19: I WILL FIGHT ALONGSIDE YOU

The atmosphere in Calithea was tense, with an air of dread hanging over the city. The rumors had been confirmed—Alantra was indeed coming, and the attack was imminent. The reports stated that the armies would arrive by nightfall, giving them barely a day to prepare.

Zara sat at the head of the council table, her expression was calm but her mind racing. She had gone over every possible solution, every strategy, but nothing could solve the glaring issue: they lacked the manpower to defend the kingdom.

"The marriage must proceed," she said for what felt like the hundredth time. "If we are to survive this, Erythian's army is our only hope."

But the council members were as immovable as stone. Lady Theron's voice was sharp as he replied, "The people will revolt if the marriage goes forward now. We cannot risk civil unrest on top of war, Your Majesty."

"They'll have no kingdom to revolt against if Alantra takes Calithea," Zara shot back, her frustration bleeding into her voice. "Are you all truly so blind?"

"Blind?" Lady Maera leaned forward, her tone icy. "We're protecting the stability of this realm. If Alantra's attack is inevitable, we'll face it on our terms, not by tying our queen to an outsider and alienating the people further."

Zara clenched her fists beneath the table. "Erythian? An outsider? You cannot be serious" Zara fumed, Every word they spoke felt like a nail in Calithea's coffin. She was running out of options, out of time.

The meeting dragged on with no resolution, and by the time it ended, Zara felt drained. She excused herself and retreated to her chambers, needing a moment to think, to breathe.

That evening, Zara sat on her balcony, staring at the glow of the moon. The cool night air did little to calm the storm inside her. Alantra's forces would be here by nightfall tomorrow, and she had no army, no plan.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind her. She felt an instant forceful wave of wind hit her, she turned to see Alaric standing there, his usual smirk replaced by a serious expression, Zara got irritated but was still curious to know why he was here.

"What do you want?" she asked, her tone weary.

Alaric stepped closer, his gaze steady. "I have a solution to your problem."

"The last time you came to my chambers unannounced, I let it go and I made it VERY clear that neither I nor Calithea would be needing your help" Zara remarked.

Alaric's eyes glowed with humility, "I love this kingdom and I know I've done some terrible things—"

 "Like kidnap me? Wage war against the kingdom that you so dearly love? Spread rumors to create unrest? Kill an innocent guard in front of me for nothing? The list could go on" Zara cut him off.

Alaric looked worn, battle-weary, but he didn't stop. He took slow, deliberate steps toward her, his presence growing heavier with each one. When he finally stood over her, Zara lifted her eyes to his, and something inside her eased. For the first time in days, she felt safe.

His voice was low, raw. "I've done things I'm not proud of. But never—never—to hurt you or Calithea. There was never going to be a war. I only wanted one thing."

He stepped closer, his breath warm against her skin.

"The marriage. I needed it to end." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Because I meant it when I said I want you."

Zara's breath hitched. His words wrapped around her like a promise, dangerous and intoxicating. He leaned in, so close she could see the storm in his eyes.

For a moment, she wavered. Every inch of her ached to close the space between them, to taste the fire between them. "just a kiss" she thought but would it be too bold? Too reckless?

The longing was undeniable.

"I want to bring you the head of King Orden of Alantra," Alaric said, his voice steady, burning with conviction. "I want to fight alongside you, Lysandra. I want to protect you, serve you… be with you. I want the luxury of breathing the same air as you."

Zara's breath caught. His words gripped something deep inside her, something she wasn't ready to name.

Alaric took a step closer, his eyes searching hers. "Let me help you. Please… I have a solution."

Zara drew in a slow, shaky breath, her throat tightening as she swallowed, she raised an eyebrow with skepticism evident in her eyes. "And what would that solution be?"

"The shadow creatures," he said simply.

Zara's stomach churned at the mention of them, she remembered the attack on her from the shadow creatures on the day that she travelled to meet with the council of zethro alongside Erythian her betrothed.

