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

44. Kaiya

”Oh, of course you don”t know.” Mage Korym”s eyes widened, and he dipped his head into a slight bow. ”My apologies. When you and the mech team were flagged as missing, Lady Frexin released the second team. Nowhere near as special as you two, of course, but she has a timetable to keep. She even sent them via one of those fancy new airships! Something about accelerating the plans given new information. She”s tenacious, isn”t she?”

”Yes, of course,” I said, mind reeling. Could this be some kind of lie to keep us from completing our mission?

But what good would it serve? And, honestly, a replacement team sounded like something Lady Frexin would do … especially if she had new information about the relic.

”I hope to see you tonight,” Mage Korym said, bowing again. ”I feel like we have so much more to speak about.”

Then he left, disappearing into the crowd as quickly as he”d appeared.

”I”m sorry,” Jaiel said, concern tenting his brows. ”Our assignment is over before it even truly started.”

”I suppose …” I said, staring after Mage Korym as my stomach turned. ”Something about it doesn”t sit right, though. And I was under the impression she didn”t have any other options, let alone an airship to spare.”

”Sorry, you two,” Alpha Blackwood interjected, walking up to us. ”Those Empire folk are like raeches — nasty little buggers who keep popping up everywhere regardless of what you do to squash them. Even the Guardian”s protection isn”t enough to keep them all away!” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder. ”If Japhire didn”t insist on keeping that one around, I”d have had him run out of here months ago. That smell is just —” He shuddered.

Smell?

So he felt off to me, and smelled off to this body mage? There had to be something amiss with the man. And if so, could we truly trust his intel about the backup team?

Perhaps he was just trying to make trouble for us.

Jaiel met my eyes, then patted the older man”s shoulder. ”Don”t worry. I”ve dealt with him several times before. He”s unpleasant to be around, but mostly harmless.”

Gritting my teeth, I nodded.

We”d talk later, when there weren”t so many people around.

Alpha Blackwood”s face relaxed, and he gestured for us to follow him. ”Well then, let”s get you inside. You”ll have to excuse the chaos. Everyone”s rushing to finish preparations for tonight.”

I put aside the problem of the mission for a bit and followed him inside.

We stepped through a beautiful white stone archway, and my jaw dropped.

Holy hells!

Every uncovered stone held ornate, beautiful engravings of words and pictures — messages from mages nearly 1000 years ago or before.

Gods, what some of the Science Division agents would give to study those!

A massive hallway stretched out ahead, and rich wooden double doors lined the walls. The end of the hallway opened into a cavernous space full of music and loud voices, and Alpha Blackwood led us towards it.

We stepped into the room and every other thought fled my mind.

It was bigger than the throne room in the Palace. And where that room was gaudy and obnoxious, this was both grounded and popping with life and festive decor.

Long, colorful banners hung on the stone wall to our right. And beneath each was a wide wooden cart in the process of being covered by various food and drink items.

To the left, a group of people practiced on string instruments, and beside them, a dance floor was being set up.

At the back, dozens of large, round wooden kegs were stacked against the wall. Alcohol, perhaps?

And in the center of it all were rows and rows of tables, mostly empty at the moment.

I stared in amazement, just soaking it all in. Everything felt so … alive. Alive in a way that even the festivals back in Gleyma hadn”t.

And that councilwoman back in Dragon”s Peak hadn”t been lying about how enormous the clan was, either. There were so many people here that it was practically bursting at the seams!

”Are these all body mages?” Jaiel asked, echoing my own wonder.

The older man nodded. ”Many of our people have moved into reclaimed fortresses and strongholds across the forest, but they all return for this festival. Unfortunately, at the moment, it”s also the only place that”s safe from the mountain wraiths — our own little haven. If only there were more room.”

Voice trailing off, he gestured for us to follow, and led the way through the crowd. Most people moved aside when they saw him, but I had to jump several times to avoid children scampering around as their parents carried decorations or talked with friends.

