Chapter 18

Elanor

My hands shake as I put on the first dress I find and twist my hair in a simple bun. I finish buttoning the front of the dress with shaky fingers and sit on the edge of the bed.

Tears well in my eyes as my hands slide loosely into my lap. What the fuck is going on? Azran is here, alive, although his mind seems to be holding on by a thread. His horror-stricken features forever engraved in my head, I can’t shake the panic swelling in my heart.

How could I have not noticed the secret passageway earlier? It was right under my nose all this time. A gateway to Az and gods know what else. Has he uncovered Braern’s allies and gotten tangled up with them?

He barely looked at me. I wince as I remember the darkness running through the bond. Maybe he changed his mind after Adria. Maybe he…

I stand, stopping myself from going there. One thing at a time. First, I need to get this dinner over with so I can get the fuck out of here and bring Az back to Averion. Cal and Vesta will know what to do.

I scrawl a vague excuse about urgent business in Averion on a scrap of parchment and leave it prominently on the bed. As soon as dinner ends, I am fleeing this gilded prison. Mending political ties can wait, getting to Azran can’t.

My skin crawls, recalling the King’s unwanted advances since my arrival. Some are likely calculated maneuvers, probing for advantage in future negotiations, but the undisguised hunger in his gaze tells me that’s not all there is to it.

If playing to Airdan’s attraction gains me freedom tonight, I can’t dismiss the option. It’s merely another weapon in my arsenal. The thought twists my gut, but I’m desperate. I need this plan to work without a hitch.

A vibration in my power directs my attention to a corner of the room, and warmth washes over me. The wolfish shape of my faithful companion takes form. He’s always here when I need him most.

“I miss you, Savage,” I whisper. “I could really use you here.”

His white eyes twinkle as he wags his tail happily, rekindling a sliver of hope in my heart. Everything will be fine. After dinner, I’ll see Azran again and he’ll explain everything. We’ll slay our enemies and go home together. He was probably unsettled because he didn’t expect me to come here and I know he doesn’t want anything to happen to me. I momentarily let my fears get to my head, that’s all.

Once we’ve destroyed the last of Braern’s poison, we’ll have eternity together.

The thought brings a smile to my face and courage to my heart. I found him. The strain in the bond is gone and the darkness will finally retreat for good in my life. I’m ready to leave it all behind and embrace happiness. I fucking deserve it.

Smoothing my dress with one last fortifying breath, I steel myself to face the King again.

An hour later, servants clear our main courses to make way for dessert and a guard walks into the dining room to murmur in the King’s ear.

I force myself to breath evenly and keep my eyes on the Prince sitting across from me rather than let my imagination run wild.

True to form, Nylren hasn’t said much and barely meets my gaze even as our plates are whisked away unfinished.

At his father’s sharp nod, Nylren rises and steps out of the room while the guard takes position behind the King. The sudden move raises the hairs on my neck, but I maintain a neutral mask.

“May I say that Nyths suits you well, Elanor?” The King brushes his hand through his dark hair, letting it fall over his emerald eyes. “You are beaming, tonight. Any particular reason? Did you best my son at swords?”

“I owe it to you, your Majesty.” I chuckle the compliment off. “You’ve gone out of your way and spared no effort to make sure I enjoy my time here.” His green eyes sparkle in response, clearly enjoying the praise. “Thank you, your Majesty.”

“You’re most welcome.” He grabs his cup of wine and sips on it slowly, not breaking eye contact with me. “Anything for you, Elanor.”

Airdan’s pupils cloud with ever-growing desire as servants return to place ornate dessert displays between us.

I take a small helping of a fruit pie sitting in front of me to escape his intense gaze. I can play the flustered lady a little longer if it’ll earn me his clemency when he finds out I’m gone. Plus, I don’t want to appear in a rush and raise alarms.

The door to the room creaks open once more and Nylren takes a seat back at the table, his expression unreadable. His hands disappear under the table to his lap and unease settles in.

I politely engage in conversation with Airdan as best as I can until desserts are removed too.

My heart races when Airdan clears his throat and leans back, signaling he’s finished. Fucking finally. A few more minutes and I’ll be with Az, just a few more minutes.

“Thank you for another lovely meal, your Majesty.”

“But of course, my dear.” He waves both of his hands in the air. “You have a lovely night.”

