by Lisa Kumar
Please don’t let it be going where I think it is. But knowing what she did about Eamon and Serrina, how could it be anything else? “Like what?”
“The corruption of the darkindred.”
Damn it. Why did she have to be right? “But why would the queen have betrayed her country in such a way? I get that she was angry about Talion. Still, to be that bitter?”
Alanon shrugged. “I cannot say why bitterness infected her mind so. All I can attest to is the consequences of her decisions.”
“Well, her decisions sucked.” Maggie swept a considering gaze over him. “Are you darkindred? You don’t look like one, but I’ve learned that doesn’t mean much.”
“I am, though I’ve been one long enough to hide the signs.”
“So how do you tie into everything? And Andrian? How did he get mixed-up in this?”
“I was Andrian’s friend and blindly followed him. As to how he got caught up in it all, we have to give thanks to the former queen for that.”
Taking in this information, Maggie sucked her lower lip into her mouth. What kind of hold could Serrina have had over Andrian that would have driven him to betray his brother? As possibilities shot through her mind, one thought quickly stood out. Too bad it was the one that made her cringe the most and caused her heart to ache for Talion. “Why am I thinking that Serrina had an affair with Andrian?”
“Because you would be right. You have to notice the brothers’ similarities. The queen surely did, and found Andrian’s foolhardy devotion a substitute of sorts.”
Anger and disgust roiled in her stomach. She was really starting to hate that woman. Thank Heavens, Serrina was already dead because she would’ve gladly killed her. How the former queen could’ve produced such a noble man as Relian was beyond Maggie. Talion had to be responsible for Relian’s character, not that two-timing witch. “God, Avrin’s family sucks. He’s the only sane, normal one out of them all.”
A worrisome thought intruded, and she threw Alanon a suspicious look. “But why are you telling me all this?”
He blinked, confusion clear on his face. “I felt a compulsion to tell you. I don’t know why, but I thought doing so would be freeing.”
Had that been the power of the veil—or more specifically, Aistiane—at work? But she didn’t have time to dwell on it, because the door slammed open and in walked Eamon, followed by Andrian.
Chapter 24
The chilly autumn air bit into Talion’s skin, while the sound of the wind and the pounding of hooves filled his ears. Maddening thoughts of Maggie hurt, scared, and alone occupied his mind. His fingers, protected by gauntlets, tightened on Mignen’s reins until he feared his fingers may crack. He relaxed his grip when the digits grew numb.
He should’ve told her how he felt, of his love for her. To use her own words—Yeah, right. More than likely, she would’ve accused him of lying for his own gain. But still….
Shaking himself out of his dark thoughts, he glanced around. Night was falling, and an hour remained before they reached their destination. He needed to be vigilant, not lost in his head. Though he trusted his men, it was his duty as king to present a face of awareness and strength. Only his personal guards rode ahead of him in case of an attack.
Right now, he wasn’t sure if that was the face he was portraying. His men had given him a wide berth, and no one had attempted any conversation with him beyond relaying brief reports. Even Relian, who rode to his right, avoided him.
He rolled his tense shoulders, trying to work the stiffness out of them. Eamon would have enough advantage over him without Talion being weakened due to physical limitations brought on by his emotions. He’d need his hands fully functional so after he’d comforted Maggie, he could wrap them around Eamon’s throat. He smiled grimly. Who said he didn’t have anything about which to smile? He’d find great pleasure in killing Serrina’s nephew. Treachery seemed to run deep in that family, with the exception of Avrin. And Relian—the only good thing to come out of his marriage to Serrina.
Even Talion’s brother had been corrupted by them. He paused at that thought. He’d more than likely be seeing that same brother. His brother. Hadn’t he stopped thinking of him as such a long time ago? Andrian was darkindred and no longer elvin. But Maggie’s not elvin, and you don’t judge her for it.
He shifted uncomfortably in the saddle. Those two matters were far different and couldn’t be compared in any way, though some of his people, and much of the fae world at large, considered humans and darkindred to be on the same level morally.
