Chapter 37
Elariya
“Of Hopes Renewed”
Wolfe closed the door to my chamber with a soft click, sealing us away from the rest of the castle.
There would be no more celebration for us here on enemy grounds. It would have been sad, if I didn’t want to get as far as possible from this place.
Our guests had already departed and gone back to the magical realm. All that remained were the Bloodsworn and Wolfe’s twin dragons.
They waited outside.
Wolfe wanted to speak to my family and me in private so we came in here. Back to the room that had witnessed the terror I’d experienced with Thayden yesterday.
I hated being back here but it was the best choice since it was on the other side of the castle. Meaning, less chance of anyone eavesdropping.
Privacy was key since we were likely going to talk about a number of things. Like my father, and the ring. Wolfe was aware of what my family knew.
Mother, Grandmother, and Emabelle stood together by the hearth. They looked at Wolfe with a strange mixture of joy and uncertainty.
Wolfe and I stood near each other by the door—close, but not quite together. I was a pace away from him.
He’d changed into black leather armor. Something less daunting, but no less intimidating. He still looked like he was ready for war.
Apart from the events of the day, this was the first time we’d stood together. And I supposed this was his first official meeting with my family.
The awkwardness of that was evident.
Wolfe Nightblade was many things.
Prince of Galaythia.
Deathwalker
Grieving son.
Husband.
Savior.
He seemed to carry the weight of all of them as I watched his shoulders tense.
“This wasn’t exactly the way I imagined meeting you,” Wolfe said with a quick glance at me.
“Better have met you in the manner we have than not at all, Your Highness,” Grandmother spoke first.
“Please, just call me Wolfe, my Lady.”
She smiled back at him. “Then I am Grandmother to you.”
A half-smile pulled at the corner of his lips, softening his features to a more boyish look. “I like that.”
He glanced at my mother and Emabelle who were unusually quiet, even for them.
"I felt I should speak to you all. I’m sure you must be eager to know what my plans are," Wolfe said, his voice gentle.
Mother stepped closer, smoothing her skirts with a slight tremor in her hands. "We are forever indebted to you Wolfe Nightblade."
“No, there is no such debt.” He flicked his palm over and a small scroll appeared. “This is the decree for your home and the land. You will treat it as your own, as you always have.”
He handed it to her and she took it gratefully. “My deepest gratitude.”
“Once this is all over, I will hand over everything to you, but retain jurisdiction so magic can be used here without breach.”
Mother’s lips parted with sheer surprise. I glanced at Emabelle who bore the same look.
“You…you’d do that?” Mother asked.
“Of course. My current involvement keeps you safe for the most part. And away from watchful eyes. Once we no longer have to worry about safety, things can return to normal.”
Mother looked as though a heavy burden had been taken off her shoulders. “Thank you. I will never be able to thank you enough. I…” her voice broke and she glanced at me. “It’s been hard. All of it.”
“I understand.”
“My… husband. I’m aware of what he did. I…” Her voice trailed off and she bowed her head for a brief moment. “I can only apologize. I had the privilege of meeting your father when I was a girl. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Wolfe looked noticeably moved by my mother’s words. “Thank you. And do not trouble yourself over your husband’s crimes. We will cross that bridge when we get there. For now, we must remain vigilant.”
“What do you need us to do?” Grandmother asked. “There must be something we can do to help.”
Wolfe shook his head. “Not right now.”
“Will finding this ring truly remove Elariya’s curse?”
Wolfe nodded. “She need only locate it and the curse will be removed. All her memories will be restored as though she never lost them.”
During this reset getting my memories back felt far away from me. There had been so much going on. But now I had hope.
“You’re certain there’s nothing we can do?” Emabelle asked. “I feel so useless.”
“No. We’ve created quite a stir today. One that has never been seen before in the mortal realm. People will not be happy. Especially in Stormfell.”
He was right. Those like Chancellor Blackthorne and Friar Jameson would raise hell. They wouldn’t be able to do anything but they would make life difficult.
“Laying low is the best option.” Wolfe sighed and looked at me again. “Elariya will resume her training once we return to Galaythia. Then we just have to hope for the best.”
“I will do my best,” I promised. “My magic feels different. Stronger. That has to count for something.”
Grandmother came over to me and cupped my face.
“It has always counted for something. That was why I couldn’t stand to bound your powers.
And look, now we have a time mage.” She smiled wide, her eyes a wealth of pride.
“I’ve only had the privilege of meeting three of those in my life. And now I know another.”
I smiled at that. “It does feel great to have a …rare power.”
“My dear it is an honor. A true gift from the Great Mother.”
“Thank you.”
She released me, and looked back at Wolfe.
“If anything changes, I’ll let you know,” he promised. “I’ll also grant you all passage to the magical realm once a month, for a full week, and allowance to travel by a portal stone, so you can come whenever you want.”
My spirits lifted. “I’ll get to see my family every month?” I couldn’t hide my excitement.
“Sure, and you can visit them here too,” Wolfe replied with a small grin.
“Thank you. That’ll be amazing.”
“It will,” Mother agreed, her expression brightening.
I glanced at Emabelle. She gave me a knowing smile. The kind that carried secrets between women.
I thought back to our conversation in the tavern about her running off with Philippe. She’d promised to stay in touch no matter where she went. The certainty in her gaze told me she still meant it. We would speak of it later.
“I’ve always wanted to see the magical realm,” she breathed.
“Now you can.” Wolfe gave her a curt bow.
“What about… Thayden,” Mother said, releasing a ragged sigh. “He won’t take this lightly.”
“No. He will not. But leave him to me.”
What was Wolfe going to do?
Thayden worried me because I’d never been able to figure him out. And he always seemed to have some way of staying in control no matter the problem. Mattieu would be right alongside him. As the soon to be Hand of the king, I was sure he’d already be plotting.
I imagined he’d be furious and probably even consider us ungrateful. He’d been taking care of our family since Father’s disappearance. That was one of the first things Grandmother told me when I first woke from the reset. Along with how we owed him everything.
“This is my fault. I never saw him for who he was. Maybe I hoped he’d changed.”
“We all make mistakes.” Wolfe kept his tone measured. “Speak of these matters to no one.”
They nodded.
“In fact, don’t even speak amongst yourselves. We can’t be too careful.”
“You have our silence,” Grandmother assured him.
“I must leave. Be ready to head home in two hours.”
"Where are you going?" The question slipped out before I could stop it, carrying a weight I hadn't expected. Something vulnerable and new, like testing the boundaries of what I was allowed to ask of him now. But I needed to know for my own peace. I didn’t want to be in this place without him for too long.
“I’m going to see Thayden. I have requested a meeting with him.”
A cold wave rolled through me. “Really? You’re going to see Thayden, now?”
By the Gods, he was going to kill him, wasn’t he?
“Don’t worry. He’s more useful to me alive.” He must have seen the blood drain from me. “For the moment.”
“Oh… alright.”
The hardened look in Wolfe’s eyes suggested that the moment Thayden stopped being useful, he’d gut him like a fish and display his head on a spike outside Vyrenth Hollow.
“Two hours, then we leave this Godsdamn place. Be ready.”
I nodded. “We’ll be ready.”
We were ready to leave before we even arrived.