Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 818: Procession ()

The procession tasked with committing Keila to the punishment chamber was minimal. It consisted of Lords Conrad and Lady Fiona of the City guard. Imagor and Kaliana were also present, though they stood off to the side and did not accompany the procession.

The usual formality of blindfolding the condemned had been done away with. It wasn’t necessary when Keila knew the ins and outs of the academy better than most riders did.

Unlike Neveah, she had undergone the required years of study in the academy and had long concluded rider training.

It was ironic that she was now to be condemned in the very halls she had first learnt the ways of dragon riding.

At one point or the other, she must have also guided a condemned down to the punishment chamber.

The procession kept a slow pace. She wasn’t bound or shoved. It was the last gesture of respect she didn’t even deserve.

But Neveah understood this wasn’t about Keila. It was an unspoken tribute to Lodenworth’s honor.

Even if she had stepped all over it.

There was the likelihood the two would never meet again. No one could tell when or if Lodenworth would ever return to Dragon Keep.

And no one could say for certain Keila would survive magic flaying. Not many did.

She must have sensed Neveah’s presence because she glanced up, straight at her. Their eyes met and she stopped walking.

Neveah stared back into pure emptiness. No regrets, no remorse. Just a blank look. She hadn’t expected otherwise.

But the subtle clench in Keila’s fists to hide her trembling hands didn’t escape Neveah’s notice.

Knowing one had made the wrong choices was one thing, admitting to it was a whole different thing entirely.

Keila, she had never been convicted of wrongdoing in her lifetime. She had received too many passes due to her status, from Fae Princess to Lady of the City guard. She had never known a day of insignificance.

She didn’t know what it was like to fear death and still wish desperately for it. To be punished simply for existing.

Neveah didn’t look away. She was certain her own eyes mirrored the same thing in Keila’s. Emptiness... looking at her, seeing her like this, Neveah felt nothing.

The disparity between now and the moment in the volcano was striking. A year ago, if someone had told Neveah she would feel her heart ripping out at Adrienne’s death, but feel cold and hollow watching Keila marched to her end, she may have found it difficult to believe.

It was bittersweet. She didn’t favor either of the Fae Princesses, but only one of them deserved the end she was getting.

For a long beat, there was only the silence of the moment and the chill of the wind.

Then, the procession resumed.

"Come, we should head back to the Keep." Jian nudged Neveah out of her thoughts.

She nodded and followed his lead.

The flight back to the keep was brief and silent. Neveah was lost in her own thoughts and though she sensed Jian’s presence in her mind, skimming through her thoughts, he didn’t say anything. She didn’t block him out either.

It didn’t feel like he was prying. More like he wanted her to know he was there.

When they landed at the second level, Rodrick was waiting for them.

But he wasn’t alone. He had his hands full, literally. Trying to keep a hyper Zephyroth from running across the platform and getting crushed by Jian.

Neveah dismounted. A grin stretched her lips as Zephyroth darted over with blinding speed. She leaned down and picked him up, laughing at his excitement.

Zephyroth’s energetic presence banished the gloom with little effort. She had nearly lost her head twice for the little dragon but that didn’t make his excitement any less infectious.

"It hasn’t been that long. Did you grow taller?" She teased.

He shrugged, grinning from ear to ear. And then he stopped shifting about, his gaze fixed behind Neveah.

Neveah turned with him in her arms, gesturing with her head to Jian who just stared at the child in silence.

It was his first time seeing Zephyroth’s human form. He had left for the forlorn realm while Zephyroth still couldn’t figure out how to shift.

"I see you’re all round a dragon shifter already." Jian commended, a rare smile on his lips.

He reached out, ruffling Zephyroth’s hair which made the child giggle loudly. Jian’s eyes shifted to Neveah and she didn’t miss the flash of something tender in his eyes.

Zephyroth interrupted the moment, leaping from Neveah’s arms to Jian’s. Neveah rolled her eyes at the ease with which she was abandoned.

Jian easily caught the child and they headed into the Keep. Zephyroth murmured into Jian’s ears the whole way like he had a secret report he had been waiting to share.

Neveah suspected she was being discussed, but she didn’t interrupt. The sight warmed her heart.

"Come Rodrick, I’m prepared to face your nagging." Jian called.

Rodrick inclined his head in greeting. "Your Grace."

Neveah nodded. "Go on. Don’t keep him waiting."

Rodrick offered a small smile before he followed after the two.

As they disappeared down the hallway, Neveah turned, unsurprised to find Xenon standing a few paces to the edge of the platform.

She had already guessed Jian had left her behind for a reason. They were sneaky like that.

"Love." Xenon began, "You’re avoiding me."

"I’m not." Neveah murmured.

"You haven’t seen me all day." He pointed out.

She hadn’t intended to.

Last night brought a surge of unwanted memories and afterwards, she had been too busy arching beneath Xenon’s feral loving, she hadn’t even processed it properly.

And the day had gone by in a rush.

"You’ve been on my mind." She admitted. "I just..."

Xenon smiled slightly. "I like being on your mind."

He closed the distance between them, standing just a few inches away. Close enough she could feel his warmth, and just how the air seemed to tighten between them.

"But that’s not enough. It won’t ever be enough." His tone was raw, voice barely above a whisper. "I couldn’t think straight all day. I practically dragged Jian out of the throne room to go find you because if I do it myself, I might do something reckless like take you away again, like last night and I won’t let you get away from me till you forget everything you felt about me that wasn’t good..." He admitted. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"I’m a boorish man. You, me...a cave, and you make this face when you’re angry, it gets me thinking things... I don’t think I can properly explain how irresistible you are to me."

"A whiff of your scent stirs me in unmentionable ways... I did warn you, that once I get a taste of you..."

He ran a hand through his hair, his smile weighed by guilt. "I realise, that’s not the most respectable way of handling things..."

Neveah’s lips twitched.

"But it’s apparent, I might lose my mind if you stay mad at me for one more second." His gaze searched hers, earnest and unguarded. "And I would very much like to keep my mind...in one piece."

They both fell silent for a moment.

"I would like that too." Neveah agreed.