The Beginning of The End
Chapter 88

We stay up late into the night, and early the next morning, planning a war that I never knew I'd be facing, and doing it all with two mates that I never expected to have. It is amazing how quickly things can change in this life, both for the better and the worse.

My world ended in a matter of weeks, and now I am trying to save the world who caused the destruction of my own. I couldn't save my people, or my family. I cannot even save my best friend from the future she faces right now.

But there is one thing I can do, and that is avenge them. All of them. I will make Darax hurt, just like he had made so many others hurt.

He thinks he has won by taking Miya from me, he thinks that I bow down to him and do anything I can to save her, and the old me would have. The old me would have sacrificed all of the lives at stake just for her. But I know now that I can't do that.

There are so many innocent lives that were never a part of what happened to my world. Children who know nothing of the war, who only knew that their mothers and fathers were fighting to protect their home.

And it made me realise something, something that I think is important, war isn't just chaos for the loser, it is chaos for the winner. Both sides suffer. Both sides experience loss and pain.

People on both sides die for a cause that they may not even fully understand, and they do it because they have no other choice. They do it because they have to protect their own families.

There is nothing more important than blood to these creatures, and it reminds me so much of my own family, and of the humans. People will do anything to protect those that they love. They'd burn the world. And that is what they did, they burnt my world because they thought that they were saving their own.

Maddox and Ryker did it because they were protecting their land and their people, they did it because they were ordered to, not because they hated my race, and not because they hated the humans.

It is selfish, I see that, and I understand the pain on both sides. War shouldn't be the answer to conflict, but unfortunately it is. And I cannot do anything to change that. Not unless we win.

And that is exactly what we intend to do. We intend to win. We intend to free these people from a tyrant who has done nothing but send them to their deaths.

To begin with, Maddox didn't believe that anyone would side with us, but they have. People can see the end of Darax's reign of terror, and they want to be a part of his destruction. Many of the tribes want to help destroy him, they want someone else to rule.

And that someone will be Ryker. He is going to be the one to take the crown. The other tribes have already agreed.

They know that he will be a fair and just leader to them.

They know that he will protect them.

I sigh, leaning my head against Maddox's shoulder as he carries me up the stairs, he has been so gentle with me. Even though it isn't a natural thing for him to do. He is trying, and that means more than anything to me. It means that he cares, even if he doesn't always show it.

He isn't like me, he isn't run by positive emotions, he is run by hatred and violence. All he has known his entire life is war and death.

I want to change that for him.

I want to make him see that things can be and are different now that I am here.

I want him to feel love, because although I am not entirely sure what I do feel towards him, I know that my heart is warming to his touch. It is almost as though I crave it as much as I need the air that I breathe.

"Are you still thinking about running of to save your friend?" he asks, holding me a little tighter, "because, little fae, I won't let you. just know that I will stop you."

"I won't run off and turn myself in." I tell him, my words softer than his, "I know what is

at stake, I won't risk the lives of thousands for the life of one."

"I would." He says, shocking me.

Does that mean he wants me to save her?

He notices the look on my face and laughs, "I do not mean for your friend, Elora. I would sacrifice everyone in this world for you, not her, nor anyone else."

My heart races at his words, "You would give up the war to save me?" I ask. Maddox nods, "I'd give up my life to save you, and this world, or whatever world he wishes to destroy next. I would destroy the galaxy to save you." He kisses my temple, "and I wouldn't regret it, not for a second."

"That is why he took Miya, isn't it?" I ask, my voice thick with sadness. "He took her because he knew I'd make the mistake of trying to save her, and that is when the war would be over, because you and Ryker would surrender to save me."

Again, Maddox nods, "a mate is something that cannot be replaced, and we have waited a long time for you."

"I just wish there was something I could do for her." I say, signing and leaning against his shoulder, "I can't imagine how much pain she must be in right now."

"There is nothing you can do for your friend anymore." Maddox says, kind of harshly, "she is lost. But you are not, do not give away your life for someone who is dead."

"But she might not be dead." I say, "once the war is over, we can replace her and bring her back."

Maddox looks down at me, frowning, "when the war is over, there will be nothing left of her to save."

Tears pool in my eyes and slide down my cheeks, "she is my only friend." I sob, "I don't know where I'd be right now if it wasn't for her."

"I understand your pain." He says, softly this time, "but as we all agreed, one human life is not worth thousands of others."

I close my eyes, trying to stop myself from crying, "Just because we agreed it doesn't mean that I cannot be upset about the choice."

"You can be upset." He says, "you can destroy the castle or go beat up some of the prisoners, but you cannot leave my sight. Not until I know for certain that you will not hand yourself over."

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"You mean to say that I am losing my freedom again?" I ask, eyes wide.

"Just until the war is over and you are safe." He sighs, "and don't even try arguing with

me, he took your friend right under our noses, I will not allow the same thing to

happen to you."

Fuck. Fuck, fuck.

That ruins everything.

What am I going to do? I cannot save anyone is I am stuck on house arrest.

"But you need me." I argue. "I'm going to help you win."

"You are." He agrees, "but not until we tell you that we need you."

I cross my arms in anger, but then sigh and nod my head, "I won't go anywhere without you or Ryker or a guard. But in return you have to keep me informed about everything."

Maddox stares at me, as though trying to see if I am lying or not, but eventually he smiles, "you have a deal, little mate."

I guess it is settled then.

We are going to war, and I am going on house arrest.