Bonds Eternal (Fae Hearted #4)

9. Returning

9

RETURNING

WYNSTELLE

O ur group splits up again to complete a final sweep of the village. We send a couple of straggling ghouls to the portal with the others.

Through my bonds, I can sense my mates’ anxiety. Much of it centers on my well-being.

Although grateful that I saved Oakes, I sense they all worry I’ve pushed myself too far in healing him. And honestly, I did. Our emotional connection is weak. This alone informs them my energy is waning. I force myself to keep my eyes open and focus on the next task—sending the ghouls back to Elfhame.

Through our bond, I know Jaden stresses about ensuring he gets our group back to Elfhame alive and well. His constant glances toward me are enough to tell me I’m his primary concern.

Satisfied that we have located most, if not all, of the ghouls in the village, we head toward the portal.

“Is Oakes’ group done with their area?” Eldrin asks me.

Using almost all my reserves, I send Oakes a query. Faintly, I hear him answer they are heading to the portal as well.

Jaden finds a small creek. While we wait for the others, we quickly wash our hands, splash our faces with ice cold water, and refill our canteens. It revitalizes me a bit, but not nearly enough.

When Oakes’ group finally rejoins us, he smiles at me and slides off his horse to hug me. Thankfully, he seems to be recovering, likely because of his own healing ability and his resilient Elven physique.

After a kiss on my cheek, he says, “I’m glad we have our telepathic communication. It makes following through our plans easier.”

I cross my arms, pouting. “Except when you’re being attacked and almost killed by ghouls.”

“Yes, but even then we had our mate bond to let you know I was in trouble and where to find me,” he says happily.

I grimace at his cheerful demeanor. Shoving at his broad chest, I demand, “Why are you so happy? You almost died!”

“But I have you to rescue me,” Oakes says with a wide grin that lights up his handsome face. “Twice now.”

I laugh weakly, wanting to kiss that silly grin from his face and replace it with desire. I need to claim them again, feel them inside me and prove to my body, heart, and mind that my mates are alive and well.

“Just don’t test the bonds anymore. I almost didn’t get to you in time. What if—” My voice cracks with the thought.

“No what-ifs,” Jaden cuts in. “You did it. Trust in your power.”

I jerk with surprise, unaware he pulled up closer on his horse. I turn to see his violet eyes flaring with intensity. “But—” I protest.

“My love, please,” Jaden interrupts me. “You need to stop second-guessing everything. Especially your abilities.”

“He’s right,” Eldrin adds. “We’re going to need you shortly, my princess.” He also gives me a wink, trying to lighten my mood further.

My heart swells with love, and I feel my mates actively sending me affection through our bond. My spirit shifts toward hope, and my power stirs inside.

Maybe I can overcome my fatigue and help them with this mission.

After an hour of traveling toward the new portal, Jaden says with disgust, “I smell them.”

He doesn’t need to announce it. I catch the whiff of decay, just as he has.

Is my mirror magic working again?

Soon, I realize it’s not that. By the disgusted looks on everyone’s faces, they smell the ghouls’ stench, too. The creatures are riper than usual with the fresh blood and guts covering them.

“Perhaps with my concealment power, we can get them closer and, hopefully, sneak them through the portal,” Merlara suggests. “I’ve never tested for smells, though.” She wrinkles her nose and frowns.

Eldrin considers our next hurdle. “I should order them to move in a tight formation—to contain them in Merlara’s sphere of influence.”

Jaden chuckles derisively. “As if they follow orders. We are lucky we got them this far.”

“With my power, we have a chance to make them comply.” Eldrin narrows his eyes, focusing on calling upon his ability.

“I could open the portal, cloaked in my concealment magic. I can usually mask two other elves with me,” Daylor offers. “Then we can herd them through.”

“If Commander Turgon is at the portal—” Jaden protests.

“Then we kill him.” Eldrin’s statement sends a chill up my spine. He’s pure vengeance, and I hope he will snap out of his anger when this is over.

“Eldrin.” Oakes’ eyes go wide with surprise. “Doing so would be an act of treason against your father.”

The prince locks his intense gaze with Oakes, conviction radiating from him like the sun giving off heat. “Turgon imprisoned me,” Eldrin reminds him. “Isn’t that an act of treason? Not to mention that he almost killed all of you—my mate and my advisors.”

Jaden clears his throat, his irritation with Eldrin announcing his intent to kill Turgon evident. “As I was saying…” he grumbles. “ If Turgon is there, we need to stay concealed. If he isn’t, we use your authority as the prince to bring the ghouls through.”

