18. Tavish

18

TAVISH

I gritted my teeth, trying to come off as impartial as I could, but the way Eldrin leaned against the stone wall, wearing a smirk, had the nightmare illusion magic swirling inside me, wanting to release and cause him agony.

I couldn't react impulsively. He had been strategic and calculating over the years, focusing on the end result—like I must now.

Next to me, Lira quivered, her rage spilling through our bond and making my bloodthirsty instinct surge to life. I'd been able to control it better, but ever since the Seelie arrived, my thirst for blood had grown harder to ignore.

With desperation causing sharp aches in my chest from the threat of Lira giving herself up to Pyralis to protect her sister, my sanity was blasting close to being lost forever. The only thing holding me together was the need for answers from Eldrin on how Lira could get out of this blighted vow that had been forced upon her.

With dirt smudged on his face, wrinkled garments, and white hair hanging limp with grease, he shouldn't appear so confident, but he knew why we were there.

"Ah… you've ignored me, starved me, and forced me to carry that animal, but as soon as the dragons arrive, you're back." The lantern above his head flickered, providing the illusion that he'd called shadows to cloak him.

Too bad his wings were bound by the chains that kept him from using magic.

The Seelie royals and Lira's second parents were behind us, and I needed to take control before the Seelie king did. I needed Eldrin to believe that no bad blood remained between us despite nothing truly being resolved.

"You aren't our priority. In fact, I'd rather you not be here at all, but it seems Fate keeps granting you favors." I kept my hand tight in Lira's, needing to know she was at my side and not trying to sneak away.

"Fate?" Eldrin laughed and wrinkled his nose. "Fate has nothing to do with this. I set everything in motion. It was all me . And now I'm in a position to get out of this place and continue with my life without hindrance."

"Like hell you are," Lira spat, moving to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me. "You're going to stay in here and be the miserable piece of shit you are."

He shrugged. "That's fine with me. Go marry the dragon. I don't blasting care. I think you don't realize that either way, I win. I tell you, and I'm free to do as I wish. I don't, and Tavish has the most important thing stripped from him. He'll live in misery the same way I have for the majority of my life, not even considered worthy of being a spare, despite the king treating me like one of his sons."

The hatred I'd nurtured for the past twelve years ignited. The edges of my vision hazed as I channeled all that hate toward the man I'd considered a second father. "You weren't the heir. There wasn't anything he could do. It's not how our magic works. You know this." I released Lira's hand and placed mine on the hilt of my sword, ready to slay him now.

Nightbane snarled, hunkering closer to Lira, sensing the threat before us. He'd always detested Eldrin even more than he did me, and I'd never thought anything of it. I'd grown up believing he was a stupid beast, but now things made more sense. Eldrin had always been despicable. He had no redeeming qualities, caring for no one but himself. He'd never truly cared about protecting the Unseelie.

I stalked inside the cell, torn about what to do. I wanted to kill the wildling, but if I did, I had a significant risk of losing Lira. My breathing sped up, and the walls seemed to close in on me.

Kill him, Lira connected. We can't risk him getting free and trying to take over once again. I can't relive the torture he already put us both through. Her worry constricted our connection, adding to mine.

And I can't kill him, knowing that Pyralis could very well get his talons on you. The two of us were at odds, wanting the same for each other. I needed her safe and free while she wanted to ensure that my cousin didn't take me captive and beat me. I'd rather be a prisoner, knowing that you're safe in Aetherglen. That's what's important to me. Blast Eldrin and the Unseelie people. They can all burn as long as you're safe.

Her eyes narrowed, and I could tell that she disagreed with everything I'd just said.

"It's best if you're forthcoming, nightfiend," King Erdan said loudly from his spot behind us. "This isn't a chess match between you and us. This impacts my daughter's life, and I refuse to barter with criminals."

"I disagree. Any sort of political maneuvering is exactly that—a game of strategy." Eldrin waved one hand toward Lira and added, "And your daughter is rather good at it, seeing as she managed to manipulate Tavish and Lorne and survive the deadly gauntlet. She never should've lived."

I removed my sword from its sheath and stabbed Eldrin in the leg, pushing so that it pierced through muscle to the other side, ensuring the wound would heal slowly, especially without the help of his fae magic.

