Bonds Eternal (Fae Hearted #4)

23. Ryven Castle

23

RYVEN CASTLE

WYNSTELLE

A t the castle entrance, Eldrin catches Merlara’s attention and then flicks his gaze pointedly at me, not so subtly reminding the elf to keep an eye on me.

Merlara gives him a curt nod and tightens the grip on her sword.

“Either they emptied the prince’s wing after he left, or this is a trap,” Corwin whispers to the group. “Stay alert.”

Our group follows Corwin, with Eldrin and me in the middle of the small formation. I hold on to my not-a-blade blunt defense baton. The longer we go without seeing a soul, the more I wonder if I will have to use my weapon at all.

The empty halls of Eldrin’s wing feel creepy, with no life stirring in them.

My magic has grown, and I wonder if I’m tapping into Oakes’ ability to sense others’ emotions. Am I feeling those around me and their concerns? Or am I picking up on the odd energy of the elves who were left to guard the castle?

Just as we are about to leave Eldrin’s wing of the castle, Corwin slows his pace, his movements becoming more cautious. He glances back at Eldrin, checking on him, and then presses forward.

Still, no one is around as we head straight for Magnus’ dungeons.

Everyone in the group gives each other a growing look of concern. It makes no sense for the castle to be empty.

Where has everyone gone? How did Lalo and the faeries not see hundreds of elves leaving the castle?

I push my budding psychic senses outward, but the surrounding energy has become thick and sticky. I can’t feel anything beyond a few meters ahead of our group.

We finally reach the stairwell to the dungeons.

I suck in a breath, worrying this is the moment when I inadvertently lead everyone into a trap. Or what if there’s no trap, but Jaden and Oakes are no longer here?

Corwin signals Daylor and two human soldiers to stay and guard the dungeon’s entrance.

With Daylor’s magical concealment, he can mask their presence if anyone happens to wander by.

The rest of our complement continues down the dark stairs, wide enough for three people to walk side by side comfortably. Corwin and Baelen take the lead, with Eldrin and me next. Merlara watches our backs, along with the three remaining humans.

I don’t voice what’s bubbling inside me—that this is all too easy. It has to be a trap. Perhaps Jaden and Oakes were never here. Maybe I dreamed the whole thing. But as the dungeons come into view, I know that this is where I was in my vision. It’s the same stone structure and thick iron doors meant to keep elves inside.

Eldrin looks at me expectantly, waiting for me to show where they might be.

Closing my eyes to concentrate on my power and my bond with Oakes and Jaden, I reach out with my senses once again. I hope that this time, I will have more success using my magic.

However, something in the dungeon is pushing back against my power, and it feels more resistant this time, not less.

I open my eyes and shake my head, letting him know I’ve had no luck locating them.

Corwin takes the cue, waves two fingers over his eyes, then points to Baelen to move toward a door.

With a flick of her chin to acknowledge the order, she carefully unhooks the key from the wall in the corner without making a sound. Then she stealthily approaches the entryway but pauses when she reaches the iron door. Elves are naturally averse to the metal since it drains them, and prolonged exposure will kill, so I understand her hesitancy.

She inserts the key, and the lock disengages. Then she pulls a cloth from her pocket and uses it to protect herself from contact with the door handle.

Baelen readies herself with her sword, as does Corwin behind her, then she lets the door swing wide.

The cell is empty.

My nerves are fraying. With every moment that passes, the more likely it is we will be caught. And with every empty room, the hope of finding my mates dwindles.

Will we not rescue Jaden and Oakes after all? Is this for nothing?

I shove the most frightening question I don’t want to ask to the back of my mind.

But it rears up anyway. Are they already dead, and I just can’t feel it?

I’m not the only one who feels the tension mounting. Everyone in the group is about to crawl out of their skins in anticipation.

We quietly continue the process at each cell door as we proceed further down the hall. Then, as the sixth door opens, Baelen cries out and is thrown to the stone floor. Corwin leaps back to assess what’s happened before attacking whatever assaulted Baelen.

I rush to pull our collapsed guard out of harm’s way, but Merlara catches me by the arm and yanks me back. She steps in front of me to stop me, protecting me from whatever is in there.

Baelen gasps and scoots back along the floor on her own.

Corwin slowly approaches the open cell door.

As soon as Corwin reaches the doorway, a tin plate shoots out and hits him in the face.

“What the fuck?” He looks down at the clanging dish as it wobbles on the floor at his feet.

“Oh! Master Corwin!” a tiny voice shouts in disbelief.

A small female brownie hurries forward and picks up the tin plate next to Corwin’s foot. “Forgive me, sir.” Her gaze circles the room and catches sight of Eldrin. “Your Highness! What are you doing here?”

“The more important question is, what are you doing?” Prince Eldrin asks with a stern glare.

“I’m helping!” the mysterious castle keeper says desperately.

“By hiding in a cell? And throwing plates?” he asks, completely baffled by her presence.

“The mage was here. She was hurting them.”

Eldrin glances around quickly, ensuring that we aren’t about to be attacked. “Where is she now?”

“She left last night.”

“Have you seen my advisors, Jaden and Oakes?”

She nods vigorously. “I am protecting them… for you. They’re in here.” She steps aside as Corwin and Baelen charge past her into the room.

Eldrin almost takes a step forward, but Merlara gives us a warning look.

It could still be a trap.

“Your Highness,” Baelen says as she returns to the doorway. She steps out of the cell and gives us room to pass. “And princess… you will want to see for yourself.”

My heart freezes, then pounds uncontrollably. What will I find?

Eldrin takes my hand in a firm grip and walks into the large cell.

Before I’m all the way inside, I notice the room is the same one from my vision. Then, peeking around Eldrin’s broad chest, I see Corwin inspecting Jaden’s and Oakes’ unconscious bodies.

They are bloodied and bruised, barely breathing. Their eyes are closed, and they’re slumped against the wall. Blankets and pillows have been shoved around them in an attempt to make them more comfortable. It must be the odd little brownie who has done that, likely unable to move them much.

Eldrin stands stock still, looking at his friends, his face expressionless.

Once my initial shock wears off, I sense it is indeed them and not some horrible illusion. I rush forward and fall on my knees to the rough stone floor, tearing the skirts I wear. I place a hand on each of their chests and shake them. “Oakes! Jaden!” I call helplessly.

When they don’t respond, I shake them harder, crying until I’m blind with tears.

“Eldrin!” I call, then I whisper, “What if they don’t wake up?”

My desperate question finally knocks him into motion.

Eldrin rushes forward and kneels down behind me. Laying his hands over mine on their chests, he says, his voice cracking, “I don’t know.”