Regardless, Andrian was a wildcard he hadn’t bet on, one that might account for Eamon still being alive. Since banishment usually worked as a death sentence, the darkindred, more specifically Andrian, must’ve have taken him in. But the question was why would he? Even the darkindred didn’t value traitors. At least Andrian had held firm to that one moral point, which had been ingrained in them both. Everything else, though, his brother had forgotten, like keeping his hands off things that weren’t his.
Galloping horses headed toward the main force dragged his attention away. The scouts had returned. Talion slowed Mignen’s pace, and Relian and the group of one hundred men followed suit. Kenhel intercepted the riders, and after a few swift words, he and one of the scouts headed toward them.
Once they were before him, Talion nodded for them to speak. The head scout, Sandril, glanced toward Kenhel, who beckoned him with a wave of the hand to talk first. The scout cleared his throat. “Your Majesty, we found signs of life outside the caves that lead us to believe there could be quite a few darkindred inside to protect the traitor.”
Talion frowned, though he wasn’t surprised at the news. After all, that was what he, himself, would do if in a similar situation. “Any clue as to how many could be in the caves?”
“Possibly a hundred or more.”
A growl grew in Talion’s throat until it rumbled forth. “How could the townspeople of Centvion not notice that so many were inhabiting the caves?”
Avrin, his face barely visible underneath a helm, bought his horse besides Talion’s. “There’s an extensive underground system of caves running through the mountains. The darkindred could’ve made entry at some other point far from the town.”
“I know.” Talion sighed. He’d known all along, and blaming the innocent would solve nothing.
Sandril’s gaze darted back and forth between Talion and Kenhel. “Though we saw no sign of darkindred scouts, I’d be astonished if they didn’t know of our coming.”
“I’m sure our esteemed nephew is aware of our presence,” Avrin said, reminding Talion of the kinship they both shared with that snake.
Talion smiled humorlessly. “I bet he is.” And waiting to slit my throat. “Is there anything else?” he asked of Sandril.
“No, Your Majesty.”
Talion nodded and dismissed the scout before turning a steely gaze on Avrin, Relian, and Kenhel. “Remember, I go in alone. I’ll take no chances with Maggie’s life.”
His son sent him a dry look. “We know better than to try to change your mind.”
Talion ignored the subtle sarcasm in Relian’s voice. “Good. See it stays that way.”
The faint glow of a town showed in the distance. That had to be Centvion, which meant Maggie could be nearby. Maybe he could sense her through their bond. Hope kindled in his chest only to quickly die. The bond lay dormant.
His gaze rested on Mt. Centvion, one of the highest points of the Green Mountains. The peak loomed over the village like a silent sentinel. Talion swallowed the fist-size lump in his throat. Was Maggie held somewhere in the mountain’s depths? Everything within him shouted “yes,” and he prayed he’d be able to safely retrieve the woman who held his heart.
The rest of the ride passed by in a blur until a wide entrance stood before his party. From within, light shone dimly on the rock walls. The black stone echoed the mood gripping his body. As he’d predicted, no sentry waited outside to bar his way. It was a convenient ta
ctic on Eamon’s part to lull Talion into a false sense of security.
Talion slowly dismounted, never taking his gaze off the portal. Though he was aware of the dangers, the urge to run into the cave and search for Maggie almost overpowered him. He inhaled sharply. His loss of control could prove deadly if he didn’t marshal himself. Maggie had changed him in so many ways. Never would he have believed himself capable of loving a woman the way he did Maggie—or that he would experience nearly uncontrollable urges that only she could bring out in him.
“Father, are you still sure you want to go in alone?” asked Relian, placing a hand on Talion’s shoulder.
He stared at his son. “Yes.” There was no other choice for him.
Relian sighed. “As I suspected. Be safe.”
Talion couldn’t promise that, though he’d certainly try to get out unscathed. “After twenty-five minutes, come in.”
Relian frowned, apparently noticing the change of subject. “We’ll be in after twenty.”
