“I’ll notify his majesty,” one of the soldiers said, and separated from the rest.
The leader grunted. His gaze slid to Elena and his mouth quirked at the corner. “This one is mine.”
Derek ground his teeth. “Lay a hand on her”—his breaths came in quick, jerky bursts; the itch of his flesh healing offered hope he might actually survive the bullet wounds—“and I’ll snap it off.”
Elena caught his eye and frantically shook her head.
Before any of the guards could react to Derek’s threat, the men parted and a tall, commanding Fae about the same physical age as his adoptive father came forward. The man must have been following the commotion from someplace nearby to arrive so quickly.
Derek sucked in a breath. The Fae leader’s hair was long, hitting the top of his shoulders in thick blond waves with streaks of gray. His eyes glowed a striking bottle green. The eyes and hair weren’t like Derek’s at all, but the face… Derek never thought he’d meet anyone he resembled, but this man looked like him. Or rather, Derek looked like Niall.
Osulf Niall sent a cursory glance toward Elena, then studied Derek for several minutes. “If I didn’t know it by your appearance, the power my guards say you yield confirms it.”
Niall flicked his fingers and two guards stepped forward.
“My son, how unusual that after all my years of searching, you have come to me. We will discuss your future in my chambers.” He strode away without glancing back.
The two guards grabbed Derek under his arms and dragged him behind their leader.
“No!” Derek shouted. “I won’t leave without Elena.”
Niall halted on the massive planked staircase, casting back a calculating look. “As you wish. I will allow you this boon.” He scanned his men. “No harm comes to the girl within the walls of my castle.” His gaze returned to Derek. “And you will give me something in return.”
Derek kept a watchful eye on Elena as they entered the king’s apartment, similar in size to the one Theda occupied in her castle. There the similarities ended.
Niall’s rooms were not rich and opulently decorated. Instead, woven rugs covered the floors and large tapestries decorated the walls. Nothing in the rooms spoke of luxury.
“How did your guards take away our powers?” Derek asked.
They hadn’t much time. The more information they gathered, the better their chances. And right now, Derek had Niall’s attention.
Niall approached a carved wooden chair set on a dais and sank down, one leg outstretched. “A null gun. Clever device. We do not eschew all modern technologies. Of course, this one is composed primarily of magic, which makes it as ancient as time.”
“How long do the effects last?”
His father smiled mockingly. “You may be my son, but I will not disclose all our secrets.”
Derek’s face burned with rage. Niall’s men had disarmed him and Elena in minutes. He couldn’t let it happen again. He wouldn’t.
Niall laughed. “Such passion—I see it on your face. You’re just like your mother. She had beautiful blue eyes and golden skin. Her beauty and passion drew me to her, but that was a mistake. I underestimated her determination to protect you. It was unfortunate she took her own life to prevent me from finding her and encouraging her to tell me where she had hidden you.” Niall shook his head. “Such a waste. You lost your mother and I was denied my son. I learned to select biddable females after that.”
His real mother was dead?
And this man had driven her to take her own life.
Derek’s head pounded from the force of the blood pumping through his system. His mother had saved him, not abandoned him. Just as Elena’s mother had saved her. Or tried to.
Niall glanced at Elena. “You would do well to learn from my mistakes, son. This female—the Newlander, whose elemental magic I sense—will only cause you grief and frustration. She has too much spirit and bad blood. No good can come from such a union. You have strong mental powers. We must keep the bloodline pure and cleanse it of your mother’s dilution.”
“I don’t need relationship advice, Father. And Elena’s bad blood is the only thing standing between you and certain death.”
Niall’s jaw twitched in agitation. “Oh? And why is that?”
“Because without her abilities, you’ll die from the disease. Or have the Fae collapsing around you escaped your notice?”
Niall lurched forward in his chair, anger—maybe hatred—contorting his features. “Watch your mouth,” he growled. “I will not hesitate to smite it from your face.”
