Bonds Eternal (Fae Hearted #4)

25. Insider

25

INSIDER

WYNSTELLE

T he petite brownie cautiously steps closer to me, coming all the way inside the darkened cell, and answers my question, “My name is Darra.”

“I’m Wyn.” I smile to show her I’m friendly and that she can relax in my presence. “Thank you for protecting my mates.”

The little fae blushes and lowers her eyes. “It’s the least I could do after you helped free Lalo and her family. You have been a friend of the little ones since you were a youngling. Besides, you left me offerings as well.”

“You were the one who cleaned my room?” I grin wider. “Thank you for your service.” I crouch down to look Darra in the eye. “I need to know what is going on here in the castle. Why didn’t we see anyone the entire way to the dungeons?”

“King Magnus told them all to leave,” Darra explains. “The mage took them through a portal hidden under the castle.”

“Do you know why they would do that?” I ask, confused about how the tactic will benefit their war efforts.

Darra looks over her shoulder at the doorway to the cell, still worrying about speaking out against the king. She lowers her voice. “I’ve been here for over a hundred years, and I have noticed the king has been acting stranger and stranger over the last couple of decades. He doesn’t even seem like the same elf that he was when I began here—not that he was ever particularly friendly. But now, he hides in the throne room for days.”

“Do you have a guess what is wrong with him?”

“He’s grown more suspicious and angry. Hateful.” Darra looks again at the door where Eldrin ran out. “The king doesn’t even have love for his son. I know when the Queen died almost twenty years ago, he was affected, but his moods suddenly took a darker turn than what you would expect from the loss of a mate. Many said it was because of the realm war, but I don’t think that’s true.”

“You are certain he is working with the mage?” I prompt. “Mage Idril?”

Darra nods. “Uh, I may have… accidentally overheard them speaking together,” she admits. “But I’ve heard her plotting with Commander Turgon, too.”

She looks hesitant and I encourage, “You can speak freely to me. I won’t mention your involvement.”

“I believe they are using magic on the king,” she says and her eyes widen as if she is surprised she’s confessed.

I don’t think I used influencer magic on her. No, she’s been waiting for someone to believe her.

“Do you think they were using a spell to manipulate him?” I glance at Merlara, her eyebrows raised in shock.

“If my senses are true, then yes. Definitely using a kind of influencing magic on him.”

“Is Turgon under the same kind of spell?” I ask.

“No, I don’t think so. From what I’ve heard, he is working with the mage of his own volition. He wants the kingdom for himself.”

I stand up straight and bite on my fingernails, thinking of what to do. “If that’s so, then it isn’t Magnus who we need to stop. It’s Idril and Turgon. I need to tell Eldrin!” I hurry to the door, but Merlara catches me by the arm.

I spin around and glower at my former keeper. “Don’t you dare stop me. If Eldrin kills his father, and it turns out the king was just a victim too, he won’t forgive himself.”

Merlara smiles, looking proud. “I was just making sure you take this.” She holds up the long metal baton that I dropped on the floor when we found Oakes and Jaden. “Go. See if you can use Eldrin’s influencer magic to break the spell over the king. We’ll protect your mates.” Merlara nods to Darra and the two human soldiers.

I take the baton and gesture for Captain Oliver to join me. “Let’s go.”

We hurry up the stairs, and when Daylor sees me alone with the captain, he appears confused. “Where are you going, Princess Wynstelle?”

“I have to stop Eldrin from attacking his father. I believe the king is under a spell,” I explain.

“Truly?” Daylor asks, but then slowly nods. “It makes sense, actually.” He steels himself. “I’m going with you.”

I gesture for him to lead the way. He’s far more familiar with the castle, whereas I would easily get us lost in the labyrinthine halls. Daylor charges forward. I work hard to keep up, but I’m appreciative that he takes me seriously.

The halls and doorways seem to flash by, and my head spins, worrying for all three of my mates. What will I find when I enter the throne room?

I’m just starting to become fully aware of the magic inside me. I focus and notice that it exists as a swirling pool, growing smaller or larger, depending on how much I use or replenish. At the moment, it doesn’t feel like much at all. It’s sluggish, as if my emotions, my fears, are weighing my powers down. It makes sense that, just like my chaotic mind, my magic would be affected.

I’m a storm of emotions right now. Jaden and Oakes seem lost to me. Eldrin might soon be gone too.

But I have to push all that out of my mind, gather my wits, and focus on helping him. Perhaps I can even help Magnus break the spell cast over him.

That bit of optimism triggers the thought that I might be able to use some of my power to bring back Jaden and Oakes—after I stop Eldrin from killing his father.

In the distance, voices boom from the throne room, echoing down the wide corridors. Daylor glances back at me and slows his hurried pace, trading speed for stealth.

When we are still several strides away from the opened door of the throne room, Daylor whispers, “Until we know what is going on, stay close and hold on to my arm to remain under my concealment magic.” He turns to Captain Oliver. “Stay here unless it looks like she needs you.”

Oliver gives him a curt nod.

Daylor adjusts his sword in his hand, readying himself for whatever we might be running into.

Eldrin screams a battle cry.

His father answers in kind. A shiver runs down my spine.

The crashing of swords shatter the focus I was building up in the last few moments.

They are already fighting.

King Magnus is known to be one of the best with a sword in all of Ryven, even beating Jaden. Eldrin isn’t even close to that skill level.

Will the spell make the king less effective with a weapon?

Will Eldrin’s protectiveness over his people make him more deadly? Or will his emotions make him more chaotic and off-centered?

Daylor offers his elbow to me so that we can stay in direct contact and allow his power to conceal us as we enter and assess the situation.

I take his arm, gripping him harder than I mean to.

Will I arrive only to see my mate being cut down?