Chapter 18
Chapter
Eighteen
Jaxon led her out of the tent and down the steps, his grip on her elbow as unbreakable as iron. Two guards fell into step, pacing them through the rows of officers’ tents and past the common tents, soldiers stopping to gape as Jaxon Shaw strode by, dragging his wayward fae bond along beside him.
That’s her, Shaw’s pet—
—thought she’d be prettier—
Pet? I heard she was the commander’s whore—
Araya dropped her eyes, but it did nothing to stop the whispers. Their attention followed her all the way to the center of camp, to the largest tent Araya had ever seen.
It loomed over them, the Arcanum’s golden eye emblazoned on the black banners hung from every pole. The flaps had been tied open, allowing a steady stream of aides and officers to hurry about their business.
“Commander Shaw, how nice of you to finally join us.”
High Commander Rowland stood behind a heavy table next to Garrick Shaw, the entire surface taken up by a single, sprawling map. Aetherlight gleamed off the gold accents on his jet- black dress uniform, every crease and fold perfectly arranged like he’d stepped straight out of a military portrait.
“High Commander.” Jaxon pressed his fist to his chest, bowing at the waist. “My apologies for our tardiness. We were—”
“Inquisitor Pryce already informed us of the reason for the delay.” Rowland cut him off, his lip curling. “I assure you, Jaxon, I’m not afraid of a little dirt. I’ve seen fae in much worse condition than Miss Starwind.”
Jaxon’s gaze flashed to where Caylin stood at attention near the back of the tent, her hands clasped behind her back.
His grip tightened on Araya’s arm until she was sure she would have bruises—but she kept her gaze fixed on the floor.
Be quiet. Meek. That’s how she would survive this. By not giving them anything to punish.
“They’re here now,” Garrick said. “That’s what matters, Erik.”
“To you, maybe.” Rowland snorted. “I always forget you aren’t a military man, Garrick. We have rules for a reason. Discipline is a valuable quality—one your son has always struggled with, despite his raw talent.”
“I’ll make sure he’s on time tomorrow, sir,” Caylin said, her voice honey sweet. “It’s what I’m here for.”
“Are you?” Jaxon snorted. “I thought you were here to spy for your father—”
“That’s enough, Jaxon.” Garrick cut in sharply. “I’m quite certain our High Inquisitor had very good reasons for sending his daughter here to assist you with your bond. Remember who your friends are.”
“Yes sir,” Jaxon said, his voice tight. “I apologize for my tardiness, High Commander. It won’t happen again.”
“Hmm.” Rowland hummed noncommittally. “We’ll see. I care more about you accomplishing your task and drawing this pesky fae prince out of Aetheris.”
“He’ll follow her.” Garrick glanced back down at the map, tracing his finger over the road from Aetheris. “They always do.”
“Will he?” Rowland stared at her, a frown creasing his face. “He’s taken Farhallow. The fae in Ravonfar have gotten wind of it. Rebellion is stirring despite Pryce’s public punishments—or maybe because of them. Only a fool would give up his position now.”
Araya sucked in a sharp breath. Loren had taken Farhallow? Nearly a third of the fae the Arcanum depended on to refill their amplifiers lived there. That was why they controlled everything in the slums—from housing to medical access to food and clean water. If the Arcanum had lost it to Loren…
Then they had lost access to their power, too.
“Surprised, Miss Starwind?” Rowland didn’t look away from her, his expression unreadable. “Your mate has proven to be quite the thorn in our side. He’s supposed to be here, trying to save you. But instead he’s there—tearing our city apart.”
Gods—if that was true, then Loren wasn’t the only one who would get hurt if the Arcanum used her against him. Every fae in Aetheris was at risk. Their mate bond wasn’t just a weakness—it was a liability.
“That’s just because we haven’t let him find her yet.
” Garrick said. “The combination of runes we used on Miss Starwind prevent her from reaching out through her bond with the prince without explicit permission. It would have been foolish to invite an attack on the road, but now that we’re here—” he nodded at his son.
