Page 6

Durin

The stoic elf looks down at the handsome youngling in my arms. Elves are exceedingly difficult to read. But since he didn’t have a smart-ass comment about me using his name, I think he might be honored. Or, at the very least, amused.

“Remove his glamour,” he orders.

It’s not the response I’d expected. It’s pointless to question an elf, though. I remove the glamour and watch him study my son’s peaceful face.

“He’s yours,” Vaegon says, lifting his eyes to Rue and me. “Joy and light to you both.”

I grin and look over at Rue, who’s been staring up at him in shock.

“Thank you,” she whispers, reaching for our son without looking away. I hand him over and kiss the top of his head before returning the glamour.

“Why are you here?” Vaegon asks, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I’m not entirely sure,” I admit, sliding my arm around Rue’s shoulders. “Rue was taken by an oppressive Alpha she’d previously fled from. I rescued her, and then the dryads led us here.”

“Were you able to exact your revenge?” he asks.

I’ve been so consumed with my plan against the queen that it takes me a moment to realize he’s referring to Mitah.

“Indeed,” I say, standing a bit taller. “Thank you for your help. I’m on a new mission now to take down the queen.”

“I see,” he says, eyeing the crest on my cloak. “From within, I take it.”

I nod. “The kelpies seem on board to help. They’ve granted me passage through their territories. I hope to persuade them to fight once I have a more concrete plan.”

I quickly fill him in on the shifters working to thin out the nobility, those inside the castle whom I count as allies, and the queen’s odd obsession with the mixed fae and change of seasons. I’m not sure whether he’s impressed or skeptical. I decide to share my most significant asset, something I’ve kept close to my chest until now. Hopefully, it will pique his interest if nothing else has.

“The queen shared some of her power with me.”

That pulls a reaction out of him, a slight widening of the eyes that only lasts a second. “Why would she do that?” he asks.

“She discovered that I can nurture magic, something even I didn’t realize,” I say, glancing at an equally surprised Rue. “I think she’s trying to grow her own magic in me, much like she’s been storing her magic in the mixed fae.”

“Her magic is failing,” Vaegon says, looking over my shoulder.

“Or running out,” I suggest. I turn my head to see what he might be looking at, but there’s nothing there.

“That’s wonderful,” Rue gasps, pulling my attention back around. “That will help you defeat her.” Her eyes shine so bright that even an elf should be touched by her hope.

But this one isn’t. “If you intend to ask us to fight alongside you, we will not,” he states, causing Rue’s face to fall.

I turn and shoot him an irritated look. “I have no intention of asking you to go against what you believe. I didn’t even mean to show up here today.”

“Why would the dryads lead us here?” Rue asks quietly. She sways back and forth, looking down at our pup instead of the elf who just crushed her spirit.

Her question is valid. The dryads had to know the elves wouldn’t fight. How is this conversation helping anything?

I decide to ask Vaegon to direct us somewhere safe instead of wasting more of our time. Before I can do that, there’s a noticeable shift in the air.

It’s thinner. I feel less weighed down. It’s also warmer, easing the tightness in my lungs from the cold, dry air.

I clamp my eyes shut when a sudden piercing light replaces the forest around us. When I open them again, we’re standing on the bank of a broad, crystalline pond in the center of a wide clearing. The water is so clear I can see every creature and plant thriving beneath the surface. Elves wade in the water as if it’s the middle of the Radiant Season again.

I hold Rue close and spin around to scan the rest of our surroundings. I think we’re still in Faerie, but it looks so foreign. Lush grass replaces the crunchy, dead leaves and gnarled roots that were beneath our feet. Unfamiliar plants peek out from a forest of tall, uniform trees surrounding the clearing on all sides. Elves stroll gracefully across the grass in their simple robes or tunics.

They all look like Vaegon with pale skin and hair and dark, piercing eyes. Some chat quietly in small groups, while others sit alone and enjoy the warm sunshine.

“Wow,” Rue breathes. She gently bounces the pup in her arms as she takes everything in. “It’s beautiful here.”

“Come. We must see the Hendama,” Vaegon says as he turns and heads toward the forest.

I have no idea what that means, but we don’t have much of a choice. I hold Rue close to my side as we cross the clearing and follow him into the trees.

