Survive As The Brute's Wife

Arioch saw the unflinching blue eyes staring at him and he felt something at the pit of his stomach. But he pushed through the feeling and inched closer. She wasn't even blinking and it felt odd for him.

*Bling*

A sudden flash of light formed on her forehead in between her eyebrows blinding him. Covering his eyes with the back of his hand, Arioch backed off. The light still was burning his eyes and he stood up and stepped back. 

Only after he reached twenty feet away from her did the light go off. He watched her taking a glance at him, turning to the side and as if nothing happened, she went to sleep. 

It took some time for Arioch to compose himself. He fisted his hands as he realized what just happened. She has a protective spell around her.

The Marking Spell!

His teeth clenched and his facial muscles twitched out of anger. This woman knew it all and pretended that she has no opposition to his advances. He always gets played like a fiddle by her. And she always mocks him. 

<I will never fall for your tricks!>

He vowed in his heart and slid on the pillar to the floor. With his arm resting on his knee, he stared at her. His jaws were still clenched and his eyes have reddened with anger.

"Well, that was surprising!"

Arioch grabbed the hilt of the dagger and turned to throw it in the direction the voice came from. He is not someone careless but he failed to notice someone walking this closer to him and it angered him further.

*Clang*

Arioch's swift blow with the dagger was blocked by a not-so-special wooden bow.

"Theodus..?" Arioch asked with doubt. Why would he expect someone from his past life to~

<Ugh! I revealed my secret so easily! I should have pretended to not know who he is!>

Arioch chided himself. He never revealed the truth about his past life to anyone. Well, anyone except her and he lied to her about his true past. He decided to do the same with Theodus too. 

Theodus didn't even look at Arioch as his eyes were focused on the petite figure sleeping on the floor. 

"So the stories about the Aion Stone were true..." Theodus muttered.

"Aion Stone?" Arioch's heart skipped a beat. "I thought it was destroyed!"

He made sure that the stone she made was destroyed and leaves her in heartbreak once again. That stone shouldn't have survived. But the spell around her was so powerful. Does that mean that the and that guy are bound by the Aion stone?

"Destroyed?" Theodus turned to look at him with his hands folded over his chest. There was a curious smile crawling on his face and Arioch gathered his senses back.

<Is he using the spell of honesty around me? Why am I speaking out my secrets?>

"She kept the stone very safely after making it..." Theodus pressed his lips. "One would have thought that she would have wanted a fresh new start with you... But she chose him again, ostensibly... I can feel you..." Theodus placed his hand on his chest and averted his glance. 

Arioch didn't know what to say to him. He appeared to be genuinely concerned and mocking at the same time. He is angry, but he cannot go against the heir to the throne of the Uilaeg Elves just openly. 

<Does he know who I am?>

But before Arioch could think of the next step, he saw Theodus walking towards Alexandra. 

"Stop!" Arioch blocked him and Theodus tried to plunge the arrow he drew from his quiver in his chest. 

"You!" Arioch swiftly blocked the attack.

Arioch tried to trip Theodus who is nimble with his feet and stab him with the dagger. But Theodus swiftly jumped up and made a swift turn and ended up behind Arioch's back. 

With the tip of his arrow, Theodus tried to cut Arioch's throat but Arioch stepped backward and crushed Theodus' back on the marble pillar making him grunt.

Soon on the marble floor, the rustle of the sandals was heard and in the commotion, Alexandra woke up.

"Will you come with me?" Theodus asked Alexandra, pinning Arioch's hands behind his back. "I'll take you to Maximus!"

He thought there would be some reaction from her but there was nothing on her face. She looked blank and aloof as if she is not even realizing what is happening in front of her. His moment of astonishment helped Arioch get free from Theodus' hold and he snapped the vial from his necklace. 

He opened the vial and let out the darkness. In that dilapidated building that was gradually brightening as the first light formed at the horizon, the darkness rose above turning the sir stale. 

He hit the back of Theodus' head and before he could compose himself, Arioch ran towards Alexandra, picked her up, and ran out of the temple. 

Theodus convulsed his hands together and closing his eyes started to recite a spell. A transparent shield formed around him like that of a bubble and covered him from the attack of the darkness. 

He didn't think that Arioch had summoned the spirit of Morfan. He does not have the strength to fight with Morfan. The best he could hope for is to wait for the sunlight to make this creature of the dark return to its abode. 

Adonis sent a signal flare to gather his men and he still didn't stop anywhere for a day until he reached the shore. The forest lead closer to the shore and from the thinning trees, he could see the sun setting by the horizon. 

And in his view, just a couple of hundreds of feet inside the sea, there it was... the bane of his existence and the savior of his soul. The island and the hound's tree are t the top of the hill. There was a dark cloud that perpetually showered gloom resting over the island.

He tried to look closely to see if he can locate the sword, but he couldn't. The more he started to look closer, the more his vision clouded, and the more he started to feel dizzy.

Panic started to form in his heart.

The last time he got here, he saw the dead bodies of both of them. The earth was shaking and the sky was pouring. And her agonizing shout that split the heavens made him go mad. He even thought that he was the one in the wrong for just trying to save himself. 

He felt nauseated to be here again, but he needed to be here. He looked at Alexandra sleeping peacefully as if she has no care. He controlled his temper. He needs that sword. And only she can carry that sword and he might use her until he has his wish fulfilled. He deserves this for every suffering she put him through their past life and this life. 

He has to live with this face for the rest of his life and he hated her for it.

Arioch turned to his men and asked them to keep vigil for any intruders. He decided to wait for nightfall before taking Alexandra in. 

Every moment of waiting seemed like an eternity for him. He remembered the glorious old days where he stood above all as she guarded him with that sword. The loud chants of men praising him for his valor and leadership, the cheers he got from the generals, the respect his enemies showered him with every time he stood victorious...

He imagined of that day he stood on top of the hill. His enemies - the ones that were let to have their heads attached to their necks, were kneeling in front of him. His men were all raising their swords and were shouting praises and chanting happily.

But he could hear the mumble from his behind. It was the second in command of the Rose Legion - Maximillian Zoros. The commander of the Rose Legion was bowing her head and trying to suppress her subordinate as she must. 

'Drovarys... Drovarys...'

<Pah!>

He opened his eyes. Those chants were actually for her. He just assumed her name as his. 

<Eh! Still, they were praising me! I was the one who led them in battle!>

He closed his eyes and imagined that day. A newly made golden crown was placed on his head. He was the first of the men from the Lukyan Clan to take the throne after all. 

And there they were bowing their head in reverence and reciting their oath to serve him.

<That's right! I am the king! You are just knights!>

Arioch looked to the front and his eyes turned determinant.

<I will once again claim my crown!>

"Alexandra, it's time," he woke up the woman sleeping with no care for his burning ambition.

"Yes..."

Her careful look only made him more frantic. 

"We should cross the water and reach the island. I couldn't find any boat. You can swim, right?" he asked and she only shivered. 

"I will do what you want," she said in a meek voice. 

The cloud that just was gloomy started to light up with bolts of lightning.

"Let's go..." Arioch held her hand and with hunched shoulders, she followed him. 

As he was about to step inside the waters, something unexpected happened.

"Lexa!" 

Arioch heard a shout and oddly that voice sent shivers through his bones.