“Go ahead, Jaxon. Have her reach out now.”
Jaxon’s grip on her arm tightened, but there was no hint of his displeasure in his voice when he spoke. “Go ahead, Starling.”
She didn’t want to. But the rune carved over her heart tingled, warming against her skin in warning.
It would punish her if she resisted. She’d managed not to betray him before—and how many more chances would she get to reach out to him?
She needed to take this one. To tell him not to come for her.
That her life wasn’t worth the lives of all the fae in Farhallow.
Araya closed her eyes, a tear rolling down her cheek. Her own magic turned inward, reaching out—
And found nothing.
No warmth. No distant sense of his presence. He was just...gone.
Like he had blocked her out.
Araya’s eyes snapped open, the shocking realization settling over her. Part of her didn’t want to believe it. He wouldn’t block their bond—he loved her.
But he loved his people too.
Araya lifted her gaze, meeting Rowland’s eyes. “He won’t come.”
“Mates always come for each other,” Garrick said, looking at her with cruel pity on his face. “You weren’t educated on it—by design, of course. But he’ll have no choice—”
“I can’t feel him.” Araya couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face, even as her heart broke. “He’s blocked the bond. Blocked me. Probably the same night you raided Farhallow. You can’t use me against him now.”
“No fae would do that willingly,” Garrick said. But he didn’t sound sure.
“He’s not just any fae.” Araya laughed, the heady mixture of relief and heartbreak bubbling over until tears streamed down her face.
“A king puts his people first.” It wasn’t all on her to keep them safe.
“How many collections can you miss before you run out of magic?” she challenged, looking Garrick Shaw straight in the eye.
“It’s not as many as we always thought, is it? ”
Garrick stared at her, for once nonplussed.
“Well,” Rowland said. “That’s unfortunate. You promised me she would be useful, Garrick. But all I see here is a sharp-tongued halfblood you and your son have no intention of controlling.”
A muscle in Garrick’s jaw twitched. “It’s a minor setback,” he said. “I’m sure—”
“I’m sure your son’s little pet is far smarter than any fae should be allowed to become,” Rowland said dryly. “You Shaws always did have a penchant for the pretty, intelligent ones. But if she can’t be used to lure the prince out of his stronghold—”
“Blocks can be overcome, Erik.” Garrick looked straight at Araya as he spoke.
“We’ve avoided causing Miss Starwind excessive physical and emotional distress so far, but if Loren Shadowbane has blocked the bond from his end…
” he shrugged. “Inquisitor Pryce is here, I’m not opposed to making use of her specific skillset. ”
Araya’s laughter dried up.
“Father—” Jaxon protested. “Torturing her now will make breeding her later far more difficult. You know—”
“Your father is right, Commander.” Rowland pushed back from the table. “You lost the fae prince. If you have to break your little pet to get him back? So be it.”
Rowland turned back to Garrick before Jaxon could answer, clasping the older man’s arm in a firm handshake.
“Don’t neglect my command,” he warned. “We have a firm protocol for burning back the forest. Don’t deviate from it. Hopefully this is just a temporary reassignment for both of us.”
“Gods willing.” Garrick clapped the High Commander on the shoulder. “I’ll walk you out. Jaxon, get your bond secured and join me and Inquisitor Pryce for dinner. We can discuss what measures we’re willing to take with her while we eat.”
“Of course, Father.” Jaxon didn’t look at her, his shoulders rigid. “I’m happy to discuss all the options.”
“Jaxon!” Caylin called out, chasing after them.
“Fuck off, Caylin.” Jaxon didn’t slow his pace, practically dragging Araya through camp. “Haven’t you done enough damage today?”
“I’m trying to help you!” Caylin grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. “You can’t keep protecting her. It reflects poorly on you.”
Jaxon whirled on her.
