Chapter 75
Gaeren’s chest seized with panic, then he met Aeliana’s eyes.
All their plans to go after the witches were a waste.
Even their efforts to convince his parents to fight alongside them were too little, too late.
Mayvus wasn’t on the other side of the country, hiding in the Myndren Mountains. She was here.
“Once they left Ahmranan’s Viewpoint, we followed by land,” Felk said. “Ships travel fast, but the swamps are shorter for us. We lost a day, maybe two, for this last cycle and rebirth. But we caught up. We found you.”
Gaeren glanced toward the city, where the harbor was just out of sight. Were the Ahmranans already disembarking? Were they harassing the people and hurting them? Or riling them up to help fight against the royal family?
Then Gaeren turned north, where the top turrets of the palace could barely be made out where the Sun disappeared beyond the mangrove tree line. “We have to warn the others. My sister—” His voice broke.
“Of course,” Aeliana said. “You should go.”
“What about you?” he asked.
“I can’t go to the witches. Not if it means abandoning everyone else.”
The full implication of her words sank in. They wouldn’t have answers about the curse before facing Mayvus again. They had no way to stop her without taking out Aeliana’s mother.
“Maybe it’s time my mother just ran.”
“And what will that do to everyone left behind with Mayvus?” Gaeren asked. “Won’t she be indestructible in your mother’s absence?”
“We don’t know for sure that’s what the curse means.” Aeliana closed her eyes, and he hated that his question brought her pain. “But my mother believes it after hearing the curse. She’ll never agree to run.”
“What do you need?” Felk asked.
“You’ve done enough.” Aeliana squeezed his arm. “Take your clan and go. There’s only death waiting in the palace walls. She’ll come for us, and she’ll kill anyone in her way.”
Felk shuddered, then glanced at the parchment once more. “My people can choose. But I will go with you. Our loyalty crossed cycles. I have only heard of that happening with mates.”
Gaeren glanced around. “Is Lilik still with you?”
He smiled. “She prepares nests in the forest. I think she’ll help too.”
Aeliana nodded. “Anyone who wishes to help can head for the harbor. Stop anyone trying to disembark the ships and tell anyone else to hide or help fight. Although they probably won’t listen.” She wrung her hands and bit her lip. “On second thought, just stop anyone trying to disembark.”
He nodded, then hesitated. “You were a good mama.” His face clouded over with confusion, then he loped away, taking the other winex with him.
Time slowed as Gaeren and Aeliana stared at each other, the magnitude of what was coming making the strained moment feel too heavy. Other attendees peeked out from behind buildings and tables. Even Fay came forward to loop her arm through Thallahan’s, her face pinched with worry.
“Why were they here?” she asked.
“They came to warn us,” Gaeren said.
“Warn?” One of the men who’d stayed with Thallahan scoffed. “They attacked us.”
“No.” Gaeren shook his head. “I mean, some of them did. But they brought us news of Mayvus. She’s on her way to attack the palace.” A couple of people exchanged glances, their looks holding something that almost looked pleased.
Gaeren stiffened, but Aeliana spoke up before he could.
“You think she’ll take out the threat of the royal rule?
You think that would be better than your current situation?
Your reprieve will be brief. She might take down the royal family and temporarily free you.
But then she will enslave you in ways the Elanesses never would have.
She will brand those of you with magic and discard those of you who have nothing to offer her.
You seek freedom, but it will not come from her.
Fight alongside the Elanesses or sit back and solidify your own doom. ”
Her words made the other men pause, and Gaeren stood straighter, grateful for her defense of his family even if they didn’t deserve it.
She didn’t wait to see if she’d convinced them. Instead, she grabbed Gaeren’s hand, and they ran for his carriage. Together they removed the harnesses so they could ride bareback, and Gaeren instructed the driver to find a safe place to hide.
After they mounted, Aeliana turned back to him, her face holding an apology. “I can’t go with you.”
Gaeren frowned, pulling back on the horse’s reins until it pranced in position beside Aeliana’s horse. “Why not?”
“I have to go to Durriken.”
Relief rushed through Gaeren. “He can help us.”
Aeliana winced. “It needs to be his choice.”
Memories of that night on the northern keep of the Myndren Mountains’ fortress swept over him, entirely too clear thanks to his noetic skills. “You’re not going to free him, are you? What if Mayvus brands him again?”
Aeliana closed her eyes. “I’ll leave the decision up to him.
I don’t think he’ll want to be free unless Mayvus is truly powerless.
Hopefully he’ll fight with us so he can be freed after.
But I will not force him.” She opened her eyes and flinched when her gaze met Gaeren’s.
“Either way, I know he’ll take me to meet you at the palace. ”
Gaeren nodded but couldn’t quite say goodbye. “Now your mother needs your protection just as much as Enla needs mine.”
Aeliana shivered. “She’ll let the others kill her if her death can protect them from Mayvus. I’ll need to find another way—without the witches.”
They stared at each other as their horses pawed the ground in impatience. Gaeren knew they had to leave—that time was a commodity they couldn’t waste. But the unknowns of when they might see each other again felt even heavier than before.
The intensity on Aeliana’s face brought Gaeren back to the woods where they’d broken their bonds. “I’ll be there when you face her again,” he promised. “I won’t let you do it alone.”
The air between them felt just as charged as that night, the idea of a kiss even more appealing. He inwardly cursed the horses and distance between them.
“Just don’t brand me this time,” she said with a grin.
“Fine,” he said, grateful for the way she’d lightened the moment. “I’ll find some other way to save you.”
She cocked her head. “Maybe this time I’ll save you.”
He laughed, then nudged his horse’s side with his heel and took off toward the palace with a wave over his shoulder, all the while wondering if he raced to save the wrong woman.