Chapter 116


    It had been almost a week since Brent tossed his brother into the castledungeons. He has not been able to bring himself to make contact withhim. Miranda has been by his side throughout the entire time. Dinnerswere quiet with only some small talk. You could even cut the tension inthe air with a knife. I wanted to ask what everyone was thinking andtonight, which marks a week, seems to be the appropriate time for it.


    I sat there thinking about how I would approach the conversation when Iheard a firm “No.” from Everest.


    “Why?” A frown formed on my face.


    “Because he needs time to process everything.” Everest sat down acrossfrom me.


    “Everest, he has had a full week toe to terms with the fact that hismurdering brother is in fact alive. Was under the twin spell the entiretime. While what he did was horrible, he was not himself. Speaking ofnot himself, we are still unsure of how long he has been under theircontrol,” I countered.


    “Yes, Avalynn, I realize that, but it takes time.” Everest leaned over andpicked up one of the many books that filled my office. “Have you figuredout how he is still alive?”


    “No, I haven’t. When he was burned, his body should never have beenable to recover. He had turned to ash.” I picked up my newest book. Itwas not new though. The book was very old and extremely delicate. I hadto be extra careful while handling it. Every time I turned a page, I wasafraid that it would rip on me.


    “What is that?” Everest motioned to the book in my hands.


    “It is Dark Mysticism. It has, so far, been the most helpful to exiningwhat is going on. I feel like this book can exin to us how Dexter wasresurrected.” I carefully flipped through the pages. “Wait a minute,” |paused as my eyes looked at an interesting page.


    “What is it?” Everest leaned in closer, his right brow raised as he waitedfor me to continue.


    “It says that resurrection can be possible with even just the smallestamount of viable being. Something must not have burned.” shes andimages of this day popped up through my mind. The moment his heartwas ripped from his chest and tossed aside, it shed across my eyes.


    “What is it? Avalynn? Hey!?” Everest called to me.


    “It is my fault.” I closed the book and sat back down.


    “What is your fault?” Everest frowned as he reached out to me.


    “I let him live by not burning his heart.” I shook my head. “I only tossedit aside. I didn’t put it in the fire.” My voice sounded broken as I spoke.


    “There is no way you could have known that he was under a spell. Iwatched with you, as did everyone else. None of us knew he was underan evil spell. None of us knew he could be brought back. Look, Avalynn,this could be a good thing that has happened.” Everest reassured me.


    “How is this a good thing?” I frowned.


    “Because it gave him a chance to be with his family. The Twins obviouslyscrewed up by leaving his memories intact. He knows things that couldhelp us figure out if the Twins have any other surprises. If this was it. Imean, we know nothing of what their n was or is. Dying could havebeen part of their n or not. I mean they were crazy, so who knows.”He smiled at me.


    “Okay, okay. I guess you’re right. I mean this has all obviously happenedbecause there was a reason for it. We should let Brent and Miranda knoter though,” I told him.


    “Yes we should.” Everest agreed.


    A rapid hard knock sounded on the outside of my office.


    Everest stood and moved to open the door quickly. A servant was outsideand passed a written message to Everest. Everest walked back in,shutting the door behind him. He opened the note and read it aloud.


    Everest and Avalynn,


    I have set my brother free today. What you do not know is that I havebeenmunicating with him during the evening hours of the night. Theguards who were in charge of watching over his captivity were stillunder mymand. They were instructed not to break their vow ofsilence to their King. Dexter was under the Twins’ spell for thesttwenty-five years. Which was when our rivalry began, now that I amthinking about it. He has been banished to live out the remainder of hisday in the neutral rogue wolf territory.


    When you get this message, I will no longer be the King of the South, the


    North and South will now be under your control. I will be leavingeverything behind, except for some money, to see us through. Miranda,


    Cassie, and myself will be living a quiet and secluded lifestyle in thesouthwest. I will have a few warriors with us. These warriors, who nolonger have a mate or family, will be going with us for protection. Pleaseunderstand that this was the only way.


    This way, I knew that maybe my family line could survive if he was alive.