“The only person you’re helping here is yourself,” he snapped, his voice lethally soft. “You’ve been angling for this kind of power for years. Don’t try and dress it up as concern for me.”
“Jaxon—”
He turned his back on her protest. “Come on, Starling,” he said. “There’s something I want to show you.”
Araya struggled to match his stride, the camp passing in a blur. Neat rows of tents gave way to churned earth and rough wooden structures—latrines, she realized, gagging on the stench.
But Jaxon didn’t stop, leading her past them toward a large canvas structure. No other tents stood near it, and no aetherlamps lit the canvas with their golden glow. Just two guards stood outside, both of them straightening with undisguised interest as Jaxon approached.
“Commander Shaw,” one of them called out in greeting. “We didn’t know you were back. Who do you have here?”
Araya shivered as the other guard looked her up and down, licking his lips. “She’s a pretty one,” he said. “Not as used up as the ones we usually get. Cleaner, too.”
Jaxon’s arm wrapped around her waist. “She’s not available, Tomas.” He laughed, forcibly lightening his tone even as his fingers dug into her hip. “Not yet, anyway.” He nodded at the tent flap. “I wanted to show her what happens to fae who don’t cooperate here.”
“Just looking then?” The first guard grunted. “That’s ten silvers.”
Jaxon opened his purse, coins clinking as they changed hands.
“Enjoy your visit,” the second guard said cheerfully, pulling back the tent flap.
It was a thousand times worse than the latrines.
Araya retched, her hand flying up to cover her mouth and nose. Her eyes burned from it, struggling to make sense of the dark, shifting shapes that ran the length of the tent. She could hear people breathing, but there were too many limbs. Too much scarred and damaged skin moving and shifting—
Araya stumbled back, her spine hitting Jaxon’s chest.
Those were fae. Packed into iron cages so tightly their naked flesh pressed against the bars, adding new burns to the scars that marked their skin.
They stood in their own waste, legs streaked with dirt and worse, but none of them moved more than a shifting shuffle from side to side, their eyes hollow and vacant.
“Don’t look away.” Jaxon’s hands wrapped around her waist, holding her steady. “You need to see this, Starling.”
Araya looked, her heart pounding against her ribs. “Who are they?”
“They’re the fae who have no use,” Jaxon said. “Infertile. Too damaged or old or uncooperative to work. This is the last place they can find purpose.”
A female in the nearest cage stared at them, her face devoid of any hint of emotion. There was no recognition there, no fear, no anger. Whatever they’d done to her…it had broken her.
“Elvanfal is too far from Aetheris to depend entirely on shipments of amplifiers,” Jaxon’s hands smoothed down her sides, like she was a frightened horse he needed to calm.
“So we supplement by harvesting the last dregs of magic from these pitiful creatures. And of course—” he added, almost as an afterthought, “—the guards do a robust business renting them out. It’s not technically allowed, but Command looks the other way.
This is a dangerous posting after all. People need to take their pleasure where they can find it. ”
“Why are you showing me this?” Araya whispered.
“Because.” He pressed a soft kiss to the scarred tip of her ear. “You need to see what you’re signing up for when you scream that you never want me to touch you again. How long do you think you would last in a place like this?”
Araya closed her eyes. She couldn’t speak. Couldn’t stop the way her body shook in his grip. Every breath sawed in and out of her lungs, fast and hard. But Jaxon didn’t seem to actually want an answer.
“They want to torture you, Starling,” he murmured against her skin.
“You embarrassed my father tonight, so he’s going to let Caylin carve you to ribbons.
Then he’ll breed you until you’re all used up and he can leave you somewhere like this to die.
” He shifted, drawing her close until her back pressed against his front.
His arms tightened, holding her there. “Is a life with me really so bad compared to that?”
He wanted her to choose. To pick him. A year ago, she would have. But she wasn’t that person anymore. She was Loren’s mate. His queen. And queens put their people first.
“I guess we’ll find out,” she whispered.