Chapter 39

The sharp sound of blades clashing echoed across Draxis's stronghold, a dark fortress nestled within the jagged cliffs of a hostile terrain. The air was heavy with the stench of smoke and blood as Tharx's forces stormed the outer gates. At the forefront, Tharx moved like a force of nature, his blade gleaming as it tore through Draxis's defenders with deadly precision. His movements were brutal, efficient-each strike a testament to his fury and determination.

Tharx's soldiers, hardened warriors who had fought alongside him for years, exchanged uneasy glances as they followed their king into the fray. They had seen him fight before, but tonight, there was something different about him-something relentless and terrifying. He was a king fighting not just for his empire, but for something deeply personal, and the ferocity of his attacks left no doubt in their minds.

"Push forward!" Tharx bellowed, his voice carrying over the chaos. The defenders were falling back, but the fortress's inner gates remained locked tight. Time was against him, and he knew Draxis's men wouldn't hesitate to use Aeliana against him if given the chance. The thought of her in their hands, vulnerable and alone, only fueled his rage.

Inside the fortress, Aeliana sat in the cold, damp cell that had become her prison. Chains bound her wrists, their weight a constant reminder of her captivity. Draxis's men had kept her here for hours-perhaps days; she had lost track of time. Her body ached, and her mind reeled with fear and exhaustion.

Her captors had taunted her relentlessly, their words cutting deeper than any blade. "Your king won't come for you," one had sneered, his grin cruel. "He's too busy protecting his precious throne. You're nothing to him-a pawn he discarded the moment you became a liability."

At first, Aeliana had tried to block out their words, telling herself that Tharx would come for her, that he wouldn't abandon her to this fate. But as the hours dragged on, doubt began to creep in. What if they were right? What if she had been nothing more than a complication in his carefully ordered world?

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to hold back tears. "I don't need him," she whispered to herself, the words hollow and bitter. But even as she said them, a part of her longed for the sight of him, for the cold strength in his gaze that had always made her feel, inexplicably, safe.

The gates to the inner fortress shattered under the force of Tharx's assault. His personal guard surged forward, cutting through Draxis's defenders with relentless precision. But Tharx barely noticed the carnage around him. His focus was singular-finding Aeliana and tearing down anyone who stood in his way.

As they breached the main hall, Draxis's forces began to scatter, their resolve crumbling under the weight of Tharx's fury. He moved through the halls like a predator hunting prey, his glowing eyes scanning every corner for signs of Aeliana.

Finally, he reached the lower dungeons. The air was damp and foul, the narrow corridors lit by flickering torches. The sound of muffled voices reached his ears, and he quickened his pace, his grip tightening on his blade.

In the cell, Aeliana heard the distant echoes of battle-the clash of weapons, the shouts of men-and a flicker of hope stirred within her. She strained against her chains, her heart racing as the noise grew closer.

The door to the cell block burst open with a deafening crash, and Tharx stepped inside, his presence filling the room like a storm. Aeliana's captors turned toward him, their expressions shifting from smug confidence to fear as they took in the sight of him-armor stained with blood, his blade gleaming in the dim light.

One of the men stepped forward, drawing his weapon. "You're too late," he sneered. "This human is nothing more than a bargaining chip. Kill me, and her life means nothing."

Tharx's gaze locked onto the man, his glowing eyes burning with unrestrained fury. "Her life means everything," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

The fight was over in seconds. Tharx moved with a speed and precision that left no room for mercy. His blade cut through the first man with a single strike, and the others barely had time to react before they, too, fell under his wrath. The final man tried to run, but Tharx caught him, slamming him into the wall with a force that cracked the stone.

"You took what is mine," Tharx snarled, his voice a deadly whisper. "And for that, there will be no forgiveness."

With a final, brutal motion, he ended the man's life, his blade driving home with unrelenting force.

Aeliana stared at him, her breath catching as the last of her captors fell. The chains on her wrists felt heavier than ever, her heart pounding as she tried to process what she had just witnessed. Tharx turned to her, his eyes meeting hers, and for a moment, she thought she saw something raw and vulnerable in his gaze.

He moved toward her, his steps slow but deliberate. "Aeliana," he said, his voice quieter now, though still heavy with the weight of everything that had just transpired.

"Tharx..." Her voice cracked, and she hated how small it sounded.

He knelt before her, his hands reaching for the chains. With a single motion, he broke them, the metal falling away as he caught her wrists, his touch surprisingly gentle.

"You're safe now," he said, his voice low.

But Aeliana couldn't hold back the wave of emotions that surged through her-fear, relief, anger. She pulled her hands away, her voice trembling as she said, "Safe? After everything? You left me to this-"

"I left you to protect you!" Tharx snapped, his temper flaring. "Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I wanted to see you taken, to know you were in the hands of my enemies?"

"Then why?" she demanded, her anger boiling over. "Why push me away? Why make me feel like I didn't matter, like I was nothing to you?"

Tharx's jaw tightened, his hands clenching into fists. "Because I thought it would keep you safe," he admitted, his voice raw. "I thought that by keeping my distance, I could protect you from the dangers of my world. But I was wrong."

The honesty in his words left Aeliana stunned. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence filled with the distant sounds of battle still raging outside.

Finally, Tharx stood, his gaze softening as he looked down at her. "You are more to me than you know, Aeliana," he said quietly. "And I will never let them take you again."

Before she could respond, he lifted her into his arms, cradling her against his chest as he carried her out of the cell. The battle wasn't over, but for the first time, Aeliana felt a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.

As they emerged from the dungeons, the full scope of the battle came into view. Draxis's forces were retreating, Tharx's soldiers pressing their advantage with ruthless efficiency. The air was thick with the sounds of victory, but Tharx's focus remained solely on the woman in his arms.

He knew the fight wasn't over, that Draxis still posed a threat to his empire. But in this moment, he had won the only battle that truly mattered. And as he carried Aeliana from the stronghold, his resolve hardened.

Whatever came next, he would face it with her by his side.