Reign of Ice (Forever Fae #4)(65)
The skin around the puncture wound in his neck was slowly disintegrating and exposing the flesh and tendons underneath. I had never used the dagger on anyone before, so seeing it in action was interesting to say the least.
“Let’s just say that things aren’t always what they seem and leave it at that,” I answered. “I hope you enjoy Hell because that’s where you’re going.” Gripping the dagger firmly in my hands, I lifted it back and plunged it deep into Gothin’s chest. He gasped for one quick second, his eyes wide and terrified, before he crumbled away into a dark pile of ash almost instantly. He was gone.
The first step had been accomplished. Unfortunately, the next stage in my plan required me to look like the hideous troll. Groaning, I concentrated on the gray skin, scraggly hair, and rotten teeth of the troll and willed my magic to do its work. As soon as I stepped outside the door of his rundown dwelling, a searing pain echoed throughout my head and I fell to my knees.
No, no, no … this couldn’t be happening! I screamed in my head. I knew what was going on, but I had to stop it. I couldn’t let him in.
“Oh no,” I said aloud, trying to keep my wall in place, but failing. When I glanced up, Merrick and Bastian were right there, cautiously approaching me but uncertain if it was me behind the glamour. “It’s me,” I whispered, cringing in pain.
Rushing to me, they helped me to my feet. “What’s wrong?” they both asked at the same time.
In my mind, I could slowly see my protective wall crumbling piece by piece. There was nowhere to hide, nowhere to run, because once that wall came down I wouldn’t be able to build it back up. It wasn’t just his power tearing it down, but the power of the others.
“It’s him,” I wailed. “It’s Brayden, and he’s forcing himself into my mind. I don’t think I can stop it.” And I couldn’t. Although the wall was barely hanging in there I could hear the tiniest echo of his voice calling my name.
“Ariella …”
“WE’RE ALMOST THERE,” I exclaimed triumphantly. Ariella had kept me blocked from her mind from the beginning of our bonding. She let me in a couple of times, but for the most part she refused to let me in. Not anymore. Forcing myself into her mind was not what I wanted to do, but she gave me no choice.
Her wall was strong, but Elvena had figured out a way to help break it down. We were standing in a circle; Elvena to my right, holding my hand, while Calista was on my left. All around the circle our families joined hands and lent me their power. The wall slowly began to disintegrate and I could feel Ariella behind it. She was alive, except the second our power pushed into her she felt it, and I could feel her heart break.
“Ariella …” I waited for her to speak, but we hadn’t gotten through to her yet. Just as we were about to break through the barrier, the door to the throne room burst open and Coran, my second in command, rushed in.
“Your Highness!” he shouted. When he saw my angry glare he continued quickly, “The Tyvar are here and they have word from the queen.” Meliantha gasped, running out of the room, while Kalen and I followed behind her. “They are at the gate,” Coran called out behind us.
Unfortunately, the Tyvar couldn’t be allowed inside the walls because of their curse on women. I hated that we couldn’t let them wander around our court, but it was too dangerous to put them near our faerie women. Meliantha reached the gate first and outside was the Tyvar leader, Bayleon, and a few of his men.
“Bayleon, what’s going on?” Meliantha demanded breathlessly, grasping his hand through the gate.
Reluctantly, he smiled at her and kissed her hand, but didn’t let it go. “I’m sorry to bring you this news, but—”
“But what?” I roared impatiently, catching his attention. “What do you know about my queen?”
Bayleon bowed his head and sighed regretfully. “It seems your queen has made it to the Black Forest, Your Highness.”
No! She couldn’t be there.
Never in my life had I succumbed to fear, but I couldn’t stop it from tearing away at my soul. Ariella was there, alone, and surrounded by thousands of creatures, including the sorcerer who could tear her apart in seconds. “Did you see her? How do you know that?”
He hesitated for a second before responding, “No, I have not seen her. Apparently, my brother was the one who saw her and had sent one of our warriors to relay the message to me.”
“Where is he now?” I demanded angrily. “I wish to speak to him.” I had a feeling I knew where he would be, but I didn’t want it to be so.
“Bastian went with her, Your Highness. He is sacrificing his life to keep her safe.”
In that moment, I saw nothing but red. Bastian had found Ariella and didn’t bring her back? If I ever saw him again I was going to kill him with my own bare hands. Shaking with pent up rage, I grabbed the bars of the gate and they bent under my grasp.
“Brother, calm down,” Kalen said softly.
“Do not speak to me right now,” I warned, glaring at him over my shoulder. Meliantha backed away and let go of Bayleon’s hand as I took her place in front of him, eying him with nothing but fury in my gaze. “I am only going to say this once,” I spat. Bayleon stared at me warily and nodded for me to continue. “Your brother better hopes he dies if anything happens to Ariella. If she dies and he survives he is going to have hell to pay, and in this case, death would be a lighter punishment compared to what I will do to him.”