Bonds of the Forsaken: A Reverse Harem Romantasy (Her Forsaken Mates Book 1)

29. Kaiya

The clock struck seven just as I stepped into the hall leading to the study. Jaiel was close on my heels, balancing a tray of goodies Mrs. Harlsted had left out for us.

”You have to at least try.” Jaiel hissed behind me. ”You saw how important this is to everyone here. Besides, Mirrim asked you, not me!”

I looked over my shoulder and glared at him. We”d planned to broach the subject during dinner, but Liam hadn”t shown up, citing something about a shipment going awry. The Harlsteds couldn”t attend either, so dinner had just been Jaiel, Mirrim, Gram, and I. It had been surprisingly lovely — except for my dreading the post-dinner meeting, that is.

”Can”t you see how awkward it would be for me, of all people, to ask him to call off the betrothal?” I asked. ”He developed feelings for me, confessed those feelings, then I broke his heart. Remember? Besides.” I spun to face Jaiel, hands on my hips. ”Didn”t you promise to do anything for me earlier? Something about payment for lying to me for two years.” I narrowed my eyes. ”THIS is how you start to make it up to me.”

His jaw dropped, and his blue eyes darkened with admiration. ”Fine. I can talk to him. But what makes you think he”ll listen to me now when he hasn”t listened any of the dozen times I”ve brought this up before?” He gestured to the door behind me. ”It could be different if you do it, though. There”s a chance he may listen to you. Plus, you have leverage. Just tell him you won”t help the dragons if he doesn”t call it off.”

I forced my hands to unclench at my sides. ”I”m not going to do that. Unlike someone here, I don”t like to lie. What if you talk to him and I agree to chime in … if the topic comes up?”

Which it wouldn”t, because I was going to get out of there at the first opportunity — long before the betrothal came up.

”Fine,” Jaiel grumbled, stepping past me to push open the door with his hip — Liam must have left it ajar. He held aloft a slim bottle of wine in one hand and the tray in the other. ”I”ll hold you to that,” he whispered.

Nodding, I followed.

Liam”s study was smaller than I”d expected. The opposite wall was lined with bookshelves packed to the brim with books, and to my right was a small fireplace burning brightly. Beside it was a wide wooden desk covered in neat stacks of papers and books. Liam saw us enter and stood from behind the desk, face set in that now-perpetual frown.

He looked between Jaiel and me, then gestured toward the room. ”Good evening. Make yourselves comfortable.”

Gods. Would I ever get over how cold and not-Eli he”d become? It was as though the happy-go-lucky boy had been killed that night in the cave and replaced with this — this emotionless machine.

I shuddered.

Jaiel had already moved to the desk and sat the tray and wine atop it with a thud. Without even pausing, he lifted the bottle of wine, read the label, and grinned before pouring himself a full glass of the deep red liquid.

I shook my head, then walked over to join them.

Jaiel turned to carry the handful of treats he”d gathered from the tray to a wide leather settee near the bookshelves. With a satisfied smirk, he slumped into the chair, sprawling as though this were his study instead.

Gods-be-damned. Why was he making this so much harder than it had to be? Was he trying to drag out the meeting? I just wanted to be free from this place and back on our way to find the relic.

”Jaiel,” I ground out. ”Shouldn”t you sit over here with us?”

”No,” he replied, tossing a tart into his mouth. ”This is far more comfortable.”

Gritting my teeth, I turned to face Liam. The fire flickering to his right illuminated the planes of his cheeks, and those familiar freckles stood out against his pale skin.

Gods, he looked tired.

He gave me a moment to settle in before pushing forward a slim white sheet of paper across the desk.

”Here”s what I can offer you each week in exchange for your time and access to that ring,” he said, voice stiff. ”We”d start after you complete your mission, of course. You”ll see it”s very generous and includes lending you a spryke for your mission. Unfortunately, I can”t spare you any of my people, but I think the —”

”Wait,” I said, leaning forward so my hands rested atop the desk. ”This isn”t what I want. If I help you, it will be for the sake of the dragons — not compensation. The only thing I need is lodging for that duration.”

Liam”s expression froze for a moment, but he finally nodded. ”Very well.” He smiled weakly. ”I”m relieved to hear that you will help. I”ve been searching for a fix —”

”Wait.” I interrupted before he got the wrong idea. ”The stone in my ring is only a stop-gap — not a fix. It may help you — us — talk to the dragons. But eventually I and the stone willneed to leave. What we need to do is figure out what the sickness is and how to stop it.”

”Agreed.” He sat back face impassive. ”The quicker we get this done, the sooner I can leave for the Berserker stronghold.”

Jaiel cleared his throat, and I winced. I was not going to bring up the damn betrothal!

”In that case,” I interrupted before Jaiel could say anything. ”May I ask you some questions to help us with our mission?”

”I actually had a feeling this might come up.” Standing, Liam walked to a tall wooden cabinet with many thin, wide drawers and tugged open the first one. ”So, I prepared some maps for you two.”

He continued to rummage through the drawers for a few more minutes and I sank back into my chair.

”Psssst,” Jaiel hissed.

I ignored him and clasped my hands in my lap. Hopefully, the prince would get the hint and let the subject drop.

But of course I couldn”t be so lucky.