Seizing my opportunity, I stand and bow gracefully before making for the closed doors, knowing that Milan is waiting in the corridor. I haven’t had the opportunity to tell him about Azran yet, but I’m sure he’ll be just as eager as me to leave Nyths.

I stare at the wooden panels as my steps resonate on the floor, my heart beating out of my chest. Freedom is within reach and I’m ready to leave politics behind. It never suited me.

I slow as I wait for the royal guards to open the doors until I eventually come to a halt. The soldiers don’t budge an inch, still as stone while they stare at some point behind me.

I clear my throat awkwardly, unsure if I should formally ask for the doors to be opened or wait a moment longer. Neither Fae acknowledges my presence.

“You really think I’m going to let you go like that, Elanor?”

My stomach sinks as I turn around to face the King and his son.

“What do you mean?” I swallow the knot in my throat. “Your Majesty.”

“You think I’d let an exquisite, murderous creature like you escape my grasp?” All trace of charm has left his viridian irises and his face has turned cold. “You don’t think I have eyes and ears in my own home? Or in Lóna, for that matter?”

My mouth drops open and my hand instinctively goes to my back, missing Nahtar more than ever because there is no mistaking the threat in Airdan’s tone.

“Seize her,” Airdan commands.

I call out to Milan at the same time and spin to face the approaching guards. Retreating until my thighs hit the long table, I call on my power and my vision darkens.

Muffled shouts and steel clashing on steel sound behind the door, confirming Milan heard me.

When the first guard lunges at me, I hit him with lethal energy. I don’t watch as his body goes limp against the wall and focus on my second opponent instead, letting obsidian smoke swirl around my hands. I’m not holding back anymore.

The wooden door gives way beneath Milan’s weight, shards flying as his body tumbles across the threshold and crashes to the floor.

My eyes widen at the blood pooling beneath his chest and his lifeless stare. More soldiers take position in the doorway.

Rage floods my veins and my hand shoots out towards them, hoping to open a passage. Dark ribbons leave my fingertips before evaporating into thin air, the energy sucked out of my body as a metal collar locks around my neck. Pain drills through my head as fire extinguishes within me instantly. My power is replaced with acid burning through my nerve endings, paralyzing me as the spirit realm retreats before disappearing in an internal blast that shakes me to my core.

I turn, wide-eyed, and find Nylren stepping away from me, his harsh gaze meeting mine without reserve as Airdan’s maniacal laugh fills the room.

“We know all about you, Unifier.”

“You can’t do this,” I say through gritted teeth, pain still radiating through my entire body.

“Watch me,” Airdan answers.

My arms get twisted behind my back and shackled, straining the muscles in my shoulders. A growl tears through my throat as I try to fight back, but each movement sends needles into my brain and I can’t see clearly anymore.

“It’s a shame, really. I thought I was beginning to win you over.” Airdan walks around the table to face me while his guard tightens his hold on me. “But you only came here to spy for your High Lord.”

The King’s fingers go to my chin, caressing it gently. “Or should I say, your mate?”

I manage to free my head from his touch as madness flirts with me at his mention of Azran.

“Where is he?” I bark back.

“Sorry, I interrupted your little reunion earlier.” Airdan’s laugh fills the room once more, a dark and sinister sound. “I hope it was worth it, because that’s the last you’ll ever see of him.”

A cry escapes my lips as I thrash in my bonds, my head exploding with each attempt. Liquid drips down my nose and into my mouth, leaving a coppery taste on my tongue, but I don’t care.

Rage blinds me, mixing with the pain as my skin is set on fire, the blood in my veins turning poisonous and burning everything in its path. I think I dislocate my shoulder in the process, but I can’t really tell. Everything hurts so bad it doesn’t make a difference.

“Save your energy, Elanor.” A devilish smile forms on Airdan’s handsome face. “You’re going to need it.”

Agony blazes through every nerve, but my own suffering hardly registers. All I can see behind my clenched eyelids is Azran’s face. He’s in danger, maybe already dead, and I’m powerless to save him.

The collar and shackles sap my strength as effectively as the pain. I strain against them desperately, letting the metal bite at my skin as I rack my brain for a way out. I can’t lose Azran again, not when we got so close to leaving this place.

The bond is obscured by torment, but I cling to the hope he’s still alive. I would know if he was dead, I would know.

I repeat it like a mantra, using the words to focus past the blinding agony. Azran’s alive. I’m alive.

I resist with everything I’ve got until blood fills my mouth, its metallic taste lingering on my tongue, and the world goes dark.