Page 25 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

“You found their headquarters,” I whisper, leaning on to the table, mind spinning.

It’s been a losing strategy to find where the army stays when not terrorizing Neevea. No one could ever track them, and all other expeditions to locate their headquarters had failed. Until now.

Griffin’s people finally found them.

The king nods at me, pleased at my assumption. “This is what I’m proposing. We want peace, we want to come together. We can’t do that if we’re under constant attack.” Griffin looks at the heir, eyes pleading. “Your people are at risk as well as mine. We have a common enemy here, heir.

“Help me defeat them. Let’s turn this summit into a campaign. We will both win.”

Rolling his eyes, Kaden shakes his head. I barely know this Fae but his mind is treacherous, plotting, seeing all possible endings.

Taylay taps the table, hovering over our section of the forest. “Say we agree. What do you need from us?”

“Volunteers,” Griffin answers immediately. “We need a small group of people to go into the forest, find the army’s base and send word for us to move. It’s dangerous, especially if beasts do lurk in the forest. But we need eyes on the target before the army can be dispatched.”

It’s dangerous, near suicidal. A small fraction with very little weapons or defense would be slaughtered if caught. But I can’t deny the draw to find the army and be rid of something that’s haunted my dreams.

So many people would be safe with them gone.

“Nice ploy, using our grievances and fears as kindling to do what you want,” Kaden scoffs. “But we would be the ones indanger. We take the risk.”

“And if we send the army with no destination in mind, they could be lost. Hurt. Killed. All before they find the base.”

The heir shrugs. “Point?”

“Sometimes, one must risk to gain.”

Kadensnorts. “Not always, King.”

“Then why come?” I ask, feeling Tay move as if to block me from the heir. He’s not usually this protective, especially in the Coven when I must battle foes on my own. “Why bother being here if not to work toward a mutual goal, even if that goal requires sacrifice?”

As I say it, my mind flashes to the lonely nights in my hut, surrounded by candlelight, holding a book in my lap, escaping into words and not the bleak assistance I lived. I was cast out, made to feel less than because of my magic, and I willingly stayed away to protect the Coven from a power that I couldn’t control.

That is sacrifice. Would a royal understand that?

“I am here at the request of my king.” Copper eyes find me, and I’m trapped, breath stuck. “Or maybe I’m just here to learn your deepest, darkest secrets and will use them to our advantage?”

Someone chuckles. That’s oddly bold, coming from someone considered an enemy not more than a week ago.

A surge rises in my gut, the call of drums hammering into my skull. Grabbing the back of Tay’s chair, I wince, using it as a way to ground myself.

A piercing noise, like a banshee screaming echoes in my head and I freeze, body trembling with fear and dread.

No.My walls are falling, irritation and exhaustion pulling them down until I’m holding on by my fingertips. Once my shields are gone, my magic will take and I’ll just be a vessel for it’s might.

It’s happened before.

Sprinting from the office, I don’t bother waiting for the conclusion. As I’ve been reminded, the Blackwoods is not my Coven and they do not need me there to make arrangements. All I need to do is get far away and pray no one follows.

I won’t be able to stop what happens to them if they do.

Down the hall, there is a small alcove and I throw myself into thedark cocoon. I exhale, closing my eyes as the magic sweeps over me, hissing and spitting, mad at not hearing any hearts.

Hanging my head, I send a silent prayer to the Gods that the magic recedes. That I stay hidden. That I find some control and shove it away. Nessa’s teachings, her warnings about my gift floods me—I’m dangerous, this magic is evil, and I should fear my abilities.

Shame clogs my throat as the throbbing slowly dissipates. Nessa didn’t trust my magic and I shouldn’t either—even if it’s a part of me. Even if it feels natural. It kills and I should fear it, like everyone fears me.

I’m not sure how long I hang on, how long it takes for the pain to stop or the call of the magic in my veins to settle. I just count my breaths and wait.