Chapter 51
Camryn
One minute I’m flying through the skies in Caelum’s massive arms, and the next I’m being plucked out of the clouds by a fucking dragon.
Caelum’s magic ripples to life as soon as Isolde’s claws wrap around my body. I’m going to be honest—seeing him use his magic for me makes me a little hot. But Isolde’s icy magic quickly extinguishes the flame and any hope Caelum has for freeing us.
I look at him, assuring him it will be okay. It will. It has to. But the look of absolute fear and guilt in his eyes nearly shatters my heart.
When the palace comes back into view and Caelum understands Isolde is delivering us to the place we wanted to escape, he roars like a madman.
Either Isolde has a hint of compassion in that frozen heart of hers, or she is just sick of his yelling, because the next moment, Caelum goes limp.
I look up into the eye of the beast before my vision goes dark.
That’s the last thing I remember before being woken by a high-pitched ringing in my ears. My ribs burn when I take a breath, and my eyes flicker open to see the great hall filled with smoke and dust.
Black and red blur in my vision. I turn my head to see Caelum crawling to my side.
His lips are moving and his eyes are wide.
I can’t hear him over the ringing. I try to sit up, but he throws out his hand, keeping me down.
I blink up at him. His wings rise high and wide behind his back, and they look like they’ve been sucked up and spit out of a vacuum cleaner.
My eyes scan his face. His lip is split, leaving a trickle of blood running down his chin. He still looks annoyingly beautiful.
He grips my hand, and I squeeze his, reassuring him I’m okay.
The shrill ringing dulls, and the sound of frantic voices takes its place.
“Camryn!” Rory? I try to sit up again, and Caelum’s hand slides behind my back and head. A sharp burst of pain in my side makes me hiss, but I push through it.
Squinting through the dust, I see my friend huddled with Soren and Mei across the room before another voice draws my attention.
“Camryn?” Caelum breathes. His hands slide up to frame my face, forcing me to stare into his deep amber eyes.
“I’m okay,” I say, clearing my throat. “I’m okay.”
That’s when I hear laughing. A deep, unfeeling laugh. The king stands on the dais, his eyes glimmering and a proud grin plastered on his harsh face. “Quite the entrance, my dear Isolde. Bravo.” He claps his hands, his long fingers clicking together like daggers.
Caelum’s voice pulls my gaze back to him. “Are you hurt?”
I swallow and shake my head.
He wraps his arms around my shoulders and helps me to my feet. I wince as my muscles strain against my ribs. He tucks me close to his side and his jaw clenches as he takes in the scene around us.
I sense someone behind me, and I turn to see a woman with dark wavy hair and bright violet eyes pad across the floor. The woman who haunted my dreams with the king. The one Aurora thought she could trust.
Isolde saunters to Arc, who gets to his feet. She runs a sharpened nail across his cheek, and he stiffens. “Good to see you again, my lord. Her eyes flash to me. “Looks like you’re still keeping secrets.” Caelum steps in front of me.
Arc remains silent, but glares at her as she turns away and strides toward Draven. His eyes shift to black as she walks toward him.
Isolde sways her hips as she circles the incubus, her finger tracing along his shoulder. He keeps his indifferent stare locked ahead, his chest slowly rising and falling with his steady breaths.
“Did you miss me?” Isolde whispers. She presses her lips to his ear, but her voice carries across the silent room.
“I hope you aren’t too mad at me, love. I promise to make it up to you later.
” His dark eyes slide to the corner of his lids, glaring at her as she makes her way to the king waiting on the dais.
She lowers herself to sit precariously balanced on the armrest, looking too perfectly placed beside the evil ruler. What a pair they make. Could that be me? Could I see myself standing beside them, sitting atop a bloodied throne, ruling over creatures I can’t imagine in my worst nightmares?
No. I won’t let that happen. Caelum straightens, stretching back his arm to grab my hand.
I choke down the lump in my throat, contemplating if I should shut Caelum out of my mind. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to you.
You won’t have to. The king isn’t getting out of here alive.
My heart flutters at his words. I hope he’s right.
The king’s sharp voice resounds off the walls, commanding my attention. “We finally meet in the flesh, Dreamer.” His eyes slide to Caelum protectively between us. “And what have we here? Caelum, my traitorous warrior. I see you have something that belongs to me.”
Caelum growls and his wings splay out behind him, sending a breeze rushing past my face.
