21. Veli

Chapter twenty-one

Veli

Night had fallen by the time the argument regarding my cooperation ceased. Zaela’s mother returned to the room with a feast prepared only moments after I agreed to summon my coven to help Elianna win back her rightful throne. They accused me of fearing my witch-blooded sisters, and I loathed that they were correct—they just hadn’t a clue as to the reasoning.

The issue wasn’t whether I could summon my kin to our ancient homeland—it was that I didn’t know how to tell them it could mean certain death for all who entered The Elora Isles.

They ate as if their stomachs hadn’t received the slightest bit of food in days, repeatedly thanking Zaela’s mother for her hospitality while I sat in silence, moving around bits of roasted chicken with my fork.

After she left us once more, they pushed their plates away after gorging themselves and returned their attention to me.

Elianna broke the silence first. “When you first arrived in Ellecaster, Avery spoke of a spell book you possess that aided your escape from Isla. Is that here with you now? ”

“Indeed,” I answered as I pivoted in my seat and reached for my woven bag at my side.

I placed the small satchel on the table, and everyone leaned closer in curiosity.

“The book wouldn’t fit in that, Veli. We don’t have time for meddling games,” Avery hissed, and Elianna raised a brow as she watched me.

My lip curled back in annoyance as I reached into the bag, and when I pulled it out, my hand held Tinaebris Malifisc.

Power radiated from it the moment it left the confines of the bag.

“Holy gods,” Elianna breathed. “I can… feel it. Its presence.” Her eyes moved up toward my own. “How did you...?”

I grinned. “Witchcraft. The bag was meticulously crafted to conceal and protect any magical items it contained, camouflaging it from the realm.”

The room was cloaked in near darkness as the sun completely set—the only source of light came from the blazing candles scattered about the space. I placed the ancient book atop the table.

I could feel the power humming beneath my fingertips as they grazed the book’s leather-like surface. Memories flashed across my vision of how I came into possession of the relic, and what I had done…who I had betrayed to obtain it.

Elianna’s gaze bore into me, the flickering candlelight reflecting in her haunted stare. “This is the book you spoke of that possesses the forbidden magic?”

Finnian shivered in his chair .

I tapped my chin with my nail as I observed her. “What do you know of sorcery?”

She crossed her arms. “Aside from what you have already revealed? Not much else.”

I pivoted to her human mate. “And you, mortal?”

“I would say my knowledge is even less than what she possesses.”

My attention moved to his companions. “And the same for each of you?”

“I know nothing of witchcraft,” Gage answered, and Zaela nodded in agreement at his side.

My eyes remained on the blonde, who I had found myself unable to resist sneaking peeks at. My next words were solely for her. “Would you like to know more of witchcraft?”

Her eyes flared in response right before I moved my attention back to Elianna.

“As I have explained to your siblings before, there are different elements of magic—this book has the sole purpose of providing dark, malicious sorcery to its wielder. Once a spell is cast, that witch possesses the power to manipulate said spell at any given time without being in possession of the book.”

“Forever?” Jace questioned.

“Indeed.”

“So you possess the magic it took to sneak everyone out of the city—the shadows that you also wielded back in Ellecaster,” Elianna interjected.

My jaw clenched. “Indeed,” I echoed.

“What other types of magic does this book contain?” she asked .

“Blood magic,” Avery chimed in, and my gaze whipped to her.

“Breaking mental shields,” Finnian added.

“Don’t forget mind control,” Landon stated, and I forgot he was even here. He had barely spoken a word since we arrived at the estate.

Each time one of them spoke, the others’ attention immediately shifted, and Elianna smirked in amusement at her siblings and their usual irritating banter.

“Well, that settles that, then,” I huffed out as I sat back in my seat, gesturing to the three of them.

“And you can use these in battle?” Elianna asked.

“I have no desire to ever utilize any material from this book again, aside from my shadows.” I sighed. “Dark magic has a cost, starting with our youth, and should never be freely wielded. What happened in Isla shouldn’t have occurred in the first place.”

“Your coven,” Zaela interjected. “You stated you are from where? The Elora Isles? Where is it located, and how do we get there?” Whenever she spoke to me, her voice had a slight tremor, revealing an unseen nervousness that she didn't display with anyone else.

A wicked smile crept up my face. “It is both near and far from anywhere in the realm, only traceable by those who know where it is. It lays hidden in a pocket of the Vayr Sea northeast of our continent.”

“So we can travel by ship,” Gage added.

“No males may enter there. It is forbidden,” I warned.

“We will be accompanying you,” Jace growled. “We cannot be sure you won’t just run off, leaving us behind to rot. As our only source of power, it is crucial that you remain with us for the foreseeable future. In fact, how about before any of this, you take a knee before her now and pledge your allegiance?”

“If my loyalty has yet to be proven, then I do not know why I am still here, Commander. Now, since you refuse to heed my warnings, it appears you wish to put your mate in danger and have her wander into The Elora Isles.” I raised a brow.

His features softened as he glanced over at the future queen at his side.

“I live for danger.” She winked at him, and he let out an irritated growl in response. Elianna turned to me. “However, why are men forbidden?”

“They are not welcome there; they never have been, and the land itself would work to dispose of them if they were to get too close.”

“Define too close.”

“I would recommend they do not set foot on the earth,” I retorted.

“And what is the plan once we arrive at the isles? How do you summon the witches if the land has been abandoned?” Zaela asked.

The thought of being in the presence of my lost sisters sent a shiver through me—the hairs on my arms stood at attention, and my skin erupted into goosebumps.

“Once we arrive, not only will we be sensed, but my blood will call to them—a mere drop into the cursed soil will beckon them to return immediately. ”

Elianna’s eyes widened, and she quickly averted her gaze from me. She pursed her lips while examining me. “So, that’s it then? We sail to your little islands that only you can trace, spill a few drops of your blood, and then your coven will return in that very moment?”

“Essentially,” I answered after a few seconds of silence.

“Let’s say this doesn’t go as planned,” she started. “Say they’re as cruel as you believe them to still be, and things go awry. How do we kill them?”

I lifted a brow in her direction. “I have told your siblings this as well, but witches are immortal, Elianna. All we require is the essence of a beating heart.”

“You and your riddles.” She let out a soft laugh and shot her child-like smirk at me. “So, stab them in the heart. Got it.”

“No, no, Heir of the Realm. A mere stab wouldn’t do. It would need to be removed or destroyed.”

Suddenly, the front door to the estate swung open, revealing the general who had escorted us away from the mountains earlier today.

“Gods, you’re still here?!” he boomed, eyes boring into his own commander.

“We were just finishing up here,” Jace answered.

“Well, thank the gods for that then, Cadoria. I have funneled every soul within a ten-mile radius into the streets, awaiting your return. And you’re here doing what exactly?”

“Eating!” Lynelle shouted from the kitchen where she had remained .

The general blew out a breath and focused his gaze back on his commander. “Well, I won’t be arguing with her.”

“Wise man,” Jace responded. “The time has come, my Lia.” He reached for her hand.

“Excellent,” she said as she placed her hand in his and stood from her chair. Her gaze landed back on me once more while I silently remained in my seat at the opposite end of the table. “If possible, we leave tomorrow.”

There was no room for argument in her tone, though every fiber of my being was lashing out beneath my skin.

The thought of having to return to my kin loomed over me—suffocating me with each breath I inhaled. I was thankful that the fae's senses paled in comparison to those of a witch, or else she would've detected the sudden halt of my heart as it stopped in my chest, realizing that the time had come to face what I had done.