He grunted, hunching over, as black blood seeped through his pants and onto the ground.

"What is he talking about?" the queen asked, her voice rising.

At the question, Eldrin looked up, beaming.

Lira took in a ragged breath and shook her head. "It's not going to work, Eldrin. I know what you're trying to do, and the past is the past. That's where it's going to stay. I survived the horrors, and I know you were behind each one of them. But your game's not going to work this time. You'll see."

She strolled past me, and I wanted to reach out and pull her back. I didn't trust him, nor did I want her anywhere around him, but Nightbane remained at her side, giving me reassurance.

Gripping his chin in her hand, she cut into his skin. Blood oozed under her fingernails, but she didn't flinch.

Eldrin's forehead wrinkled just enough for me to register his shock before he forced his expression back into that smug smile.

"We're going to break you," she whispered, her normally bright cobalt eyes darkening to navy.

My dick twitched, causing my pants to feel too tight. I rarely saw this side of Lira. Watching her threaten the man who'd terrorized her had me ready to slam her against the wall and claim her.

"And when we do, I'll be the one to slowly slide a blade into your heart and watch the life leave your body. Not because of what you did to me but for everything you've done to Tavish."

A vein bulged in his neck, but Eldrin chuckled darkly. "We'll see about that. I told you my terms. If you want to know how to free yourself from your binding agreement with the ashbreaths, then I need a vow from every royal in this room that they will ensure no harm ever comes to me. That includes you, Princess. "

She released him, dropping her hand to her side. His blood dripped from her fingers to the floor, and she turned her back to him. In fairness, he wasn't a threat, not with his injured leg and chained wings. But I also didn't want to underestimate him.

"I've grown bored with him." Lira yawned. "I say we head into the castle and get some rest. It has been a long day of travel."

If I didn't feel her anxiety through the bond, I'd believe that she could go to sleep.

We're not going to get anything out of him, she linked, her gaze locked on me. We need to come off like we aren't desperate until we can find a way to hurt him.

I hated that she was right, but I sheathed my sword.

Eldrin straightened, seeming to become more confident. Maybe because he knew we'd given up?

When Lira and Nightbane left the cell, I spun around to find the king, the queen, Brenin, and Hestia scowling. The way their attention flickered between Lira and Eldrin turned my stomach leaden with dread. "Lock him back up. Don't feed him or allow anyone to check on his wounds. I want him miserable and uncomfortable."

Lorne shut the door, locking it once again. "Of course, Your Majesty. It will be my honor."

Hestia and Brenin led the way back outside, followed by the king and the queen, with Lira, Nightbane, and me at the rear.

Each step away from Eldrin felt harder than the last. I hated that my life continued to be influenced by him when I was ready to cut him out of it forever.

We'll figure something out, Lira connected as she looped her arm through mine.

The jolt of her touch eased some of my anxiety, but frozen tendrils of terror clawed deeper into my heart. I hadn't felt this feral since the gauntlet. Watching her come so close to death all those times had been unbearable, making me borderline insane, but nothing compared to this . The thought of her leaving in three days to be with another man… an ashbreath, determined to marry her and force her to carry his babies….

We have three days. A lot can change in that time, she continued, trying to offer me comfort.

But three days was a blink in Seelie time. It took me twelve years to learn that Eldrin had been plotting against me.

When we stepped outside, I took a deep breath, enjoying the dark sky, the snow falling once more, and the scent of mist and vanilla that I hadn't experienced since I was a child. But even that didn't bring peace to my restless heart.

As soon as we shut the doors that led into the dungeon, King Erdan cleared his throat. "What is this gauntlet Eldrin referred to?"

"Nothing we need to discuss," Lira answered, placing her head on my shoulder. "It doesn't help us with our current problem."

"If we're trying to mend the relationship between us and the Unseelie, then we need to be honest with each other." Queen Sylphia pushed a piece of hair behind her shoulder. "Clearly, this trial isn't something you want us to learn of, which makes me hesitant to work with the Unseelie."