“She is not yours. And you will not touch her.” Magic crackles to life around Caelum at his proclamation.
The king takes a step off the dais and tilts his head, studying my winged mate.
“Can it be, the fallen seraph has mated with my Dreamer?” The king’s mouth gapes open in surprise.
Then his head tips back with laughter. “How unfortunate for my Dreamer. But I can sever that bond just as well.” He gives Caelum a malicious glare.
“Or perhaps I will leave the bond intact and she will live in agony at losing her mate by my hand.”
Bile rises in my throat and my heart pounds in my chest. I grip tightly to Caelum’s arm.
Before my next breath, Caelum roars and a ball of fire flares from his fist. I watch it hurtle toward the king before it collides with a ball of blue magic, creating an explosion that fills the space with raining sparks.
When the air clears, the king glares at Caelum with annoyance. “There will be none of that. You’re just a rat with wings. No matter how powerful you may feel because of your mating bond, you are nothing compared to me. Now sit and be quiet.”
With a snap of the king’s fingers, Caelum’s legs buckle beneath him and his hand is ripped from mine, shackled behind his back with the other. I watch in horror as his mouth clenches tightly shut, and he thrashes on the floor, cries muffled behind his muted lips.
I turn my gaze to the king. “Stop! You’re hurting him!”
The king chuckles. “Oh, my dear, if I wanted to hurt him, I would. Now, come. Let me get a look at you.” He stretches a hand toward me, a disgusting grin on his face.
“Camryn, don’t!” Rory takes a step forward, Soren putting a protective arm in front of her waist. Arc watches me from a few feet away and his head shakes slowly. I glance down at Caelum, who’s staring up at me wide eyed.
Blood rushes through my ears, and I focus back on the king. He keeps his eyes locked on me, but his arm lifts with a single finger raised in warning. “Everyone will remain where they are or I will turn you all to a pile of blood and bone without blinking an eye.”
My heart lurches to my throat as I frantically scan the room. No one moves.
“Come now, Dreamer. Or Camryn, is it?” The king’s voice turns pliable.
I narrow my eyes at him while Caelum shifts on his knees beside me. “What do you want from me?”
He sighs, dropping his arm. “I told you. You’re powerful.
And we can build a new realm, fill it with loyal subjects and rule forever.
This land is tarnished. Soiled by the impure blood of humans and half-bloods.
” He places a palm over his chest. “I mean no offense. I can see that you are not fully fae, and I can’t help but feel the Cauldron is trying to teach me a lesson.
But we deserve to live in a land fueled with untapped power. People will bow at our feet.”
Caelum breathes heavily beside me on the floor. He tips his head to look at me with soft eyes. I try to give him a reassuring smile, but my lips only quiver. I slide my gaze to Arc.
“Why are you doing this? Why did you curse him? Can’t you just set him free and build the realm you want yourself?” I ask the king.
King Caledor’s expression softens, and he takes another step toward me.
“Do you believe I wished to curse my only son? I have only ever wanted to protect him. My methods may be harsh, but I do it out of love.” He continues to walk slowly toward me.
Caelum shifts, trying to position himself in front of me.
Arc watches his father stalk closer, paying his son no mind.
Aurora’s soft voice floats through the room. “Camryn, that’s not—”
“Silence!” the king hollers, pinching his fingers together.
My friend’s voice cuts off, but her lips move frantically. I glance around the room. Everyone looks as if they are speaking—yelling—but no sounds escape their lips.
The king stops several feet in front of me.
“If I’ve learned anything from my existence, it’s that you can’t always get what you want.
Sacrifices have to be made. I cursed my son because he put his faith in the wrong people.
Look where that got him. Following his heart only led him to trouble.
And those choices have consequences.” King Caledor takes a deep breath.
“But I can see you care for this land, for these people. And you certainly don’t want to see them die, do you? ”
My eyes well with tears, and I shake my head.
“I didn’t think so. And to answer your other question, I can’t do this alone. I need a powerful Dreamer like you to help me create a new world. You have no real purpose in this realm. You can live up to your full potential in a new domain.”
The king takes another step. “If you agree to join me in a new realm, I will release Arc from my curse. He can take the crown, ruling over Silverveil however he sees fit. Him and your friends—your mate—can live free, happy lives. In peace. Forever.”
My head spins, and my breathing is rapid. This is it. This is the choice I have to make. I either sacrifice myself or everyone I love.
Camryn, don’t. Caelum’s voice in my head startles me.