Page 39 of Redemption (Deliverance Duet #2)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

J asmine stares at me with wide eyes, fear written across her face. Her hands are bound behind her, and her shoulders are slumped forward in defeat. She doesn’t believe I can, or will, save her despite her silent pleas for help.

How could she think I wouldn’t risk myself for her? Our relationship has always been rocky, but I thought she knew how much I cared for her. Guilt rears its ugly head. How often have I thought of Jasmine and my family since leaving with Alaric? I just assumed they were living out their mundane lives in Brine. They should be safer and happier without me there to cause problems for them. The villagers never liked me, they thought I was strange and treated my whole family differently because of it. I never thought she would get dragged into all of this.

Turning my attention to the male at her side, I feel cold anger consume me. Robert, the mayor’s son, was always kind to me, and at one point, I thought we might end up married. Looking at him now and the self-entitled smirk pulling at his lips, I only feel disgust. My sister is tied up and distressed, and he’s standing beside her without a care in the world. Does it not bother him that she’s being treated this way? Any male who could stand by and watch that happen to a female, especially one he knows, and not step in to help is worse than garbage.

He always seemed quiet and eager to please his father, but little did I know, he was hiding this side of him. I once thought Robert was so handsome, yet compared to the beauty of the fae, he just looks… mundane. That’s not what puts me off though, it’s the selfish soul he carries that makes him ugly.

Feelings of betrayal make my throat tight, suffocating the words I want to scream at him. It is my sister who has been kidnapped and brought here as leverage against me, yet he does nothing . I reel from the deception and choices I’m being forced to make.

“What did they offer you to turn your back on your people?” My accusation is almost a growl, making it perfectly clear that I think he is the worst type of person. There is nothing that would make me betray my people.

The force of my anger seems to take him aback, but he recovers quickly, glancing at the fae king for reassurance. At the king’s nod, Robert grins at me and extends his arm as though calling me forward. “They promised me you.”

Disgusted, I take a small step back, only to bump into Nyx’s chest. His hands come up to rest on my shoulders, both reassuring and silently reminding me to stand strong.

I take my place back at the border’s edge, glaring at Robert. “I am not a commodity to be owned and passed around!” I shout, meaning every single word. Throwing my arms wide, I gesture to the forest around us. “I belong here, with my mates. My human life is over.”

“Now, now,” the king drawls, rolling his eyes at my dramatics. “Let’s not be too hasty. Remember, if you don’t accept this deal, your sister will die.” With a flick of his wrist in her direction, Jasmine jerks in her restraints, her back bowing and knees buckling. I don’t know what he’s doing to her, but I’m terrified she’s going to start gasping for air like the fae he killed only minutes ago. He’s perfectly capable of doing it, so I have no doubt he means his threat.

“Okay, stop!” Panic makes my voice high, my sister’s distressed expression making my decision for me. “Just give me a moment.” I need to get my thoughts straight so I do not just blindly walk into a trap. I also need to manage my mates so they don’t go apocalyptic.

The king raises a brow but nods in acceptance. “Tick-tock, human.”

I’m back to being “human” now. I’m no longer the dangerous Lady Iris who will destroy them all by bringing down the curse. He thinks he’s won and is showing his true feelings. To him, humans are like ants, a small inconvenience but overall not anything worth bothering with. From what I’ve heard, he only works with them when it suits him, and he wouldn’t be upset if we were all wiped out.

Ignoring the slight, I step back from the line and look between my friends and mates. Blaise is staring at me as though I’ve lost my mind, while Ciaran has his arms crossed and brows raised. He can feel my intention, all of my mates can, and his expression makes it clear how he feels about it. Alaric says nothing, and I know Nyx is going to be the one I have to convince.

“If you think I’m going to let you hand yourself over, mate, then you are very wrong,” Nyx intones darkly, his shadows wrapping around him. Several of them even reach out and brush against me, trying to pull me closer and shelter me from the threat. “You are a goddess,” he hisses, angrily jerking his hand towards the Seelie. “They are nothing to you.”

Closing the gap between us, I stand close to him and take his hands in mine, clutching them against my chest. “They have my sister.” I need him to understand this isn’t a choice for me, that she needs me, and I have to act. “It’s my fault she’s in this situation. I have to help her.”

