Unleashed Witch (The Primordial Queen #3)

17. Elzora

17

ELZORA

“ T ell me, why does her power scare you when it’s the only thing keeping her safe?”

My eyes fly open, turning my head to see a dark witch and a light witch standing together at the edge of a mat, glaring at a water witch who is in the centre of one. I don’t know which of them said it, but the tension between the three of them is intense.

I rub at my chest, and it’s strange that the brand from Vexus is already a familiar warmth that comforts me when I’m anxious. It’s an eternal reminder that he’s here with me.

I don’t need to be anxious, though. The three girls are younger than I am—early teens, maybe—and don’t read as a threat. The dark witch and the light witch are twin sisters, and I think that the dark-haired water witch is their cousin.

Maybe. I can just tell that they’re related but not directly.

“Only thing keeping her safe?” the water witch snarls, her ebony hair sparking at the end, as she glares at the blonde dark witch. “She’s the reason we’re here in this hovel.”

After my session with my… Anomus and Necos, I’ve been in this training room alone. It’s quiet and has no real magicael energy signature. There’s a few mats but no equipment or anything that could disrupt the vibes.

It’s nice, and I’ve found it very relaxing. Well, until these girls have come in to pick a fight with one another.

“Hovel?” the light witch demands, rolling her eyes. “Get over yourself, Adrina.”

“Don’t talk to me like that,” the water witch snaps, tears welling up in her eyes. She sniffles, and I feel her emotional pain like an echo of my own.

“Is everything okay?” I call, rising to my feet. I cringe as all three of them whirl around to face me.

“How long have you been there?” the light witch demands, tugging her sister closer, as she edges closer to Adrina. She’s immediately gone onto the defensive as if she sees me as a threat.

Adrina dries her eyes, her ebony hair losing some of the magicae that was clinging to it, and frowns at me. “Who even are you?”

“Don’t be rude, Addy,” the dark witch hisses before bowing her head at me. Her green eyes are alight with embarrassment. “We’re sorry to interrupt you, Princess Elzora.”

“Um, Zoe is fine,” I offer, hating the way Adrina’s green eyes widen in fear, and the light witch drops her eyes to the ground, her blonde hair covering most of her face like a mask. “I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop?—”

“We’re not trying to hide anything,” Adrina insists. “We’re just…”

“Angry?” I offer when the three girls exchange looks. “How long have you all been on the compound?”

The dark witch gives me a timid smile. “Two weeks now. Our parents are…”

“Dead,” Adrina finishes with another sniffle. “We’re stuck here because we’re targets, too.”

“Why?”

The three girls exchange confused looks, and it’s the light witch who speaks up.

“Isn’t it obvious? Our parents supported this cause, and it’s put us in danger,” the light witch says, tossing her golden blonde hair over her shoulder. She’s not that much shorter than me, but her confidence is something I could only dream to have.

“Don’t worry, we don’t blame you,” the dark witch says, trying to give me a reassuring smile. “Ila didn’t mean to sound as if it was your fault.”

“No, of course, I didn’t mean that,” Ila says, frowning at her sister. “Don’t act as if I’m blaming Princess Elzora, Lina.”

“Both of you stop,” Adrina demands, glaring at the sisters, before turning to me. “I’m sorry we disturbed, um… whatever you were doing in here.”

“What were you doing in here?” Ila asks, looking around the empty room.

“And how did you stay hidden from us?” Adrina adds, excitedly.

I bite my lip, feeling a little uncomfortable at the weight of the attention from the three teenagers. They’re eager, excited, and very… nice .

“Um, I don’t know. I was just meditating.”

“Huh, I’ve never meditated before,” Adrina says, looking at her… cousins with raised brows. “Does this help channel your magicae or something?”

“I don’t know,” Lina says with a frown.

“I meditate in the sun, if that counts?” Ila asks, looking to me for approval.

“I’m going to be honest, I’m so confused,” I say, and the three girls burst into giggles. I look around the room, wishing anyone else was here to intervene right now.

“Are you okay?” I ask, looking Adrina up and down. “You’re in pain.”

She grimaces, their giggles all silencing. “I’m fine, honest.”

“No, you’re not,” Ila snaps. She turns to me. “Adrina’s terrified of dark magicae.”

“You’re scared of dark magicae?” I ask, looking directly at the young water witch. She flinches but nods slowly. “Why?”

“A dark witch killed our parents,” Lina says quietly. “I’m… I don’t want to be like them.”

“Like who? Your parents or the person who killed them?” I ask as gently as I can.

“Like the person who killed them,” she admits.

I smile, edging a little closer. “You won’t ever be like that person, I can promise you that. Being a dark witch doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.”

