CHAPTER 31 - SACRIFICE - AIDEN'S POV
807 Words
When we returned home, Casey climbed off my back, and marched away.
''Casey wait.'' Ava called out.
''Just leave me alone.'' Casey ordered and kept walking.
It was late into the night by the time she'd returned to her bedroom where I was sitting by the fire with Ava, and I was furious. I stood up and marched over to her.
''Casidy, I told your guards to bring you home an hour ago!'' I shouted, my heart racing, ''It's freezing tonight. You could have lowered your core temperature to the point where you'd die!''
She ignored me and walked straight past without even giving me a second glance, but I grabbed her arm and pulled her back around.
''Don't ignore me!'' I ordered, but she pulled away.
Her eyes, once full of warmth, now held only ice. The guilt I felt was like a fire in my chest, hotter than any Dragon's breath.
''I know it was a terrible lie,'' I reached for her face, but she stepped back. ''I see you won't believe how sorry I am, so there is only one way to make it right.''
I walked out of their room, into mine, and went into my study where I kept a sacred chest. I took a deep, steadying breath, and opened it. There lying on a black velvet cloth was a ceremonial dagger I'd used on the day I'd become King. Each King would cut their hand and bleed for the Thunder to show sincerity, but it also held a secondary purpose. To remove one's horns if you betrayed the pack or your mate.
I lifted it, feeling the weight of it for the first time in three hundred years, and returned to my mates, who were arguing over me, but they both fell silent upon seeing me with the dagger.
''Aiden, what are you doing?'' Ava asked, her eyes wide with fear.
''If Casey won't believe my words that I'm sorry, then perhaps she'll believe my actions,'' I told them, and let my horns grow over my human head, ''I will cut them off.''
My horns were not just bone. They were extensions of my power, my senses, my connection to the Thunder itself. To remove them was to tear away a part of my very being. This action would leave me in unimaginable pain, but I had to cut off my horns. It was the ultimate act of humility. It would lessen my power, my very identity. It was a sacrifice. The greatest sacrifice I could offer for forgiveness.
''What? NO!'' Ava shouted.
''It's the only way to show her how truly sorry I am that I hurt her.'' I said as I knelt before my mates.
''Casey do something!'' Ava shook her, as I began to cut.
''WAIT STOP!'' Casey screamed, and her hand shot out, grabbing my wrist. Her face was pale, but the anger in her eyes was gone. Instead, there was a deep sadness. My hand froze. "Don't do it." Her voice was soft, fragile. "I forgive you. I was wrong, please, please don't!''
''How do I know you'll still hate me if I choose not to do this?''
''I don't hate you. Please, I won't.'' Tears streamed down her face. Not of anger, but of sorrow. ''Please give me the dagger,'' Her fingers left my wrist, and she took the dagger, before tracing the base of my horn where it was bleeding slightly. ''Ava, please heal him.'' Casey pleaded, and Ava stepped forward and touched the cut, healing it quickly. ''Don't ever do anything like this again!''
I pulled her into a tight embrace, pressing my face into her throat. ''I love you.''
''I love you too.'' She whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
''Do you really forgive me?''
"I forgive you," She said, her voice shaking. "I truly forgive you. For everything."
I exhaled in relief, my whole body was shaking. A minute ago, I thought I'd lost her forever and now my horns remained. My power stayed. Our bond, once shattered, was mending.
Ava wound her arms around us, and kissed my cheek, ''We should totally have make-up s*x,'' She said, ruining the seriousness of the moment, and we all laughed.
''Why do you know that's a thing?'' I questioned, but she just giggled.
''The women talk.'' She answered.
I frowned, ''Stay away from those women.'' I ordered before leaning back and touching Casey's cheek, and taking the dagger with my other hand, ''I'm really sorry.''
''I know. And...'' She hesitated, ''I know you did the right thing. They tried to kill us, and as for our grandmother, you were just protecting us from her venom, she's a monster.''
''You're not her.'' I told her, ''You won't hurt Ava like she hurt her sister.''
''I hope not,'' She said, and held her sisters hand.
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