33. Chapter Thirty Three Callum
Chapter Thirty Three: Callum
I followed behind them, trying to keep my mind blank and on the task at hand. Our pace was torturously slow since Rhowyn could barely put one foot in front of the other.
We finally cleared the atrium, turning the corner to our own hallway. I couldn't stand it anymore. The need to get to safety was eating at me. I stomped forward, rounding them. Not asking permission or giving any warning, I stooped and grabbed the backs of her thighs and lifted her over my shoulder, the least painful carry I could think of.
Once I had her settled, I pounded down the hallway at a much faster pace than before. I heard Baer and Arryn scrambling behind us as Rhowyn groaned in pain.
“What are you doing?” Baer demanded. “You'll hurt her.”
“She's already hurting. We're no longer in sight of others, so her pride is safe. At least this way, we can get her in bed sooner.”
A giggle-snort escaped Rhowyn before she groaned at the pain. “Don't make me laugh,” she whined at me.
“I wasn' t trying to,” I stated, perplexed at what she could find so funny.
She sighed. “This was not how I wanted y'all putting me to bed tonight,” she explained.
“Oh,” I mumbled, taken aback at the thought that she wanted me in her bed. I could feel my cheeks heat.
Baer laughed, somewhat nervously, as some of the tension left us. If she was making jokes, then she'd be okay. Physical wounds would always heal. It was more the mental ones that I was worried about.
I bit back the urge to question her further, knowing we couldn’t do so until safely behind closed doors. So, I carried her back to our suite, crossing the room to lay her in her bed face down. This was the first time I had been in here since she’d thrown a vase at me.
I pulled the covers around her and gazed at her face, her eyes closed in exhaustion. The stunning dress she wore was tattered but still holding together somehow. The gown had provided her with absolutely no protection, and on her behalf, I was disappointed. I couldn't bring myself to admit to her, but she was breathtaking in her gown tonight. She’d held my attention all evening, as she did with everyone else in attendance. My favorite aspect had been that she’d had no clue how entrancing and magnetic she was.
I clenched my fists at that thought; to see her skin marred in such a way devastated me. She didn't deserve the whipping she’d received tonight. Just like I never really deserved the same scars that I also received at the hands of the bloodthirsty Queen. She served herself, not the land and certainly not her people. Tonight, being the perfect example for those who dared defy her in any way.
I sat down in a chair that one of the guys must have placed here, watching Rhowyn as she breathed shallowly. I couldn't bring myself to tear my gaze from her perfect face. I’d never wanted to feel for her. Duty had always guided my every move. Especially since the Queen murdered my parents. Everything I had done since had only been for my people. I wasn’t even sure anymore if I knew what it meant to live for myself, but for the first time, I wanted to.
I wanted to believe she was as strong as we all thought. I wanted to believe that she was our future. But a part of me couldn't help but hold back. I was skeptical that any person or fae could best the Queen. If there was one thing I had learned, it was that the Queen wouldn't relinquish her power willingly. It was this that kept me from investing fully in Rhowyn. As magnificent as she was, she wasn’t duplicitous enough to compete with the Queen. And I wouldn't want her to be because then I would lose all respect for her.
A knock on the door sounded out, but still, I didn't move from her side. I couldn't even if I had tried. Whether it was the bond of Chosen and Consort or something more, I didn't want to evaluate it right now. I was glued to her side, my protective instincts firing into overdrive.
I heard the shuffle of the others entering, Arryn and Baer, their whispers and worry invading my senses. I didn't bother glancing at them, my gaze glued to the curve of Rhowyn's face. The dark lashes resting on her cheeks, brow furrowed in pain even in unconsciousness, her shallow breaths setting a cadence that I clung to.
Looking back, I had known something would happen tonight. It was just a matter of time, especially now that the Queen no longer had me to take her frustrations out on. If I could have taken the whipping for Rhowyn, I would gladly have done so. I was used to the pain the lash inflicted after so many years of being on the receiving end .
But once Rhowyn showed up, everything changed. The Queen had become more frustrated, increasingly unpredictable. And as soon as the opportunity to exert her power over the unknown girl who had swept the Court in whispers and intrigue presented itself the Queen had taken it.
But what scared me now, more than all the years of tiptoeing on the edge, was the look I saw on Titania's face as she beat Rhowyn. She enjoyed the power but knew she hadn't dominated Rhowyn in the way she thought she would.
