Unleashed Witch (The Primordial Queen #3)

18. Elzora

18

ELZORA

“ W here is the idiot anyway?” Ryes asks, looking around the breakfast table.

“I’m right here,” Jasper mutters a little wearily.

Ryes bursts out laughing. “Surprisingly enough, I’m not talking about you this time.”

“Then who are you talking about?” Jasper asks. “You’ve not even been talking to anyone.”

“Oh,” Ryes says, narrowing his eyes a little. He glances around the room, presumably looking for who said something mentally, before sighing. “No idea who said it, but we’re on about Mael.”

“He’s out on an assignment,” Eirik says, putting his crossword puzzle down. He’s been doing these with Necos lately, although the time witch isn’t here right now to do one with.

It’s kind of cute, even if it’s more of a rivalry thing than a genuine effort at bonding.

Things are tense in the castle, and every day, the bonds between each of my men seem to fracture and darken further.

It’s been four days since I’ve bonded with Vexus, and they’ve been hectic for everyone except me. My guys are working with Anomus and the rebels to learn about how they can be of use.

My lessons are a priority, but they’ve been shuffled all over, and it’s more of a grab whoever is around and work on something than something that has any structure.

The threat from Etonik is hanging over our heads, and both princes are unhappy about waiting for him to share his grand plans.

“I was wondering where he was,” Vex says, raising his hand. Ryes beams at the soul witch, grateful he answered the questions. “It’s meant to be his turn to practice with Zoe today, and I was curious if he’d show up.”

“Oh,” Ryes says, not actually bothered that my fire witch isn’t here. “Well, I can do it, ZoZo.”

“You’re terrible at doing it,” Etrix says, coming into the room with a smirk on his face.

“Don’t be a dick,” Vexus snarls as Ryes’s face drops.

I reach over for my air witch’s hand, squeezing it gently under the table. Whilst I’ve learnt it’s best to not get directly involved in the fights, as that is always the thing that blows them up further, I won’t ever shy away from offering comfort and love to whoever is sad because of it.

Unless that person is myself, and then I just beat myself up for causing this situation in the first place.

“Is that what you say to yours to get it to work?” Jasper asks seriously.

They all start laughing, even Ryes, but I just roll my eyes.

Immature. They’re all so immature.

“You’re all very mean,” I say, letting go of Ryes’s hand to pick my cup of tea up. “But where’s Necos? He said he’d take his turn today if Mael wasn’t around.”

“He’s out on assignment, too,” Vex says, giving me a soft smile. “Everyone is getting pulled into preparation for whatever Etonik has planned.”

“Don’t ruin my morning talking about that miserable fuck,” Etrix demands. “I barely slept last night, and I’m in a foul mood.”

“Why don’t you try and have a nap?” I offer.

Etrix smiles at me but shakes his head. “I wish I could, princess, but I’ve got lunch with my mum today.”

“Oh, you absolutely should go,” Ryes says beaming at me.

I flinch, not sure if it was me who tried to invite myself or if Etrix wanted me there.

“You’re always welcome to come,” Etrix says with a grin. “My mum is desperate to spend more time with you, and honestly, I think she might have a little insight on what is going on with Aria and her men.”

“You never mentioned that she talks to Aria,” Eirik says. He tries to smooth out his frown, but one that deep can’t be hidden.

Jasper and Vexus are both smirking, eagerly enjoying the show, but Ryes is clutching at his head, resting his head on his forearm.

“Are you okay?” I ask, rubbing my hand up and down his back.

He grimaces. “I’m okay.”

“Ry?” I murmur, not even needing to use my magicae to sense that lie. “What can I do to help?”

“I need Zohar.”

“What for?” Jasper demands, leaning over with a very interested look. “What’s wrong with you?”

“None of your business, terrae rubigo ,” Ryes snarls, lifting his head up to glare at Jasper.

“Please don’t fight,” I beg.

“Fuck this,” Jasper hisses, storming away from the table.