The shadow creatures were Alaric's darkest creation, beings of smoke and darkness that moved with unnatural speed and power. They were terrifying, soulless, and utterly destructive.

"Absolutely Not! Those creatures have gone against Alaric's will and out of his control many times" a voice echoed in Zara's head, it was Queen Lysandra.

"No," Zara said firmly, instantly stepping away from Alaric and shaking her head. "Absolutely not." 

"Lysandra," Alaric began, his voice softer than she expected, "you have no army. No soldiers to defend Calithea. The shadow creatures could turn the tide of this war. They don't tire, they don't bleed, and they obey without question under the right conditions. Let me help you."

"Under the right conditions? Those things have gone out of your control too many times in the past Alaric, you're asking too much from me!" Zara remarked.

"I have them under control now" Alaric defended.

"Really?…"zara steps closer "then explain why they unexpectedly attacked Erythian and I on our way to Zethro a while ago?" She asked.

Alaric's eyes glowed with humility once again.

"I sent them…they were out for Erythian, not you; when I discovered that you had been riding to Zethro with him, I stepped in to stop them" He says.

Zara scoffs in disappointment.

"I know this doesn't help you trust me—" Alaric says

"You're right, it doesn't!" Zara cuts him off as she steps away.

"Please, just…let me help you" Alaric pleaded.

"It's not help," Zara snapped. "It's a pact with darkness. I won't unleash those things on my people."

"They wouldn't harm your people," Alaric countered. "They'd fight for you, protect Calithea."

"And at what cost?" Zara demanded, standing to face him. "Everything you do comes with a price, Alaric. I won't sacrifice my soul or this kingdom's just to win one battle."

"If you don't win this battle, there will be no more battles for calithea" He remarked; Alaric's expression tightened, but he didn't argue further. He looked away, his jaw clenched, before finally saying, "Then I'll fight alongside you."

Zara blinked, caught off guard by his offer. "What?"

"If you won't let me use the shadow creatures, then I'll fight myself," Alaric said, meeting her gaze. "I'll stand on the battlefield with you, side by side."

Before Zara could respond, another voice cut through the air.

"You won't," Erythian said, stepping onto the balcony. His eyes were hard as they locked onto Alaric. "You've done enough damage to Calithea. You won't fight alongside her."

Alaric smirked, though there was no humor in it. "And what will you do instead, Erythian? Watch from the sidelines while your 'beloved queen' fights for her life?"

Erythian's jaw tightened. "If I had the power to deploy my army, I would. The council's decision—"

"The council's decision doesn't stop you from fighting alongside her yourself," Alaric interrupted. "If you truly wanted to protect her, you'd have offered to stand by her the moment you heard about the war. But you didn't. That tells me neither the queen nor Calithea is your priority."

Zara's eyes darted between the two men, tension crackling in the air like a storm.

Erythian took a threatening step toward Alaric. "You're one to talk, Alaric. You've been waging war against Calithea since the moment I proposed marriage to Lysandra. 

At first, it was revenge—you wanted to take everything I've ever had. But now, it's different."

Alaric's smirk faltered, his expression darkening.

Erythian laughed bitterly. "Now, you're doing it out of Jealousy, You're jealous! Alaric. You want her for yourself but it's too late because Once the council lifts the ban, we'll be married, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Alaric smirked, his hand twitched at his side, but he didn't move. "We'll see about that," he said with his voice low and dangerous.

"That's enough," Zara snapped, stepping between them. Her voice was sharp, commanding, leaving no room for argument. "This isn't the time for your petty rivalry. Calithea is on the brink of war, and you're both standing here arguing like children."

Both men fell silent, though the tension between them remained palpable.

Then she turned to Erythian. "as for you, stop using the council as an excuse. If you want to protect Calithea, then find any and every way to do it. Actions speak louder than words."

Zara turned to Alaric. "Let's use the shadow creatures." 

She says, "this is your last chance Alaric; I'm counting on you, if you let me down; there'll be no going back"

"I won't" Alaric said with his eyes stern, he locked eyes with his brother Erythian and walks out.

Erythian is pissed.