Chapter 23
Chapter
Twenty-Three
MAX
Asudden weight startles me as I scramble to get out from under the sheets.
Six pairs of eyes look at me, three large wolfish heads laying at the corner of the bed while I blink, confused. Then, my heart explodes, relief so strong that it nearly knocks me over.
The Hadeon sits there, spiked tail scrapping along the granite, massive paws tense as if to pounce. I don’t let him have the chance, climbing over the edge to hug him.
The coarse bristles rub my skin raw, but I don’t care. He smells like sulfur and fire, a scent that reminds me of safety and protection, even though it should scare me. A beast I barely know and yet in my bones, I know him being here means I’m safer.
One head rest on my shoulder, the other sniffing my skull. The fire in his chest ignites, a pleasant burn that warms me against the sweltering Shadowlands heat. It’s devotion and loyalty, forcing tears to wet my eyes.
“You’re here,” I whisper, letting him nuzzle me. “How did you get in?”
The royals weren’t going to let him inside until the opportune moment. Did he sneak in?
“I see you found our new guest.” Oslo leans in the doorway, broad shoulders blocking any light. Unlike before, he’s not in his armor, but simple training leathers. “He was quite persistent in coming inside.”
One head growls while another glares at the male. None of them try to obliterate him with his hellfire breath, though. Oslo must be worthy to live, and they’re not happy with it.
“Thank you,” I mutter into the beast’s neck, using the Hadeon’s body to hide my barely clothed figure.
After our fight in the hallway, and very public performance, we returned to our bedchambers to sleep.
A current of disappointment runs through my body at seeing Kaden’s side empty.
We still have so much to talk about, but if he’s to lead a coup, to get the people he needs for it to work, it leaves very little time for us.
A trickling of adoration and pride shines in my heart. He’s cruel, ruthless, but I can see his inner light. And he trusts me with this now.
“It was not me.” He shrugs, looking to the dresser. His finger traces the necklace thoughtfully. “My nephew thought you might want a friendly face in the palace. It’s hard to be in a new home, alone.”
“Especially this home.”
Oslo smirks and it’s hard not to see the family resemblance. He holds up the gem, inspecting it. “Serafina the First would be pleased to know a strong woman wears her crown.”
“Crown?” I don’t release the beast, still unsure what will happen if I let go. In such a short time, he’s become so important to me.
Oslo’s kind eyes glance to me, reminding me of Reid.
“Serafina never wanted to wear a crown, much like Kaden. Putting a crown on made them feel above their people, when all they wanted to do was help. Instead, she had the crown melted down and remade into something more fitting. A necklace. This necklace.”
My chest constricts, body stilling as if frozen. Kaden put a crown on me and brought me into the throne room. A bold power move, he was showing everyone who I was before I even knew it. Showing his father, the lords, who I would be—who I was to him.
He said it would keep me safe. I didn’t realize how much he gave to me, the power, the presence, for that safety. After I yelled, claimed to hate him, fought him at every turn, he still crowned me as a queen. He still gave me something precious—he gave me power in a room full of predators.
I groan, rubbing my face into the beast. It’s too much. The hate and anger war with the love and admiration deep inside my soul for the heir. But if I’m being honest, the love is winning out. “Are there any more secrets he’s failed to tell me?”
Chuckling, the general nods. “Plenty, I’m afraid. Will you walk with me?” he asks, gesturing to the door. “We have much to discuss.”
He doesn’t wait for me to respond, returning to the sitting room, leaving me with privacy. I could deny him, ignore his request.
But I have this feeling, a pull in my gut that following the general will only help me. Gods’ will telling me this is where my path leads. Again.
Maybe, even understand the heir without the conflicting soul-bond tether or the divine connection of mates forcing me to bed him or suffocate him under a pillow.
Locking eyes with the Hadeon, I sigh. “Will you come?”
One head licks my chin, spilt tongue rough like gravel. I smile anyway and head for the bathroom.
“Has anyone told you about the Queen?”
Shaking my head, he nods, laying the flower on to a barren patch of dirt as we sit in the spot of the garden Fee showed me. “You should know about her. To this day, she’s revered. She was a magnificent woman, my sister-in-law. She was fierce like Fee, kind like Reid, and honorable like Kaden.”
I sit, rapt, watching the emotions play against his ageless face. Here, talking of a woman long gone, he doesn’t seem like a General of a formidable army, but a male, simply speaking of better days.
“Zelos was lucky to have her as a wife,” he remarks. “Unfortunately, my brother didn’t realize it.”
I raise my eyebrow, watching him sit beside me on the boulder. “Why are you telling me this?”
Rubbing his beard, Oslo smiles. “Serafina was a smart woman, smarter than I think anyone gave her credit for. Decades before Kaden was born, we were visited by the High Priest of Seti. As you’re aware, the Cult of Seti only appears when there is a funeral that must be presided over.”
