Chapter 149

Fin was the first to break free of his cuffs.

The silver had melted from his wrists, running down to the floor like water, but he didn’t move. He stayed on his knees, head bowed, hands positioned as if the chains still bound him. His eyes flicked to Aeron across the room, and something passed between them.

They were both thinking the same thing.

Hyran voiced it before either of them could.

Hyran: Serena, what is the plan?

His mindlink crackled through her consciousness. Whatever she had done with the pink magic had restored their ability to communicate.

There was no plan. There had never been a plan.

Elara answered him for Serena, whose ability to lie, think tactically, and maintain a believable expression operated on a strict one-at-a-time basis. She was already using all available resources.

Elara: Stay down and pretend to still be bound.

Serena kept her eyes fixed on the High General.

“Where are the Drakenfell King and Prince being held p>

The High General’s smile didn’t waver. “The capital p>

Not here. They weren’t here. Tiberon and Dex were somewhere else entirely, and she had no way to reach them. One problem at a time.

“Bring the others to this throne room,” she commanded. “Unharmed p>

“No. I don’t take orders from prisoners.” He spread his arms. “You want your people? Come take them p>

“The last person who tried to stop me came up a little short.” She paused, giving him a warm smile she absolutely did not feel. “About a neck’s length, actually p>

She took a step forward. Very stupid, but she really needed to make her words punch.

“Your wards failed. Your blade is in my hand. And I walked past your army of forty thousand, straight through your front doors p>

“Bring them to me. Or I will walk through every corridor in this fortress and collect them myself p>

He studied her, then started to laugh.

She couldn’t blame him. She’d been workshopping the villain speech in her head for about four seconds, and it sounded a lot better before she said it out loud.

She took a steadying breath, really not wanting to do this. Mainly, she didn’t want to accidentally kill anyone if she could avoid it. But also, she’d never practiced this. There was a good chance that would show and he’d start laughing harder.

A dagger formed in her free hand and without breaking eye contact with the High General, she threw it to the side.

His laughter faltered.

A blood-curdling scream of agony echoed through the throne room, and Serena’s insides churned. Gods, she really hated this. Shooting an arrow from a distance was one thing. Actually hurting someone up close was awful.

She glanced at the guard to see the dagger had gone through his hand, pinning it to the stone wall behind him.

She fabricated a second dagger for herself, and a matching one in Elara’s free hand. She threw hers toward the right side of the throne. It hit a guard in the shoulder.

Elara’s went left and embedded itself in a guard’s thigh. She’d been aiming for the wall behind him. That was information she would take to her grave.

Serena blinked. Not one guard had moved, shielded, or struck back. They seemed about as stunned as she felt about the fact she’d thrown two daggers that struck two of them.

Did they not think she would? She’d already decided she’d do whatever it took to get all of her people back safe.

The High General studied her for a long moment, those poisonous green eyes calculating, weighing his options. Then he lifted one hand and gestured to his guards.

“Do as she says p>

Aeron: Did that actually work?

The guards exchanged uncertain glances, and at least three of them looked at the head on the floor. Then they disappeared through side doors.

He turned back to Serena. “Though I should mention, three of your people were moved to the lower cells two days ago. Retrieval will take time. You’re welcome to wait p>

He gestured to a chair as though inviting her to tea.

Serena didn’t respond.

He held both his hands up. “I was polite p>

Then closed another foot of distance.

“But I’m curious. If I said no, would you have kept going p>

He took another step towards her. “The thing about Fae magic is we can feel one another. You’re wielding it right now, sweetheart. I can feel you.” He tipped his chin at the guards. “And so can they p>

“You’re wondering why they aren’t moving.” He raised his eyebrows and gave her a knowing look. “It’s because you don’t want to hurt anyone. And your energy is a Venus fly trap p>

He was close enough now that alarm bells started to go off in her mind. She steadied herself. This was him testing her. That was clear.

“Every male with Fae blood would burn his kingdom down to have you.” He paused, taking two more strides towards her. “Including me p>

“You belong with Fae. I know it. My guards know it. And your mages know it.” He glanced at Hyran and Aeron. “Give Maelor my regards, will you p>

Neither mage reacted.

Fin, however, was visibly shaking with restraint. The High General’s eyes landed on him for a moment. He laughed.

“Tell me, does the wolf on the floor know what you smell like to a Fae? Because I promise you, he doesn’t have the full picture p>

“Throwing two blades is an interesting way to show it,” Elara snapped, done with this creepiness. The High General’s eyes landed on her, also with interest.

“It looks like there’s some Fae in her as well,” he commented. “Not as much as you p>

Elara fought the urge to roll her eyes. If they weren’t in middle of a hostage situation, she would have smacked him.

“To answer the redhead. I was warned of what her energy does to our kind. A risk I wanted to mitigate. Her ability to wield Fae magic changes the equation entirely. So here we are p>

He was now less than ten feet away from Serena. “What else are you hiding, little wolf p>

Serena held her composure. “Take another step and you’ll find out exactly what I’m hiding p>

The High General took the step.