“So much for unconditional love,” Derek muttered sardonically.
“Stop, Derek,” Elena pleaded. She peered up at Niall. “What he says is true. We are risking our lives to save your people. We want to help.”
Niall eased back. He rubbed his thumb along the armrest. “And why would you do this?”
“I have an ability the Fae in Emain believe can save your people from the virus—and my mother along with them.”
She left out the part about Leo and Portia threatening Elena’s human family, but Derek wasn’t so certain Leo meant to follow through on that. It could have been all Portia’s idea, and she’d left Emain to spread her hatred in Tirnan.
Now that Derek knew Portia’s true purpose, he doubted she ever believed Elena would find a cure. Had probably banked on her not finding one and had only used Elena as a convenient distraction for her real goal—to take over Tirnan with the virus as her weapon.
Niall studied Elena. “Interesting arrangement. I’ll need to confirm your story.”
“It’s the truth,” Derek interrupted. “And there’s no time to confirm it. Even if the Fae in Emain allowed you through the portal—which they would not—most of your kingdom is exposed to the virus, or will be by the end of the week. If I were you, I wouldn’t risk my life to confirm something Elena can prove in a matter of minutes.”
“You are not me,” Niall boomed. A warning. “However, I am willing to see this proof.”
“Then I ask again, how long do the effects of the null gun last? Elena will need her powers.”
“They’ve returned by now.” He paused and nodded to one of the guards. “If she attempts to harm me in any way, shoot her through the temple.”
Derek’s heart raced as the guard aimed his crossbow. Elena wouldn’t harm Niall, so there was no risk of the guard shooting her for that, but the Fae’s finger could slip. Anything could happen.
Niall gestured to Elena. “You may begin.”
She had her chin set in that stubborn way that usually meant all hell was about to break loose. Derek stretched his neck, the popping sound filling the silence. She had better not do something risky. He wasn’t certain they had any more luck left.
Elena breathed deeply and closed her eyes, her shoulders dropping as if relaxed. A faint wind whirled around the room, picking up speed.
She opened her eyes and the wind stopped, but the air in the room condensed. Droplets of water sprinkled on their heads from a charcoal cloud that had coalesced along the ceiling. The wind picked up again, and the pressure in the room shifted. A deafening crack boomed across the room, followed by a bright light that zipped past Derek’s shoulder.
The guard at Elena’s side shrieked like a little girl, his hand smoking where the bow had been.
Elena’s mouth twitched. “You are unharmed, your majesty.”
Derek shook his head, his ears ringing from the thunder. She was going to get them killed.
Niall’s face remained stoic. “Interesting. But manipulation of the elements will not cure the virus.”
“Which is why we’re here,” Derek said. “Elena only recently acquired her abilities. She hasn’t had time to fully develop them, and she won’t before the disease completes its spread. Unless you help us. Elena is descended from nobility, as you may have surmised, otherwise she wouldn’t have abilities. According to the Tertullian Codex, she can gain her full powers in Tirnan.”
&
nbsp; Niall’s gaze narrowed. “I see. And what do the Fae in Emain believe is her ultimate ability?”
“Transmutation. She’ll develop an antivirus to the disease.”
Niall was silent for several seconds. Derek’s palms were sweating, but he refused to look away. He had nothing to hide and he wouldn’t back down.
The king slowly tapped his finger on the armrest of his chair. “The secret for manifesting a Fae’s innate magic has been passed from one generation of nobility to the next.” He sat forward, his body going eerily still. “I will provide Elena with what she needs and tell her how to fully possess her powers—on two conditions. First, I want sole control of the antivirus. Second, you agree to remain in Tirnan. With me.”
Elena spun to him. “No.”
She had agreed to help the Emain Fae create a cure to the virus. In turn, they wouldn’t harm her family. There was no rule as to who controlled the cure.