In a surprising turn, Rhowyn had taken control despite being the one receiving punishment. She had stood up for the servant girl, showing no fear, fighting until others were threatened, and then bore the punishment with as much dignity as I'd ever seen.
She had somehow known that by withholding her cries of pain and fear, she would also be withholding that which the Queen craved. Which confirmed what I had suspected all along. Rhowyn was no stranger to pain, to abuses inflicted by those who should have been protectors. Somehow, she managed to take a situation that should have broken most people and turned it into her greatest strength.
And yet, she had stood up for someone who was nothing in the Court's eyes. She had risked her own life, maybe not knowingly, but she still had jumped in to take the place of someone she knew would break under the Queen's lash.
That was someone I could respect. Someone I could serve. Someone who could change the course of our world for the better. Because a queen shouldn't be any better than those she served. At the end of the day, her job was to ensure the people came first.
And yet, despite the bravery she had shown, making me want to help her in any way I could, I was still hesitant. The Queen was just too powerful and conniving. I couldn't see how she'd relinquish her power after the trials selected a new queen. She had something else up her sleeves, and we couldn't see it.
There was no way, even as a team of five, that we would be able to topple the Queen's empire. Even I knew, deep down, that all my years of service to the Queen were hopeless. I had simply been keeping myself going, trying not to succumb to the hopelessness of it all with false reassurances and promises to myself.
I knew that I would never gain freedom for my people, but I could keep the Queen's wrath from them by offering up myself for her amusements. Now that I was no longer in that position, I feared what would happen. Were my people going to experience her torture now? Had I made the right decision to accept my role as Consort? Or had I simply rushed along their doom?
Lennox burst through the door, breathless, halting next to me and pulling me from my maudlin thoughts. He sank to his knees next to the bed, grabbing one of Rhowyn's hands in his.
“Is Master Jude on his way?” Arryn asked calmly.
Not bothering to look at him, Lennox replied, “He was right behind me. He'd already received word of what happened and was packing up supplies to bring with him.”
“Does he know what we need of him? To complete the bonding ceremony?” Baer asked, concern in his voice.
“Yes. He knew of the order not to heal Rhowyn but was determined to do so anyway. Until I mentioned that we had another way to get around the order. I didn't want to say more until we were in a secure location, but he got my meaning,” Lennox explained, lowering his head to touch his forehead to their entwined hands.
At one time, I had known Lennox better than anyone. We had been fast friends until my parents decided to overthrow his mother. Since my imprisonment, he shunned any relationship we'd had. Of course, I wasn't too concerned over that in my grief. I could only see his mother and what she'd done when I looked at him.
But now, I was starting to see behind the mask he'd put on for the Court. I could see the boy that I had once called my best friend. He'd always been more sensitive than I had, using his brain more than his brawn. My opposite in almost every way, except for the values we had both held.
I thought he'd lost those over the years, that he was more like his ice-cold mother than I had thought. That his friendship had simply been an act to keep me close or to gain information for his mother.
Now, I was starting to see that he'd never changed. He'd simply found a way to hide those values from his mother, who would have done everything in her power to crush him beneath her heel, especially because he was her son. He'd learned to play the part for the Court, never letting his mask slip in public.
That was until Rhowyn showed up. In a matter of days, she'd managed to get that mask to slip, just enough that we could see just how much he cared.
Seeing him watch Rhowyn with no emotion while his mother whipped her in front of the entire Court and everyone who mattered had only cemented this for me. He'd acted disinterested, almost bored. Unless you knew him, like I had, you'd never see the pain it actually caused him. And now, I could see the guilt eating him alive. He felt responsible for his mother's cruelty.
A knock sounded on the suite door, and Arryn rushed to answer it. I could hear them talking as Master Jude rushed into the bedroom and the quick inhale at the sight of Rhowyn's ravaged flesh. “Dear, Avalonia,” he whispered to himself.
Regaining his composure, he set his bag on the floor, pushing me and Lennox out of his way to get a better look. “Baer, get me some rags and warm water. We need to clean these wounds,” he instructed, Bear rushing off to do as he was told .
Jude gently pulled the dress open wider, ensuring there were no threads sticking in the wounds and inspecting the extent of the damage. I could see white streaks where the lash had cut down to the muscle fibers in her shoulders. Even with her fae healing, she would be scarred.
