The Reaper's Wicked Obsession
Chapter 266: The Fall Of The Raven Court (5)

Chapter 266: The Fall Of The Raven Court (5)

Nyssa struggled against the strong arms wrapped around her, which kept dragging her away to gods knew where.

She heard the earth shift, and there was total darkness. Then they emerged somewhere else.

Having had enough of this push-and-pull game, Nyssa broke free and spun to her attacker to unleash her wrath, but she came to a quick halt when she set her gaze on olive eyes.

"Dain?"

He rasped, clothes torn, and the tunic he wore, barely in one piece. "I see you have been healed."

Nyssa blinked.

"I was, too, after that strange, blinding light." He stepped closer.

"Anymore close and I’ll rip your throat out!" she threatened, reaching for her whip, but she found it gone. She lost it.

"You don’t mean that," Dain murmured, eyes taking her from head to toe. "I saved your life."

"Or yours?" she countered. "They summoned me to the council. They found out about the Stingers and love-sick Rav couldn’t wait to drop that bomb." She scoffed. "They’re all so—" she shook her head. "Infatuated with that pest."

But Dain came just in time before she could open her mouth to say a word.

"Nyssa."

She raised her hand to stop him. "You didn’t save me, you saved yourself."

"If you remained there longer, things could have gone sideways anyway!"

"Yes," Nyssa breathed as grief consumed her. She never wanted any of this.

The destruction of the Raven Court was not her doing. Dain double-crossed her.

How could she have been so blind? The signs were there, and she was a fool for not seeing it sooner.

"You’re a spy."

Dain swallowed hard, not liking the tone she used. He didn’t want her to find out this way.

"This wasn’t just about Isadora. I gave you the permission you needed to leave the court through the secret pathway, and you used that to your advantage; that was all your doing."

"Yes," Dain confessed. "I was meant to kill the ruling council in that explosion. All. But I let you leave."

"Should I grovel at your feet? I should take your head right now!"

"I’ve lived here for winters, Nyssa. I became a crowned warrior and know the raven ways more than anyone could," Dain began as his eyes grew wistful. "I might have been here as a spy, but I’m a ravenite. This kills me as it does you."

"Really?" Nyssa mocked. "My world is crashing down on me, Kraven’s world."

"It’s always Kraven," Dain said scornfully. "Do you think he would tolerate your existence if he finds out what you did?"

Nyssa’s body went into a temporary pause.

"Yes, that look. You didn’t think, did you? Rav survived, and now he’ll come for you, not to get answers. I don’t know what that fucking blinding light was but it’s only a matter of time before Kraven comes and Rav whispers to his ears. Do you think Kraven will wait to listen to your truth?"

"Stop," Nyssa said, clenching her fist.

His words affected her more than she wanted, and it caused a tightening sensation in her throat.

"You’re afraid, good. Something tells me you always wanted to pin this on me, and I don’t blame you." He closed the distance between them. "I knew when the time comes, I’ll take the fall, but none of that matters now."

Nyssa pinned him with a look.

"You ran, and I found you. Come with me, Nyssa."

"Why should I do that?" She questioned in a cold tone.

Dain smiled. "Because you have no one except me."

Nyssa scoffed, a cruel smile taking over her lips. "You’re wrong. I’m the Commandress of the Raven Court."

"You were."

Nyssa swallowed thickly, a feeling twisting deep in her stomach.

"I love you, Nyssa," Dain confessed breathlessly, unable to contain his emotions.

He wanted her, he wanted all of her, and he didn’t care if he had to abandon everything just to be with her.

She gasped, lifting her gaze just when he cupped her cheeks.

"And I want us to leave this place together. Forget the Courts, it’s only a matter of time before this realm gets thrown into hell. This is a declaration of war, and they’ll be at each other’s throats."

Dain kissed her. His lips danced against hers breathlessly, and Nyssa kissed him right back, matching the same rhythm.

But she suddenly stopped him, a finger to his lips, an endearing look in her eyes.