“And when my cousin can’t even sit in the same room as me when I use my magicae?” Lina asks, and the pain I feel from her is just as strong as that of Adrina. “When she’s crying herself to sleep, and I can’t do anything to help?”

“I’ve never blamed you,” Adrina protests.

“You don’t need to blame her for her to feel guilty,” Ila snaps, glaring at her cousin. “We lost our parents, too, Addy. This isn’t just your pain.”

“And yet, you two have each other,” she hisses, shaking her head as tears fall from her eyes.

I feel awful for watching this, for being an onlooker to the pain and trauma these girls are enduring. They’re terrified and lonely, and I have no idea who is their guardian or what kind of support they’re receiving.

“ Placare ,” I mouth the word, not wanting to say it any louder and draw their attention. My gold energy surrounds the three girls for a brief second as the fight fades out of them.

As the pain is soothed.

“The three of you are clearly terrified,” I say, keeping my tone as soft and gentle as possible. “How old are you?”

“Thirteen,” Ila and Adrina say at once. Lina just nods her head, agreeing with them.

“Related through mum or dad?” I ask.

“My dad, their mum,” Adrina says with another sniffle. “My dad was a light witch, like my auntie.”

“Who is watching over you now?”

“There’s a section of the compound here for orphans,” Lina says, tapping her hands against her thighs in an anxious move. “We’re just waiting to be sorted out.”

I frown. “And by sorted out, you mean?”

“We’ll be moved into the permanent housing, matched with a counsellor, be enrolled into classes—” Ila starts, but she quietens at my gasp.

“You’ve not yet had mental health support?” My eyes are wide as I take in the three girls, and anger fills me. “I’m going to call someone here who can help the three of you whilst I go handle this.”

Not that I know what I can do about this, but I know that denying three young girls mental health treatment and support after their parents were murdered is absolutely horrific.

I’m ashamed that Anomus would treat kids in his compound this way, but even more alarmed that Vexus hasn’t intervened. Just being in their company has caused genuine pain to my soul. How could he miss this?

“Close your eyes, girls,” I command, and they do as I tug on the bond I share with Ciar. As expected, my dark witch arrives within thirty seconds.

“ Mo sholas, are you—who are they?” Ciar demands, his tone changing as he frowns at the girls.

“You girls can open your eyes,” I say gently. They do, and I can sense the alarm from Ila. “This is Ciar. He’s a dark witch, and my anima nexum . We’re bonded, as you’ll be able to sense, and he’s one of the best men I know.”

“You were harmed by someone like me,” he says, looking at each of the girls with a furrowed brow.

“Their parents were murdered by a dark witch.”

“They’re terrified, mo sholas ,” he says, not moving his eyes from the dark witch who is huddling into her sister. “Why am I here?”

“Because I need to go do something to help them, and I just… I know that you can help.”

He nods his head, brushing a soft kiss to my knuckles before facing the girls properly.

“What year are you girls in at school?” Ciar asks.

“High second,” Ila says curiously.

“So, you’ve not started offensive magicae, yet, right?”

“No,” Adrina says with a frown.

“We’re going to go through to the training room, and I’m going to teach you all some tricks that should buy you time against a dark witch.”

“Buy us time?” Lina asks. “I don’t want to buy time, I want to know how to escape one—how to protect myself.”

“And, eventually, you’ll learn how to harness your magicae to the best of your abilities, and you’ll learn the best way to handle every branch of witch,” Ciar promises. “But right now, the three of you are terrified of dark witches, and since one of you is a dark witch, that’s a little problematic.”

“Are we… I don’t know if I feel safe,” Adrina whispers, her pale blue eyes flickering to me.

“We’ll be safe as long as we stick together,” Ila promises, tentatively reaching her hand out for her cousin to take.

A part of my soul heals when Adrina actually takes the offered hand, and I silently thank my dark witch as he leads the girls out.

I don’t know how I’m going to fix this, not really. I don’t know how any of it is really done here, and I don’t want to go and make demands to my… Anomus.

I sigh and leave the room, following the corridors to try and find someone. Anomus, Vexus, Necos, Etrix… honestly, I’ll even take Eirik. He’ll have no qualms about making demands.

“Hey, princess,” Etrix calls, and I pause, walking back towards the room I’ve just gone past. I peer inside, spotting Etrix, Eirik, Zohar, and Mael.

Perfect.

“Hi!” I grin, waving at the men, trying my best to not get distracted by the naked chests. It’s very hard, considering all four of them are marked with my runes, and they’re very attractive.

The reason for their half-nakedness is that they’re clearly training. I don’t think they’re sparring, but they’re all covered in thin sheens of sweat.