There are no huts or tents that I can see, making me wonder where the elves sleep. Do they sleep? Elves didn’t always hide. The smaller villages like mine tend to hold onto old ways, passing stories down to each new generation. I know that Elves once sold their spells and fine linens at the markets. My mother has a very old pair of gloves made by elves that were handed down to her.

Rue and I are getting a glimpse into their hidden world. I have no idea what to expect, but I know that I’m incredibly lucky to be here.

After a few minutes, a lone elf comes into view, sitting on a thick patch of red moss. She stares intently at us as we approach, almost as if she’s been expecting us.

“Hendama,” Vaegon says, closing his eyes and bowing slightly. “The visitors… as you requested.”

His behavior tells me she’s some kind of leader. Or, at least, superior to him. And I suspect she was communicating with him somehow before he allowed us to enter their territory.

As soon as Vaegon steps aside, the Hendama extends her hand to Rue. “Come, sit,” she says.

Rue carefully lowers herself to the ground across from her. I step forward to join her, but the elf holds up a hand to stop me.

“Not you,” she says firmly. “The little one has a great purpose ahead of him. You, however, have much to do right now. Go.”

My stomach lurches as if I’ve fallen from a great height. Shapes and colors blur around me like I’m caught in a whirlpool. I feel like I’m drowning. But after a few seconds, it all stops, and I find myself back in my room at the castle.

The weight of the cold castle air amplifies my panic, forcing me to my knees. I’ve been separated from Rue and Vaegon again, in the place I hate most in the entire realm. There’s no life here. Finding a breath within these walls is a mission in itself, every single time.

My instinct is to flee the castle, rush back into the forest to find them. It would do me no good, though. The entrance to elven territory isn’t a physical place. No one can find it. I’d end up wandering in circles, setting fire to everything that I came into contact with.

I need to calm myself down. Blocking out the panic, I stomp over to the table near my bed. After pouring myself a glass of water, I take a moment to run through what I know.

Elves are not violent. They won’t hurt Rue or Vaegon. Especially since the dryads were the ones to lead them there. The Hendama said Vaegon has a great purpose in store for him. She must be some kind of seer. It’s the only magic I know of that involves knowledge of the future. If that’s indeed what she is, she probably knows what she’s doing.

That doesn’t make me any happier about being separated from Rue again, though. My chest aches as each labored breath is stolen away by my panic and longing. What exactly am I supposed to be doing here? Suffering alone in my room doesn’t seem very productive.

My stomach pinches and lets out a long growl. I realize I haven’t eaten since before the celebration last night. Eating is always a good distraction. I suppose I can do that while working out why the seer sent me here. I leave my room in search of food. It’s still early in the day for most of the nobles to be awake, so I eat in the dining hall instead of sending for the servants.

I have my fill while wondering what I’m supposed to do first. Meeting some of the shifter leaders face to face seems like a good place to start. They’re known for being fiercely aggressive as well as relentless hunters. I think they’re also the most likely species to be willing to help me fight. Hopefully, I’ve done enough to prove my intentions to them so far.

When I’ve finished my meal, I head toward the main entrance of the castle. Before I can reach the castle doors, though, the last voice I want to hear calls out to me.

I groan internally and try to keep my scowl to myself. I’d hoped not to see much of the wretched monster again for a while. Maybe once I get whatever this is over with, that can happen.

After a deep breath, I hurry over to meet her. I take a knee and look down at the cold stone floor.

“My queen,” I say, shielding my mind from the fresh memories of her bed.

“Stand,” she seethes, her voice dripping with barely contained rage.

My heart stops. All the heat in my body rushes to my skin.

I’ve angered her somehow. What changed? Just last night, she was sighing contentedly, quite pleased with me. I glance up at her expression for any hint of what’s going on.

She’s glaring at me with death in her eyes and lips twisted in disgust. “Did you happen to fuck a shifter after becoming my consort?” she snaps.

My blood turns cold. My heart begins to pound dangerously fast. The instincts to flee or to attack her wage a war on my own body.

I force the storm of my magic back down. This isn’t the time to stand against her. But I can’t lie to her, either. Her question is straightforward this time.

“Yes,” I admit, bracing myself for her anger.

Her silence is far more threatening than if she were to strike out at me. It stretches on while I envision the punishments she might have in mind for me.

How the fuck did she find out about Rue? Why would the seer send me back for this?