Dain’s heart melted at the sight of it. She wanted him, too.

"That power you displayed earlier," Nyssa questioned with a smile on her lips.

"Yes?"

"Only Riddari has such a large aura. You’re one of them, aren’t you?"

"Yes, and I can leave it all for you. If we want to leave, we do it now, the other Riddaris are already tearing this place apart and—"

A mute squelch sound filled the air as Nyssa’s blade drove into Dain’s chest in a slow, deliberate manner.

She maintained eye contact with Dain, who gave her a shocked expression.

"I’ve always hated Riddari’s ever since they destroyed my hometown. They ruined Kraven’s life, too."

Blood gurgled from Dain’s mouth, smearing his chin down to his neck.

"Shhh," she murmured, driving the blade deeper. "I love you, too."

Nyssa redrew the blade and pushed Dain’s numb body to fall. She spat at his side in disgust. She couldn’t believe she slept with him.

Hearing incoming footsteps, her cold expression softened, and she twirled, finding Rav and Vanya.

"Rav?" she said with wide eyes, leveling them at her bloody hands.

Rav was left paused, seeing the scene. Behind her was Dain’s dead body. Did she kill him?

"A romance gone wrong?" Vanya signed, with a raised eyebrow.

Rav gulped, turning his gaze back to Nyssa, who kept trembling.

"Why did you kill him?"

"I—" She couldn’t finish, gazing upon her hand like she had done a heartbreaking thing.

"Why? So that he won’t solidify the evidence we got concerning your involvement? It’s some coincidence he interfered when we were about to get our answers."

"No!" she yelled. "It was all Dain!"

Rav narrowed his eyes in question.

"I thought he loved me. I was so blinded by his affections. I swear to the seven gods I had no hand in his twisted plans. The only way I could free myself of him was by taking his life."

Rav and Vanya looked briefly at each other.

Nyssa’s lips trembled as she broke down in tears. "I was so stupid. He made me permit him to leave the court. I thought it was about supplies, but thinking about it now, it was all a ploy. Dear gods! What have I done?"

Rav swallowed hard. "Why should I believe you?"

"Do you think I could ever bring harm to the Raven Court, after what we’ve sacrificed? I would never. I’d rather cut my own throat right now."

Vanya stepped forward, wanting to take the dagger and do the honors herself. Even if Nyssa said she wasn’t involved, Vanya didn’t care.

However, Rav stopped her.

"Why did you run?" he questioned again.

"Because I was after him." She pointed to his body. "We both saw what he did, the amount of power he had when he brought the structure down on us. He’s a Riddari," She spat in disdain.

Rav’s eyes softened, noting the hate in her tone. The Riddari were responsible for destroying Nyssa’s hometown, and she was the sole survivor of what was left of her family legacy.

She had a special hatred for the Five Courts, and in spite of their glorious purpose, she had always wanted to make them pay.

"I may have never liked Isadora, but what Dain did?" She shook her head. "Sending the Stingers after her? He’s worse than a monster, and he got what he deserves."

~♧~

Ekko tried to make sense of his surroundings, the sound of running water filling his ears.

He turned his back, eyes on the hole he fell from after the explosion.

"Well, look here, he lives."

In an alert, Ekko held his dagger to her neck.

The Witch’s black painted lips spread in a smile, two fingers shifting the blade away from her neck. She raised a potion.

"You were in a bad shape and I meant to give this to you as well as the others, but thanks to that blinding light, I say we’re in for a lot of miracles."

"Who are you?"

"Hmm... a friend of your Lord Raven." She rose to her full height. "I came here to assist. The sight was heartbreaking, the Riddari had destroyed everything."

Ekko gulped at her words. After the explosion at the ruling council, everything else went blank, and he was certain a ten-inch narrow rock was piercing his side.

However, feeling the area, it felt like a dream now. It was healed like the wound was never there to begin with.

"That blinding light came from Isadora, she has finally embraced her true powers. She defied death for everyone."

"Isa," Ekko murmured.

"Yes, Rune, your sister."