Soul Relenter (Soul Saga #3)

by Todd, E. L.

  Father Giloth was a man of renowned wisdom, even when concerns were irrelevant to his forte of the forest, and he seemed to understand the critical events of the Continent without ever revealing how he had attained the information. Accacia never questioned him and she realized now she never could. Father Giloth knew that Accacia was trapped in the Prisoner’s Circle, information Drake had revealed to only a few men, and he knew about the existence of her people and the location of the island. She couldn’t comprehend how he had gathered the knowledge. How was it possible? The more Accacia thought about it, the more confused she felt. Father Giloth knew beyond a doubt that Drake would march on the forest, and more importantly, he already knew the fate of the outcome before it came to pass.

  Accacia felt her heart falter in her chest as the realization dawned on her. She felt her chest rise and fall with the weight of labored breaths and her palms become drenched in sweat. The muscles of her arms and legs shook as Accacia placed the pieces of the puzzle together. Zyle noticed her sudden change in demeanor and the intensity of the emotions that were coursing through her. Just a moment ago, she was settled in a quiet depression, but now her composition was full of unbridled fear. Accacia rose to her feet slowly and Zyle held his hand out to steady her. She looked weak and ready to fall over.

  Accacia stared at Zyle. Her emerald eyes were blazed in an inferno of emotions, crackling and sizzling in the heat of her gaze. There was no anger in her look, just unsurpassed anxiety. “I must speak to Aleco.”

  Zyle grabbed her shoulders and steadied her. “What is it, Accacia?”

  Accacia turned away from him. “I need to speak with Aleco. I—I can’t explain right now.” She ran across the field away from him, sprinting into the trees. “I’ll see you at the ship, Zyle,” she said over her shoulder as she disappeared into the line of trees. Zyle watched her go with a helpless expression. He knew her urgency was related to Father Giloth but he didn’t know what had frightened her. Zyle forced the air into his lungs and released his breath slowly. He was certain she would confide in him the moment she returned.

  Accacia dashed through the trees toward Asylinth House, taking all the shortcuts she knew to reach him as quickly as possible. Her vine sandals were no better than being barefoot, but she sprinted toward the center of the forest without stopping. Her news was too important to wait until morning. She knew Aleco would agree.

  She finally reached the back entrance to the house, finding the secret doorway that led directly into the study. She pulled the latch and slipped inside. Accacia knew Aleco would still be in his office, working on the upcoming attack on Paso Robles, drinking the poison he treated like water, with his feet upon the surface of the wood like a foot rest. Accacia looked around the room but realized it was vacant. The fire had been extinguished hours ago and the liquor cabinets had been closed. Accacia assumed he had retired to bed for the evening, too overcome with the emotions from the past few days. They had both said their last goodbyes and Accacia knew he was in as much pain as she was. She decided to walk up the stairs and enter his bedroom. She knew he wouldn’t be offended under the circumstances.

  Accacia knocked quietly on the door, trying to avoid waking anyone else in the house, and entered the bedchamber as silently as possible. She looked into the room and saw the fire blazing in the heath with two glasses sitting on the mantle, both full of brandy and untouched. She turned her gaze to the master bed against the opposite wall and what she saw caused her heart to drop. Aleco sat up in bed, his chest bare of any clothing, and he looked at her in alarm. His hair was ruffled like someone had been sliding their fingertips through the blond strands and beads of sweat stuck to the skin of his chest, like he had just exercised vigorously. Accacia looked to the other side of the bed and felt her throat tighten. He wasn’t alone.

  Roxian was lying alongside him, her arms draped across his waist, and her hair was tangled and in a disarray. Her eyes were closed and she appeared to be asleep. Accacia felt the knife slice through her chest at the sight, the unspeakable agony at the disturbing scene before her. She couldn’t breathe and she couldn’t think. Accacia was glued to the spot, unable to move or take her eyes away from the horrific sight. The tears didn’t bubble from her eyes or trickle from the corners. She immediately fell victim to the soul shaking sobs of a broken heart. Accacia felt the vomit rise in her throat but she swallowed it back. Not only was Aleco with someone else but with Roxian. Accacia couldn’t think of a worse person to catch him with.

