Chapter 358: _Second Rebirth

Elian’s POV

*****

“So wait,” Elian frowned as the Ascension platform leading upstairs opened with a hiss. “You… killed Garrick? Like for real?”

He was now draped in new clothes conjured with magic, his skin glistening under the lighting.

Kyren also gave Lucian a look—but then paused once they got a view of the hallway ahead of them. Or at least, what was left of it.

“Gods…” Elian took cautious steps forward, squinting through the smoke and dust clouding the place.

The walls, ceiling and even most of the marble floor were reduced to rubble. Every light in the hallway was either flickering or completely dead.

Not to mention the familiar residues of the destroyed Umbra beasts tainting the air.

“I thought I sensed the wrath of a Celestial Sovereign in here,” Kyren seemed rather proud, his lips curving. “And I’m guessing my father…”

As if by instinct, their heads snapped in unison to a wall several meters ahead. And there he was.

The great Garrick Ironclaw, impaled to it with his own sword. His once handsome face was charred to a blackened crisp. His head bobbed limply to the side, blood trickling from his mouth.

Cracks covered his black armour, the runes deactivated. Even in death he still had this hint of madness in those golden eyes.

Someone who believed without a doubt that they had everyone else wrapped around his fingertips.

Memories of the man when he was simply Axel Thorne flashed through Elian’s head as the trio made their way to the corpse.

“I’m sorry,” Lucian muttered when they were standing before the body, staring straight at Kyren. “I just got so enraged when I thought Elian died. I–I couldn’t think clearly. Everything just went black and before I knew it his blood—”

Kyren laughed.

Not softly either.

It was a satisfied, almost psychotic sound as he took in the body of the man who brought him into this world… while being one of the reasons it became hell for him.

“I don’t understand why you’re apologising, Lucian.” The Rogue King shook his head.

Lucian blinked. “W–Won’t you have liked to have a word with him? Say something before he—”

“He had three centuries to have multiple words with me. And what did he do with that time?” Kyren scoffed. “He plotted with my mother on the best way to fuck up my life. Which was fucking my mate who they saw as nothing but a weapon.”

The back of Elian’s ears warmed with embarrassment. “When you put it like that…”

“My only regret,” Kyren turned his head from his cousin to his mate, “is that I didn’t get to finish him off myself. To feel his warm blood in my hands—before melting him from the inside out until his screams filled the halls of the palace he desired to bring to its knees.”

Kyren stretched out a palm just then.

A huge tongue of red flames ignited over it, so hot that even Elian had to take a step back.

“Not taking any chances.” He was about to throw the flames at the body when a sharp shriek resounded from the other end of the hallway.

“Wait!”

They angled their heads to the voice.

Elian’s brows furrowed.

Estella.

She wore a handless dark purple dress with starry crystals dotted all over. Clutching the hem, she ran toward them, coughing through the dust and smoke.

[Sigh. Here we go with the soap opera shit again.]

Kyren didn’t dispel the flames.

Rather he increased the heat, spinning to face the she-wolf squarely.

The moment she got to them, Estella dropped to her knees. “P–Please,” her voice shuddered. “I–I know he wasn’t my real brother for most of my life. But at a time…”

Tears.

Actual tears began trickling down her cheeks as she held back her sobs. “… At a time he was the only family I had left.” She raised her head, her eyes flitting desperately between their faces. “All I ask for is a proper burial rite.”

Lucian’s anger basically surged through the bond like a tsunami. “Burial rites? For the murderer who killed my father? Who blackmailed him for centuries in a conspiracy of cosmic proportions?”

“No.” Estella shook her head, her eyes landing on Elian’s face this time. “Do it for Axel Thorne. M–My actual brother. The one whose body was cruelly taken from him as a child.”

For the first time since what he now calls his second rebirth… Elian felt a pang of guilt. Sure Garrick possessing the original Axel’s body wasn’t his fault in any way.

But still.

After hesitating for a moment, Elian forced himself to stretch a hand to Estella’s face.

She gasped.

Even Kyren and Lucian cut him surprised looks as he beckoned for her to take his hand.

“He’ll get a proper burial,” he managed a smile when those pedicured fingers locked with his. “I promise.”

Estella’s pitiful expression slowly changed to one of pure gratitude.

“Thank you, Elian. Thank you so much. You’re so kind despite what this world has done to you. D–Despite what I did to you.”

Elian withdrew his hand gradually. “I’m not kind.” He deadpanned. “Just feel the need to do what’s right.”

Eventually, Kyren turned off the flames, leaving the wrecked hallway in silence.

.

.

Within a few more minutes news of what happened at the Lunarian palace spread far and wide. News stations from every corner of Evaros shared reports—with the information they were able to gather.

Kyren had to head back briefly to the Dark lands in respect of the now late Farrell.

Lucian and his family immediately began pushing out plans to rebuild the palace. Aurora of course was super glad that nothing happened to Elian.

Or rather that he was alive.

It was safe to say they were past one part of her vision.

As for Elian… he stayed in his bedroom for the rest of the day. Dying and piecing yourself back to life sure was exhausting.

Plus now he couldn’t help but ponder on one question:

What’s the best way to break the news of his pregnancy to everyone?