“Whoa, what’s going on?” Eirik demands, his eyes falling to Ryes. “Zoe, love, can you call for Zohar?”

I nod my head, tugging on the bond, without letting up on the back rubs I’m giving to Ryes. The air witch seems to relax under my touch moments before Zohar arrives.

“What’s going on?” Zohar asks, looking around the table with a nervous expression. “Are you okay, dragonfly?”

“She’s fine, this was for me,” Ryes says. “Can you do your, you know.”

Zohar does know and nods his head, reaching over to touch his fingers to the back of Ryes’s neck. It takes a few seconds for him to completely relax, and I never realised how much tension he was truly carrying until it left.

“Did that help?” Zohar asks silently.

“Um, I heard that,” I offer, raising my hand in the air. Both Zohar and Ryes turn to look at me, the latter smirking. “Just so you can have some privacy.”

Ryes grins and shakes his head. “I’m okay, ZoZo. I have ADHD, as you can probably guess, and Zohar helps me out sometimes with his magicae. He can sort of calm my mind when things get too bad.”

“But you seemed like you were in pain just before,” I say, frowning. “Is witch ADHD different to human ADHD?”

“Probably a little,” Zohar says, reaching into the middle of the table to grab a slice of Jasper’s forgotten toast.

“The pain was a headache from the ferocity of the thoughts in the room. Sometimes my own brain moves so fast that I can’t slow down enough to focus and calm my mind, which then makes it harder on me when I hear everyone else’s thoughts because it’s like they’re all competing for brain space.”

“That sounds awful,” I whisper, leaning forward to brush a kiss against his cheek. I let my magicae soothe his soul, and he smiles at me.

“Some days are worse than others,” he says with a shrug. “But Zohar helps.”

Zohar nods. “Always. I’ll check back in later on, but reach out if it wears off before then.”

“If what wears off?” I ask, blushing as Zohar gives me a pointed look. “Sorry, I got a little overexcited.”

“She likes learning things, don’t be a dick,” Etrix says, snapping at the water witch.

“I wasn’t—” Zohar starts.

“You can explain,” Ryes says with a shrug. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but it’s stupid to hide it.”

His words sound pointed, but as I look around the room, I can’t imagine who he’s directing them to.

“I can calm his mind temporarily,” Zohar says. “But Ryes’s brain is wired this way, so there’s nothing to fix like there would be if you broke your leg or nose.”

“I’m just mentally fucked,” Ryes says with such a cheery disposition that doesn’t match the words.

“You are not,” I protest, reaching for his hand. “Your brain just functions differently to ours—it doesn’t make it broken.”

“Zoe’s right.” Zohar’s tone is resolute, and he grins at me. “The calming effect I use tends to wear off after about three or four hours, depending on how much Ryes accepts it.”

“And today, I really wanted it, so I’m sure it’ll last an hour.” Ryes shrugs and beams at me.

“Guys,” Etrix says, dragging out the ‘u’ sound.

“What?” Zohar demands, but both Eirik and Etrix are holding envelopes, just as another appears on the table right in front of me.

It’s a gold envelope with the name ‘Elzora Myxere’ scrawled prettily on the front.

“Fuck,” Ryes and Zohar say at once.

I tentatively reach forward, and at all their nervous looks, I murmur, “ Detego .”

I wouldn’t put it past the King to coat my envelope in something dangerous or even just mildly hurtful to mess with the guys.

“Fuck me, this is why you date the smart girl,” Ryes says, beaming at me. “We’d never have thought to check it.”

“There’s nothing on it.” I tear open the envelope and grimace at the words in front of me.

Elzora Myxere, you are cordially invited to The Royal Showcase.

Bile burns my throat, my eyes pricking with tears, and I jump up from the counter, rushing to the sink. I gag as the contents of my stomach empty, and, of course, Zohar comes to my side.

I feel disgusting, but all I can think about is the Royal— gag.

“Get it all up, dragonfly,” Zohar soothes, pressing his hand to the back of my neck. Somehow, it’s almost icy cold and offers a lot of relief.

