Chapter 18
Vad
Briar folded her arms and turned toward me. “What are you thinking?”
“It sounds like Colm is planning something else.” I frowned, hating the thought of him breathing air in that room. “Calla Lily was wearing the shadow beast hairpin from Elara’s room. She had other family pieces too. None of them were enchanted, right?”
Elara stiffened. “My mother’s hairpin? That was never magical, just sentimental. Father bought it for her and said it was beautiful, like her.” Her voice cracked.
I nodded slowly, thinking back. I hadn’t seen Calla Lily with any jewelry that could potentially have residual magic. But if she and Colm had taken over the observatory and gathered the remnants of our family’s relics, there was a chance…just enough of one.
“Why would that matter?” Briar’s forehead wrinkled. “Magic isn’t working right now.”
“Some stones,” I said carefully, “especially ones tied to enchanted objects, hold fragments of residual power similar to portals. It’s usually dormant. But if someone found a way to extract it—”
“Like breaking it down?” Briar bit her bottom lip.
“Exactly.” I met Vyraetos’s eyes. “Could that restore power to someone like Colm?”
The old fae tilted his head, running a hand over the stubble on his jaw.
“Not without magic to manipulate and siphon the essence. But…if he’s desperate—and we all know he is—he might be trying anyway.
And we have no idea what else he’s found and what measures he’s willing to take.
If he finds a way, he will be unstoppable.
It isn't likely, but...it isn't impossible either.”
Not the answer I wanted. But it told me one thing—we couldn’t wait.
Siray stepped forward. Her mouth was a hard, angry line, but her voice was cold steel. “This affects me now, so let me be clear. I’ll help end Colm. I don’t care about you or your people, but I care about my family.”
She looked straight at Quen. “You were right. I threw you out. I didn’t care if you lived or died. If you weren’t strong, you were nothing to me. I’m not going to pretend to care now. I don’t. I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to end this.”
Her hand lifted, swiping at the corner of her eye before the tears could fall. “I love my family. If we break out the prisoners, my aunt and uncle will testify about what has happened. They’ll stand against Colm. I swear it. They’ve been starving in the dark while he rewrites the world.”
She paused, then added, “They won’t care about Briar or Vad being wed. Hell, they probably won’t even flinch at the idea of an Aureline with a Shadow Fae. They’ll care about survival. And they’ll burn Colm for what he’s done.”
“We won’t let the prisoners die,” Briar said. Even with our bond weakened, I felt her resolve like a spark, small but fierce. She looked at me, and I nodded, sealing the silent vow between us.
I turned to Siray. “I know your aunt and uncle. They are noble rulers. And even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t allow this to continue. None of us will. We’ll get them out.”
I scanned the room, weighing options. “With the shadow beasts in the caverns and tunnels and the palace exits under guard, we need a place the children and the vulnerable can hide. Maybe forty could stay here. What about the stables? Are they still accessible?”
Siray’s lips pressed into a tight line, her expression grim. “No. Colm’s forces blocked them off. Liya and I barely made it out.”
Disappointment pulsed in my chest, but not surprise. “How many guards are at the prison itself?”
“Between three and six.” Siray closed her eyes like she was trying to pull up the memory.
“But a dozen rotate through every few hours and take it in shifts. If an alert goes up, backup swarms within minutes. And now that they know we’re in the palace, they’ll double the patrols and keep an eye out for hidden passages. ”
“They already suspected secret passages existed.” Kaylen scoffed. “Colm even questioned me about them.”
Siray shot her a look. “Clearly, they didn’t know about the one we escaped through.”
I downed another mouthful of the fortified wine. I needed a clear head, and the sharp edge of the herbs helped me think faster and feel less.
What are you planning? Briar’s voice nudged into my mind. I had to focus on it like a sound from another room.
We might have a way in. I’ll take—
I’m going with you. Her response cut through like a blade. Her green eyes flashed, unyielding.
Despite the storm churning inside me, her fire made me smile. I pressed her hand to my lips. “All right. Here’s the plan. I’ll take a small team. If we can reach the observatory, we’ll take Colm prisoner or kill him.”
Elara tilted her head. “You think he’ll be there?”
“If he’s working on what we think he is, yes.” I didn’t need to question that. He was power hungry. I’d known it the moment I’d stepped into that awful prison. “And if we can strike before he regains magic, we stand a chance.”
Elara glanced toward Silus, who gave a slow nod. “Then we’ll hold this post,” she said. Her voice was firm, but shadows lingered beneath her eyes.