    Please, do not follow us. My brother wanted to exin to you both whathe has told me. I disagree. He had no control over his actions and wasbeing driven by the evil side of magic. One day, when I know the dust hassettled, I will send Miranda to see Avalynn. Until then, the SouthernKingdom is yours.


    Formerly King of the Souther Territory, Brent.


    Everest crumbled the paper and threw it at the wall as hard as he could. Ifrowned and shook my head at what he had just read. He left, he took


    Cassie and Miranda. He let Dexter go. He probably had him escorted out.


    A loud bang, followed by a crashing sound came from the other side ofthe door.


    “Get him!” I heard a male voice scream.


    Everest rushed to the door, swinging it open, when a dark hooded figurestood in the doorway.


    “Please, I need to talk to you both.” Dexter’s plea was heard.


    He knelt down and bowed his head to Everest.


    Everest’s hand went up to, what I assume, stop the warriors chargingdown the hall. “Just stay close.” He ordered them.


    “Come in, Dexter.”


    Dexter stood, pulling his hood back, before walking inside my office. Ifelt my nails digging into my skin. I looked over Dexter’s features. Helooked the same but yet so different at the same time. When he lookedover at me, it was as if a normal person was looking at me. He didn’thave a wild possessive expression on his face anymore.


    “Sit.” Everest motioned to the chair that he moved to the center of theroom and Dexter did as he was instructed to.


    “Exin everything.”


    “Well, honestly, thest memory I remember was when I was out for arun. I remember a bright sh thatpletely blinded me, then I was ina room with two people who I had never met before. They said that theyhave been watching me for thest few years and I would be perfect fortheir n.


    They forced something down my throat and everything wenthazy. After that, I believe I slept for a long time. I’m not sure how, butwhen I woke up, I was back at home. I was told that I was found at thebottom side of a cliff, surrounded by rocks and boulders.


    I was told that Iwas lucky to be alive. When my brother entered the room, I knew I hatedhim. I wanted him and my father dead. I knew I had to wait. I tried tocause a war between a small vige and our kingdom. For that, Avalynn,


    I am sorry. It didn’t work. I tried many things for many years, and finally


    I got tired of waiting and just took them out myself. I had dreams ofpeople telling me what to do. Whatever they told me to do, I did it. I hadto find you again, Avalynn, I had to get you. You had to be mine, nomatter the cost. I created so much destruction and death to have you. Itwas my only drive. My only thought was getting you. It literallyconsumed me. When you got away, I got a visit from the Twins.


    Theytortured me, forced me to go out west. Ipleted the gathering, as theycalled it. A ritual was held, people were sacrificed. I can’t remembereverything, but I know that I have done some horrible and horrificthings.


    They left me alone for a few weeks. Then everything went dark. Iremember waking up and feeling hot. Almost as if fire had burned me. Iwas tortured again, forced to do their bidding, but in secret. I rememberlooking in the mirror and my face not being my face. I looked different.


    The twins told me that it had to be this way. I slithered through,undetected, sent them information that they requested. I followedeveryone, hung back in the shadows. My movements felt so foreign, theyweren’t my own. I just, I am so sorry. I understand if I must die. I wishyou would end me. I don’t think that I can live with this guilt. The pain Ihave caused is unforgiveable.” | watched as Dexter broke down in tears,mumbling he was sorry for everything.


    I looked over at Everest, who wore a dark expression. I ced my handon his shoulder and he looked up at me.


    “He speaks the truth. I can feel his remorse. I know what he is saying isthe truth, he has not lied. He shouldn’t die. His actions were not of hisown. Maybe send him to live his life elsewhere? Never to set foot in ounds again. But even that seems too much. He needs to heal. Our peopleneed to heal. This can be done. We can make peace for all.” i linked him.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Everest shook his head. I knew that he didn’t like the idea of leaving himalive. Hell, I didn’t either. But banishing him from ournds was the onlything that I could think of doing. It was a unique case. He had zerocontrol over his actions. He was under the control of the twins. Whenthey died, then their minions died, he was free. If this was the humanworld, he would more than likely be sent to death row, a one-way ticket.


    But, this wasn’t the human world.


    This was our world.


    “Call a council meeting. See what they say. We will vote on it. There aretwelve members, surely we can decide what to do with you.” I looked atEverest and nodded my head.