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Chapter Thirty-Six

VICTOR

I stormed into Queen Elowen’s throne room. Unconscious guards littered the path behind me. “Drazen! Kronk!” I bellowed. “Where are they?”

Dirt and grime clung to my tattered clothing.

Fatigue dragged at my every step. I’d exhausted three horses on my headlong dash to Copia.

Eager to reunite with my allies, I hadn’t eaten or slept in two days.

The blossoming energy at my center snapped and snarled.

Newly awakened, it was an irritated toddler lashing out.

Yet another pair of armored soldiers dared to step into my path, swords raised.

I knocked them away with a flick of my fingers.

A bolt of golden magic flung their bodies several feet, slamming them into a wall.

What I’d intended as a shove manifested as a battering ram.

No matter. A battering ram was perfect for what I had planned.

The queen sat on her throne at the base of her sacred arbor. At my unruly entrance, she arched a brow. “Is all this violence truly necessary? ”

I offered her the respect of a jerky bow. “Apologies, your highness, but I’ve no time for pleasantries.” And for once, little self-control. “Idris has Runa.”

“Yes, I know.” She sighed, her calm demeanor out of place for such dire circumstances.

“You know?” I said with a flash of fangs. “Then where are Kronk and Drazen? We need to retrieve her.”

“You’re too late.” She folded her hands in her lap. Her composure resembled my own, back in the mortal world. How annoying I must have been.

“Late?”

“You’ve been gone for several spans.”

“Hardly,” I said. “Idris captured Runa just yesterday.”

“Time passes differently in the Empyrean temple. When Drazen and Kronk learned of the attack and discovered Runa’s capture, they left immediately. Together, they made a plan to sneak into Slyborn Castle to rescue their sister, believing you’d abandoned her and struck out on your own.”

An assumption I could hardly blame them for.

“And?” I prompted, perched on a razor’s edge.

“They failed, of course,” she huffed.

“Those two never did function well without their sister’s leadership.” Idiots. “And what have you heard about Runa?”

“My spies tell me Idris made her his consort.”

Red coated my vision. A high-pitched siren squealed in my ears.

Idris had my mate. Had he touched her? Bent her to his will? Force her into his bed? If he’d laid even a finger on her, I’d cut him apart with a dull knife. Feed his diseased flesh to his duskcats while he watched.

Elowen’s voice penetrated the crimson haze in my mind.

“He keeps her brothers chained in his dungeon to use as leverage. We both know she’d do anything to protect them. With Runa’s cooperation, Idris is drawing more magic from Carcerem than ever before. By my estimation, the sacred arbor won’t survive another turn.”

“And Thorne?” I asked through gritted teeth. There had to be someone left to help me rescue her.

Elowen adjusted the delicate folds of her gown. “He and his dragon departed shortly after you did. His beast was weakened by captivity. The two retired into some dark cave where the creature could rest in safety.”

Although none of my former teammates were available, I still had options.

“Very well. I’ll need to borrow a thousand of your best soldiers. Tell them we ride at dawn.”

The queen scoffed, screwing up her ethereal face. “You misunderstand my role in this situation. While I may have assisted you with your escape from the games, that is as much as I can intervene. Under no circumstances will I start a war with Carcerem.”

My power swelled with my frustration, expanding inside my chest. Sparks snapped against my fingertips. “You’re not serious.”

“Quite serious,” she said, expression hardening.

“I can give you the gift of my wisdom to help you formulate a plan. Along with a place to rest. But that is all. The reason Copia has thrived all these years while others failed is our desire to stay within our own borders and out of others’ business. ”

“Not even if your assistance would grant you untold favor with the new king of Carcerem?”

She smirked. “You’ve seen Copia. I’ve no need of your favor.”

I gritted my teeth. “Then what do you propose?”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “What I propose is that Carcerem finally stand and clean up their own mess. The current king will expect subterfuge and deception. You are the lost king, rightful ruler of Carcerem. It’s past time you acted like it.

The power of the gods runs through your veins.

You saw what happened when my soldiers attempted to restrain you.

Idris’s guards won’t be able to touch you. ”

She hammered her small fist onto the arm of her throne. “I say you storm through the front gates, march into the throne room, and challenge Idris directly.”

I stared at her in silence, contemplating my options.

In the mortal realm, I’d often used manipulation, lies, and deceit to achieve my goals.

And look where that had gotten me. “It’s a bold plan and, in a kingdom filled with criminals, unexpected.

However, once I’m inside, I’ll require backup.

Some way of keeping Idris’s army occupied while I challenge the false king. ”

The queen grew contemplative. “While fearful, the citizens of Carcerem have been waiting for this moment for ages. Even those who didn’t initially join the rebellion may rally behind the lost king.

Some of the most prosperous kingdoms are those that have the love and respect of their civilians.

Without them, there is no kingdom. Go to your people.

Give them hope, give them strength, and they’ll support you in return. ”

I nodded my agreement. “Inspire the people, storm the gates, destroy the king, rescue Runa. Easy.” I was most definitely going to die. Hopefully, not until after Runa was free.

The queen held up her hand. “There is one thing you need to know before you go.”

Of course there was. There was always a catch.

“You must not, for any reason, damage Carcerem’s sacred arbor.

Damage the tree, and you’ll destroy the kingdom.

Idris claimed the throne through unnatural means.

Queen Raelynn is deeply embedded in the marrow of the tree.

She is like a duskcat who has stabbed her claws in too deep.

Rip her away, and she’ll take a chunk of flesh with her.

You must kill Idris first. Once you’ve claimed the throne, then you can use your divine gifts and rightful connection to the realm to carefully extract the queen. ”

Despite Raelynn’s many crimes against the kingdom, I’d no desire to be the one to kill Runa’s sister. Killing Idris first wouldn’t be a problem. The queen, I would leave for her sister to deal with.

I turned to Queen Elowen. “I understand your refusal to lend me an army, but I do have one request.”

“What is that?”

“Your fastest ship, finest horse, and clothing suited to a king.”

She bowed her head. “That, I can do.”