  Aleco felt his heart drop at the sight of her. He didn’t know if Accacia would ever find out about his physical relationship with one of her subjects, but he didn’t plan on telling her to avoid hurting her. Aleco never anticipated Accacia marching into his bedchamber in the middle of the night, walking in on their quiet repose after sex. The look in her eyes made his heart shatter into a million pieces. He had never felt worse in his life, not even when Accacia left these shores forever. Aleco understood why. He was the one causing her the pain.

  Accacia turned away and Aleco jumped to his feet. He slid his trousers on and followed her from the room. Roxian didn’t move from her comfortable position on the bed. She was exhausted and satisfied. Aleco ran after Accacia and chased her down the stairs and through the study. She ran into the forest as fast as she could and Aleco sprinted after her. He trailed behind her until he overcame her speed with his own. He grabbed her by the waist and threw her against a tree, holding her in place. She tried to push him off but he wouldn’t release his hold. Accacia cried as she jerked away from him but she couldn’t slip from his grasp. She was too delirious with pain to think clearly. He pressed his heavy body against her and she was pinned against the tree, helpless to move away from him.

  Accacia looked away at the ground, avoiding his gaze. She couldn’t look at him. She couldn’t stand the feel of his hands on her. He had just touched Roxian with them.

  “Accacia, I never wanted you to find out this way.” He pressed his body into hers and held her against the stump of the tree. She avoided his gaze every time he tried to look into her eyes. “I had no idea you were going to march into my bedroom, uninvited and unannounced.”

  Accacia closed her eyes. “How could you?”

  Aleco stared at her. “I don’t know what to say, Accacia.” He shook his head and sighed. “I’m not committed to you and I have needs. Gods, Accacia, you’re married. What did you expect me to do?”

  She breathed through her sobs and kept her eyes closed. She couldn’t look at Aleco.

  “Look at me,” he said. Accacia kept her eyes shut. “How do you think I feel every time you make love to Zyle? I have to feel it, Accacia—in detail. At least you don’t have to deal with that.” Accacia tried to pull her hand away but Aleco held it in place. She tried to kick him but he had her legs pushed against the bark. It was obvious she wasn’t going to escape until he let her go.

  “But why does it have to be Roxian, Aleco?” She finally opened her eyes and looked at him.

  His eyes furrowed in confusion to her words. “I think that reason is obvious.” Roxian was a gorgeous woman with perfect features and a heart-stopping physique. She could bewitch any man she wanted.

  Accacia cried harder at his words. She tried to control her breathing but the tears continued to fall down her cheeks. Accacia felt her lungs burn at the stress of her feelings. “How long?” she asked.

  “A week,” he answered.

  Accacia nodded but she didn’t know why she did. His response didn’t change anything. She wasn’t sure why she even asked the question. Her next thought made her blood run cold. His answer could kill her. “Do you love her?” she asked through her tears.

  Aleco shook his head. “No,” he said. “I never could, Accacia. The relationship is purely physical. It’s what we both wanted. And I don’t make love to her.”

  Accacia felt her body sink to the floor but Aleco held her up.

  “You’re the only woman I’ve ever done that with,” he said. “And tha
t will probably never change. I don’t love her, Accacia—I don’t.”

  The idea of Aleco thrusting himself inside of Roxian made her body tremble in unbearable pain. She hated the image of her riding him, feeling him inside of her as he pleased her. She felt like she would gag. Aleco was hers—not Roxian’s. She didn’t want to share. “I don’t want you to sleep with her anymore.”

  Aleco stared at her for a moment, processing her words long after she said them. He tightened his grip on her arms and held her in place. She had stopped fighting his hold but he wasn’t going to lower his defense. He knew she was a flight risk. “I will if you stop sleeping with Zyle.”