One boy giggled and nudged a little girl with vibrant red pigtails. Cheeks pink, she stumbled toward me, then pursed her lips and ran her hand down my leg, marveling at the soft leather before dipping her chin and running away, a merry giggle on her lips.

I grinned and stared after her.

”You like kids?” Jaiel asked, his voice soft.

”I haven”t been around them much,” I shrugged. ”But maybe. You?”

”Not my style,” he said, eyes stormy, and for a moment I debated asking more. But Alpha Blackwood was already nearing the other side of the room.

I gestured toward the older man. ”We”d better catch up.”

Jaiel nodded and led the way.

People everywhere were laughing, sorting food, wrapping silverware, and eating bites of the food they were preparing. It felt so homey and warm that I almost wanted to stop and join them.

What would it be like to live here? A place where you didn”t have to hide who you were or worry about dangerous relics.

A loud growl of ”Fae scum” was the only warning we had before a large glob of saliva came hurtling toward Jaiel”s feet.

The prince jumped backward too late, shock widening his features as it slid slowly down his boot.

Everything went silent as we stared in shock.

What in the seven hells?

I searched the faces nearest us for the offender, but Alpha Blackwood was already storming back, wide shoulders stiff. Reaching out, he gripped a mountain-like man by the neck, lifting him from his seat with one hand. The bald man had a sneering smile that turned into a scowl as he met the alpha”s eyes.

Alpha Blackwood”s features darkened and sharpened in response, his human face shifting until it resembled a furious, snarling wolf.

I stepped back instinctively, reaching for my scimitars as the large man struggled under the alpha”s grip.

But the older man squeezed tighter and leaned forward until their noses were practically touching. He snarled softly, eyes unflinching … practically daring the other man to do more.

And for a moment, it almost seemed he might as the snide man growled and held the alpha”s eyes.

Alpha Blackwood let out one more snarl, and his chest rumbled menacingly. ”Your pack lost, Holden,” he growled. ”Let. It. Go.”

With a wince, the other man relented, dropping his gaze, and exposing what little of his neck the alpha”s large hands weren”t covering.

Alpha Blackwood nodded, then released his grip, and the smaller man dropped to the floor.

The alpha helped steady him, then brushed off his shoulders. ”Oh, and tell my son to come speak with me before your pack leaves.”

Holden dipped his head in assent, careful to avoid his alpha”s eyes as he turned and strode away, shoulders stiff.

Letting out a long sigh, Alpha Blackwood turned to Jaiel and held out a hand. ”I apologize. My son”s pack is feeling bitter after his loss yesterday, and I”m afraid they —” he shot a glare over his shoulder. ”Well, they tend to make trouble when they”re feeling upset.”

Gods. The last thing we needed was to get involved in some kind of pack dispute …

”It”s nothing to worry about, though,” he rushed to add, offering us a smile. ”Truly. My son challenges me every year, and every year he loses. Gotta hand it to him, though — he is persistent.” Shaking his head, he dipped into a small bow. ”I hope you know you”re welcome here, Jaiel. We body mages have no issue with the Fae.”

Jaiel dipped his head, cheeks a little pink.

Alpha Blackwood gestured toward the far wall. ”Unfortunately, I must get back to my work. Too many things left to do and not enough time. Faera will show you to your quarters.”

The dark-haired woman dipped her head toward the older man, then motioned for us to follow. Her jaw was tight as she strode toward an undecorated stone wall.

When we reached it, she pressed her palm to something faintly carved in the stone — a strange symbol made of intersecting circles and triangles.

A loud grinding sound reverberated through the wall, almost drowning out the other sounds in the room as a door slid open, revealing a narrow stairway leading down into darkness.

Fuck. A cellar? Or a dungeon?

I froze.

”Come on, Blondy. It”s not a request,” Faera said, gesturing for me to follow her into the darkness. ”Plus, it”s not that bad. You”ll see.”

I gritted my teeth. Fine. I”d survived a dungeon before. I could do it again.

My knees felt weak, and the scar on my back tingled, though, as I stepped into the darkness.