“Are those old scars?” Lennox growled in question, pointing to small scars, little circles all around her lower back. Being a fire fae, I knew burn marks when I saw them. Someone had burned her repeatedly at some point.
“Those are burns,” I growled in response, confirming what we were already seeing. That she had indeed known this kind of pain before, the evidence of the abuse irrefutable.
Baer returned with the supplies, handing them off to Jude. Jude whispered a spell, before explaining. “I want her to sleep through this. It will be painful.” We nodded as he began to slowly clean the wounds, all of us feeling useless in this instance, unable to help Rhowyn in any way.
“Are those scars?” Baer asked us as we watched Jude work.
“Yes,” we all growled. “Burn marks,” I clarified.
“Fuck!” He voiced our thoughts. “What kind of life did she lead before we showed up? That someone could do that to her?”
“I suspected she had been hurt before. I think we all did, but I didn't realize just how badly,” Arryn said in his succinct manner.
“She doesn't deserve this. Just like she didn't deserve the whipping tonight!” Baer exclaimed. “That bitch of a queen...” he trailed off, as if realizing her son was in the room.
It was easy to forget he was related to her. Especially now, when his mask wasn't in place. “Don't worry. I feel exactly the same way,” Lennox grumbled.
“She's getting more irrational and becoming more unstable,” I voiced, knowing that I had been the closest to her. “It’s only gotten worse since Rhowyn arrived. ”
“I'm willing to bet that Rhowyn is a threat to whatever she has planned. Mother can sense her strength and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep Rhowyn from winning,” Lennox stated.
“I agree,” Arryn chimed in.
“But there's no way she can fight the trials. Soon she won't be the most powerful fae. There will be a new queen,” Baer spoke up, the least familiar with the Court.
“Somehow, I doubt she'll relinquish control that easily.” Lennox voiced exactly what I had been thinking. “I just haven't been able to figure out what she has planned.”
“But that's not possible. Right? She can't circumvent the trials' proclamation. Can she?” Baer questioned. “Right, Master Jude?”
Jude was smearing a salve onto Rhowyn's wounds to prevent infection, listening with a frown on his face to our conversation. He finished up while we all waited for his response.
Straightening up, a hand on his lower back, he sighed. “I've never heard of anything, but that doesn't mean the same as there not being a way. The Queen has access to records that I'll never see. Such as previous knowledge passed on from former queens. So, yes, it may be possible for her to maintain control, even after the trials,” he said, fear seeping into his voice.
Being the Head Priest, he had the most knowledge of magic, but that didn't make him all knowing. I couldn't help the flash of fear that coursed through me at the thought that we'd have to endure more of Titania's tyranny.
We all stood there silently, that thought plaguing us until Arryn spoke up. “There's not much we can do about that right now. But tonight, we can help Rhowyn heal.” He paused to meet all our eyes in confirmation.
He met my gaze last, and I hesitated, fearful of what this meant for my people, but I had known the moment I introduced myself as the last consort that there would be no turning back for me. I had made my decision then, for better or worse, and there was no changing it. So, I nodded, accepting that my fate was now tied to Rhowyn's and her other consorts.
“Good,” he said before turning to face Master Jude. “Which brings us to why we asked you here. We're ready to complete the bonding ceremony.”
“I suspected as much when His Highness asked me to come,” Jude responded.
“We're hoping the bond with us will unlock Rhowyn's glamor and magic. That it will help her heal more quickly,” Baer spoke up.
“Technically, no one will be healing her directly. She'll be doing that on her own once her magic is unlocked,” Lennox chimed in.
Jude eyed each of us before asking, “Has she agreed to this?”
“Yes,” we all confirmed.
“Does she know what all being bonded entails?” he asked.
Baer rubbed his neck sheepishly. “Not fully, but she knows she needs her magic if she has any hope of surviving the trials.”
“Master Jude, we know this isn't the usual ceremony, but please. She doesn't deserve to suffer because of my mother's cruelty. Please, help us help her,” Lennox pleaded, completely out of character for him.
“As much as I wish she was awake to voice her agreement, I also don't want to wake her yet. The pain will only get worse for her before it gets better. The more she can rest, the better she will heal,” he murmured, rubbing his face. Another sigh left him, and he looked every bit his age, older than he did earlier this evening. “Fine. If you’re all sure.”
“Yes,” we all voiced our consent unanimously.
“Then I will complete the bonding ceremony.”
