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

39. Tye

Alpha Blackwood led the way to dinner a few hours later. I followed him through winding hallways and down stone stairs, praying I”d be able to find my way back later. Occasionally, the glow of the sunset would shine through a slim window. But when I looked out, the only things visible were vines and leaves or more stone walls.

This place had an ancient feel, but it seemed to be well maintained, and the way servants scurried around carrying trays of food said they weren”t starving.

Could they somehow have developed a Forsaken civilization of some sort?

”Probably seems strange to mainlanders,” the old man said, interrupting my thoughts as he leaned close. The scents of the forest, machine oil, and moonlight came with him.

Could someone even smell like moonlight? It seemed unlikely, but at least it wasn”t a terrible smell. More than I could say for most of the people in the Capital, at least.

We finally passed through large doors into a massive room, and my jaw dropped.

I couldn”t help but be impressed by the massive hall of white stone. And was that — holy hells!

I gestured toward a pipe running along the wall beside me. ”What are those for?”

The man”s brown eyes lit up as he gestured toward it. ”This is one of my creations. The pipes form a network that carries water throughout the compound so everyone can have fresh water whenever they”d like.

There are similar ones in most of the buildings here.

Everyone thought I was crazy when I put them in a few years ago, but I swear they”d revolt if they had to go back to carrying buckets for bath water!” He chuckled softly.

Fascinating!

The Empire said that the Isle was backwards, deadly, and primitive. Yet this place had amenities that few in the Empire enjoyed.

I walked up and pressed my hand to the warm metal. ”It”s heated?”

He nodded. ”That was trickier. But I think we found the right temperature now. It just means managing the pumps and heaters, but with the growth of the pack, that hasn”t been as hard as I feared. Though the pups aren”t always excited about helping me out.” He ran a hand over his hair. ”I don”t blame them, though. It”s hard work.”

”It”s similar to what they use in the Capital. I worked —” I froze.

Was I really about to tell him I worked in the Capital and had contributed to their own hot water system before becoming an investigator, hunting mages?!

If it was their plan to get my guard down, it was working better than I”d anticipated. I needed to be more careful.

”— well, an acquaintance worked on the heating system for the palace, and they described something very similar to this.”

The older man patted the pipe. ”What I wouldn”t give to see a system like that. It must be beautiful. This here is just a bunch of old pieces of metal welded together.”

It looked pretty damn good to me. ”Do you, by chance, have any other projects like this?”

”That I do.” He nodded proudly. ”Was that what you did on the mainland? Worked on machines?”

I shrugged. ”It was more of a hobby than anything else. I started with rebuilding watches, then moved on to more complicated side projects, like an irrigation system for myself and a friend. Lately, I”ve been … working on a more elusive problem.”

He grinned. ”Well, I”d love to have you take a look at my work room one of these days! I”ve tried to recruit the pups in the pack, but none have a passion for machines, if you know what I mean?”

”I do.” I immediately felt guilty for saying that, but I had to admit it was the truth. Was it wrong to share the same passion as a Forsaken? Kings above. How did Jaiel do this all the time — keeping up his role up while also keeping it separate from himself?

Patting my shoulder, Alpha Blackwood led the way to another massive open room.

Everyone sat along long tables arranged in the middle, and to the left was a wide, empty platform.

They kept calling this place a compound or a stronghold, but in reality, it seemed to be some kind of ancient temple they”d repurposed.

”You”ll love our run tonight,” he said, gesturing for me to sit between him and the older woman from before. She seemed to be a medic for their group, if that was such a thing here. ”Perhaps I”ll even take you to the metal yard. I”ve had the pups gathering pieces for the past decade. I make the angsty teenagers work the forges, melting the old stuff into something usable. Keeps them out of trouble — usually.”

He chuckled, and I instinctively smiled back before catching myself.

I had to admit his invitation was intriguing, but it would never happen. I needed to find the witch and get out of here as soon as possible.

Clearing my throat, I prayed for a miracle and hoped the kings were listening, ”The run sounds great, but I — well, I”m not able to shift at the moment.”

He patted my shoulder. ”Ahh. Bonding not consummated yet?”

Shocked at the easy answer, I grunted, hoping it would suffice.

”All you young”uns, trying to avoid the mate bond ”cause you want to choose for yourself,” Corinne, said. ”The mate bond knows better, though. Plus, it”ll be the best sex of your life, let me tell ya. But does anyone listen to me? Nope.” She leaned in and lowered her voice. ”Just give in. It”ll make er”thing easier. And what are you really giving up? I bet you feel more trapped now than you ever will after you give into her.”

Alpha Blackwood grinned and shrugged. ”Grammy says it, so it must be true.”

I shifted uncomfortably, and he patted my shoulder again.

”Your shifting issue won”t be a problem. You can just ride one of the diyres.” He gestured toward the large stone door. ”You”ll get that bond consummated and be back to shifting before you know it. Maybe even before all the fun tomorrow night.”

A plate clattered onto the table to my side, and Finn scooted between me and Corinne, all elbows.

”Here. I brought you some food, too. The beans are good, but the graiel meat is the best. Great-Grammy is the best cook around.”

Corinne tsked and shook her head. ”Oh stop. You”re just try”n ta butter me up for more cake, aren”t ya?”

Finn smiled from ear to ear. ”Did it work?”

She laughed and nodded, ruffling his hair.

Something inside my chest tightened, and I resisted the urge to stand and walk out. I didn”t want to see any of this.

Where were the monsters? Where were the broken families and burned-out homes?

The Empire said it was impossible to use your magic without turning, but these people certainly weren”t wraiths, and there were no signs of the broken, fearful families that survived a mage who”d finally succumbed.

What did they do with those who turned? Or did they have some secret to keep themselves from turning?

More questions bit at me, but I didn”t dare reach for the answers.

My mind spun, and my breath came faster. I was losing control of myself — my emotions. Something inside felt … wrong.

Fuck. What would Jaiel do?

He”d probably flirt with someone, but I wasn”t good at that. I could calm myself, though. Perhaps if I imagined my work …

Forcing a slow, deep breath, I imagined the steady thrum of machines, the tick-tock of my watches, and the clicking of gears. That thing inside me settled once more, and I let out a sigh of relief.

”Enjoy the food. And there”s no rush, Tye,” Alpha Blackwood said, chuckling as he stood and placed his meal tray on a conveyor belt that carried it away.

Another of his inventions? I shook my head. I”d tried to convince King Crause to set up something like that years ago, but he”d always refused. Leave it to the strange Forsaken to do it first.

Alpha Blackwood turned back and motioned toward a large archway that split the opposite wall. ”Meet us out front in 30 minutes. Finn can lead the way, and I”ll have a diyre ready for you to ride.”

I nodded, glad we would be hunting soon. The sooner we found the witch, the less time I”d have to spend with these … monsters?