EPILOGUE

~Akara

Vaia is merciless, shoving us into carriages, three security guards squeezing in next to us, giving us no chance to escape.

Evolet's gaze is trained directly onto the floor the entire journey there, lost in her thoughts. Strangely, I don't fear my imminent doom. I'm more concerned about Tai's fate, once I drink from the river and die. And what about Marek? For all I know, he could have already been killed, or worse...Captured by Vaia to be tortured.

It takes over an hour for us to make it to the river. There's only one way in, through a parting in the dense forest. People are usually prohibited in this area, although it seems this part of the Province has become lawless since Vaia took over.

I'm not sure what I excepted, as I'm shoved out to face the river, but it's not what I'm looking at.

The river doesn't look all that different to a natural once. It's a lot darker than what I expect, rushing down through the trees before it slopes down and disappears. This river was forged many years ago, and to this day, no one truly knows it's purpose, or why it occurred. Many theorise that an ancient magic wielder created it, cursing our lands forever.

The thought of someone being at the heart of this is a terrifying thought.

"Maybe I could have brought you a cup, but I thought this would be more ceremonial," Vaia exclaims, approaching the edge of the river.

The guards jostle us forward, my shoes nearly touching the rushing surge as it sweeps over the bank. Evolet is next to me, clutching my hand so tightly is hurts. It's a last moment of comfort for us, knowing that once Vaia has our heads plunged under the surface of this river, and we are forced to drink from it, we will die.

"You don't have to do this," I insist.

"I'm running out of test subjects, and since you two mean nothing to me, it's time for you to drink from the river and die." Vaia leans back against the tree, grinning with painful malice. She truly feels no remorse. "Finally."

"You really are pathetic, Vaia," Evolet mutters, trying not to give Vaia any more satisfaction, although I can hear the quivering in her voice. She knows this is the end. She knows this is over.

Vaia tilts her head to the side. "You know Evolet, you could always agree to join Jessa and I in bed, and maybe I'll spare you."

"Somehow I think death will be far more pleasurable," Evolet snaps.

"So, there's a chance you may become Tani, but my track record suggests you're going to die," Vaia says flatly, face reddening slightly from Evolet's blatant rejection. It mustn't feel good when Evolet would much rather die than pretend to be seduced by Vaia. "The water will be sweet like honey if you die, as the River's last way to lull you into death. And it will taste revolting, like poison if you do happen to become a Tani, but I wouldn't count on it."

Evolet rolls her eyes. "You could do with some sweetening up Vaia, why don't you take a sip?"

Vaia steps forward, brushing some dried blood from Evolet's chin. She whips her head away, looking back out toward the river. I watch their interaction curiously, trying to find something amusing about it, but I only feel cold dread seeping in. My calm is starting to shatter, knowing death awaits me.

Vaia sighs. "You know, Evolet, I may have considered siding with you, like with Nesrin, if you actually behaved for once."

Evolet looks back at Vaia, dark eyes simmering with rage. Even her lower lip trembles, but not because she's sad. Not because she's weak. Because she loved Nesrin, regardless of what side she ultimately chose.

"And now Nesrin is dead," he whispers.

"And so are you," Vaia mutters, motioning at the guards. "Get them in there."

Both of my arms are grabbed, Evolet's hand torn from mine as we are forced into the water. The moment my ankles are submerged, panic truly seizes me. I tug at the guards hold on me, ignoring the bite of pain from their grip, the bitter cold of the river as I'm forced further into it.

"No Vaia...Please, you can kill me, but please spare Evolet...Tai," I beg, looking back toward the shoreline, where she continues to watch. She still doesn't look remorseful, no flicker of doubt to be seen in those cold green eyes.

I used to think she was so poised, so perfect. But she is nothing more than a monster.

"That shouldn't matter to do, you're going to be dead," Vaia notes. "Consider yourself lucky you don't see what I have planned for him."

The river is up to my waist, the force of is pushing at me, weakening me. The guards pay my protests no mind, Evolet's doing the same. She is fighting back with the amount of force, not giving in, even in our final moments. But it's becoming increasingly obvious that there is no way out of this for us. It's done.

"You will pay for this," Evolet growls, holding Vaia's gaze with her own.

Vaia merely shrugs. "Uh huh. Get them in there."

With one last tug, we are in the centre of the river, the water raising up to our chests. My feet slip on the rocks below, trying to gain a foothold, anything to give me a fighting chance. But with the cold water knocking my breath away, the guards not letting up, it's obvious what comes now.

When I look toward Evolet, the fight in her eyes is diminishing. "I'm sorry..."

"Stop, Evolet," I snap sternly, gasping as the water continues to lash at me. "I don't blame you for anything."

A feeble smile pulls at her lips. "I guess I'll see you on the other side."

"Let's hope there is one," I murmur, giving her a lasting look, before the guards push on my shoulders, on my head, and I'm plunged under the surface of the water.

The sight of Evolet last pained expression is burned into my mind, as I open my eyes, trying to see her through the river. But under the surface, it's almost pitch black, nothing to be seen but an obsidian void.

My hands lash out, trying to feel for her, but there's nothing in front of me. In my last moments, I'm truly alone.

My lungs burn, as I try desperately to fight my way back to the surface, mouth tightly pressed closed to avoid letting any water in. But I'm pinned down, my legs pressed against the stony bottom.

Eventually, I cannot hold my breath any longer. Involuntarily, my mouth opens, and I'm forced to swallow the river water.

Pain, worse than not being able to breathe, knocks me straight in the chest. The liquid burns, searing my throat raw, the most vile taste consuming my mouth.

No. No...No tell me this isn't real.

It's meant to be sweet. I'm meant to die. Vaia's cure wasn't meant to work...

I'm not going to die.

💙••💙

Hey guys!

So the final book in the trilogy, The King's Obsession is now on Wattpad (: Head over and check it out if you want to continue the story!

Thank you all for reading the second book in the King's Series! I appreciate all the support, and hope to see you over at the third and final book (:

~Midika 🐼💜