That shouldn’t be as sexy as it is.

“I can’t help that I’m sexy, princess.” Etrix winks at me as I blush.

“That’s a happy welcome,” Mael says, raising his brows. “What do you need, Ellie baby?”

“How do you know I need something?” I ask shyly.

The four of them grin.

“Not only did we hear your ‘targets found’ thought,” Eirik says with a laugh. “But you’re practically vibrating with relief at seeing us.”

“What’s happening, dragonfly?” Zohar asks.

I quickly recount the situation with Adrina, Ila, and Lina, and Etrix sighs as Eirik seems to get frustrated.

“I don’t see how this is our issue,” Mael says, and we all turn to glare at him. My fire witch holds his hands up and shrugs. “Sorry. I’ll just go back to working out and shut up.”

“Smart,” Zohar says with a nod. “Or I think Zoe might cry, and we all know that’ll crush you more than I’d need to.”

Mael rolls his eyes, but I see the nervousness as he quickly takes me in. Luckily, I’m not angry enough to start crying yet, and I’m not upset enough either.

I’m in that lovely middle spot where my tears are firmly locked away.

“This was one of the fucking concerns I had,” Eirik snarls, the words vicious and biting as he glares at his brother.

My heart skips a beat as the knot in my stomach tightens uncomfortably.

“Eirik,” I murmur, looking over at the dark-haired prince. He raises a brow. “What are you… how do you…” I sigh, dropping my head, letting my hair cover my face.

I feel like I’ve brought this problem upon us, and I feel terrible.

Eirik has barely come to terms with the rebel plans and being in this organisation, and on the first real day, I’m already messing with his tenuous understanding.

“Zoe, love, don’t hide from me,” he says, reaching over to take my chin in his hand, lifting my head. “You’re worried about three young girls. You have done nothing wrong.”

I bite my lip. “I know.”

He lets out a heavy sigh, letting go of me, and I miss the warmth of his touch. He waves his hand, the door closing on its own, and some kind of barrier forms around the room we’re in.

“What was that?” I ask.

“Can you sense it?” he counters, and I let my magicae assess it.

“Silence barrier.”

He nods his head, shooting Etrix a dirty look before turning back to me. “I’m not happy with my brother, Zoe, as you know. But the fucker nearly died, so I can be nice.”

“Don’t use my near death as an excuse,” Etrix drawls. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Except join a criminal organisation and tell nobody?” Zohar offers.

I sigh, dropping my head. “I don’t think?—”

“No, love, please don’t try and argue his case for him,” Eirik says gently. I nod, shame overtaking me again. “But when I agreed that here was safest, I made my decision to see this through. You do not need to worry about me going back on my word.”

“Eirik’s pissed, princess, but he’s not going to walk away,” Etrix adds. He’s got a grim look on his face as I meet his eyes. “Trust me.”

I feel an internal tug from Eirik, and I smile.

“We’re bonded, darling. I’m not going anywhere.”

“She’s worried about what happens if you don’t like what you hear,” Zohar says, and I nod my head, tears pricking at my eyes.

I wrap my arms around my waist, trying to not cower back as I meet Eirik’s icy grey eyes. “I hate that it’s because of me that I dragged everyone into this. I know that it goes against everything you believe in… and it just makes me feel guilty.”

Eirik sighs. “Your safety is everything to me, Zoe. Everything. Being here is not something I abhor, and it’s not something I’m doubting. Not anymore. Your dad?—”

I flinch, looking up at him with wide eyes. “You know?”

The three men exchange looks, and I see the way Mael tenses, despite not facing us.

“We know how it works in a bond, dragonfly,” Zohar says gently. “But this is something Anomus had the right to share with you.”

“No, I get that,” I whisper. Why do I feel so unsure now that they know?

I’m anxious and nervous, and I just feel so guilty. Am I moving too slow?

Do they think I should be able to accept it and him faster than I am?

Am I… is this another one of those areas that I’m messing up because I never grew up in this world?

“If you did grow up in this world, Ellie baby,” Mael says, turning to face me with a burning intensity in his gaze, “you’d have learnt what we all did. That Anomus killed your mum and dad. You’d have been horrified to meet him. Terrified, even. Growing up away from this has meant that you have the chance to truly start fresh with him and learn to love him as your dad—without any of those preconceived notions.”

“That’s true.” I sniffle, wiping away my tears.

“Trust in me and our bond,” Eirik says, stepping closer to me. “Don’t doubt that I’d walk away from you or this.”

“I’m trying,” I murmur, reaching up to cup his cheek.

