Chapter 26
Elowyn
Farris and I were minding our own business, drinking tea together at the table, when something hit the front door.
The sound wasn’t just a knock; it was a sharp, echoing thud that rattled through the floorboards. My body went rigid. There was a ward around the house. No one should be able to get that close. The air itself felt wrong, like the ward had hiccuped, or something had forced its way through.
Farris stood from the couch, every movement tense, and started toward the door.
“Wait.” I walked from the kitchen, drying my damp hands on my skirt as my pulse picked up speed. “Something feels wrong about this.”
Farris nodded, but the determination in her eyes didn’t falter. She took another slow, deliberate step forward.
“There is a ward, so whatever just came through has to be powerful,” she whispered, voice tight enough to snap.
She ripped open the door and looked around. A gust of cold air rushed in, stirring the curtains and making my stomach twist. Her face fell as her eyes dropped to the ground. A raven lay there, black feathers glinting faintly, its wings twitching one final time as it died at her feet.
“Well, this can’t be good.”
I moved beside her, my skin prickling with unease.
The woods outside were silent. Unnaturally so.
No rustle of leaves, no whisper of wind, just an awful stillness that pressed against my chest. My gaze dropped to the bird again and my throat tightened.
Something about it felt overwhelming, like it was watching even in death.
My head snapped up again. Instinct screamed that something or someone was out there. I grabbed Farris’ arm, yanking her back hard before slamming the door shut so fast it rattled on its hinges.
“What the hell, Elowyn?” Farris looked at me, startled.
“Do you know what that is?” I pointed to the door, my heart hammering against my ribs. She shook her head. “It’s a hex. If we touch that, we are going to be hurt.”
Farris’ eyes darted toward the door again before she glanced around the room. Her shoulders sagged as she sighed heavily, tension draining from her face but not her posture.
“Maybe it’s time that we leave this place.”
“And go where?” I narrowed my eyes on her, already dreading her answer. My chest ached because I knew what she was going to say. “I’m not going to Abram.”
She sighed, sympathy flickering in her gaze. “But—”
“Farris, we can’t. What if he fell in love with her already? I know what you said, but that is his fated mate.”
“You're right.”
Her gaze softened, her expression melting from concern to quiet sorrow. The weight of my words seemed to anchor in her chest. She swallowed hard, looking like she wanted to argue but knew better.
“I might have a place for us to go, but I have to make sure. I’ll go now and be back in an hour.”
“That’s not a good idea.” I warned her, my voice thinner than I meant it to be. But she smiled anyway, trying to reassure me even though her fingers trembled slightly at her sides.
I glanced around me, my skin crawling. Something was off. The air felt heavier, like it was waiting. Watching. My gut screamed that whatever was lurking outside wanted me.
Farris grabbed my hand, her palm warm and grounding against my cold skin. She squeezed once.
“I’ll be alright, Elowyn. You stay here, and I’ll be back soon.”
Before I could protest, she opened the door and slipped into the woods. One heartbeat, two—and she was gone. No sound of footsteps, no rustle of branches. Just empty air where she’d been.
I ran after her, but the woods looked untouched. There was no trail, no hint of movement. It was as if she’d been swallowed whole.
I sighed heavily and ran back into the house, slamming the door behind me and locking it. My hands shook as I twisted the bolt, the metal clinking louder than it should have. I pressed my forehead to the door and tried to steady my breathing.
What was happening to me? Why couldn’t I catch a fucking break?
The kettle clattered faintly as I reached the kitchen, desperate for something to ease this dread building in me. I poured water and set it to boil, clinging to the small sound of bubbling water like it could drown out my fear.
Nyxthra lingered in the corner, her dark, misty form almost blending with the shadows. Her eyes glowed faintly, fixed on the window. She seemed tense—alert. The air around her shimmered, the way it always did when danger crept close.
So it wasn’t just in my head. If Nyxthra was worried, something was coming.
"What is it?" I asked her.
I glanced around the small space and didn’t see anything out of place, yet something in the air felt off.
Something evil was here. My chest ached, a sharp pain cutting through it as if someone had just pulled at a thread still tethered to my heart.
I tugged at the collar of my dress, exposing the faint shimmer of the broken marriage bond across my skin.
