Bonds Eternal (Fae Hearted #4)

28. Mage

28

MAGE

WYNSTELLE

W ith the foreboding feeling still humming in my bones, I scan the clearing behind the mage temple but see nothing that looks awry.

We haven’t dealt with the Mage Weaver yet, so Eldrin, Merlara, and our Elven guards have their swords ready to protect us from any potential threats.

The human soldiers carry my unconscious mates to the temple.

I try to shake off my anxiety as a case of frayed nerves and move ahead of the pack to open the doors and alert our arrival to Mage Neven. It must only be my worry that I’ll lose Jaden and Oakes to this spell, and the fact I’ve taken Turgon’s life and failed to save the Elven King.

However, Eldrin must sense something is off as well and orders, “Merlara, Daylor, can you check the perimeter for any unusual activity? Use your powers of concealment.”

They hurry off to check.

As soon as we are inside the temple, I know for certain that something is wrong.

Usually, the mage’s space has a peaceful energy. Now, the beautiful temple feels like the stone and plastered walls are ready to crash down on my head.

I look to Eldrin to confirm my suspicions, but he appears to still be in shock from what he did to his father. Perhaps the orders he gave Merlara and Daylor were standard precautions. I feel through our mate bond connection and sense he’s about to lose his composure. His worried gaze falls back to Jaden and Oakes.

“Mage Neven!” Eldrin calls out. “We need assistance.”

I want to cover his mouth and hush him. It feels like he’s announcing our location to a predator.

“So good of you to finally join us,” a hypnotic female voice winds itself into my ears, coming from nowhere and everywhere. Then a stunning Elven mage appears from around the corner. Her elegant hand holds a knife under Commander Rhys’ chin, pressing it into his flesh. A strange light shaped like a rope is coiled around Rhys’ body, keeping him bound and compliant.

Eldrin hisses to Corwin and Baelen as he points to the unconscious Jaden and Oakes, “Keep them safe.” Turning back toward the beautiful elf, Eldrin says in an icy tone, “Mage Idril, I assume.”

The mage smirks. “I had hoped you weren’t as stupid as you seemed.”

He looks pointedly at Rhys. “Forgive my ignorance, but what is it you hope to achieve by taking a human hostage?”

“I expect to achieve my objective.” Idril arches a delicate brow and tilts her head toward the soldiers. “First, his men standing next to you are going to leave us be and join their fellow soldiers gathered in the meeting hall, or else their commander will die.” She smiles coldly at Eldrin. “Then you and I are going to have a private little chat.” She jerks her blade, demonstrating her conviction, and drawing a trickle of blood from Rhys’ throat.

Captain Oliver gives Eldrin an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. Most of us owe Rhys our lives. Good luck.” Then Oliver quickly leads his human soldiers out of the room, hoping to save his commander’s life.

“Why would I care if you kill this man?” Eldrin asks flippantly.

“You might not, but your human mate worries over this one’s fate.” Idril grins and weighs her heavy gaze on me. “Don’t you, pet?”

“I’m not a pet,” I hiss.

“We’ll see about that.” Idril grips Rhys’ magical bond tighter, making him wince. “But don’t take the pet designation personally. Every mage here is under my control and are my pets too, and they are far more significant than a lowly human.”

Eldrin growls and slowly shifts closer to block Idril’s attention on me.

From the healer’s wing, Mage Abela enters the room, pulling Mage Neven along by the hair, the point of a knife at her throat.

It’s not a good omen when someone as powerful as Neven has been captured. It doesn’t bode well for us. Why didn’t the seer see this coming?

“And now, I will have you—the pathetic, unworthy heir to the throne,” Idril gloats, grinning at Eldrin. “I hear there’s a recent vacancy.”

“You don’t have me.” Eldrin scoffs. “I won’t bend the knee to you.”

Magic gathers around the large room. However, my abilities aren’t developed enough to sense the source. Perhaps there is more than one practitioner drawing in power.

