Chapter 218: I Am Sorry
"Orion, step away from my wife, and I’ll let you live," Rafael spat out angrily, shooting Orion a look full of vitriol. His bloody sword was hovering in the air, like an arrow notched on a bow string, ready to fly on command.
"No," Orion replied evenly, planting himself even more firmly in front of Soleia. "You’re not a good man. I’m taking Soleia away from you for good."
"Taking her? Don’t be preposterous!" Rafael scoffed at the audacity of his old friend before meeting Soleia’s eyes from behind Orion’s shoulder. "Darling, Soleia, tell me― is Orion hoodwinked by yet another amethyst user? What nonsense is he spewing out?"
"He doesn’t seem to be enchanted," Soleia said, and she purposely made her voice sound calm and even. "And he’s not our enemy. You should be thanking him for saving me. If Orion had not come for me, the prisoners would have ripped me apart from limb to limb before you arrived!"
"The prisoners?" Rafael’s face paled as he registered Soleia’s words. "How? You went down alone?"
Orion used the moment of distraction and struck at Rafael, the sharp blade cutting through the fabric of his leather vest, nicking the skin on his arm, drawing blood.
Rafael let out a low growl and immediately began to transform the blood sword into a whip, striking Orion’s head. Orion ducked, revealing Soleia’s defenseless form. Soleia’s eyes widened as she saw a blood-red stripe right before her face. Instinctively, she raised her hands in panic, catching the blow with her bare hands.
Almost immediately, Rafael drew his powers back. But it was not before her earrings glowed a bright powdery silver. Soleia’s heart raced as she felt Rafael’s ability settle inside her. Her knees grew shaky as she sank to the floor.
Rafael was effectively, temporarily, powerless. She would not have a better opportunity to escape than now. He was rushing towards her, kneeling down on the ground with panic and unconcealed worry in his eyes.