There was a rustle of clothes, the squeak of the settee … then Jaiel was standing right beside me. He leaned down so his face was beside mine and lifted his chin toward Liam, then motioned with his eyes between us.

I shook my head and mouthed ”not yet.”

He glared and rolled his eyes, mouthing ”coward” just as Liam turned around.

My cheeks heated, but Liam returned to his desk, seemingly none the wiser.

Forsaken hells. I was going to kill Jaiel when this was all said and done.

Liam cleared his throat, then placed three rolls of paper on the desk between us. ”I”ve marked these maps with the safest routes, though you”ll definitely want a spryke for all of them. Wraiths have become common in this part of the Isle. Most are designed to let you avoid the Preying Wilds — the forests north-east of here. They”re the Shifter”s territory and those wolves show little mercy to outsiders.”

”Unfortunately, Liam is right.” Jaiel chimed in. ”I don”t hate them like he does, but they do worry me. They”re fast, travel in packs, and can be — prickly. However,” he shrugged. ”I see no reason we shouldn”t be able to avoid their territory.”

”Avoid the forest full of body mage shifters,” I said, nodding. ”Sounds good to me.”

”Now, if your liaison is missing, or worse, as Jaiel fears,” Liam continued, voice stern. ”I”d advise you to turn back. But knowing you.” His gaze lifted to mine, single brow lifted. ”I assume you”ll ignore reason and continue on?”

”I”m not reckless … anymore.” I hissed.

Jaiel chuckled softly, and I shot a glare in his direction.

”But,” I continued. ”This mission is important, so we”ll need to continue on, regardless of whether we have support.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Jaiel shaking his head and glaring at me. I ignored him.

”What can you tell us about the Heartless Basin?” I asked.

Liam sat back in his chair. ”Honestly, if the Preying Wilds are dangerous, the Heartless Basin is a death sentence, even with a spryke. Centuries ago, the area belonged to the Druids — or spirit mages, if you want to be technical. But it”s so infested with wraiths and other monsters now that not even the Shifters or Berserkers go in there anymore.”

That”s exactly what Frexin”s report said, and it was why we needed those damn mechs. Fuck. ”Well, at least we can rely on Jaiel”s monster to gobble up any wraiths we encounter.”

”And the spryke,” Liam said. ”You”d be shocked how helpful they are.”

Actually, I wouldn”t. Not after what I”d seen in Gleyma. But he knew that. ”No. We won”t be taking your spryke.”

Liam”s eyes widened. ”Absolutely not. You must —”

”We don”t need one,” I said, voice stiff. ”And your village needs every one you have left. We will not be responsible for worsening your situation.”

He eyed me, then Jaiel, who just shrugged and nodded agreement, before finally sighing. ”Fine. But even without the wraiths, the other creatures in the Basin are a real threat. If you end up there, you must locate the hermit. He”s ancient and very eccentric, but somehow unaffected by the monsters. He”s your best bet to survive that place.”

”Perfect!” Jaiel said, grinning. ”See, Princess? I told you Liam here would have a solution.”

I rolled my eyes, and Liam shook his head. ”Unfortunately, I haven”t seen or heard from him in over a decade, though. In fact, I only even know about him because of a trip my parents took to visit him when I was young. If you can find him, though, he might be willing to help you. I”ll mark the spot on the map where I remember finding him.” Liam unrolled a map and reached for a pen.

”You found him?” I asked. ”Does he not have a home?”

He nodded without looking up from his work. ”As I said, he”s very reclusive. It”s rare that anyone sees him, let alone someone trying to find him. Your best bet, as I said, is to avoid the area entirely.”

He rolled up the map and put it back with the others.

Well, it was a solution … but certainly not a good one. Still, it was more than we had when we”d entered this room, and hopefully it wouldn”t even be necessary. Gods willing, tomorrow, we”d reach the support team and move on with the mission safely.

Speaking of …

Liam and Jaiel were staring at the wall, seemingly deep in thought. We had our answers, and they were distracted.

This was my chance to escape before the betrothal came up again.

”Thank you for your help,” I said, picking up the rolled maps and tucking them under my arm.

Liam nodded, then opened his mouth to speak, but I pushed on quickly.

”Well,” I said, turning on my heel and stepping away. ”I”m exhausted. Best I head off for bed. If we”re going to reach the liaisons before nightfall tomorrow, we”ll need to have an early start. Have a good night, you two.”

I made it two steps toward the door before strong fingers wrapped around my arm, and I looked back to see Jaiel staring at me with narrowed eyes.

Fuck!

He mouthed the words ”nice try,” and with a wicked smile turned back to Liam. ”I think Miss Maderoth almost forgot that she wanted to talk to you about something very important.”

”Important?” Liam asked, green eyes widening. ”What is it?”

”I — What?” My heart raced and my cheeks heated as I shook my head. ”No. Prince Kierstall is wrong. I need to head to bed. He was the one with some important questions.”

”Hmm. That”s not the way I remember it.” Jaiel cut in. ”I believe she had some questions about your betrothal?”

Fuck! That bastard knew I was going to run. Gods be damned.

Liam looked at me, dark brow furrowed. ”My betrothal? What about it?”

So close — I”d been so damn close!

Letting out a slow breath, I cast a longing glance at the door, then forced a smile. Jaiel was going to pay for this …