Page 37

“Now wait just a second,” Cyrus said, sensing that Grayden's temper was rising. “It was essential to our plan.”

“I don't care a fuck about your plan!” Grayden roared, his fist itching to punch someone. “All I care about is my mate!”

Sion placed his hand on Grayden's arm, trying to calm him. “It was her choice, Grayden.”

Grayden looked like he might strangle Sion or Cyrus, or maybe both of them.

Phillippe came to the other side of Grayden. “Brother, you must stay calm. Let them explain.”

Grayden breathed deeply, trying to regulate his pounding heart and the red-hot rage that threatened to break itself loose. He knew he was being irrational, but the thought of Renya in danger overrode all other considerations.

“You're not catching him at the best time,” Sion said to Cyrus. “He's usually much calmer.”

“He freaks out wherever Renya is concerned,” Selenia added. “You should have seen him when his head advisor accused Renya of witchcraft. You could hear him yell all the way to the Tidal Kingdom.”

Grayden looked at them all helplessly. “I need to get her back.”

Cyrus nodded, his expression softening with understanding. “You will. She's now free of the blood promises she made.”

“Promises?”

Sion looked guilty. “She made another promise to save my life.”

Grayden's jaw clenched and unclenched. He viewed Sion as a brother, and cared for him deeply. The fact that Renya made another blood promise to save his friend both touched him and infuriated him.

“I've broken them both, so she's now free whenever she wants to leave.”

“Then why is she still there?” Grayden asked, his voice still shaking with anger, but he was cooling down slowly.

“She opted to continue to be trained by Cressida. She knew the best chance we have to defeat her would be for Renya to gain her trust, learn her secrets and improve her own magic.”

Grayden instantly knew Cyrus spoke the truth. That was exactly something Renya would do. Sacrifice herself for the people she loved. For the world she now belonged to. Pride and worry warred within him.

“When can I rescue her?”

“Within the next two weeks. She's improved drastically in her magic, and given her cleverness and sweet disposition, I have no doubt she will be able to charm her mother quickly.”

“I've no doubt about that,” Grayden said, sighing deeply.

“So Renya knows? She knows of her heritage?” Selenia asked, watching the interaction, engrossed.

“She does. Cressida told her almost instantly after capturing her. She didn't believe it at first, but once Cyrus confirmed it...” Sion drifted off.

“How did you find out?” Cyrus asked, a slight frown on his face.

Grayden pulled out the locket from his tunic and handed it to Cyrus. Cyrus took it gently, a slightly pained, but sweetly reminiscent look on his face.

“Ahhh, yes. I'd long forgotten about this. There were some good memories, before she became obsessed with the prophecy.”

“The Sun Realm scrolls?” Phillippe asked, crossing his arms across his chest, trying to follow along in the family drama unraveling before his eyes.

“Yes. I take it they were rediscovered after I left for the human realm?”

They all nodded.

“I see. We found them shortly after Renya's birth, here in our libraries.” Cyrus gestured at the lone bookcase.

“That's...hardly a library, let alone libraries,” Selenia said, looking towards the bookcase.