Page 167 of The Chains You Defy

No matter how much I hated leaving my friends behind, I shuddered at the thought of what might occurshould Dion arrive back at the palace and find neither me nor the males there. “So, how will I know where to go?”

“Tomorrow morning, at the start of the eighth hour, a servant will pick you up and escort you to a coach. Someone familiar will be there for your protection and to accompany you to your destination.”

“Are you sure you can’t tell me more?”

“Yes, Nayana. So remember, eighth hour. You do not have to pack; your luggage is already safely tucked away. Just bring your personal items, no one has touched them.”

Nodding, I propped myself on a chair. “Tonight will be troublesome, right?”

“We’ll do our best to ensure your safety.”

“Thain mentioned he wanted to organize a suitable partner to chaperon me today.”

“Yes, and he tried to. My brother stopped him, though. His argument is sadly a strong one, namely that a courted female cannot be escorted by any male other than her father or a relative. My fingers itch to strangle him for twisting the traditions he despises on any normal day to his advantage.”

“Will I be seated at the commoner’s table again?”

“I do not assume so. Placing you there would undermine Dion, as you are his potential intended, which ironically would enfeeble Galrach himself.”

My stomach was churning. Lately, my anxiety was running in overdrive, but was my panic a surprise in this situation? The palace’s hostile environment, along with everyone around me being stronger, faster, and more beautiful than I was, sapped my defenses. And although I hated to admit as much, that Dion wasn’t near me wasthe opposite of reassuring. So much for being independent and able to stand up for myself.

“Before we came to Galanta, I’d speculated a lot about how Galrach would react to me as Dion’s Amplifier, but I’d never suspected him of showing so much hostility right from the beginning. Isn’t his ultimate weapon being as powerful as possible in his best interest? Especially since Dion can’t attack him, no matter what.”

“Generally speaking, you are completely correct. But you have experienced how my nephew is changing. He is slipping out of Galrach’s control, and the High King is anything but asinine. He is aware of what kind of loose cannon would be unleashed if his heir broke his chains, something my brother simply cannot afford. And then there is a theory I came up with.”

“What theory?”

“I believe Galrach plotted to close the portals between our worlds in the first place, because he did not want any more bindings to form.”

“But why?”

“Because then, gods forbid, Wielder outside his influence could become more potent than himself.”

“And that’s why he waged war on Ivreia and had Amalach obliterated?”

“I strongly presume so. The period after he had declared himself High King was highly volatile. Dion had just started to gain the reputation he has now, and the nobles were not that afraid of him yet, although he had been the driving factor in the violent and bloody unification of Galanta’s countries. With circumstances so uncertain, Galrach simply could not risk one or more powerful Wielder standing up and revolting.”

“But he couldn’t find an Amplifier for himself with the portals unusable.”

“That did not matter to him.”

“Oh? Why? Did he lose one already?”

“Not exactly. He failed the rite.”

My eyes widened as I understood the implications behind Antas’ words. Back when I’d considered whether to agree to the ceremony or not, I’d learned that the Rite of Binding couldn’t be forced, that our divinity would refuse to gift their magic, and that the aggressor could never attempt to bind again or even use any unbound Potential.

Bile climbed up my throat as I pondered what fate must have awaited the poor human in question. Them having survived the fallout of an unsuccessful ceremony was highly unlikely. “Galrach tried to force the binding.”

“Yes, he had searched long for an earth Amplifier with exceptionally deep Potential. But instead of being nice and accommodating, he—well, he acted horrendously.”

“Honestly, I’m not surprised. What happened?”

“Galrach—”

Antas was interrupted by the chimes singing their melody. Without anyone granting permission, the door opened, and with horror, I observed Danartha sauntering in as if she were at home in Dion’s quarters.

She wore a sneer on her face, not unlike the one my mother had always exhibited whenever she’d been unhappy with me. Unveiled hatred emanated from the female, who scowled at me.