16. Losses
16
LOSSES
WYNSTELLE
“ I ’ll go,” I blurt out before Eldrin can sort through the difficult dilemma that the mage presented him with. I can’t allow Twyla to be sacrificed.
“Wyn!” Eldrin barks angrily.
My eyes lock with his storm-filled ones, and I recognize his anger for the terror it is. I understand it, because I feel it myself. I don’t want to go, but I know if we don’t comply with the mage’s wishes, she will have these crazed soldiers tear us all apart. Not only will my mates die, but my Elven guards, Rhys, Twyla, and all the human soldiers with us. If I can save them, I must try.
“Fuck!” Jaden grinds his teeth. “This is insanity.” He turns his horse to rush over to me and block my way to prevent me from volunteering.
With my mind-speak, I communicate to Oakes, “I don’t think the mage wants me dead. Maybe if I go with her, I can identify some secret or weakness. I can keep in communication with you the whole time through our telepathic link.”
“Princess Wynstelle is my citizen,” Eldrin announces with a steely tone. “She is also my mate. You cannot have her. I own her .”
I suck in a breath at his proclamation. It’s a sentiment I feared from the beginning—that the males see me as a possession.
“Wynstelle doesn’t have the authority to offer herself up to you,” Eldrin finishes.
“I want her,” the soldiers echo in unison. “Though I suppose your advisors will do. I will have one princess or two advisors. All of you will die if you don’t choose.”
“Eldrin!” I call to him, trying to convey my plea to say no to the evil mage. “You need them.”
“I do, but I need you more.” Eldrin grabs my arm and hisses a warning with his influence, “ Stand down .”
I glare at him but press my lips together tightly so I won’t be tempted to snap back at him during this dangerous moment. Maybe Eldrin has a plan to get out of this that I can’t quite see yet.
Eldrin looks at Oakes and Jaden. They nod their assent.
“My advisors,” Eldrin snarls, angry he must give them up. He presses forward on his horse to enter the castle, probably hoping to prevent the mage from making any more demands in these negotiations.
“No!” I cry out as I watch Jaden and Oakes ride forward with Eldrin into the mass of crazed soldiers. They use themselves to block the mage’s puppets from getting close to Eldrin as he enters the castle grounds through the wrought-iron gate.
What if they don’t make it back to me?
I spin around, looking at King Nathaniel’s soldiers, hoping they will stop this madness. But they only watch as Eldrin is allowed to pass through the castle gate without issue.
As soon as Eldrin clears the gate, it slams shut.
The bespelled Elven soldiers grab Jaden and Oakes, pulling them down from their horses.
I scream, believing they will murder my mates in front of me.
Instead, they vanish right before my eyes into thin air.
“Where?” I gasp. “How?”
The Elven soldiers turn toward me and give me a collective smirk. “No double-crossing me. I have your mates, and you can’t steal them back.”
Her soldiers press forward.
Merlara locks her arms around my waist and follows the retreating human soldiers.
“No!” I shout, fighting her. “I have to find them!”
“Not now. Let’s get you safe.” Merlara holds me tightly, so I can’t jump down to chase after Jaden and Oakes.
Realizing that I can’t break free to save my mates, I sag against Merlara.
Eldrin feels distant—our bond stretched and weakened.
I don’t know if my father will listen to Eldrin’s plea for peace. He might throw Eldrin back into the dungeons and abandon him to die from iron poisoning.
I can no longer feel the mate bond with Oakes and Jaden, leaving me feeling empty and broken. I fear what the Mage Weaver has planned for Oakes and Jaden.
As crestfallen as I am, I don’t experience the utter rending of my soul as before. It gives me hope they are still alive.
But if they are, how much longer do they have left?
And what could the mage’s plan be? Why would she want me? Or Jaden or Oakes? It makes no sense. It’s obvious by what I witnessed now that she is far more powerful than any mage I’ve heard about. Why would she bother with us?
The thought makes me shake with nerves. She allowed Eldrin entry into the castle because she believes it makes no difference to her plans for war. I fear she’s correct, and Eldrin just sacrificed my mates for no reward at all.