Chapter 16: We must burn his body

Lyra's POV

I had no idea how long I stayed on the ground with Caelan's cold body in my arms.

But I didn't move, not until the warriors came and pulled him away.

“No. Wait!” I scrambled to my feet.

It was strange how attached I was to a man I should have seen as a monster. It was even stranger that I felt such intense emotions for him despite the fact that we haven't spent a lot of time with each other.

There was something that simmered between us.

Something that I was yet to figure out, and from the looks of it I may never figure out.

I grabbed a hold of one of the warriors who took Caelan.

“What are you doing?” I asked “where are you taking him to?”

He pulled his arm away from me.

I noticed something strange.

This warrior was clean, too clean.

It didn't look like he had been in the war just now.

“The King is dead, tradition demands we must burn his body.” He said.

“No!”

A low growl had me spinning back quickly and I felt my bones ache from the anger that rose in me.

I saw Thorne. He was just as clean as the warrior behind me. Thorne looked at Caelan’s body.

“Don’t burn it.” He commanded.

I stared at Thorne in disbelief. How could he show his face after what he did?

“You.” I spat out.

Thorne scoffed and closed the space between us. “You always seem to spew disaster wherever you go. Don't you? Lyra.”

“Traitor.” I cursed.

Thorne shook his head. “I did what I did to protect the king.” He looked past me, to the warrior who had Caelan in his arms. “But somehow you managed to kill him.”

My eyes widened. “I didn't kill him. You did.”

“This is all your fault.” Thorne roared.

He pointed out at the crowd around us. “Everyone has seen you for who you are. It has been your plan all along, to kill Caelan and destroy the pack.”

I was amused at how he easily spun these lies to deceive others.

I raised my head “I have no blame in this.”

Thorne laughed and turned to the crowd. “You saw it didn't you, the fire she summoned. She is a demon. The worst of all kinds. She will destroy us.”

Whispers grew among the crowd.

There were looks of fear that became bolder in their gaze. I took a step back.

Of course. They had seen a part of me I never even knew existed.

I was still in shock over what I became, but I refused to accept it—just yet.

But it seemed it wasn't something I could avoid.

They all saw it.

“If only Caelan hadn't fallen for your tricks, he would have still been alive.”

“You opened the gates” I whispered, tears gathered in my eyes. “You betrayed your king. You killed him”

“No.” Thorne balled his fist. “You killed him”

Unable to bear the grief that kept growing in me coupled with the harsh gaze of the crowd, I backed away

“Where do you think you are going?” Thorne scoffed. “Seize her.” He commanded.

Immediately, I was grabbed and chained.

The guards led me away from the war ground.

After a long time of walking. I was thrown into a dungeon and Caelan’s body was laid down next to me.

My blood boiled in anger when Thorne showed up.

“Let me go.” I hissed.

“You need to pay for your crimes.” He smirked and walked away.

All alone with Caelan’s body beside me, I cried.

It was a long moment before I finally gave in to the fatigue that enveloped me, and I fell into a deep sleep.

I saw him, Caelan.

It was strange seeing him in my dreams.

He had his back turned to me, walking into a darkness beyond. Where I stood was shrouded in a light so bright it was a brilliant contrast of the darkness.

“Caelan” I called out.

He didn't stop.

Desperate to save him from the abyss, I ran after him. Just as I reached out to touch him, I woke up with a loud gasp.

Breathing heavily, it took me a while to adjust to my environment.

I groaned and turned to look at Caelan’s limp body. I frowned.

Something was strange.

He wasn't as pale looking as he was when his body went cold.

I reached out, feeling his skin.

It was warm. My eyes widened.

Just then, a voice called out from the darkness.

“Lyra?” Startled, I jumped, forgetting all about Caelan’s body warmth.

I scrambled to the wall, just as a figure emerged from the shadows.

“Finn” I frowned in confusion.

“Lyra” he called out again. There was a desperation in his voice that I heard clearly.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. I looked at the gate. “How did you get in?”

“I have the keys.” Finn replied and added quickly. “You need to leave. Now!”

“Why?” I asked.

“The rogues are furious. They want Thorne to burn you with Caelan’s body. You won't come out of here alive. They think you carry a curse that has befallen us. .” He said.

The blood drained from my face. “What? I didn't do anything wrong. None of this is my fault.”

“I know.” Finn replies. “But they blame you. So you need to save yourself. Now!”

“But Caelan—”

“He is dead Lyra. He's not coming back.”

I knew that, but it was hard to accept. However, I knew I had to save myself.

I scrambled to my feet. Feeling light, I looked down in surprise. I only just noticed that Flinn had removed the chains. That must have been what woke me up.

“Take the back door. I made sure no guards would see you.” Finn added.

“Thank you.” I said softly to him.

The last thing I saw before I fled was Finn nodding at me.

As quick as I could, I fled using the backdoor of the palace that led to a narrow path through the woods. I escaped into the night, not looking back.

The time spent under the shelter Caelan provided had all been a dream, and I was back to a harsh reality.