The mark was fading, but not fast. Every time I caught a glimpse of it, I was reminded of him. Of Abram. Of what I’d lost.
I turned toward the counter, craving the distraction of routine, of the familiar clink of the teacup, but froze. Philip stood in the living space, hands at his sides, his presence calm but unsettling. My pulse jumped.
“Philip?” I breathed.
He didn’t move right away. His pretty blue eyes watched me as though he’d been waiting for me to notice him, waiting for a reaction I didn’t yet understand.
“How did you get in here?” My voice was quieter than I intended, my hand twitching toward the key that hung around my neck.
Beside me, Nyxthra hissed, the sound slicing through the silence. End him.
Philip’s lips curved faintly. “You haven’t figured it out yet, have you?”
My throat went dry. “Figured out what?”
He smiled then. That gentle pull in my chest deepened, confusing and unwanted.
“That I’m your mate.”
The word landed like a thunderclap. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Something deep within me stirred, something that wasn’t supposed to exist anymore. The bond magic, faint and half-healed, shuddered awake as if it recognized him.
“I know it’s a lot,” he continued, his voice low, careful. “And maybe I should’ve said this differently. But I just… I wanted you to stop looking at me like I’m crazy for trying.” He gave a short, nervous laugh, running a hand through his hair. “I can’t help it. I feel pulled to you.”
“That’s why you’ve been so damn persistent?” My words came out harsher than I meant.
He rubbed the back of his neck, his shoulders tense, and let out a humorless chuckle. “Yeah. Guess I’m not subtle.”
My chest constricted, a nervous tremor spreading through my fingers.
“You’re wrong.” I lied because I was too scared of this.
Philip’s gaze didn’t waver. There was an almost pitying sort of patience in his eyes, as if he was waiting for me to understand something inevitable.
“The golden bond floating between us says otherwise. I saw it the night you came to Falgon with that horrid ex-husband of yours.” He watched me closely. His gaze darkened slightly. “I was… disappointed.”
The word landed heavier than anger ever could.
“I followed you back to his house,” he continued calmly, as if admitting to something trivial. “I wanted to understand why you were wasting yourself on him.”
The air left my lungs. Followed me?
“You weren’t meant to be with Abram,” he said, almost thoughtfully. “That was never part of your story. You were meant to come to me.” His head tilted. “I suppose I can forgive the confusion. You didn’t know better yet."
Unease crawled down my spine.
“But I don’t like sharing what was meant to be mine.” His gaze dipped briefly and lingered. “And I don’t like knowing you gave him moments that belonged to me.”
Something cold settled in my chest. Abram had never spoken about me like that. Never framed my choices as mistakes to be forgiven.
Whatever this was, whatever Philip thought he was, it wasn’t fate. It was ownership and I felt violated knowing he watched Abram and I.
“I don’t need your forgiveness. In fact, shove it up your ass. I don’t want you,” I sneered.
Philip’s friendly smile faded. The warmth drained from his face, replaced by something sharp and cold.
Standing before me wasn’t a man, it was a predator.
His eyes darkened as he studied me, amused by my defiance.
My hand slipped behind me, fingers closing around the knife.
When I lifted it, he laughed, low and cruel.
“You can’t kill me, Elowyn. The heavens will curse you for killing your fated mate.”
“I don’t have to kill you. I can hurt you enough that you end yourself to escape what I do to you.”
Nyxthra hummed with approval beside me, her voice a dangerous whisper in my ear. He is right; you will be cursed if you kill him. See what he wants from you.
My jaw tightened, my pulse roaring in my ears.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“You, of course.” He stepped toward me, his smile returning, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“I’ll be honest. When I realized that I had a fated mate, I didn’t want one.
I’m not big on fate or love or any of that happily ever after shit.
But after I saw you?” He smirked. “You had my attention. And your power is intoxicating.”
My stomach churned. The way he looked at me wasn’t affection it was hunger.
“I’m in love with another man,” I told him.
He nodded as if he knew this already and didn’t care. The apathy in that gesture hurt more than his words. Philip’s gaze moved over me with a slight frown, as if I were a puzzle he couldn’t solve.
“Do you know what your precious ex-husband was doing last night?” He cocked his head to the side.
I didn’t want to know. My chest tightened, dread clawing at my ribs. My eyes closed tightly as I tried to brace myself for whatever he said.