Derek rubbed his jaw. Niall’s second condition was more complicated. He wasn’t sure why the Fae wanted him. Maybe for posterity; maybe to murder. It was a toss-up at this point. Derek wasn’t getting warm, fuzzy feelings from Daddy.
He looked at Elena, who seemed to be pleading with her eyes.
He didn’t know when it had happened—maybe subconsciously from the first moment he’d set eyes on her—but he’d do anything to keep her safe.
Elena turned abruptly to the king. “I won’t leave Derek behind,” she said, and Derek groaned.
She still had no sense of self-preservation. They’d have to work on that.
“Elena—” Derek began.
“You have no choice, my dear,” Niall answered. “Consider it the boon Derek promised in exchange for your protection within my castle. The first condition… Well, we both desire that, do we not? Develop a cure and fulfill your agreement with our people. I will make sure this Fae mother of yours survives the virus.”
40
What an evil bastard Derek’s father turned out to be! How was Elena going to get Derek out of here?
She racked her brain for an alternate solution while they stood in front of the king, but her mind kept drawing a blank. Not even a whisper of a clever scheme flickered through her gray matter.
Fear of losing Derek must have forced her better judgment to the forefront, leaving one option. “I will give Old Kingdom the antidote,” she said.
This ruler was just arrogant enough to think of himself and Old Kingdom as one and the same. By the pleased look in his eye, she could tell she’d been right.
The next condition was trickier. She had to be careful. “What do you want with Derek?”
The corner of Niall’s mouth curved up. His face twisted with forced sincerity. “What any father wants. He is blood of my blood, and my only son. I wish his fealty.”
A tremor of unease swept through her. She didn’t understand the meaning behind Niall’s saccharine words or what exactly he meant by fealty, but figuring that out would take time. A luxury she didn’t have.
“My mother said I need five leaves from the Ancient Allon in order to manifest my full magic. I want Derek to retrieve the leaves.” She didn’t trust Niall, or his men.
Niall studied her for a heartbeat then nodded to Derek. “Go.”
Derek looked from Elena to the guards, as if mentally calculating her safety in his absence.
Niall had promised her no harm within his castle. Derek must have surmised the same, because he swept out of the room followed by two guards with null guns pointed at his back.
Her mother was supposed to show her what to do with the leaves, but Elena didn’t want her mom brought here—assuming she was still alive.
Elena’s stomach twisted and she pressed her wrist beneath her ribs. She’d only known her mom a few hours; it was ridiculous to mourn someone you barely knew. But she did. There was still a chance her mother had survived. She had to hold on to that possibility and hope for the best.
“What do I do with the leaves once I have them?” she asked.
Niall’s head tilted and he studied her for a moment. “You mentioned your mother. Who is she, dear?”
The fine hairs on Elena’s neck stood at attention and her fingers twitched. She’d hate to give Niall information that put her mother in danger. “Does it matter?”
Niall smirked. “I think it does.”
Every gaze in the room focused on her.
“Theodora,” she murmured.
Niall leaned forward on his wooden dais. “Theodora who?”
“Rainer.”
“Speak louder,” he commanded.
Elena pushed her shoulders back and raised her chin. “My mother is Theodora Joelle Rainer.”
A hush swept the chamber.
The king’s expression blanked, and then he leaned back and laughed loudly, his surprisingly lyrical chortle cutting through the silence like a sharpened blade. “My son and the daughter of…” He pressed a fist to his grin, shaking his head in disbelief.
Elena crossed her arms. “Will you tell me what I need to know, or not?”
Niall’s smile faded and his expression turned serious. “Grind the leaves into a thin powder. Pour warm water over the granules and drink it down. Be forewarned: royal blood withstands the power of the Ancient Allon leaves. Lesser Fae become ill. A Halven…”
Might not make it, she thought.
She might not survive no matter what. With the leaves, she had a fighting chance, and so would her mother and the rest of the Fae.
