Macy POV
It is late before I return to my room in the palace. None of the candles are burning, and there is a coldness to the hallways that I have never felt before. It is like it is coming from within me.
Cassian and I stayed in the War Room longer than anyone else. With the fate of two realms hanging in the balance, we can't leave anything to chance. But there is one thing we can't seem to figure out. How do you go to war with a Goddess?
We have no idea what is waiting for us on the other side of the portal, but since Selene doesn't travel into the Immortal Realm we have no choice but to go looking for her. I don't want leave the Gray Creatures and lycans alone in this realm, but I do not have a choice. Cassian has made a thinly veiled promise to care for them in my absence. I hope he isn't leading me to my death. I pray this isn't a trap.
As I move through the dark hallways, the sound of footsteps behind me echoes loudly. Whoever is following me isn't trying to hide themselves. I square my shoulders and keep walking. I will not be intimidated in my home. Still, my legs move faster than I intend them to.
"Are you running from me?" Roland's voice calls out.
"You wish," I scoff. "I am tired and anxious to get back to my mates."
"Do you know why your mother is no longer here?" He growls from behind me. "Because I will not have human filth in my realm. Cassian is such a good son. He follows my orders blindly. He knows who is still the King."
My teeth grind together. Ignore him, I tell myself. He is a broken old man. I can't let him provoke me. Not now that there is a war looming over my head.
"I couldn't stand her presence," he continues. "She is a blemish on this family. Just like you."
I turn to look him in the eyes. Even though I am not a Gray Creature at the moment, I can still feel the irregular beating of his heart. The sound of it consumes me, and I can feel My Gray Creature lying in wait. It is desperate for me to let it out. A voice in my mind assures me that it only wants to play.
"And here I thought we were friends." I pretend to be put out. "We have spent many nights drinking wine together."
"I did what I needed to," he snarls. "Cassian was proving to be difficult. I befriended you for his benefit. Now you are a problem. You are making him think you can win this war, but I assure you, you cannot."
"This realm will burn," I warn him. "I have seen it. The lycans have seen it, and so have the Gray Creatures. You can't stop this from coming. You can be on our side or Selene's."
"What about my side?" He stomps his foot like a child. "I am the one Selene has mistreated all of these years."
"Wow. Have you always been so selfish? The creatures of this realm are suffering because of you."
"She was my mate!" Roland hisses. He rolls up his leaves to show me the remnants of symbols and marks on his arm. "I could not toss her to the side."
"Did you tell Selene that?" I beg the question.
"She didn't need to know," he replies. "I could have had them both. All she had to do was stay in the Human Realm. I would have come for her eventually."
I roll my eyes. "You are a fool."
I am done talking with him. He is a selfish man who has hurt more people than I can probably count. After all of this time, he hasn't learned his lesson. He shows no remorse. As I turn to leave, Roland grabs my wing roughly and pulls me back.
I hit the ground and scream in pain. Roland is standing over me with a handful of my wing feathers in his hand. Blood drips from the stems onto my dress. He has no intention of letting me go.
"Roland," I say as I scramble away from him. "Cassian will never forgive you if you kill me."
"Only one of us leaves this hallway alive," he snarls. "Tell me, do you think Cassian will forgive you?"
"I will not kill you, Roland," I groan. "You are nothing but a disgusting old man."
Roland steps away from me, and I think he has changed his mind. I foolishly think that he has come to his senses. He turns his back to me, and I quickly get to my feet. I step away from him, ready to run.
Suddenly, the lights flicker, and the wicks of the candles burn too brightly. I shield my eyes from the light, and when I do, Roland strikes me across the face. I clutch my cheek in shock. He actually hit me.
"Will you fight me now?" He demands to know.
My hands begin to shake, and a mixture of fear and anger rush to the surface. The Gray Creature inside me is dancing under my skin, ready to make an appearance. I close my eyes tightly and try to keep myself calm, but Roland strikes me again.
"Fight me," he screams.
I jump at the sound of his voice, and I lose my concentration. My Gray Creature emerges, and black and gray clouds my vision. The red outline of Roland's heart beats brightly in his chest. I step toward him, and Roland takes a step back.
"Do you no longer want to fight?" I ask with a tiny smirk playing on my lips.
"You are one of them," he gasps.
"Are you surprised?" I laugh.
"How?" He mutters.
"Is the how really important?" I reply. "I thought you were going to kill me."
He shakes his head, and his heartbeat jumps. He is scared of me. He tries to run away from me, but I cut him off. He backs away from me, and I stalk him like he is my prey. There is nowhere for him to go. Tears run down his face.
"After all of these years, you are nothing more than a coward," I laugh.
His fear only fuels me. I am losing myself inside my Gray Creature. I pounce on Roland, digging my teeth in his neck. His blood fills my mouth, and I rip away, taking his flesh with me. I spit it out and stare down at Roland.
His eyes are growing dim. Panic replaces the anger in my chest, and color fills my vision.
I brush his hair from his face. "Why did you have to provoke me?"
"You look so much like her," he sputters.
"Who?"
His mouth drops open to answer, but his head falls to the side. He is gone.
"Macy," I hear Nyx's voice. "What have you done?"
"He attacked me," I reply with tears in my eyes. "My Gray Creature took over. I couldn't control it."
"We have to hide his body," Nyx whispers. "Cassian will never forgive you."
"I will not hide what I am or what I have done," I shout. "There is too much of that in this realm."
Cassian comes rushing into the hallway. "Dad," he whimpers.
"I am so sorry," I whisper.
"Get away from him," Cassian shouts.
Gently, I lay Roland on the ground, and I run. I do not run in the direction of my rooms. I head for the door of the palace. I can't stay here. Not after what I have become.