Ciaran is practically vibrating with suppressed energy, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he stares out at the army on his doorstep. “I don’t trust him. He has wanted to wipe us out for decades. He won’t turn down this opportunity to hurt us.”

Queen Sola steps into view, her expression tight with anticipation and annoyance. The army is here because of me, and her people will get hurt in all this if I fail. This is her territory, yet I’m the one making the decisions. Just one more thing for me to feel guilty about.

“We stand with you, Iris. The Unseelie are strong, and we will fight if provoked. There has never been a fight we’ve turned down.” She grins with a little too much enthusiasm, her sharp teeth reminding me exactly who I’m talking to. The Unseelie have been trapped for so long, they would probably relish a fight.

We stand with you . Those words ring through my mind, bolstering me. Whatever I decide, they are ready to face—

“However…” The sharpness in that single word stops me in my tracks. She takes two measured steps, stopping before me. I’m not quite sure what has changed, but the way she holds herself reminds me that she is a powerful fae. “We want this curse broken, Iris.” There is a silent order in her words and the fierceness of a leader. “I won’t stop you from saving your sister, but you are the only key we have, so you better have a plan.”

All her patience is gone, and the order is clear—break the curse, and they will support me ever more, even in a battle. If I hand myself over and cost them their freedom, however, I shall live to regret it. She isn’t outwardly threatening my mates, but I know if it came down to it, they could be collateral in all of this.

A plan forms in the back of my mind, only wisps of an idea that don’t have time to fully grow into a solid strategy, but it’s all I have. I shall deal with issues as they arise, but all I know is that I don’t intend on leaving with the Seelie.

Gritting my teeth, I nod at Sola and roll my shoulders back, ready to face the conflict with my mates. “I am going—”

Nyx growls, the sound so deadly that it sends chills down my spine. He grabs my shoulders, his nails digging into my skin as he stares down at me, anger flaring in those deep, dark eyes. “If you cross that line, you are agreeing to marry that waste of space.” His voice becomes guttural, his shadows briefly blocking everything out as he loses control over them. “Over my dead fucking body, Iris.”

Cocooned in his shadows, he becomes vulnerable, letting me see the truth of his emotions and the weight of his feelings. While I see his jealousy and possessive need to keep me to himself, the emotion that is staring back at me is fear. He’s terrified of losing me, disguising it as anger.

I cup his cheek, smiling as he leans into my touch. “If you think I’m going to just give in and marry that traitor, then you don’t know me at all.”

He stares down at me, searching my face. I don’t know what he’s looking for, and he doesn’t say a word. His grip on my shoulder relaxes, and he releases a long breath, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

The shadows pull back, and I turn to find Blaise hovering at my side. He’s frowning, and our connection lets me feel how unsettled he is.

“Iris, there’s something wrong about all this. Can’t you feel it?” he asks, looking over at the waiting Seelie.

I know exactly what he means. My instincts are warning me that something is afoot. No, it’s more than that. Something is about to happen, but I don’t have a choice, my sister needs me.

My mates groan in unison. Startled, I look between the three of them, taking in their frustration and reluctant acceptance. I open my mouth to question them, but I’m beaten to it as Alaric pinches the bridge of his nose.

“I know that look,” he mutters, and I realise what they are reacting to.

When I made my decision, my determination must have shown on my face. I understand their reaction, but they don’t seem surprised. They know me well enough to understand that I could never just leave her there.

“I need you to trust me.” Although my voice is soft, I hope they can hear how earnest I am. I might be leaving now, but I will return—that is my silent promise to them.

“We trust you, Iris,” Ciaran replies, his voice mirroring mine. “It’s him we don’t trust.”

Closing my eyes, I focus on what I need to do, feeling the comfort of my bonds and pushing down the surge of emotions that threaten to overwhelm me. Power flutters inside me like a butterfly taking flight, and I remind myself who I am—a goddess in human form. I just pray the goddess of nature was right, and I’m not about to make a terrible mistake.

I open my eyes and make my way over to the border. I don’t say goodbye, hug them, or make an emotional display, knowing that will just make it harder. Those gestures also feel so final, as though I’m never returning. This is not the case, and if I tell myself enough times, it might just come true.

Facing the king, I stand tall and clear my throat. “If I agree to come with you, you will allow my sister to return to Brine unharmed.” I’m proud of the fact that I don’t falter or stammer as I lay out my terms. “I will stay away from the Unseelie so the curse cannot be broken. In return, you swear to leave them and my mates alone. You will not attack them.”