  Accacia felt the air leave her lungs. She couldn’t do that. She was hoping Aleco would do as she commanded because of his love for her, that he would do whatever she wished. Accacia knew how selfish she was being but she couldn’t bottle the jealousy she felt. Roxian was the worst person he could have chosen. Almost anyone else would have been better. Accacia shook her head, answering him silently.

  “Then you cannot expect that of me.”

  “Aleco—she tried to kill me.”

  “Then why is she one of your advisors? Why would you bring her among you, with a sword on her hip and a bow across her back?”

  Accacia shook her head. She didn’t want to tell the story at the moment.

  Aleco studied her features and saw the despair in her body. She was truly horrified at the sight of him with Roxian and he pitied her. He knew exactly how she felt. Whenever Aleco saw Zyle grab her hand he was driven insane with jealousy. But he didn’t know what to say to Accacia. He wasn’t betraying her in any way. “I’m sorry, Accacia. I never meant to hurt you.”

  “Does she know how you feel about me?”

  “Yes,” he said. “We talk about it often.”

  “And that doesn’t bother her? Does she love you?”

  “No, it doesn’t bother her. And no, she doesn’t love me. She loves another. That was why I agreed to this relationship.”

  “So, she pursued you?”

  “Yes.”

  “She is just doing this to hurt me, Aleco. I know she is.” Accacia finally felt the tears leave her cheeks and felt the anger shine through. “She found out who you were to me and she wants to hurt me.”

  Aleco shook his head. “I doubt that, Accacia. She told me she would never tell anyone about the context of our relationship and she never has. If that were the case, she would have tried to hurt you a week ago.”

  “Did she say who she loved?”

  Aleco stared at her for a moment. Roxian never said the content was confidential but he still felt obligated to keep her secret. “I’m not at liberty to say.”

  “It’s Zyle, isn’t it?”

  Aleco sighed. He knew there was no point in hiding the information anymore. “Yes.”

  Aleco felt her body relax under his grip and he released his hold on her arms. He moved them to her waist and held her close to him, trying to comfort her without the use of his words. Nothing he could say would make this better, easier to accept. They stood in silence for several minutes. He listened to her heavy breaths slow to a normal rate. He could feel her heartbeat decrease in her chest and knew she was returning to a calm state. Aleco doubted her pain had ebbed away, however. “Why did you come to see me, Accacia? It must be important.”

  Accacia pulled away from him and met his gaze. “I’ll tell you tomorrow. I don’t have the strength to discuss it now. I need to be away from you.” She pulled her arms to her chest and avoided touching him. She was disgusted by his actions. She saw the tiny scratches on his chest and she felt the nausea return. “I don’t want to look at you right now.”

  “Accacia, tell me.” He placed both hands on either side of the tree, blocking her escape without touching her. He understood her feelings. He felt them on a daily basis. “I know it’s urgent. You never would have invaded my privacy like that unless it was necessary.” Accacia didn’t respond. “I won’t release you until you tell me.”

  Accacia was too upset to be angered by his words. She hated being forced against her will but she was too depressed, too hurt, to care. “Can we go inside? You should put on a shirt.”

  Aleco dropped his hands to his side and walked toward the house. Accacia trailed behind him and watched his back muscles move under the skin as he walked. She forced herself to look away from his skin. They were covered in scratches made by long fingernails. Aleco opened the door to the study and let her walk in first. He lit a fire in the hearth and put on the cloak hanging by the entrance.

  Aleco sat in the chair next to her and looked at her. “Speak now.”

  “Give me a moment.” Accacia closed her eyes and thought about what she would say. Father Giloth understood the future of events without any possible means of discovering them. She was certain in her accusation. Aleco sat in silence beside her and gave her a moment. He could only imagine how upset she was. “Father Giloth had the prescient stone, one of the five stones created by my ancient ancestors. Drake has the Aqua Stone and Father Giloth had the one that detailed the future. It is the only way to explain his knowledge about upcoming events.”

  Aleco flinched slightly at her words. He was silent for a moment. When he spoke his voice was deeper than usual. “How do you know this?”

