55. Tempest
55
TEMPEST
W e finally got Brenna to stop crying and took her down to the throne room, waiting outside while someone gave the signal that she’d arrived.
Drask flew behind us, and thankfully, Brenna didn’t appear to notice. Or, if she did, she no longer cared. He landed on the back of a bench nearby and watched us, his head tilting one way, then the other.
We stopped in front of the huge wooden doors, and while Reyla fluffed Brenna’s dress, I blotted her eyes. No one would think much of a bride’s tears; they’d assume she was overcome with joy. But streaked cosmetics would only make her look garish.
As if such a thing mattered.
We’re here, I told Vexxion. Let the game begin.
My hand shook, and my heart kept flinging itself around inside my chest. A mix of excitement and anticipation surged up my throat, and it was all I could do to swallow it back. I’d worked hard to get to this moment.
Soon, Kinart. Soon.
I’d kill his murderer with the blade Vexxion would place in my hand, and my friend could then rest in peace. Maybe after that, things would improve for my fellow Nullens.
May the fates give me the strength to see this through. May they protect me. And may this plan succeed.
One of the guards cleared his throat before they opened the tall wooden doors. Music swelled inside the throne room, lilting through the opening in a pretty tune that was a sharp contrast to what would happen in a short time.
Reyla gripped Brenna’s shoulders and stared into her eyes. “You look lovely. You’re the prettiest bride I’ve ever seen.”
Brenna sniffed and jerked out a nod.
When Reyla stepped back, I gave Brenna a quick hug, taking care not to crush her dress or flowers. “You can do this. We’re proud of you.”
Reyla nodded, her gaze seeking mine. She was as worried about this as me, though for a completely different reason.
“You’re right. I can do this,” Brenna whispered. Her bleak gaze skated back and forth between Reyla and I. “Thank you. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” Her chin stiffened, and resolution filled her eyes. She sucked in a breath and while it sagged out of her, her spine remained straight. With a nod, she tightened her grip on her bouquet and sedately walked into the throne room.
Reyla and I followed, ensuring her dress flowed beautifully behind her .
As we paced down the aisle with light music lilting ahead, I heard the flutter of Drask’s wings as he entered the room. When they stopped, I assumed he’d found a perch where he could watch.
I kept my gaze lowered, though I took in all the fae lords and ladies dressed in their finest from the corner of my eye. They stood on either side of the aisle, huffing and whispering about Brenna. A few sneered, but that was to be expected. Others smiled and a few wiped away tears.
The king waited beside the arch at the end of the room with the high advisor and Kerune standing to his right. An elder dressed in a pristine black robe watched us through rheumy eyes as we made our way toward the king.
I didn’t see Vexxion, but he had to be here somewhere.
Finally, we reached the end of the aisle.
Brenna walked slowly over to stand beside the king. Reyla and I arranged her train before taking our places on her left. My fingers twitched at my sides. I wanted to pull a blade if only to draw comfort from it. I hated being unarmed.
Silence eclipsed the room broken only by the shuffle of the fae lords and ladies as they settled in their chairs, plus Madrood’s low growl from the side of the room.
I couldn’t believe the king would have a dragon at his wedding.
The elder cleared his throat. “Welcome. Welcome, my friends.” His gaze scanned the room before landing on the soon-to-be-wedded couple, the warm smile he gave them creating a mockery of what was about to come. “We gather at this glorious moment to bring together two who must never be parted. Brenna Marella Abelesk, daughter of King Abelesk of the Nullen Territory and Ivenrail Puledeir Levestan, high lord of Bledmire Court as well as the fair and just king of all of faerie. May the fates bless them today as we celebrate their union and the joining of our two kingdoms.”
A low murmur from the fae caught my attention, but I didn’t look their way. I was too busy trying to keep my teeth from chattering. I couldn’t wait for Vexxion to change me from this silly dress to my leathers, to feel the security of my blades strapped to my sides he’d place there at the same time.
The elder spoke about their love for each other—how trite—plus the importance of maintaining a relationship of respect. As if. The king planned to drain everything wonderful from Brenna soon, leaving only a shell of her former self behind.
Finally, the elder moved onto their vows. I watched with a polite expression on my face as they each spoke, and I was proud of the strength in Brenna’s voice. She didn’t want to be here, and she didn’t want to wed Ivenrail, but she was going through with what everyone expected of her.
When they’d finished, he had them hold hands. “If you will ignite the candle to symbolize your union.” He gave each of them a slender, lit taper and gestured to the large candle sitting on a small table behind him, moving out of the way for them to step closer.
Their tapers dipped forward, and the candle’s wick caught, bursting into a beautiful blue and lavender flame that made Reyla release a low gasp. The flame flickered and dipped as the elder took their tapers and extinguished them, then gestured for the couple to step backward, into their original places .