A moment later, Mage Abela’s knife flies from her hand and away from Neven’s neck.

The blade rattles noisily as it hits the floor. Abela curses and dives for the weapon.

Freed from her hold, Neven kicks Abela’s knife away and pulls her own blade from somewhere inside her robes.

Neven brings her knife to press into Abela’s throat, making her the hostage now. “I can’t believe you betrayed us like this,” Neven says to her underling.

“Because you are an arrogant fool… just like the prince,” Abela hisses back.

“Enough!” Idril shouts, somehow still sounding in control.

Neven narrows her eyes at the Unseelie Mage. “Do you really think you can stop destiny?”

“Destiny?” Idril scoffs. “I won’t let the prophecy come true.”

“What prophecy? What is the point in all of this?” Eldrin demands.

“To rid the realms of humans. They will be our downfall—our end!” Idril screams. She looks to Neven, willing her to understand. “You know this is true. With their very existence, they steal our power, our magic—draining our plane of reality to feed their own. We will all die if we do not rid ourselves of these deadly parasites.”

“Perhaps elves will die off eventually . Or maybe we can become something more.”

“We are more than enough,” Idril lifts her chin, dismissing the possibility.

“Elves have long been stagnant as a species,” Neven argues. “If we embrace humans, blend our blood with theirs, we can survive.”

Blend our blood? I thought humans and elves couldn’t create offspring. Is Neven suggesting otherwise?

“ We wouldn’t survive. We wouldn’t be what we are—pure magic incarnate,” Idril insists. “These mutts you expect to save us will be something else entirely. They’d walk between fae and human, being neither and belonging to no tribe.”

“If you have seen this vision for yourself, then you know this is meant to be,” Neven says. “Yes, new species, new creatures, and new ways of being will emerge—new clans. The stars have aligned to bring forth a new era.”

“New monsters !” Idril sneers. “Creatures who will feed on blood or sex to survive. Half-elves who will be made into beasts and so many more atrocities.”

I shiver at the thought of having children with my mates who would be feared for being one of these monsters. Can this really be the way of the future? I’m still confused about why Idril fears such a future. Blending the species shouldn’t be possible.

“But we can’t make offspring together,” I whisper.

“You will, if I allow you and your mates to live,” Idril sneers.

Why would my mates and I be able to change this? Is it because of my changeling connection? Then why did Idril create the bond in the first place?

No, it has to be bigger than just me.

“Idril, don’t do this. Don’t harm them. Wyn is our hope for a future.” Neven attempts to reason. “Yes, our descendants would be different. But they will also not be so different. They will have our magic, intelligence, and longevity as well as a human’s depth of emotion, creativity, and resilience.”

“This is not the Elven way. We need to keep the species separate—pure. Then I will wipe the humans from existence.”

“Keeping elves on top of the predatorial hierarchy?” Neven asks. “That’s all you care about? Your perceived superiority?”

“We are the best. We should rule.”

“You did not allow my father to rule,” Eldrin cuts in.

“ He made a pact with the human king. We should have begun the annihilation of all the humans twenty years ago. On top of this mistake, he wouldn’t allow me to kill the princess. Instead, he had her secreted away, keeping her hidden from my Sight .” Idril then glares at me. “But I knew you would surface eventually, like an awful curse.”

Was King Magnus more compassionate than I realized? Was he the reason I survived at all? I swallow down the thought for now.

Through our bond, I sense Eldrin spiraling with the same questions.

“Speaking of curses.” Idril uses her free hand that isn’t holding Rhys hostage to flick a slender finger toward Eldrin.

He sways. I reach out and catch him. Using all my strength to manage his heavy body, I ease Eldrin down to the floor as he collapses into a deep sleep—the same as Jaden, Oakes, and Twyla.

I stand, clenching my fists at my sides.

I don’t know how, but I’m going to stop Idril, even if I have to kill her.

Even if I must die myself.