I hear footsteps approaching from another corridor, so I decide to explain myself before her anger has time to boil over. I don’t need any nobles witnessing this.

“It was right after you named me as consort,” I tell her, much steadier than I feel. “I was on my way to find the telekinetic for you when I stumbled upon an Omega in heat.”

“You knew my rule, yet you chose to fuck her anyway?” she hisses. “And a filthy shifter, no less?” Her bony fingers clench and unclench into fists by her sides.

“Her pleas were impossible to ignore,” I say, lowering my head to feign remorse.

Playing the reckless, lustful noble is my only chance out of this.

“I was new to my role, my queen. I didn’t anticipate having to…” I pause, trying to find the least offensive words for it.

“Having to resist such an enticing opportunity,” she finishes with an annoyed sigh.

Her calmer reaction fills me with hope for getting out of this alive. I nod my head sheepishly like a scolded youngling.

“You were weak,” she snaps, her old voice cracking in her anger. “Far from the powerful fae I was first drawn to.”

“Yes. I was weak, my queen. But I haven’t taken another since. Only you.”

I could never have imagined being grateful for ruining my time with Rue in the cave. The queen knows I can’t lie. Maybe the fact that I’ve been faithful since then will help me win back some of her favor.

After considering my words, her glare loses its edge. I don’t fully trust it, though. Her pride is too strong to let my slight against her slide. I might be safe from immediate death, but I know it’s only because of how valuable my magic is to her.

“Good. See it remains that way,” she says, feigning indifference.

With a dismissive flick of her wrist, she commands me to rise. I stand and clasp my hands in front of me, keeping my eyes on the floor.

“I’ve been trying for a spawn for many years now,” she says offhandedly.

This is no trivial revelation. It’s a crucial thread in the tapestry I’ve been struggling to create. My mind immediately begins weaving it in to see how it looks in the bigger picture.

During my lifetime, she’s celebrated the naming of many consorts, each one quickly replaced after only a short time. Then there’s the fact that she mates only at the turn of the seasons. And that’s only after communing with Faerie and visiting the mixed fae to replenish her power.

Maybe she thinks that more power means increased fertility. That would explain why she suddenly chose a powerful noble over a simple pretty face. It’s not just my magic-nurturing ability that caught her attention. She must believe a more powerful fae could provide her the heir her weaker consorts couldn’t.

But two major questions remain: Why does she want an heir so badly, and why is she admitting this to me?

“I want your spawn,” she says flatly, watching closely for my reaction. “The one you created with the shifter.”

I maintain a neutral expression, but inside, my magic churns, threatening to burst and consume me in my own flames.

Why did I assume she only knew about the heat?

My bloodlust and magic fight to break free. My arms ache as I try to keep the fire from bursting out of my fingertips. The bloodlust begs me to rip out the queen’s organs and mount them to the walls of my bedroom. I hold them both back with every ounce of strength I have. Not even a spark can be allowed to escape. She can’t know how deeply I care for the pup she’s trying to take from me.

Either she’s testing my loyalty, or she wants Vaegon for my magic. With only one fae parent, he can only inherit the kind that I have. It would benefit her greatly to have two fae who can grow more magic for her.

I have a feeling it may be for both reasons.

I’m dying to know how she found out about Rue. But I don’t dare ask. My only option is to feign indifference and seem willing to comply.

“Understood, my queen,” I say, hoping she doesn’t push for a more revealing response. I will never hand Vaegon over to her, so I can’t honestly agree to her commands.

“Bring it to me, and kill the Omega. She has fulfilled her duty to the realm. She’s no longer needed. Do these things, and perhaps I will forgive you for your weakness.”

“Thank you for your mercy, my queen,” I say, bowing low to hide the terror and revulsion on my face.

Kill Rue? Give Vaegon to this monster?

That’s why the seer sent me here. I needed to know that the queen had found out. To speed things up while she thinks she still has a grip on me. This was the catalyst I needed to move forward with my plan. The seer knew that the time had come.

I won’t return to the castle after today. I’ll warn the empath and handler what’s happened. Then, I’ll begin gathering everyone I can convince to join me in battle.

But first, I need to see Rue. If the dryads will help me find her, that is. I’ll spend as long as it takes to prove how deeply I love her and how desperately I want to be with her. Only then will I be prepared to move forward.