A tension released inside me at his agreement, one I hadn't known I was holding. I watched as the same feeling passed through the others. Jude busied himself setting up the supplies for the ceremony, all of us glued to his every move.
Once we did this, we would be irrevocably tied to each other. We would have access to each other's emotions, able to tell when one was near or hurting. I would no longer be alone, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that kind of intrusion. It would be nothing compared to the change for Rhowyn. But none of us really had a choice. It was all decided for us the moment the land had selected her as the Chosen and us as her Consorts.
Finally, Jude completed his preparations and turned to face us. “Please, gather near Rhowyn in front of me,” he instructed, stepping back a step.
We all came around to the right side of the bed, nearest Rhowyn who was still resting peacefully after Jude's spell, her respirations deep and even. “Each of you, please hold out a hand. When I cut your palm, place it over her Chosen Mark, and I'll speak the words to bind you,” he stated calmly as I glanced at her shoulder, finding the mark, lashes cutting through it.
Noticing my gaze, he said, “I won't have to cut her since the lashes will allow for the mixing of your blood. One small mercy in doing this now.”
I nodded as Arryn spoke. “We're ready.” He held out his palm, ever the dutiful soldier and our unspoken leader, keeping us on track and from falling apart. I hadn't been with them long, but I had already seen this, how the others deferred to his calm and calculating nature. It was only fitting that he went first.
Jude stepped up to him and cut his palm deeply, the blood immediately welling up. Arryn placed his palm across Rhowyn's Chosen Mark as Jude then poured a liquid on them both where they were connected and said, “Avalonia, you have chosen these two to be connected, and we seek your approval for a deeper joining, one which binds them irrevocably. Please accept their wish to be bound to your Chosen from now until their dying day.”
As he finished the words, a glow began and slowly increased in brightness. Magic intensified in the air around them, and a snap echoed around the room as Arryn's bond was accepted. He pulled his hand back, his palm healed completely.
Baer eagerly stepped up next. He had wanted this bond since the first day from what I had gathered. Jude repeated the process, and we all watched as his bond was accepted.
He glanced at Arryn afterward, in awe of the process and obviously feeling the bond between them now as he touched his chest.
Lennox stepped up and was accepted as well.
Before I knew it, it was my turn. I stepped forward, unable to help the slight hesitation. I couldn't help the fear of the unknown that assaulted me in this moment. From here on out, I would never be the same, and I had no idea what that meant for me. For us.
I held out my hand as Jude cut me deeply, barely registering the pain as I placed it over Rhowyn's mark. I didn't hear as Jude spoke the words for the final time, my fear causing my heart to race and my pulse to pound in my ears, drowning out everything else.
At first, nothing happened. The others had been accepted almost immediately. I figured mine would be as well. I glanced at Jude, the question clearly written on my face.
“Callum, you cannot control this. In this, you must relinquish control and accept your fate before the bond can happen.”
“I have,” I stated, confused. But deep down, I knew it was fear of the future that was holding me back. “How?” I whispered to him, not wanting to admit my weakness .
“Trust that fate has a role for all of us to play and that the land has not chosen unwisely. That this is your fate. You must now accept your role,” he told me.
I nodded, knowing he was right. My parents would be proud of me in this moment. They had believed in the land and Avalonia, honored them above all else. I could do nothing less, and so, I surrendered to my fate, knowing that everything now rested in Rhowyn's hands, with me at her side.
The glow started, and I jerked back as the bond snapped into place, punching me in the chest with the emotions from all the others. But the strongest was from Rhowyn herself. Despite the sleep she had been put in, I could feel her pain. Emotionally and physically.
I glanced at the others, and they nodded. They could feel it, too.
“So now what?” Baer questioned Master Jude.
“Now, we wait for her to wake up.”
“But it didn't break her glamor,” Baer voiced.
“No. It didn't. But I'm hopeful that when she wakes, with access to all of your magic now, she’ll be able to break the glamor on her own.” We nodded at him, slightly disappointed that she was still healing so slowly because she was trapped in human form.
“Now, I must retire for the evening. That bonding took a lot out of me, and I must rest these old bones. Send for me when she wakes, and we will evaluate where to go from there,” He said as he gathered his things.
Arryn walked Jude to the suite door, and Baer turned to Lennox and me. “What if she can't unlock the glamor or use our magic?”
My gut sank at that thought because if she still couldn't, then we were all screwed.