The king’s smirk stretches into a full-on grin, making my chest tighten and my heart sink. I have just given him exactly what he wants. The Unseelie protest behind me, their growls and snarls loud and threatening, but no one makes a move towards me.

“Bring my son with you, and I’ll agree.”

Alaric is at my side before his father has even finished speaking, lacing our fingers together tightly. He’s not going to let me do this alone. I didn’t want him to be involved, especially because he’s still injured, but this is a battle I’m not going to win. Sighing quietly, I nod my head once in agreement and step across the territory line.

The evidence of my magical outburst is still standing strong, the thorns gleaming in the sunlight. As we pass them, they seem to grow further, eager to brush up against me. With my free hand, I extend it to touch the plants, instinctively knowing they won’t harm me. Side by side, Alaric and I cross over to the Seelie, a trail of blooming plants in our wake.

We are almost there now, nerves making my stomach twist into knots, and I’m suddenly grateful I have Alaric with me. He will know how to play this better than me. We are several meters out, and before I can react, two guards jump forward and grab the tops of my arms, dragging me away from Alaric. His animalistic roar has me fighting against the fae. Is he okay? What are they doing to him to cause such a noise? I manage to look over my shoulder and see five fae pinning Alaric to the ground. Usually, he would be able to fight his way out, or at least use his magic to get free, but his injury has weakened him.

“Let him go!” I shout, throwing all of my weight against the hold the fae have on me.

Ciaran roars in pure anger, and I turn to see him beating his fists against the invisible barrier of the curse. Other Unseelie are trying to break through, but they are unsuccessful. My heart is in my throat as I catch Nyx and Blaise already sprinting for us.

The king watches all of this with quiet pride. Everything has worked out the way he wanted it. “Attack.”

Eyes wide, I whirl on the king, horrified by what’s happening. “No! You promised they would be safe.”

The Seelie soldiers and humans race forward, their swords and weapons raised high. The Unseelie are sitting ducks, trapped with nowhere to go, and even if I knew how to break the curse, I wouldn’t be able to get to them. My mates, friends, and innocents are going to be killed, and I walked right into his plan and allowed it to happen.

The fae drag me over to the king, kicking out the backs of my legs so I fall to my knees with a grunt. Alaric growls where he’s still pinned to the dirt, thrashing in a useless attempt to get free. The sound of fighting fills the air, and I can’t believe how badly I’ve failed. I am separated from my mates again , the curse is still unbroken, and now there is a battle to eliminate the Unseelie. Two of my mates are fighting for their lives, but I have to trust that they can take care of themselves, otherwise I won’t be able to do what I need to do here. I cannot afford to be distracted.

I’ve never experienced true hatred for anyone before, but I look up at the Seelie king, and it floods through me, washing away any redeeming features. Jasmine is dragged over to his side, Robert following closely behind. Does he not realise that he’s a pawn in all of this? What will happen to Jasmine now? He’s already broken his promise regarding the Unseelie.

“Release my sister. Please.” If I have to beg to keep her safe, then I shall. “She has nothing to do with this.”

“That is where you are wrong, human. By all means though.” He looks at the guard holding my sister. “Untie her.”

Her wrists are released, and she reaches up to remove the gag, taking several deep breaths and pushing her tangled hair back from her face. She looks up at me, and instead of showing fear and confusion or even a little gratitude, she sneers at me.

I’m so confused. The rounded shoulders and frightened eyes are gone. In fact, she seems pretty comfortable around the fae. She should be terrified, but as she straightens and cocks her hip out, I realise something else is happening here. I don’t want to admit it, but surely my own sister wouldn’t trick me…

She walks over to me, a sway in her step, and sneers down at me. “You stupid bitch.”

Jerking back like I’ve been slapped, I shake my head in disbelief. This seems to be the exact reaction she was looking for, as she barks out a laugh and turns to gesture for Robert to join her. Tilting her head to one side, she looks me over from head to toe.

“You always did think you were so special.”

Robert wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her against him. Her smile shifts, and she presses her lips to his, kissing him deeply. It was all part of the trap to make me follow their plan. Jasmine was never in any danger. She was the one who was in a relationship with Robert.

My sister pretended to be a hostage so I would give myself up.

She betrayed me.