“Besides, the soldiers may still be under the assumption you’re working with Turgon,” I add.

“The soldiers might not allow the ghouls through, even with my orders.” Eldrin stares at all of us, calculating the risk.

“The best option is to sneak the ghouls past the guards and fight back when the soldiers catch on,” Oakes says.

“I could try my influencer magic if they try to stop us. Wyn, be ready to help boost me if I need it, but stay out of sight of Turgon if he’s there,” Eldrin warns, his voice sharp. “I don’t want him to get his hands on you.”

Merlara speaks up, “Wyn, I will probably need you to boost my magic, too.”

My heart pounds erratically with the enormity of the tasks, worried that I will fail them all. “But?—”

“Hush, child. Just try,” Merlara says, reminding me of our days at the foundry when she would challenge me with mastering some new skill. “I will be using my powers in a way that I’m not accustomed to, and I’m already drained as it is.”

“We have seen that your powers appear to be tied with your love for your mates,” Twyla says. “But I think Jaden is correct. Your magic is your love. Pull from that place of love inside you. Love is limitless.”

Hanging his head briefly before finally looking up at me, Eldrin appears utterly forlorn. “Wyn, I sense you’re still distrustful because of my trickery with Turgon. I’m so sorry for needing to quiet our bond so I can get through this, but if you can muster some affection for me, perhaps we can end this war before it truly starts. Then I can spend the rest of our days making it up to you.”

My heart squeezes tightly with sadness because I am confused and vulnerable after our bond breaking and his subterfuge. The link between us still feels thin and fragile.

Can I trust anyone completely again?

Is love limitless?

I now know my Elven keeper lied to me all these years. Merlara kept secrets about my royal heritage. She kept me from the villagers and worked me to the point of exhaustion, but even with all the negatives, the Elven female was also kind. I know I could have had a much harder childhood. Maybe the comment that Twyla made to me when we first met applies now… Sometimes people do bad things for the right reasons .

“I understand what happened—why you’ve cut off your emotions from me,” I say to Eldrin. “It hurts, but I still care about you. I love you, even if, I don’t feel I can completely trust what you claim to feel for me right now.”

Eldrin nudges his horse closer and locks eyes with me. His fiery gaze sends a shiver down my spine. Is he mad I confessed I don’t believe his claims? Is he offended?

He tenderly cups my face in his hand. “Know this. I would tear both realms apart and burn it all to the ground to keep you safe. If you were to be taken from me…” Tears well in his eyes and threaten to fall. Elves rarely show this kind of emotion. Even anger is rare.

I gulp with the swell of love I feel for him at that moment.

Of course, I don’t want anyone to get hurt if he were actually to go into a fit of rage over me, but I appreciate his declaration of devotion. It sears into our connection, and rebuilds part of the trust I’ve lost.

His fingers trace the line of my chin. I want to leap over onto his horse and kiss him, but I remind myself this isn’t the time. Hopefully, everything will return to normal quickly, and I can just enjoy the new mate bond with my three elves.

Pulling back and looking over at my other two mates, I smile at Jaden. His violet eyes flare with passion, sensing my desire for intimacy through our bond.

I send Oakes a mental message, “I just want to snuggle into our bed with all of you, not stop a war.”

“Same, my treasure,” Oakes says back through our link. A throb of lust washes over me, and I blush, knowing that he wants me, too.

Baelen clears her throat and interrupts the sweet moment. “Your Highness, the ghouls are just ahead. They are becoming agitated. I believe they sense us.”

“Baelen’s correct,” Oakes agrees and breaks his gaze with me. “They are restless.”

Eldrin gestures to Oakes and Corwin that they should follow him as they approach the ghouls closest to us.

“I don’t like this,” I mumble.

Merlara hums her agreement.

I hear Eldrin clearly as he talks with the ghouls. “You need to gather close together so we can conceal you as we get you back to Elfhame.”

“Why needs to hides to go home?” one ghoul asks suspiciously.

“I’m afraid someone might not want you to return safely.” Eldrin pauses, deliberating on how much to confess to the ghouls. Then he must decide they have a right to know. “Your kind has been under the influence of a spell. Now that this spell has been broken, you are no longer useful to them.”

“Who dids this?”

“I cannot say for certain. However, right now, the most important thing is to focus on getting you home before being in the mortal realm harms you anymore.”

The ghouls nod their understanding, the drain of the human realm on them clear in their slouched postures.