“What does it say?” Etrix demands.

Ryes reads it aloud. “Elzora Myxere, you are cordially invited to The Royal Showcase. A parade, exclusive interview, and meet and greet with the lost Primordial Princess.”

I whimper, turning around to look at them all, shaking my head. “He can’t… I can’t be forced to do this, right?”

“I’m sorry, my love,” Eirik says, rising from the table, and the slow and careful way he approaches me panics me far more than a simple ‘yes’ would have.

“A parade? If I don’t get to submit a design, I’m going to be murderous,” Ryes says.

“Really, bro?” Zohar says, giving Ryes a dirty look. “Now is not the time.”

“I can’t do this.” I shake my head, pleading with Eirik. “I can’t do this.”

“It’s not ideal, but?—”

“Not ideal?” Etrix snarls, jumping up from his seat to glower at his brother.

Zohar tugs me back into his chest, his magicae desperately trying to help ease my laboured breaths.

“Our father is a fucking cunt who has picked the worst thing for our girl to endure just so she can be introduced to a world that’s already forgotten about her. The worst thing.” Etrix spins around, launching his fist into the wall.

I shriek, and my magicae flies out, fixing the wall and wrapping him in a protective shield so he can’t harm himself if he does it again.

Zohar’s arms tighten around me.

“It’s going to?—”

My vision fades, and my head lolls back against Zohar’s chest.

I look out at the roaring crowd, a smile forming on my face, just for a brief moment before everything erupts into chaos.

Magicae attacks flying through the air.

Screams.

Blood.

Death.

“Fuck,” Ryes utters, his face pale as we lock eyes. “Did you just really see that?”

“It’s the future.” I look down at my trembling hands and clench my fists to try and stop it.

“What happened?” Etrix demands, inching towards me.

“Breathe, dragonfly, breathe,” Zohar commands.

“That is—” I cut off as Vexus materialises in front of me, and I tilt my head in confusion. I felt a weird fluttering feeling that I just know came from him.

He’s wearing an athletic outfit—a long-sleeved t-shirt to hide that his runes have changed and are no longer visible from those not in our bond, and a pair of dark green, tracksuit pants. His feet are bare, but it’s the concerned expression on his face that alarms me the most.

“What did you just do?” I ask, rubbing at my bond mark on my chest.

“Came to where you were,” he says dismissively. “What is wrong with you? Your panic is drowning me, Zoe, I can’t breathe—how are you even standing here functioning?”

“It’s genuinely that bad?” Etrix asks, sounding so miserable.

I shake my head as both Zohar and Vexus respond in the affirmative. I suppose, to them, who aren’t used to living with anxiety like I am, that maybe it feels that way, but to me, this is not even the worst it’s ever been.

“We’re having a parade,” Ryes says cheerfully. “One with blood and death and attacks on our anima nexum organised by King Etonik himself.”

Vexus lets out the most vicious snarl, and before I can even blink, he rounds on Eirik, his fist glowing gold as he punches him in the face.

My shriek doesn’t do a single thing to stop the continued punches from Vexus, and I hate that Eirik isn’t fighting back, isn’t stopping it. Zohar’s arms cage me in, not letting me go to physically intervene. My tears cause my eyes to blur, and my magicae is so out of control that I don’t trust myself to try and help.

Punch after punch is all I hear, and it causes my stomach to roll once more.

“Sh, dragonfly. I’ll help him.”

“You can’t take the pain away that he’s already endured.” I sniffle, trying to calm down, but it’s hard when Eirik is covered in blood.

“That’s enough,” Etrix snarls, getting off his chair and not even bothering to rush over to where Vexus is pinning Eirik to the floor. “Get off my brother, virga lucens miserabilis .”

“Pathetic glow stick?” Vex snaps, glaring up at Etrix. “You’re the light fairy, you infirma excusatio fax lucis . You’re next for letting this shit show happen.”

