My whole fucking world was coming to a halt and I no longer knew how to function in it.

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Yes, that's what I needed to do. Even though I knew that they would catch me in no time, I needed to run. I couldn't be here anymore.

Nobody could be trusted, not even me.

I cheated, Lysander broke his promise, Luna betrayed me by sharing my secret, Bastion hid that he knew of our affair, and Rory, fuck, Rory had an entire list of reasons I shouldn't trust him. I had to get away.

Before I could give much thought to my actions, I channeled my power, or rather, Lysander's power. Images, so incredibly painful, flooded my senses, except this time, who was I putting my trust in?

Nobody.

The room whipped with the chaotic energy surrounding me, drawing all of their attention, and forcing my two loves to jump away. Glass was shattering, papers flying, and even furniture was cracking under the pressure. I could see all of them trying to speak to me, but I couldn't hear them between the torturous onslaughts of memories. Death, heartache, loneliness... There was no point. Nothing was keeping me grounded.

I closed my eyes, feeling my body lift off the floor.

I let out a deafening wail, hugging myself for protection as the uncontrolled power hit its peak. That's when a bright light flashed around me, blinding me temporarily as my legs reconnected with the cold tile. Wait.

Hesitantly, my eyes fluttered open, taking in my new surroundings.

This wasn't my home.

I was in the ARIA.