Talion inclined his head. “Fine.” Spinning on his heel, he said a few words to Kenhel and Avrin.
“Don’t make me drag you out of there, unconscious,” Avrin said in the way of goodbye.
An unwilling smile tugged at Talion’s lips. “Why, you almost sound like you care.”
His friend snorted. “Hardly. I merely don’t want to clean up all the messes you being incapacitated will create.”
“The depth of your friendship astounds me,” Talion said. Then his smile faded. “Get Maggie out safely if I cannot.”
Avrin nodded solemnly. “You know I’ll do my utmost.”
“That’s all I can ask.” With that, Talion turned and walked through the entrance.
***
At Eamon’s appearance, a chill covered Maggie’s skin as though someone had dumped an ice-cold bucket of water over her. She didn’t want to face him. At least, she had Andrian and Alanon there as buffers, though that thought wasn’t exactly heartening.
When he turned his gaze elsewhere, she couldn’t hold in her sigh of relief.
Eamon eyed Alanon as if he were a loathsome bug in the room. “What are you doing in here, darkindred?”
“I asked him to check upon the queen,” Andrian said smoothly.
Eamon transferred his glare to Andrian. “I ordered no one be in this chamber but you or myself.”
Andrian quirked a Talion-like brow. “We were busy, and he’s my second-in-command.”
“Fine,” Eamon snapped. Then a slow grin spread over his face as he turned to Maggie. “Are you ready for your king’s arrival? I might even be so kind as to let you two say your final goodbyes.”
Though it took all her willpower, Maggie presented him with an apathetic look. She’d be damned if she gave him the satisfaction of wringing any emotion from her. “How kind of you,” she said, her voice monotone.
“I wonder if he’ll weep for you?”
“Why would he do that?”
“You’re his…bondmate.” He spit out the last word as if it were poison.
“But like you said, I’m just a human.”
Eamon sneered. “Despite your abominable heritage, he seems all too fond of you and your charms. And because of the bond, he’s forced to want to protect you.”
Maggie’s apathetic façade nearly shattered. Could Talion merely want her because of the bond? No, Cal had wondered the same thing of Relian, and it was clear those two were meant to be together. The bond only formed between two people who could love each other. That realization, so obvious but so overlooked, slammed into her like a bullet.
She couldn’t die. Neither could Talion. They had too much to discuss. Though admitting her…love would be hard, she had to tell Talion how she felt. She’d kill him if he— Something zinged through her chest. She bit back a gasp. The bond had sparked, hadn’t it? Which meant….
Relief and fear chased each other, and she had to blink back tears. God, she had to keep it together. No sense in losing it now when everything was coming to a head.
“No words for me?” Eamon taunted, drawing her attention back to him.
She shrugged. “I really don’t think it matters what I say.”
Something flickered in his eyes before quickly disappearing. “You’re smarter than I anticipated.”
“Good to know.”
“Enough of this.” Eamon turned away from her to face Andrian. “When does he come?”
“If my hearing isn’t faulty, I believe I hear one of the sentries coming to tell us of our visitors.”
Eamon clapped his hands together. “Excellent.”
The butterflies in Maggie’s stomach rioted. Talion was close by—very close by. This was it. They’d both make it out…or not.
Talion’s irate voice floated to her. “Get your hands off me. I can walk fine by myself.”
Talion walked in, flanked by two guards who each kept a threatening hand on their swords. Her gaze took in every detail of his person, assessing him for any possible injury. He appeared unruffled and calm. Chainmail glittered through the open front of his green cloak. Gauntlets covered his hands, and a sword rested on his hip. All in all, he looked like he meant business.
He stared at her for a brief moment. But in that second, his concern and love for her blazed in his eyes—and through their bond. Using the same method, she tried to convey her relief and worry, not to mention her newly discovered love for him. Her reward was the widening of his eyes before he turned his attention to the other males in the room. “Eamon,” he said frostily. His voice didn’t warm up much as he acknowledged Andrian and Alanon.