“Neither of us wanted this to happen,” Etrix says, snapping his fingers, and two strands of light appear, and they’re thick like ropes. Etrix seems to guide them to Vexus, and I don’t know what the threat is, but Vexus sneers before jumping up.

He whirls around to face me, but I can’t even look at him right now, not when Eirik’s laid in a pool of blood. His face is swollen, almost disfigured, and there’s blood from his nose and ears.

Zohar drops his arms, and I charge over, skidding on the tile floor as tears pour down my cheeks once more. I’m as gentle as I can be, but Eirik hisses as I cradle his head in my hands.

I feel Zohar’s magicae brushing against mine as we both work to heal my elemental witch, and even as his face returns to normal, I can’t let him go. He looks so… broken.

“Eirik thinks he deserves it,” Ryes reveals, and I bend down, pressing my lips to Eirik’s forehead. My heart hurts even thinking about him blaming himself for this.

“Don’t you dare feel like you have to take my guilt,” Eirik says calmly. He’s not moved, despite being fully healed, letting me fawn over him, and I appreciate that more than he knows.

“I do know, love, I can feel it,” Eirik murmurs silently. He squeezes my knee with his left hand, and I nod, reaching under my glasses to try and wipe my eyes.

“Fuck, you’re an idiot,” Etrix snarls, glaring at his brother.

Zohar coughs lightly, and everyone turns to him. “The first lesson you should learn when you have an abusive narcissist as a parent is that their actions are never your fault . You might try and take the blame or feel like their behaviour reflects on you, but it does not and never will.”

Vexus shakes his head. “I can’t believe the two of you have let this happen. You’re meant to be protecting her.”

“And we will do everything in our power to keep her safe,” Etrix hisses.

“You came here and have blown this situation up worse than it already was for me,” I say softly. Everyone quietens down, looking at me, but I don’t look away from Vexus’s light blue eyes.

His face contorts in pain, but I don’t try to reassure him.

I can’t.

“You hurt one of mine, Vexus. We don’t hurt each other, no matter what.” I shake my head when he opens his mouth, and he sighs, shutting it again. “This is the kind of behaviour that destroys families. None of this is Eirik or Etrix’s fault, but the upset in this room right now is yours.”

“I’m sorry, Eirik,” Vexus says, and I can see the authenticity of his apology.

“Don’t worry about it,” Eirik says, squeezing my knee once more before getting up from the floor. He dusts himself off and leans in, giving Vexus some weird one-arm hug thing. “It was deserved.”

“He was feeding off Zoe’s anxiety, too,” Zohar adds. “Probably couldn’t help himself.”

Ryes and even Etrix both reassure Vexus that his reaction was understandable and completely okay.

My throat burns as I hastily rise to my feet. They might be able to accept it, but right now, I cannot. He took a situation that was already out of control, and terrifying, and anxiety-inducing, and made it worse because he wouldn’t control himself.

Vexus’s eyes widen, and he steps towards me, reaching out.

“Not right now,” I say, moving back. My tone wobbles, and I hate that it betrays me. “I’m upset, and I’m not feeling ready to forgive.”

“What do we do about the parade, then?” Ryes asks, trying to dispel some of the tension in the room.

“We do what we’ve always done,” Etrix says before smirking at his brother. “Correction—we do what I have always done. We go to Anomus and tell him the problem and do our best to fuck it up for the other side.”

“We’ll have to loop in Necos and figure out what we’re going to tell Mr Downey, too,” Eirik says with a heavy sigh. “He might not be on our side or getting kept in the loop, but we need to be wary around him and play the game.”

“It’s all well and good playing games,” I whisper, looking at the envelope on the table. “But what about the innocent people who get trapped in them?”

“War always comes with a cost, and the lives of the innocent is often the biggest one.”

Hearing their thoughts isn’t always a blessing, but in this instance, it’s just the confirmation that we’re currently in a position where we can’t help the people we were born to lead.

The sick feeling in my stomach is one I can’t do anything about because, to me, it’s deserved.