Chapter 143

“Forty thousand,” Aeron called over the wind.

Serena’s stomach dropped. “Forty thousand p>

Row after row of soldiers marched across the snow in precise formations, weaving in and out of fortress walls. Velanthor spanned multiple mountains. Obsidian towers rose at each corner, their peaks lost in the swirling clouds.

“The High General doesn’t take chances.” Aeron’s eyes were fixed on the fortress, calculating. “He’s been preparing for something. Or someone p>

They stayed hidden behind a ridge of snow-covered rocks, timing the patrols. Guards changed position every few minutes with clockwork precision.

“I need to tell you something before we go any further,” Aeron said quietly. “This fortress is resistant to mage magic. The entire structure is woven with dampening wards. I can feel them from here, pressing against my senses like a weight p>

“What does that mean for us?” Elara asked.

“It means I won’t be able to summon enough power to create a portal back once we’re inside. We’ll need to find another way out.” He paused and turned to Serena. “It also means you won’t be able to fabricate. The wards target non-fae external magical signatures and suppress wolf transformations p>

Serena felt the blood drain from her face. Every exit strategy she’d been building in her head collapsed at once. “So I’ll be powerless in there p>

“Correct.” Aeron’s expression was grim. “And Elara won’t be able to shift p>

Elara swore under her breath.

“On the bright side,” he added with a ghost of dry humor, “we all know Serena can’t shift anyway, so at least that’s one less thing to worry about p>

Serena let out a startled laugh despite the terror clawing at her chest. “Thanks for that p>

“I thought you could use the levity.” Aeron’s mouth twitched. “It might be the last joke any of us makes for a while p>

They fell silent, studying the fortress.

Then the alarms started.

A horn blared, cutting through the wind like a blade. Lights flared along the walls, bright and pulsing, and voices began shouting in High Orosian.

“She’s here somewhere p>

Serena’s blood turned to ice.

“How do they know we’re here p>

“They have detection wards.” Aeron grabbed her arm. “Move. Now p>

They ran.

Snow to the knee with every stride. Her lungs couldn’t get enough air, and her legs were begging her to stop, but stopping meant chains.

Behind them, the shouts multiplied.

“This way,” Aeron hissed, pulling them toward a narrow ravine that cut through the mountainside. “There’s an old service entrance. It was sealed decades ago, but I might be able to p>

An arrow struck the rock beside them, sending chips of stone flying. Another whistled past Serena’s ear.

She ducked instinctively, nearly losing her footing in the snow. Elara caught her by the collar and wrenched her upright without breaking stride.

“Split up.” His voice left no room for debate. “My magical signature lingers from the portal. They’re tracking me, not you p>

“We’re not leaving you,” Serena protested.

“Run east. Don’t look back.” Aeron was already veering toward the open snow. “And if I die, tell Bellatrix she still owes me six hundred marks p>

The shouts immediately shifted direction, following him.

“Come on.” Elara grabbed Serena’s hand and pulled her toward the eastern cliff. “We can’t let his sacrifice be for nothing p>

By the time the shouts dissolved into wind, Serena’s legs had gone numb. She almost didn’t recognize what she was looking at: a collapse of ancient rocks piled against the base of a sheer cliff face.

The service entrance.

“If we survive this, I’m never letting you plan anything again,” Elara hissed.

They threw Aeron into the cell with enough force to crack ribs.

He hit the stone floor hard, the impact driving the air from his lungs. Before he could recover, rough hands grabbed his wrists and clamped iron cuffs around them.

The effect was immediate.

His magic, which had been a constant presence inside him since childhood, vanished, as if someone had reached inside him and flipped a switch.

It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. When they did, he wished they hadn’t.

Fin hung from the ceiling by his wrists, iron chains suspending him so his boots barely touched the ground. His face was a mask of bruises and dried blood. His shirt had been torn away, revealing a torso covered in wounds, some fresh and still seeping, others scabbed over and days old.

But his eyes were open. And they were fixed on Aeron with an expression of dawning horror.

Hyran was chained to the wall beside him, slumped forward, his breathing shallow and labored. He looked worse than Fin, if that was possible. Whatever they had done to him, it had been thorough.

Other cells lined the corridor beyond. Hale’s massive form was unmistakable, chained to the wall of the cell directly across from them. His head was bowed, but he was breathing.

Other Hidden Flame members littered the remaining cells. Some were unconscious. Some were watching with hollow eyes. All of them wore the same iron cuffs.

“The cuffs don’t allow for any magic,” Hyran rasped without lifting his head. “Not resistance. Complete suppression. Whatever they’re made of, it’s not natural p>

“Dark Fae-forged,” Aeron said grimly. “They’re woven with Fae magic effective against wolves in ways standard magic isn’t p>

Fin’s jaw tightened.

“Tell me she’s not here,” he rasped, each word dragged out of his throat like it cost him.

Aeron met his king’s eyes.

“She’s not here,” he answered flatly.

Fin gave him a pointed look.

“I’m hallucinating,” he finally said. “The torture has finally broken my mind p>

“You’re not hallucinating. Though I understand the confusion.” Aeron shifted against the wall, trying to find a position that didn’t aggravate his injured ribs. “The good news is that Serena is alive and free and actively working to rescue us. The bad news is that she’s doing it without magic, without backup, and without any apparent sense of self-preservation p>

“That’s not good news p>

“It’s better than the alternative p>

From across the corridor, Hale lifted his head.

“Is Elara with her p>

“Yes p>

Hale’s head dropped back against the stone wall. He stared at the ceiling for a long moment.

“Of course she is. Why would she stay safe if Serena isn’t. No… that would be silly. If one does it the other has to p>

“To be fair, Hale, you did leave without telling her,” Gav called from his cell.

“I left her a note,” Hale said flatly.

“What did the note say p>

“Gone. Back soon p>

No one commented on that.

“Don’t worry,” Gav said, breaking the silence. “She’s the sensible one and will keep Serena from doing something stupid p>

Aeron thought about the conversation he’d had with both women before they separated. About Serena’s determination to make a portal for Varos and sail here even though this was in the middle of the continent. About Elara’s wholehearted support of that plan.

“Sure,” Aeron said. “Let’s go with that p>