“They only go where they’re needed.” The God of the Dead could only speak to his High Priest, and as such would instruct him in which rites to precede over. Not everyone received them and no one knew where the cult waited until they showed up.
I saw them once. A band of individuals in dark cloaks, covered in mourning shrouds, but I never saw their faces. They gave last rites to Nessa and vanished after.
“Correct. This time, they did not come to give last rights. The Priest came with a message for my sister-in-law. That one day, she would bear a child who would break the world for love. The High Priest told her when that day would come, the child would have to choose—forfeit his soul or hers. Of course, Serafina didn’t understand it.
Who would? But she would not be deterred and set to figure it out.
“As luck would have it, she became pregnant with Kaden shortly after the cult left.”
“The Priest knew about Kaden?”
Oslo nods. “When he was born, he had these black eyes.” He gestures to his face.
“He was the first child born in centuries with magic. Zelos wanted very little to do with him because of the curse, but I worked with Serafina. We assumed the magic in the boy had something to do with the priest’s message.
We tried for decades to find him again, to gain more information, a way to help Kaden, but the cult never resurfaced. ”
He sighs tiredly, leaning against the rock wall. “But in our despair, we found other things.”
“Such as?”
“Such as a prophecy.” He glances to me, and I stiffen, body locking.
The only prophecy I knew of was the one the Mad Witch foretold to my mother, years ago. Smoothing my hands over my legs, I look everywhere but the general. “What prophecy?”
“I believe you’ve heard of it. ‘For she who is born of life and death, will wield them both.’” I try not to fidget with my training leathers, pulling on a loose string, but it’s a losing battle. He laughs gently. “I thought as much. Kaden doesn’t know about this, by the way.”
Exhaling, my shoulders sag, relief evident. He didn’t know. He wasn’t keeping me to use me. I’m only here because of my powers, because of Zelos’ need to have power.
Callous eyes look up. “If he doesn’t know, how do you?”
He taps his nose. “I’m an old Fae, Max. I know many things. For instance, I know the prophecy is much longer than just the one line the Mad Witch told you.”
At my alarmed look, the wily old man claps hands over his middle, smiling. “My dear, when Kaden told me he was in the Shifter village and you met with the Mad Witch, it was easy to put two and two together. I’m not a general just for my pretty face.”
Silently, I recline, copying the general. “And what do you want from me?”
Oslo shakes his head, smiling. “Very little, niece. Only to help you.”
I narrow my eyes, distrusting his motivations.
No one wants to help out of the kindness of their head. Not in the Black Palace. Not with war about to break out. Even Kaden admits to selfishly claiming me because he wanted me.
“Let’s say I believe you. How would you help me?”
“You agree to train with me.” At my confused look, he waves his hands over the grounds.
“To use your magic. I taught Kaden to control his, and I learned to control my beast with no help. I already know Fee is training you physically, which is a good choice. Fee is the strongest warrior we have. But only I can help you control that blood magic.”
My fingers curl under my pants, hiding the blush on my fingers. I don’t hear his heart, but my magic is there, humming for release. It’s been this way for days—a tease of my magic with no way of accessing it. “Your nephew drugged me. I don’t have a way to use my magic.”
Oslo sighs, looking at me silently. A fatherly look, he’s waiting for me to admit to stealing the last biscuit before breakfast.
“The magic is returning,” he tells me, nodding.
“Soon, it’ll be too much. The emotions, the push of the magic.
I assume it’s been that way your whole life?
Magic can be many things… sentient, passive.
Kaden’s fought him, refused to come and he had to learn to unlock the key to using it.
Yours wants to use you. If that is the case, you’ll need guidance.
And preferably, before you kill someone and my brother throws you back in the dungeon, or puts you to death for it. ”
Swallowing, I hold up my hands, assessing them.
Control. Real control. Not what Nessa tried to instill in me—not fear—but confidence. I could actually use my magic for good. “If we do this, you’ll tell me about the prophecy?”
“On my honor.”
Exhaling, I nod. Just once. Just enough for him to understand how hard this is for me. How hard it is to trust a Dark Fae after so much upheaval, so much betrayal.
“But don’t tell Kaden. Or Zelos.” I don’t want him to drug me again. I don’t want anything being passed that I can access my magic. I’ll be just a weapon again. Not… whatever I was last night.
I want to remain someone to worship, not a tool for destruction.
“Never, my niece. I am with Kaden, and even I know how important it is to keep your magic a secret until you have control. Right now, you are vulnerable. Without magic, you’re invisible. I would rather keep you that way for some time.”
“When do we start?” I ask, standing. The red haze is bright, the heat sweltering, and I shift, sweat dotting my brow. The boulder burns under my leathers.
“Right now.” He points to the ground. “With meditation. We need to figure out the source of your magic. We can only do that by way of mediation.”