“Unfortunately, an Elven army is stationed at the portal,” Eldrin explains. “They show signs of being under a spell, much as you were.” Eldrin hardens his demeanor again. “I need to stop this war, so I need to get you home now. Can you move close together and stay quiet so we can get you all through?”

The large gathering of ghouls glance at each other and then at the prince’s group. “You goings back too?”

“Just far enough to ensure you arrive safely,” Eldrin answers. “But I must return here. I have a duty to rescue more fae from this war.”

“We can moves together,” a ghoul says, appeased by Eldrin’s honesty and need to help his fellow fae. A few hurry through the crowd of ghouls, whispering instructions to stay close to one another.

“Your part is now.” Eldrin turns to Merlara. “Let’s see if you can conceal them.”

Merlara glowers briefly at the prince’s order, but then I sense the power swirling around my former keeper. I realize that I have felt this energy before. I’ve felt it my entire life. I had become accustomed to her magic, constantly humming in the background.

This time, Merlara’s power grows dramatically until it pulses out to encapsulate the ghouls. Her eyes glow with a golden light. She nods curtly, and Eldrin takes it as a sign to move.

We all press forward in unison, the ghouls just ahead of us, leading us to the portal.

On foot, Daylor trots to the front of the caravan, readying to conceal himself and open the portal as we reach it.

Only half a dozen of Turgon’s soldiers stand near the closed gateway.

I wonder how many more are waiting on the other side.

With a hand signal, Jaden indicates to Corwin and Baelen to be ready to subdue the soldiers. Jaden positions himself between the ghouls and Turgon’s soldiers, as well.

Merlara groans.

I snap my head to look over my shoulder at Merlara sitting in the saddle behind me. Her skin is pale and has a sheen of perspiration. “Are you alright?”

“No. I won’t be able to hold this much longer.” Merlara winces as if she were holding up a falling wall.

Worried that our plan will fail, I call upon my mirror magic, trying to feel the love I have for my keeper. I remember all the times Merlara helped and guided me. I recall our lively debates about books or learning how to create something new in the foundry. There is warmth in our relationship, but I know it isn’t the same as the devoted love my elves have shown me in our short time together.

Nevertheless, I remember my former keeper is here now . Merlara risked her life to save us all. That counts for quite a lot.

She truly cares for me and loves me in her own way. And I love her.

My heart's energy swells as it heals itself from my feelings of betrayal. When my emotions peak, so does my magic. I visualize myself reflecting and amplifying Merlara’s gift.

Merlara sighs with relief. I take it as a sign that I’ve helped maintain the concealment.

“Thank you,” Merlara whispers.

Daylor inches closer to the portal, holding out his hand to open it. Jaden and his guards have their swords ready to plunge into any enemy soldier who puts up a fight.

Fortunately, the ghouls are quietly moving together in a tight formation.

The concealment must also work on smell. Otherwise, the soldiers would have caught a nasty whiff of the pungent ghouls under their noses.

I’m shocked at how well-behaved they have been so far. While I don’t expect it to last long, I hope their desire to survive and return home overrides any need to act out or scuffle with each other.

Daylor murmurs the chant to open the portal.

As soon as it opens, the soldiers jump to attention. They squint and spin around, trying to understand what’s happening. There are only a handful of soldiers guarding the Elfhame side, and they scan the area too, just as confused.

“What’s going on?” a soldier on the mortal side asks.

“I was going to ask you that,” the guard on the fae side says.

Eldrin waves his hand, gesturing for the ghouls to go through before the soldiers attempt to close the gateway.

Like a dam breaking, the magically cloaked ghouls rush forward, knocking the unsuspecting Elven soldiers out of the way.

The creatures are running past the reach of Merlara’s concealment shield. Surprised, the soldiers step out of the way of the suddenly visible ghoul mob.

“How the—” A guard blinks as if he’s hallucinating, then shouts, “Kill them! We can’t be found out.”

These Elven soldiers aren’t like the crazed ones who were unleashed on my father’s lands. They know the ghouls are supposed to remain in the mortal realm, inflicting as much damage as possible and leaving their own corpses behind.

I find it odd though that Turgon doesn’t want his plan to be common knowledge in Elfhame—at least maybe until the threat of war becomes a guarantee.

Anger stirs in my soul. Why are the leaders in both realms so thirsty for blood and war?

I hate what King Magnus and Turgon are doing.

I hate that my father almost killed my mates.

Our leaders don’t care, not even for their own children.

My vision clouds with rage. Something snaps inside me.

There is a tangible shift in the air.

“Oh, no,” Oakes whispers.