“That’s it?” she asked. “There’s no other ingredient, no voodoo waving of the hands to make the formula more magical?”
“I assure you, the Ancient Allon is plenty magical.”
Derek returned, and one of Niall’s men brought in a molcajete—an herb grinder like the one her aunt had passed down to Elena on her sixteenth birthday.
Derek handed her the leaves, and she ground them into a thin powder with the molcajete. The leaves were surprisingly brittle for being fresh from the tree, but then, these leaves never dropped. They shifted from branch to branch, but never fell.
She carefully scooped the granules into a cup and filled it with the warm water procured by a servant.
Derek stared at the concoction, his gaze leery.
Without hesitating, Elena brought the blend to her mouth and gulped it down.
The leaves tasted like bark with a hint of peppermint. Not horrible, but not exactly a coffeehouse tea.
“My guards will escort you to your chamber,” Niall said. “Rest for a few hours and allow the leaves to take effect. When the sun reaches midmorning, we will see how you’ve fared and if the scientists of Emain were correct.”
One of the guards kicked Derek in the back, launching him inside a small, dusty chamber.
He stumbled and whirled around.
“Do not attempt to use your powers,” the guard said. “Castle alchemists will monitor you and your female’s power levels. Present a spark of magic and you won’t enjoy the consequences.”
He slammed the door in Derek’s face, the sound of a large wooden object sliding home coming from the opposite side.
Good. Derek wanted privacy.
He walked across the room, past the thin cot hugging the wall, to a narrow window with metal bars.
He surveyed the soldiers pacing the castle periphery. One of the guards glanced up from the yard, and Derek withdrew, pressing his back to the stone.
The nice thing about a crusty old castle with no modern conveniences? No possibility of surveillance cameras.
Derek gently pulled out the five additional leaves he’d extracted from the Ancient Allon when no one was looking. Well, they may have been looking, but with his powers returned, he’d made part of his arm invisible and snatched the extra leaves, stuffing them inside his pocket with no one the wiser.
Silently, Derek carried a small table that held a ceramic bowl and cup away from the window. He picked up the cup in one hand and used his other to grind the leaves over it. Small
grains and a few larger pieces flittered to the bottom.
He poured tepid water from the bowl over the leaf particles and allowed them to steep for a moment, hoping the extra time would provide the same effect as warm water.
Derek drank down the mixture, chewing and swallowing the larger chunks of leaf.
He came from royal Fae too, and if it was possible to help Elena by enhancing his own abilities, he wanted in.
Because he didn’t trust anyone inside Tirnan, least of all Niall.
41
Soldiers entered Elena’s room a couple of hours after she awakened. The last of the nausea the leaves had caused finally relented, leaving her throat sore from dry heaving and her body weary from a night of poor sleep.
Surrounded by guards, she was guided to Niall’s chamber, her toes pinched inside her boots.
“How are you feeling this morning?” Niall asked, eyeing her as she entered.
“A little woozy, and—” She held out her arms, revealing sleeves a good two inches too short.
“You’ve grown. That is to be expected. Had you been male, the growth after drinking Ancient Allon leaves would be dramatic.” Something flashed in Niall’s eyes. Anger?
“I must admit, I am surprised, Elena.” A boyish smile crossed his face, as if he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “I did not believe a Halven could survive the leaf of the Ancient Allon.” His expression turned thoughtful. “This morning has been full of surprises.”
Niall’s ominous tone brought a fresh wave of nausea to her belly. This man made her extremely nervous, particularly since he was hellbent on keeping Derek. Something she had no intention of allowing.
Niall’s eyes narrowed and he tapped his finger on his thigh atop the dais.
That mannerism… How many times had she seen Derek doing that same finger tapping when he was thinking? The uncanny physical resemblance was weird enough, but the finger-tapping thing had her freaking out. What other similarities did Derek share with his biological father?
No. She mentally shook her head. Derek is nothing like Niall.
Fates Divided Page 28