Eamon didn’t acknowledge him but instead ordered, “Sentries, take his sword and gauntlets away.”
Talion tensed as the sentries relieved him of his weapon and gloves, but he made no attempt to stop them. Maggie’s heart recoiled at seeing her proud king stripped of his battle gear. Not only did it feel demeaning, but now Talion also had no visible weapons with which to fight.
Eamon motioned for the guards to stand outside, and lifted an indolent brow at Talion. “So you came to retrieve your human.”
“Bond mate and queen. You will accord her the proper respect she’s due,” Talion shot back.
“Of what? A dog?”
That was a low blow.
And apparently Talion thought so, too, because his eyes narrowed. “Your actions won’t go unpunished.”
“Who will stop me? Your men outside? I think they’ll find themselves busy.”
“Don’t worry. It’ll be done.”
A thrill coursed through Maggie at Talion’s calm, sure voice. Somehow, she felt so much safer with him there.
Eamon gave a fake shiver. “I’m shaking.”
“You never did have the good sense to know when to back down,” Talion said.
“And you never had the good sense of how to rule and whom to share your bed with.”
Maggie frowned, offended for both her and Talion. What an ass. How could Avrin be related to the creep?
Talion placed a finger to his chin and appeared to consider Eamon’s words carefully. “Hmm. I agree about the bed part because I did share it with your aunt.”
Oh, a point to Talion.
Though Andrian didn’t show any emotion at the mention of Serrina, Eamon was a different matter. Crimson stained his cheeks. “You dare insult our former queen?”
“I merely speak the truth. Bitterness turned her into a viper and surely had something to do with her unexpected death. Thank Eria’s veil that she passed away while Relian was still a very young elfling.” Talion said.
So Serrina died a long time ago when Relian was little? That made sense. Relian never talked about her. For that matter, hardly anyone ever brought up the subject of Talion’s first queen.
“How can you, who sleeps with a human whore, say that?” Eamon said through clenched teeth.
Maggie growled beneath her breath. Just because she was human didn’t give the ass the right to call her a whore.
; “Maggie’s been faithful to me. I can’t say the same of your aunt, so who does the name fit?”
Eamon’s hands balled into fists as he rushed forward. Her bond mate’s hand shot up and blocked the punch.
“You learned to fight from my hands and Avrin’s, and could never best either of us. Why do you think you could beat me in a fight now?”
Eamon glowered at Talion. “I may not be able to win in a battle of brute strength—”
“Or skill,” said Talion, cutting in.
“But my mental prowess will see you defeated.”
Maggie couldn’t help herself. Maybe it was having Talion here that bolstered her courage. Or maybe it was just her foolhardy mouth getting the best of her. “Oh, please. In your dreams. Who believes this crap?” She looked to Andrian and Alanon, whom both seemed to be smothering grins.
“Maggie,” said Talion, a soft warning lacing his voice.
She shrugged sheepishly. “I couldn’t help myself.”
Eamon took a few menacing steps toward her. “You’d do well to listen to your bond mate in this.”
Talion planted himself between her and Eamon. “You will stay away from her.”
Yeah, creep.
When Eamon smirked and said, “I will? I don’t think you make the rules here,” her elation died. Shouting, he called out, “Sentries, come.” Once they entered, he ordered them to action. “Please grab our esteemed king and make sure he doesn’t move.”
They marched over to Talion, whose body emanated tension. Maggie’s hands clenched the blanket in her lap. Without weapons what could he do?
Though Talion tried to shake the two off, the scuffle soon ended with one of the sentries cuffing Talion on the side of the face while the other wrenched his arms behind his back. Talion growled and bucked, but the sentries still managed to tie his wrists together.
Maggie’s stomach lurched, and fear burrowed deeper into her. The red mark blooming on his right cheek grabbed her attention and wouldn’t let go. How could…. She shook her head, trying to find a coherent thought. Talion taken out of commission so easily? This…this wasn’t looking good for them.