The elder lifted his arms and his voice. “I pronounce you wedded. Congratulations, Brenna and Ivenrail. Ivenrail? Please, kiss your new wife and solidify your marriage.”
Ivenrail turned Brenna in a gentler way than I’d anticipated and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. Her hands quivered at her sides, not rising to touch him.
“Done,” Ivenrail said with a smirk. He took Brenna’s hand. She tried to tug away, but his grip tightened to the point she winced. I doubted the guests noticed, but I was standing closest to her. “Come.” His face wreathed with excitement, he urged her around the arch and up the stairs to the top of the dais where two thrones waited, one smaller than the other.
To the side of the dais, Madrood rumbled and released smoke from his nostrils. He watched, not moving toward the king.
Reyla and I followed Brenna, as did the high advisor and Kerune, taking their places to the right of Ivenrail’s throne.
I didn’t like how the two men appeared more interested in me than in what was about to unfold.
Ivenrail urged Brenna to sit in the smaller throne, and she did, gazing up at him with a mix of curiosity and speculation.
As I moved over to her right to stand beside her, Ivenrail’s gaze landed on me. I swore I read a smirk in his eyes. Turning, he faced the audience while guards lifted the arch and moved it over to the side of the room, clearing the path for the high lords and ladies to watch the next event.
“Guests,” Ivenrail said. “I do thank you for joining us today for this glorious moment. Before I place the crown on my lovely bride’s head, making her my queen, I have a short ceremony to conduct.”
His hand swept out and the floor shimmered between the dais and the audience. The image of wood peeled away, revealing tile swirling with a pattern I recognized from the Claiming cave. Seeing the image brought back the memory of Vexxion lying so still on the tiles I thought he was dead.
Trust. Trust. Trust. Vexxion held back secrets, but I’d trust he had a way not only to save himself but Brenna when the king died.
I had to believe that, or I’d fall apart.
With a snap, Ivenrail turned, stalking back over to Brenna, who looked up at him with growing trepidation.
“What’s . . .?” Her voice quavered, and who could blame her? She expected to be crowned then escorted to the formal dining room to enjoy the meal the kitchen staff had been preparing for days.
But he had told her he’d collar her after the wedding.
Vines snapped out of the floor, whipping around her legs and arms, pinning her to the chair. I’d expected it, but I still jumped. My mind was dragged back to when it happened to me.
Her panicked gaze met mine, but before I could say anything, more vines snaked around her forehead and jerked her head back against the gilded chair hard enough we all heard the crack.
She cried out and struggled.
“Stop whining,” Ivenrail barked .
She suddenly stilled, gazing up at him with complete adoration. What had he done to her?
I looked for Vexxion. We’d have to act soon. The Claiming wouldn’t take long, and I wasn’t going to stand here while the king drained her.
How were we going to kill Ivenrail without murdering Vexxion?
I didn’t see Vexxion in the room. If he hid with his threads, I’d still be able to find him.
Where are you? I asked, determined to hold strong. Determined not to cry out his name.
Something was wrong because he did not reply.
A worm of terror bored deep beneath my skin, seeking something vital.
My flesh crawled.
My heart ticked. Ticked. Ti . . . cked.
Brenna bucked on the throne, sharp groans erupting from her throat, yanking my attention back in her direction. She was fighting his spell, but it was already too late.
With her whimpers puncturing the world around us, he magicked a collar into the air. It coiled around his wrist in a serpent’s embrace. I cringed, unable to send Brenna reassurance with my eyes.
He stepped between her bound thighs.
She looked up at him with tears streaming down her cheeks. “Ivenrail. What’s going on? Please, help me.”
His low chuckle rang out, and his hand thrust forward, his thumb almost delicately touching her forehead. The vine in his hand left his wrist, seeking Brenna, undulating in the air until it made impact with her head as well. It coiled around and wavered toward Ivenrail, gently touching his face before plunging back to smack against her throat and encircle her neck.
Her breathing jerked in and out as the collar sunk deep, binding her to the gruesome fae king.
The low murmur from those watching was punctuated with spurts of glee. They were enjoying this. But most of them had collared their own Nullen. They’d seen this before. They delighted in viewing the pageantry of this moment all over again. It was a welcome part of their lives, not only a chance to gain a servant from those who’d fled their kingdom long ago, but a way to gain access to a Nullen’s bittersweet magic.
The vines sunk deeply, fusing with her skin. Blood trickled down her throat, plopping onto her pretty gown and splattering on her lap.
Her fingers twitched where they lay bound to the arms of her throne.
This was going too fast. I’d lost what little control I had over our plan, such as it was.
Vexxion!
Ivenrail leaned close to Brenna, whispering something I couldn’t hear above the jerking of her pretty shoes on the floor and the rising joy of the crowd.
A flick of Ivenrail’s finger, and Madrood stalked closer.
Brenna started screaming.