  “I can’t explain it—I just do. How else did he know I was in the Prisoner’s Circle? Then how do you explain the knowledge about the island and the continued existence of the remains of my people? He knew Drake would march on his lands and would succeed in killing him—it’s the only explanation.”

  Aleco rose from his chair and paced around the room with his arms crossed over his chest. He felt his heart quicken in his body at Accacia’s words because of the severity of her accusation. If Father Giloth had access to an elemental stone then why didn’t he tell him? Aleco was trying to kill this vicious dictator and Father Giloth didn’t think he could use the stone? Aleco thought the possibility was unlikely. Then he began to recall the conversations of the past. Aleco remembered questioning Father Giloth about his ability to know the outcome of events without experiencing them and his reaction was always the same; complete silence. Aleco realized Accacia’s thoughts weren’t just an unfounded idea. It was true. Aleco sat down. “You’re right,” he said. “I can’t believe I didn’t realize it earlier.”

  Accacia looked into the fire. “Why didn’t he tell us?”

  Aleco sighed. “I have no idea. You would think the old man would have given it to us so we could use it to aid our attempts to kill Drake.” Aleco felt the anger course through his body. How can the man be so selfish to hide it from him? He hadn’t even mentioned it in his Soul Catcher. Then he remembered the last mistake he made when he doubted Father Giloth. He had assumed that his uncle was a coward when he wasn’t; he was fulfilling his oath. “There must be a reason why he didn’t mention it.”

  Accacia nodded. “I have no idea what that reason is though. He obviously had used the stone himself. That was why he sent me away. He knew I had to leave.”

  “So, he already knew the fate of the Continent. He knew there was no chance for success because he had already foreseen it.” Aleco dropped his face into his palms. “Perhaps he thought the truth was too much to bear.” Aleco felt the hopeless despair soak into his heart. He knew there would be no victory. “You should return to your shores, Accacia. I appreciate your aid in coming here, but it was in vain. Leave the Continent while you still can continue your existence in secret. I will never reveal the truth of your people—even under pain of torture.”

  Accacia wrapped her arms around her torso. She could return to her land and continue her life in peace, away from the violence that was ensuing on the Continent, and leave without the guilt of wondering what would have been if she stayed. They would lose the battle. It was foretold. But Accacia couldn’t leave Aleco here alone, having to defend his forest and people until Drake came for him and killed him just like Father Giloth. She couldn’t take
Aleco with her and she knew he would reject the offer anyway. “We will stay and fight, Aleco.”

  Aleco turned to her. “Don’t be stupid, Accacia. You are subjecting yourself and your people to death in this life and the afterlife. I will not allow you to waste your soul. The future is foretold. It will come to pass.”

  “We don’t know that for certain. Perhaps Father Giloth knew I had to be sent away in order to return with a larger force. He even said, ‘I will die so something greater than I will persevere.’ He could have been referring to the people or the forest. He sacrificed himself so you could be the new Nature Priest. He gave you the tools to defeat Drake because he knew he couldn’t do it himself.”

  “Then why didn’t he just tell us this? Why keep it hidden from us?”

  Accacia didn’t know the answer to his question. She only had speculations. “Maybe he didn’t want to admit that he had used the elemental stone, ashamed that he couldn’t resist the temptation to use it. Or maybe he didn’t want us to use the stones ourselves, for fear of us abusing its power.”

  “He didn’t trust us?”

  “I don’t know,” Accacia said with a sigh. “But I am certain he did it for a good reason. I have faith in him, Aleco. Don’t lose your belief in him.”

  “It’s too risky, Accacia. If you are wrong we are wasting our efforts and our lives in the undertaking, playing a game with standards we can’t meet. We will lose more than we can afford in this gamble.”

  “Or we may accomplish our greatest dreams.”

  Aleco looked at the glow of her face in the fire. Her cheekbones were highlighted in the dark and her eyes reflected the intensity of the flames. Aleco knew he would never get what he wanted even if they did succeeded. “It is destiny, Accacia. We can’t fight what is meant to come to pass.”

  “Horseshit—it’s our destiny!”