Forever Fae (Forever Fae #1)(50)
The plan was simple: head into the Black Forest undetected and rescue Calista. Arguments were spewed within the Great Room on who would be the ones to rescue the princess. Warriors volunteered left and right, obviously wanting to be the great hero. I’m tired of the bantering because it’s nothing but a waste of time. I march to the center of the room with my head tilted back and a sense of calm flowing off of me. This is my task and no one is going to go after the princess but me. She’s mine and it is my job to fight for her.
I announce loudly so everyone can hear, “I’m going to the Black Forest.”
I look around the room and everyone goes silent. Looks of understanding and sadness circulate through their eyes since this is most likely a suicide mission and they all know it. King Oberon’s expression was one of grief and adoration.
He somberly replies, “Thank you, Prince Ryder. This is a very grave mission, and there is no way I can repay the debt of your courage and love.”
I think to myself for a few seconds and there is one way he can repay me.
I shift back and forth and state, “Actually, Your Highness, there is.” King Oberon raises his eyebrows in curiosity so I continue, “When I bring your daughter home, I want to fulfill the marriage bond with her. I love her and I want to be with the woman who has the other half of my soul, because without her, I’ll never be complete. Our lands need us and Calista needs me to complete our court.”
Admiration flashes across the King’s face and he nods in agreement. “Very well, Prince Ryder, I will grant your request.”
I begin to bow to the King when Merrick storms to the front, nostrils flaring and hands clenched. He looks to the king and lets out a guttural roar.
“No! I’m going with Prince Ryder to rescue her and it needs to be made clear to her that she has a choice on whom to marry. I’m not going to stand by and let her marry someone because of some prophecy.” Then his entire demeanor changed. He froze in place, held his hand up to his head and narrowed his eyes in concentration. I’ve seen him like that before when he was talking to Calista. Strong emotions float across his face, everything from rage to despair. I’m anxious to hear what he has to say.
The king stomps his foot angrily to get Merrick’s attention.
His face reddens with agitation when he commands, “Watch yourself, Guardian. You may go with Prince Ryder to help rescue Calista, but you of all people know that Calista has and will always make her own decisions.”
Merrick bows his head apologetically and looks around at everyone.
“Forgive me, Your Highness, but Calista just spoke to me. The connection is gone now, but she says she is OK and they are headed through the valley to the Black Forest.” He tilts his head back and sighs heavily, rage clearly warring in his body. I feel the same emotion coming across me because I have a feeling that whatever he is about to say is not going to be good.
“She also says that Avery was there and their meeting was not a friendly reunion. I think he might have hurt her, but she wouldn’t tell me. Her voice sounded defeated and tired when she spoke.” Merrick turns his head to look at me and then back to the king.
“She wanted me to say that she loves us all and that she doesn’t blame anyone for what happened to her.”
Merrick bows and sheepishly walks back to stand by the wall with the other warriors. The feeling of helplessness is not something that a warrior welcomes because it is not in our nature to feel like that. Elvena makes her way to the front and speaks to the king privately. When she was done, King Oberon dismisses everyone from the Great Room. He says his goodbyes to the council members and the elvan leader. I sent my brother, Kalen, to our room to wait until I got out of the meeting. I was planning on sending him home first thing. Once everyone was gone, King Oberon had a private meeting with just Elvena, Merrick and me.
We made our plans for the rescue and decided it was going to be just me and Merrick. Taking a huge army would draw attention and cause more bloodshed. Elvena knew of my invisibility affinity and said it would come in handy. She also said she could enchant a trinket of Calista’s and if Merrick keeps it on his body somewhere at all times he will be able to obtain invisibility for a short period of time. Hopefully, enough time to get into the village and rescue Calista. We were also warned about how our magic will not work in the places where the sorcerer’s power is the strongest. Those were also the places that Calista couldn’t contact Merrick.
Several hours have passed and Elvena brings the magical trinket to Merrick that will allow him to be invisible. It is a small silver locket with Calista’s initials engraved on it. It is beautiful and I’ve never seen her wearing it. Merrick looks at with such longing.
He mutters to himself, “I gave her this locket for her sixteenth birthday.” He takes the locket, kisses it and puts it in his pocket. Elvena says that to activate the locket he must place a drop of his blood inside of it. She’s not sure how long the effect will last, but she’s positive that we will have enough time to get through the village to find Calista. Getting out is going to be the main problem.
Merrick and I pack some of our belongings and I say goodbye to Kalen. He is going to head back to the Winter Court and spread the news of the existence of the dark sorcerer and Calista’s capture. My parents will not be happy because of what I’m doing, but they will understand why I have to do it. I explained to Kalen the importance of me and Calista being together and what the future holds for us. I tell him the vision of us being together is going to bring about a whole new world here. Kalen is astounded by the power of our magic and what it’s going to create.