Even though I suspected it would cause more problems between her parents and me, I understood. If I were in their place, I'd want to know the same thing. The more Lira tried to evade the question, the more determined the four of them would be to learn the answer. "As you're aware, I kidnapped Lira from Earth. My intention was to bring her to the Seelie veil and kill her once her magic returned, allowing the Unseelie to return to our land. I was resolved to fight our bond at first because how could I ever accept a fated mate from the people who'd murdered my parents, kept me prisoner, and then cast us from our homelands into a dragon-ruined kingdom to perish?"

The queen placed a hand over her heart while the king scowled. Hestia's and Brenin's faces were twisted in anger, probably as they decided how I should die.

"But it clearly didn't happen." Lira stepped closer. Are you trying to get them to hate you again?

They've been suspicious of us and doubted my intentions almost the entire time. The only way we're going to move forward is by being honest with each other, especially since Eldrin is going to continue to pit us against one another. I was willing to do any blasting thing if it helped keep Lira by my side. Even be completely up front with the Seelie.

"That's the only reason the Unseelie king still has his wings attached right now." Hestia's body remained rigid. "But I still want to know about the gauntlet."

"Hestia," Brenin warned.

The two guards were better than Lira and Eiric at hiding their time on Earth, but Hestia speaking out of turn was one of the sure signs she'd lived elsewhere for a while.

I opened my mouth to continue, but Lira interjected, "One night, I had the opportunity to escape, but some of the villagers found me. They tried to detain me, and I fought to get away. Since I was technically a prisoner and I'd tried to escape, I precipitated something that had been created to keep the Unseelie in line—the gauntlet. A competition in which every prisoner has a chance to survive three days of trials."

"It was something I instituted to stop my people from rising against me." I didn't want them to believe I'd created it just because of Lira. "I didn't want Lira to take part, but my wings were tied."

"You put the Seelie princess into battle with Unseelie prisoners?" The king's eyes narrowed.

"He protected me." Lira moved between her family and me. "I would've died if it hadn't been for Tavish intervening, which allowed Eldrin to convince more of the Unseelie to turn away from him. He made mistakes the same way you did by betrothing me to an ashbreath."

King Erdan's nostrils flared. "We did what we thought was right at the time."

"So did he." She spread her wings, blocking me from her parents.

Once again, Lira was ready to fight to protect me. My heart warmed toward her even more. I couldn't lose her. I'd come too close so many times already, and I refused for it to happen again.

I needed to kill the dragon prince.

"She's right, Your Majesties." Brenin pivoted so he could see both sides of the group. "We don't need to argue over these things—we need to focus on finding a way to retrieve Eiric and keep Lira from being forced to go to Tìr na Dràgon."

Lira's wings lowered slightly, allowing me to see the king and queen exchange a look while Hestia closed her eyes.

"We need to find something that will hurt Eldrin." Hestia looked skyward like she was searching for answers.

I groaned. "That might be impossible. He only cares about himself."

"It's getting late, and we haven't rested or eaten." Lira moved between Nightbane and me again and continued, "We should take a moment to clear our heads, and Tavish and I need to settle in here. How about we reconvene first thing in the morning?"

I agreed. Rest would help us think clearer, and we did need to survey the castle. It had been unoccupied for too long.

"That's a good plan. I can return to the study and review all the information on dragons we have on hand." King Erdan sighed. "And catch up with our people. We'll come back with fresh breakfast for everyone in the morning."

Eating food from home sounded too good to be true, but I'd give it all up if that would guarantee Lira would be with me for the rest of eternity.

She hugged both sets of her parents and then turned to me as the royals flew off.

Having her in my childhood home like I'd imagined as a little boy let a smile break through my worry. "Let me find some clothes to change into, and then we'll check in with Caelan and Finnian."

"I kind of like you covered in enemy blood." She winked.

"When I'm done with the ashbreaths, I'll be soaked in it."

Her face fell a little, so I kissed her, enjoying her sweet taste.

"Come on," I rasped, taking her hand. The two of us flew up to the window that led to the royal chambers.

Nightbane whined below at being left behind, but the cù-sìth would find us within minutes.

As we reached the glassless window the Seelie had smashed the night of the attack all those years ago, memories came crashing back.

And suddenly, I landed, but my legs weren't there to support me.