18. Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Gray
N othing could have prepared Gray for what he’d see once he walked into the castle, but it wasn't his mate’s shadows or her searing black fire that made him stop in his tracks. What made him pause was that the castle was in utter ruin. The once grand chandelier lay smashed on the stone floor, a million sharp, sparkling pieces scattered like diamonds across the blood-stained rug. The rich, ancient tapestries that had hung proudly in the great hall for hundreds of years had been torn to ribbons and now swayed gently in the breeze coming in through the shattered windows. Dust and debris were everywhere, a thick layer of glass and stone that crunched under his boots as he turned in a slow circle, taking in the damage.
Not a single one of Alaric’s soldiers were inside, but Gray wasn't sure if that was because Tanad had taken care of them while they’d searched the hut, or if they had simply fled upon their arrival. His mother had told him in her letters that their home had fallen into disrepair, but this was far more than a neglected building. It was a battlefield, destroyed by a madman in a wretched push for power. The desperation was evident in every piece of glass and stone and cloth.
“You.” Gray pointed to the eldest of a group of young maids cowering in the corner. Lea drew her sword and Gray stiffened, watching out of the corner of his eye. He could feel Lea’s need to fight—to use her power. He could only imagine that seeing the evidence of whatever evil had taken place here was only fueling her primary magic and worsening her need to destroy. But as far as they knew, these girls were innocent.
Gritting her teeth, Lea squeezed the hilt of the sword, then nodded for him to continue. Gray’s breath loosened, his heart slowing. She was only discerning the truth. For now, she had control of her darkness.
“How did this happen?” Gray asked the oldest girl, reeling in his shadows. Her shoulders lowered a fraction as the shadows receded from the room.
“Alaric. He…” she trailed off, her eyes filling with tears. “We've done our best to clean the mess, but he killed so many, we haven’t made much progress. Anyone with magic, all his advisors...”
“Our sister,” one of the younger girls said, her voice breaking.
Emma took a deep breath and stepped forward, wrapping an arm around the terrified girl's shoulders. She began to lead her from the room, but Gray stopped them.
“When did this happen?” he asked.
“Weeks ago, before the army left.”
“And has he returned?” Gray asked. “My brother?”
The girl shook her head furiously. “We haven't seen him, thank the gods. Many of his soldiers returned. Those with nowhere else to go.”
“Where are those who returned?” Erik asked, standing straighter.
The girl's eyes darted sideways. “The king—the foreign one—he took them to the dungeons.”
“What about my mother? Queen Genevieve? Did she return as well?” Gray’s heart skipped a beat as he asked the question. There was every chance Alaric’s soldiers would have killed her on sight.
“No. I haven't seen her since before she fled.”
Gray's stomach twisted into knots and he ran a hand through his chestnut hair, unsure if it was a good or bad sign that she hadn't been seen. He paused, examining the girls. They were trembling, clinging to one another as if afraid he was just as wicked as his father and brother.
“Do you support Alaric’s cause?” Gray asked. “Any of you?” He met each girl's eyes, lifting his chin as if daring them to lie.
“No!” The eldest girl swallowed. “Like I said, this is our home. We had nowhere else to go.”
“Very well,” said Lea, confirming that they were telling the truth. She sheathed her sword.
Gray sighed, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. Exhaustion weighed down his movements. They were getting nowhere, still had no clue as to the whereabouts of his brother. “You may stay,” Gray said, and the girl relaxed, sagging into Emma's arms.
“Thank you,” she said. “We’ll do anything we can to help. We can keep cleaning—”
Gray held up a hand, stopping her. “For now, rest. Then maybe you can begin to prepare some food. Find Elise. She’s likely in the kitchens already. It's been some time since we've had a proper meal, and many more will be arriving to eat soon.”
“Of course,” she said, allowing Emma to lead her from the room. They seemed familiar with one another, and Gray realized it was likely they had worked together before the rebels had left. Guilt gnawed at his gut as he realized how young and unprepared for war they were. Could he have done something to get them out? But he shook away the thought. Guilt wouldn’t help them find Alaric or change the past.
He turned to Erik with a curt nod. “Have our men clear the debris. There should be enough rooms between the barracks and both wings to house our armies. We’ll set up base camp here.”
“On it,” Erik said, turning on his heel to leave.
“Thomas,” Gray said. “We’ll need more weapons.”
“Of course,” Thomas said, dipping his chin.
Gray finally turned back to Lea, and his tone softened. “You should rest,” he said, his thumbs tracing the dark circles below her eyes.
But Lea's jaw clenched. “I don't need rest," she said. “Show me to the king’s dungeons. I have a bargain to fulfill.”