He brushes a tear from my cheek and smiles. “From the day we met, I knew you were my anima nexum . I knew our souls were destined, that our lives would be intertwined. We’ll get through it and come out the other side.”

“Now that you’ve had your moment, I want mine,” Mael demands. “Share with me your love.”

“Not right now,” Eirik says firmly, and I smother my giggles. “Right now, we’re going to figure out this situation.”

“Look, I don’t know much about the process,” Etrix says, giving me a guilty look. “That’s not my job. I find them, and I bring them in.”

“You found the girls?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “No. They’d never have sent a light witch if it was a dark witch doing it, just in case.”

“How many people do you have living in the world that aren’t actually living here ?” Eirik asks.

“Lots,” Etrix replies. “Our people only move here when they need to or when they want to. Most people are living out in Mitagus, acting similarly to how we do for our job. They do assignments when needed, report back to their superior on whatever, but for the most part, they’re just living their lives.”

“Interesting,” Eirik says before shaking his head. “But not the point. At the end of the day, what’s happening to those young girls is not okay.”

“It’s not,” Etrix agrees. “Your best bet, princess, is to bring it up to either Vex or Anomus.”

“But what do I say?” I ask, wringing my hands together. “It’s not like I’m in a position to cause problems, but they’re terrified and need help.”

“We’ll go together,” Etrix promises. “You, Rik, and I can go cause some trouble.”

“I don’t want to cause problems, E,” I whisper.

“We’re not causing trouble,” Eirik corrects, giving his brother a warning look. “We’re going to alert the leaders of this place to something that is being missed so they can solve it.”

I’m miserable as I let them lead me down the corridor to Anomus’s office. My heart is louder than every step we take, and the bickering from the brothers only adds to my anxiety rather than soothing it.

I feel like I’m being escorted to the principal’s office to be yelled at, and the constant eyes on the three of us from the people we pass isn’t helping matters.

Etrix doesn’t bother knocking as he barges into Anomus’s office, which makes me frown, but Eirik follows him in immediately.

“Boys,” Anomus says with a grin before turning to me. “Elzora. Are you okay?”

“She’s not,” Eirik says, not holding any punches as he immediately outlines what I stumbled across.

Anomus’s face draws together, annoyance clear to see, as Eirik talks, and I end up having to hang my head to avoid looking at my… at my dad.

“Vex is fucking up,” Etrix says bluntly. “I thought he was meant to assess each new person that arrives?”

“Don’t blame him,” Anomus says with a shake of his head.

Etrix groans, moving over to sit down. “Your golden boy can make mistakes, you know.”

“Enough, Etrix,” Anomus warns. “We don’t have a permanent place for the girls right now, that is true. But they should have full access to mental health care, physical care, and our education system here.”

“So, why haven’t they?” Eirik demands. “When I agreed to come and be part of your organisation, I did so with the impression that you actually cared for the people in your midst.”

“And I do,” Anomus snarls. “Sometimes, things are missed, and I’m glad this has been brought to my attention. It will be handled today, and everyone involved in this fuck-up will be spoken with.”

“Thank you,” I say quietly. “They’re in pain, all of them.”

“I’m sorry you had to feel that,” Anomus says gently. As I look at him properly, I see the leadership side of him has completely disappeared from his body language as he talks to me.

He’s just… my dad.

“I don’t want to cause problems.”

He shakes his head, smiling at me, and it’s such a kind look. “You aren’t. You’re doing your job, lux animula mea . You’re helping your people.”

“Ciar’s working with them now,” Etrix adds. “Letting them beat him up.”

“And I appreciate that,” Anomus replies. I’m not sure why I’m surprised that his tone changes.

It’s a good thing, right? That my… dad cares? That he doesn’t just see me as a solider?

“It’s a good thing, love,” Eirik promises, taking my hand in his.

“It will be handled, I promise, Elzora,” my dad says, and I look into his eyes properly. “Are you staying here tonight?”

I shake my head, and his face drops. “We’ll be at the castle. King doesn’t feel comfortable here.”

“King?” he asks with a frown.

Etrix bursts into laughter, and even Eirik’s lips twitch.

“Do I even want to know?” Anomus asks with a heavy sigh as he drops down into his office desk chair.

I grin at him as I show my wrist. He frowns. “I bonded with my witchmea—King. He’s the King of all witchmeas.”

His eyes widen before he, too, laughs. “You’re a wonder, love, you’re a true wonder.”

“That you are,” Eirik adds, brushing a kiss to the top of my head. I look over at Anomus, not sure what to expect with the PDA in front of him, but he’s just smiling at me.

Everything feels weirdly good right now. So, why am I so scared to actually enjoy it?