Page 33 of The Faebound Trials (Mates and Madness: The Phantom Prince and The Bloodweaver #1)

The first thing I looked for when I entered the room where plenty of Etarans were, was their forearms.

I wanted to see what colors their veins glowed.

Though I was met with disappointment. Because I couldn’t see the Etaran’s veins.

Everyone had their sleeves covering their forearms.

Ellis had seen it, the possibility that we could use bloodweaving on others, but if I couldn’t see their veins, if they were wearing something that covers their forearms, then did it mean it was useless too?

Wouldn’t that feel like such a waste? That I could only use bloodweaving when I could see their blood veins?

“Let them go.” Those were my first words directed to the Lord Prince after gaining back my own thoughts.

How could I let him manipulate me, enchant me?

I didn’t even know what kind of kingdom he ruled.

What kind of prince he was.

I could’ve asked. And I didn’t.

Kell was still unconscious. He was dying.

Ellis gathered Kell as the knights had dropped Kell down the floor.

My stomach rolled in anger.

“How did you know them?” Zethia’s voice echoed in the hall.

I felt Ellis stilled at my side as he looked up to meet the owner of the voice.

Confusion dolled my face as I watched Ellis’s expression.

I saw how his grip on Kell’s shoulders loosened as he watched the Silver-haired Etaran looking down at him.

There was no anger or confusion in Ellis’s face when he looked at Zethia.

And when he slowly turned his head to look at me, understanding lined the edges of his face.

As if he had pieced a puzzle.

Like he had finally arrived at one answer.

I couldn’t understand Ellis’s wide eyes as he stared at me with knowing in his eyes.

But his lips wouldn’t open.

I knew it when people had decided to keep their mouth shut and I was seeing the same with Ellis.

He would never tell me anything even if I pried his mouth open.

Ellis kept moving his head to look at Zethia then back to me.

He kept doing that a few more times.

Then I saw his shoulder slack but his jaw was still tense.

“Speak, who are these men?”

“They’re my friends.” I snapped.

“Friends from the mortal realm? How did they find themselves here?”

I glanced at Ellis and he shook his head.

I didn’t notice how fast Zethia went down to grab me by the face.

The sudden force ripped my attention away from Ellis.

His palms were burning hot and firm against my skin.

Jealousy seeped through Zethia’s eyes, as he forced me to look at him. I saw how he slightly trembled from the overwhelming jealousy ripping out of his chest.

“Look at me. Keep your eyes on me,” he ordered. His voice was harsh and hurt.

How could I, a lowly mortal being, make a pureblood Etaran tremble at the mere sight of me glancing at another man?

How could he let himself carry such emotions for a mortal like me? He had only seen me naked once, and he hadn’t had a taste of me, hadn’t touched me like a lover would. Only stared at me plenty of times, maybe shared a few moments with me.

How could he fall for me for such a short time?

Were those even feelings at all? I don’t understand.

He wasn’t like Asael who had worshiped my body countless times. Asael had begged the heavens as he breathlessly mumbled and chanted my name too many to count.

Asael had fallen for me because we became one body too many times. Asael was attached to me because we were each other’s firsts. We were more than friends, more than confidants.

Asael had entwined his soul to mine so much I began to think he might be mine.

But Zethia? I don’t understand why he was acting like this.

Why would he look at me with yearning in his eyes when I didn’t even know how old he was?

“Let them go. He’s dying.”

Zethia was silent for a moment. And I waited. Watched.

He didn’t trust me. And the hurt in his eyes was much stronger than his doubt. The jealousy seeping through the cracks of his broken face was undeniable.

“I will let them go. But with one condition.”

“Tell me. I’ll do it.” There was conviction in my eyes.

I was ready to do everything to save Kell.

“L.”

Zethia snapped harshly at Ellis. And he was a force of nature. Zethia moved like a raging wave.

His silver hair swayed with grace as he took the steps down with brutal grace, grabbing Ellis’s face cruelly.

I had never seen such anger in his beautiful face.

“You don’t get to call her. You don’t get to speak.”

But my attention wasn’t on Zethia.

My eyes flickered on Ellis, I could feel my ribs tightening my lungs.

A pile of questions suddenly obstructed the flow of air in my throat.

They didn’t call me L.

None called me L in the short time we’d know each other.

They called me Lowen.

I was known as Lowen.

I gave them Lowen as my name, the very first time they’d throw me at the Curb.

When they had called me Corrupt, overwhelmed by the same question they kept asking: Name? Name? Name?

I remembered shouting Lowen Vespertine.

The name of the man who told me he loved me.

The name of the man who died for me.

When Ellis’s saved me by instructing me how to use bloodweaving, to regulate my body temperature, he was calling me Lowen.

I was sure of it.

He never once called me L.

So why now?

Why now in front of The Lord Prince they kept calling?

Why now in front of Nevian Zethia Vale?

An Etaran I knew nothing about?

“Tell me what you want. Don’t harm them anymore.”

Hurt flashed in Zethia’s eyes once more. Shame flooded his eyes as he cruelly dropped Ellis’s jaw.

He straightened his back and turned.

When he reached the top of the stairs his eyes fell on me. Wild. Haunting. Possessive.

“You will have to stay. Continue the tests. I will let them leave.” His tone was final.

“No,” Ellis’s words cut through the air sharply.

And it angered Zethia even more.

I saw how he clenched his jaw as he looked at me. Somehow, it felt like Zethia didn’t want me to be disappointed anymore.

“Instead of letting us leave. Give us medicine to treat my friend. Let us stay.”

Why? Ellis? Why?

There was a chance to escape this place. Why stay?

“And why would I let you stay? What do you have to offer?” Zethia’s voice boomed around the hall.

A chill ran down my spine.

But Ellis was firm.

Ellis’s eyes were unwavering.

“The mortals were dying. And you need more mortals to complete the tests, right? Use us.”

He was insane. I didn’t know Ellis was unhinged.

Why would he want to stay here? Even dragging Kell to complete the tests?

And it was stupid of me to tell him what was happening.

Now he’d use it to bargain.

But why? Why would he want to stay in this place?

And I thought Ellis was done. Until he opened his mouth to speak again.

“You wanted to know more about us.” There was fire in his eyes. He was challenging Zethia. “Mortals. Beings weaker than you. Then start examining my dying friend here. And try to save him.”

I wanted to pull my hair out in frustration.

I felt like the blood veins in my eyes had raptured, the white of my eyes turning red. I hadn’t blinked.

“Foolish mortal. I would make sure you die from the tests.”

The Etaran’s laugh boomed, and it echoed. And it was the first time I heard them laugh.

I felt the blood draining my face.

Then Zethia faced Shilmarej.

“Examine the unconscious one. Save him. I wanted him in the games this foolish mortal wanted to play so much so.”

Viciously turning away from us, Zethia spared me a glance once more, and then he continued walking. Spine straight and chin tall. Zethia was a force of raw power.

Ellis was watching me as I watched Zethia.

A glimmer of light hits his eyes like he had finally pieced the missing pieces of a giant puzzle piece.

And I was afraid to find out.