Thalen leaned forward with a low, deliberate cough. “I hate to be predictable, but no way in the forsaken hells are you going without me. I’ll pack light. I know you prefer the dark, but I’ll bring my own light source in case we get separated. Don’t argue. You need me.”
I opened my mouth, but Quen beat me to it.
“I can help—”
“No.” I lifted a hand, silencing her. “Everyone else stays here. Thalen is the only one to join us.”
I turned back to the two girls. “Siray. Kaylen. You will remain in the vesting chamber and follow Elara’s orders. If she prefers it, you’ll be bound.”
“I do prefer it,” Elara said coldly.
Kaylen’s jaw dropped, and Siray just nodded like she’d expected it. Elara pointed a pale hand at Kaylen. “Go clean yourself up in the storage closet. There’s soap and a sink. You reek.”
Kaylen scowled. “Is there hot water?”
“No. Why would there be hot water?” Elara didn’t even blink. “Quen, escort her. Myantha, grab rope from the supply crates. Vad, do you need anything else before you leave?”
The pride swelling in my chest caught me off guard. I crossed the room to Elara, studying her carefully. “Do you need anything before we leave?”
Her wry smile flickered. “Just two things. Come back alive, and take that bastard out.”
I placed my hands on her shoulders and pulled her into a brief embrace. “Father and Mother would be proud of you.”
A sharp ache bloomed in my chest. I pushed it aside. Not now.
She blinked quickly and lifted her chin. “They’d say the same about you and your bride.”
“You’re really going?” Rhielle stared at Briar with her arms folded and one brow raised. “You need rest, not another fight.”
Briar’s soft smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ll rest when we come back.”
Rhielle blew out a breath, then hugged her tight.
When she stepped back, her expression hardened.
“Then take Veralt with you. Please. I’ll stay here and make sure those two—” she nodded toward Siray and Kaylen “—don’t do anything stupid.
But you might need backup, and you know he’s better with a blade than I am. ”
I looked to Veralt, who was already striding over, setting a hand on Rhielle’s shoulder.
“It’ll be tight,” I said. “We can’t afford to make noise or draw attention.”
“Worse than the passage we were in before you got dragged off by a shadow wolf?” he asked.
I smirked. “Not unless something goes catastrophically wrong. You should have enough room, but your head may scrape the ceiling a few times.”
He grunted. “I've dealt with worse. I’m in.”
“Good. We leave in five minutes. Make your preparations.”
As the others moved, I stepped between Rhielle and Briar, gently guiding Briar toward the shadowed alcove near the door that led to the caves. Her shoulders were drawn tight, every line of her posture coiled with tension.
I cupped her cheek, the coolness of her skin stark against my palm. “Are you all right, Briar? Is your wolf…” I trailed off, not even sure how to finish the question without unraveling her further.
Her lips trembled, and for a moment, pain streaked through her emerald eyes before she locked it away behind a wall of composure.
“She’s more distant than ever,” she said, voice low. “And our bond… I can’t feel you consistently either. It’s flickering. I—” Her voice broke. “I don’t even know if I can tell anymore when someone’s lying.”
A quiet rage burned through me at all that had happened to her. More than anything, I wanted to fix it and take the weight from her shoulders.
I kissed her forehead, then leaned in, pressing my lips to hers and wrapping my arms around her.
The lack of a buzz at our touch emphasized the dampening of our connection even more.
“We’ll get through this. Whatever is severing your link to your wolf, we’ll find the answer.
If that means tracking down the Guardian Shadow Beast or summoning one of the others, I’ll do it without hesitation. ”
“I hate not feeling close to you.” Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper.
“I never thought I’d say this, but even when I can’t feel you through the bond, you're still everywhere inside me. You are my constant, no matter what. My love for you is just as strong, if not stronger.”
Her eyes softened, catching what little light remained in the chamber. “When did you become so sentimental?” she teased, though her voice trembled. “You’re such a sweet talker.”
“You’ve turned me soft.” I stroked a strand of her copper hair between my fingers. “You arrived swinging, ready to set fire to my entire kingdom, and I told myself I wouldn’t fall. But you proved me wrong in every way that matters.”
A smile tugged at her lips.
“I cursed Fate,” I said softly, “but I owe her everything. Because she brought me you. And once this is over, once we’ve secured the kingdom and saved our family, I intend to spend every moment reminding you of just how much I adore you.”