“His mate,” Philip laughed, “is my sister, Loma.”
My eyes opened. “Your sister?”
He nodded as if to confirm I heard him right.
My blood turned to ice.
“They completed the mating bond. They are married, and they are already in love. You are a forgotten memory, something that was erased from Abram’s mind as soon as he saw Loma. You never mattered, no matter what Abram said. Now his pretty star hangs around her neck.”
“You’re lying.” My voice broke. “I don’t believe you.”
Philip shrugged, as if it didn’t matter whether I did or not.
Nyxthra was silent beside me as if the news broke her heart too.
Fury radiated from her like smoke. I tried to push the image of Abram’s mouth on another woman out of my mind, but it was too late.
The image was there, sharp and vivid. He was already in love, and he’d forgotten about me.
“It doesn’t matter if you believe me, Elowyn.
It’s the truth. And the longer you sit in this cottage and wait for him to come find you, the more pathetic you look.
He’s never coming.” Philip turned to me with pity in his eyes.
“Do you really think he couldn’t find you if he wanted to?
He’s the God of Fate, an old god, for fuck’s sake. He doesn’t want you.”
The words hit harder than any blade. My breathing turned ragged, vision blurring as his voice echoed through my mind.
“I can be good to you,” Philip whispered. “You will love me with time.”
Philip was right. Abram could’ve found me if he wanted to.
Flashes of Abram with Loma, loving her, laughing with her, kissing her, marrying her, having daughters with her, struck me like a dozen blades. My vision pulsed black around the edges. Tears streamed hot down my face as grief curdled into anger.
Philip looked around the living room, his expression twisting as if he sensed something familiar. His eyes darted, restless, before landing on the couch. He lifted a dress Farris had been folding.
“Is someone living with you?” he asked.
“No.” I lied, my voice a brittle whisper.
Philip’s mouth thinned into an unamused line. He lifted the dress and sniffed it. My stomach dropped.
“Where is she?” he asked.
“Who?” I glared.
“Farris,” he snapped. “I know this dress. I bought her this godsdamn dress. Where is she!”
My gaze fell to the fabric before flickering back up to him. Oh my gods. The realization hit like lightning.
“You’re her husband.”
He smiled and nodded. “What did that lying snake tell you?”
“Only that you are an abusive piece of shit.”
Nyxthra moved forward, her presence swelling as if she sensed what was about to happen. Philip laughed, but it was hollow, empty, laced with something unhinged.
“Farris disappeared, and I really thought she went back to that annoying fucking god, Ezra. But that little bitch came here to sabotage us. Farris is a very good liar, just remember that. She will say and do anything if it benefits her.”
“There is no us,” I answered. “Even if I felt anything for you, which I don’t, I would never stay with a man who raises his hand to a woman.”
Philip rolled his eyes and tossed Farris’ dress down. His steps were slow, deliberate, as he walked toward me. I didn’t flinch. My pulse was pounding so hard I could hear it. As soon as he got close enough to me, I stabbed him in the stomach, not hesitating for a second.
“You fucking cunt.” He grabbed me by the neck and pulled me to him. “You are coming with me. And I will force you to complete this marriage bond. You’re mine; the heavens said so.”
He pulled the knife from his stomach and tossed it to the floor, blood spilling onto the wood. Then he squeezed my neck harder before his magic flared, wrapping around us like a noose.
Where did Nyxthra go?
When his magic disappeared, we were in a home I didn’t recognize. He shoved me hard into a wall and I cried out as I fell to the floor.
“Farris needs to be reminded that I’m the one in control, not her.
I am constantly having to put her manipulative ass in its place.
Don’t make me do that with you, too. I will treat you well if you treat me well.
Farris was just temporary. Her power was needed but you have enough power that I won't need her anymore.”
He stared at me like he expected me to say something, but I refused.
“You are stuck with me, and you are going to help me and Gilyx take over Elloryon.”
He turned on his heel and slammed the door shut. I heard the clicking of the lock but still stood up on shaky legs and tried to open it. It didn’t budge. My gaze moved around the room. I didn’t know what to do.
“Nyxthra,” I whispered.
She appeared in front of me.
“Go find someone to help me,” I ordered her. “Anyone who can help.”
She nodded once and vanished into the dark.