Ash and I made our way to the dungeons, I sent a group of Trax to ride out to dragons mountain to gather Gregory and my team. Maybe they weren't trained but sometimes unethical works. "Are you sure you are well enough to talk to him?" Ash asked stopping me at the end of the staircase.

I looked up into his worried eyes, I could tell there was something he wanted to say but we didn't have the time. "The poison still lingers but I'm well..." I stumbled a bit and he noticed. "Dont worry, what we need to do is see what we can get out of Gregory."

"I warn you he might not talk not while Nixin is still fresh in his mind his instincts would be to protect her."

"I'm hoping on that," I said darkly passing him and into the underground tunnels that we used to keep prisoners. Rone was huddled in a corner watching the dripping water from the ceiling.

"If you've come here to make me betray Nixin you are waisting your breath," his voice was raspy he wouldn't even look at me.

Nixin on the other end started laughing, "Orion will die and his blood will be on your hands all cause you won't stand down."

"What you don't understand is I can and I will risk one life for the rest of my people. For all the snooping you've done on me you should know that."

"You're lying," she hissed, "You would never let Orion die... you couldnt."

"My soul purpose is to protect my people and by handing you back to the dark witches I'd killing us all and once again our world will die. Berella will find Orion and when she does she will cut off Scarlets head and put it on a platter for your witches," she didnt say anything. "What if I was to get into his mind?" I asked Ash.

"He'll fight it... maybe even kill himself before you could find anything out. He's too weak the fever wont break for a few days maybe even weeks." I looked down at Rone and my heart crumbled. Seeing him so gone and unlike himself was almost scary. There was no sign of the man I knew and loved, he was tortured for months with that sea serpent and I never knew. We had promised each other before I left to dragons mountain that no matter what we would protect each other, we wouldn't stray. I was always worried he would hurt me somehow but he didn't, I failed him.

Running out of ideas I stormed over to Nixin who was brushing her stomach softly, "Well I'm not telling you anything," she scuffed.

I stared at her stomach listening to the faint beats of the babies heartbeat, "How much do you really care for that child in your whom?" I eyed her as her eyes began to widen with fear, "Would you sacrifice its life for your King?"

"You wouldn't dare.... your hearts not that cold."

"I wouldn't be doing anything... you think a newborn child is going to survive an all out war without it's mother?"I said harshly trying to manipulate her. "I might not let you out of here for the duty I have for my people to save Orion but I never said I wouldn't do anything it took to save his life."

Ash grabbed my arm roughly, "You can't be serious!" He hissed in my face, "Killing a child is something you will never come back from!"

"I didn't say I would kill it," I said one last time shrugging out of his grip. For the first time I seen a look of shame on his face, pure disgust.

"Its just the same, think about what you are saying. This isn't you... This isn't the woman I was falling in love with. You would never have wanted a child to grow without a family."

I shook my head looking at Nixin because if I looked at Ash right now I'd break. "This has been me all along, you just never had to see it. From the moment I was born I was created to be just like the lives before me... ruthless." Before Ash could reach for me I commanded his body to stay in place. I looked him in they eyes as panic washed over him, "I'm sorry."

I turned back to Nixin who was on her knees praying in foreign words and just before I opened her cage she screamed, "Ill tell you!" I let out a breathe I didnt even think I was holding. Nixin looked up to me tears of blood staining her face, "But you have to protect me," she pleaded. "If Marvis come back he will have my head and my babies before she will even take her first breathe."

"I will protect you and your baby with my life, I swear it," I promised. We didnt have much time till the sun would rise.

"Scarlet is at your old hut," she said in defeat. Before I could run off she yelled out, "Just because you stopped me doesnt mean you stopped the war! Meredith will bring the king back!"

I didn't have time to ask what she meant as I started ordering guards to watch the cells, Ash and I took off.

"You were bluffing weren't you," Ash asked grabbing my hand to make me stop at the palace doors.

I tried to break out of his grasp but he held on firmly, "We dont have time for this!"

"Yes we do," he growled. My mind was scrambled and I didnt know exactly what I was capable of but I knew I couldnt stand another second of Ash looking at me as if I was a monster.

"I would've done the same for you, for Simon, Noah it was my only choice."

He shook his head in disbelief, "Berella was right you do have a choice and you made yours."

"A decision had to be made and maybe it wasnt a pretty one but will you come back to reality? This is war and someone has to make the sacrifice."

"But at what price?"

"You dont have to like the decisions I make but I will not stand here another second and explain myself to you. You dont think I know what I'm capable of? I saved Orion and that's all that matters to me so you are either going to help me get him or you are going to stay out of my way." He finally let go of me and looked away. "What happened to protecting Valkri at all costs? You were the one who told me I didnt have the luxury to wait on hope, that I would always have to make choices people will despise me for. You were right, the entire time about me."

I wouldn't blame him if he didnt follow but I wasn't shocked when he did. I might have lost the last person on my side and maybe I did have a choice, to Ash the choice I made was unforgivable. I couldnt have a soul anymore not after this. I'm no innocent and I never will be this is who I was all along. "I was wrong," he said trying to reach for me but I jerked away, "And now I'm too late."

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