Everyone has something they live for. Love. Power. Honor. And what I live for-I have sacrificed more than any person can imagine. I’ve killed for it. Granted, they were all guilty, but the blood on my hands cares not for who it is I kill.

So why would I believe him when he tells me it was all a lie?

“The gods chose me” I say. My hand rest on the hilt of my dagger, and the other grips the mans bloodied face.

Greysons smug look makes this easy. No guilt or pity lingers for someone who can’t give me simple answers to my questions. “No. That is a lie. I told you-“ I tighten my grip clamping his mouth shut.

“I told you to tell me where the king of night is hiding!”

“That will do you no good.”

“It would very much do me good, so if you could just tell me, I might let you walk out alive.”

His tense chuckle grants no amusement from me, but that was never his intention.

“No, it wouldn’t. Because unlike your precious kingdom has told you, you are not the chosen one. And killing the king of night will not bring the sun back.”

“Liar.”

His eyes narrow, rage barley visible. “I am many things” he pauses, considering his next words carefully. “But I am certainly not a liar.”

As much as part of me acknowledges his words, I push it deep deep down in a hole where the thoughts will never resurface. Because if I accept his truth, that means I’m not the chosen one. Killing the king of night won’t bring back the light to my kingdom. And the royals lied to me. So he must be lying.

I don’t know for how long I’ve gone quiet, because the smug look is back on his face.

“Aria” Greyson says, tone remote and unreadable. “Have you ever stopped to think why they chose you to kill the king of night. Have you ever stopped to wonder why the king of light can’t just bring the day back.”

Greysons earlier words play back in my mind. ‘You are not the chosen one. They are using you to kill the king of night, because your the only alive descendent who is capable of doing so. You are his daughter, Aria.’

“The king of night didn’t curse your kingdom with darkness. The king of sun did. He used you-“

“Stop it.”

“He cursed his own kingdom just so he can get back at the king of night-

“Shut up!”

“Your own father! They made you believe you were the chosen one-

“I said shut up!”

“And trained you and tortured you until you became broken enough to follow his orders-“

I don’t realize when my hands dart to his throat and begin squeezing. A low strangling noise escapes his lips, but there’s no protest. He’s testing me. This bastard will fight me to his death.

And normally I would kill him. He’s just the night kings soldier who’s trying to get in my head. But my gut is telling me he’s not wrong. The curse only came once the king of night stole the king of days lover. The tales of the stolen daughter of night begun twenty years ago. What better punishment than having his own daughter be the cause of his death. And my eyes. They glow purple, just like his.

My hand drop, and I instantly regret it once I look up at his face.

“I’m not the chosen one.”

“No” he breaths out, face still purple. “Your much more than that.”