“You are so much more,” the voice sighs, an undertone of sadness lacing its words.
I’m starting to lose my temper. “You have no right to make assumptions about me, or my life,” I snap. “I don’t need a guardian angel. I don’t need saving. All I need is some damn peace and quiet. Do you understand me?”
There’s a moment’s hesitation before the voice answers. “Very well. You have no obligation to me, and I can’t force you. But Astryl, do not underestimate the forces at work here. TheShadowlord is dangerous, and he’ll stop at nothing to fulfill his goals.”
“So the lady with the wings says,” I mumble, rolling my eyes.
The wolf, who has been pacing around, trots off into the darkness, evidently bored.
“Astryl,” the voice says, its tone softer now, “I know you have a lot of questions. And I promise, they will be answered. When the time is right.”
“I don’t have questions,” I counter. “I just want to go back to my clan and return to my life. I don’t want any of this.”
Before I can comprehend the weight of the angel’s revelations, her presence vanishes like a wisp of smoke, leaving me alone in the eerie silence of the forest. I blink, my mind reeling from her sudden departure, but there’s no time to dwell on it. I push myself up from the forest floor, and as I take a shaky step forward, branches crackle underfoot, betraying my position.
Thaldiran’s voice cuts through the darkness, sharp and commanding. “There she is! Don’t let her get away!”
Panic surges through me once more as I turn to flee, but I’m surrounded on all sides. Golden-eyed warriors emerge from the shadows, their wings casting eerie silhouettes in the moonlight. There’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
Adrenaline floods my veins as I make a last-ditch effort to break free, but the fae warriors are too fast. Strong hands seize me from all sides, restraining me.
I struggle against their hold, but it’s futile. They overpower me with ease, their collective strength rendering me helpless as they force my hands behind my back and fasten magic-suppressing manacles around them.
As Thaldiran approaches, his expression hardened with determination, I meet his gaze with defiance. “You can’t make me come with you,” I hiss, my voice trembling with suppressed fury.
Thaldiran’s lips curl into a cold smile, his golden eyes gleaming with triumph. “I’m afraid you’re mistaken, Astryl. We absolutely can take you with us, and that’s precisely what we intend to do. Your angelic powers will be of no help to you now. Those restraints binding you are enchanted with a spell that nullifies all magic. You have no choice in the matter—you will be accompanying us.”
Chapter Four
Thaldiran
Leading Astryl through the forest is a struggle with every step. Even though the manacles keep her from shifting into dragon form, her resistance has not waned. It’s like trying to lead a bobcat, if bobcats had the ability to swear like the proverbial sailor. There is, however, plenty of hissing, spitting and kicking. My soldiers are behind us, guarding our flank as we navigate the narrow path. I swear I hear them chuckling at my expense.
Fae and dragons have been enemies for as long as records have been kept. When I revealed to her that she was half angel, I never anticipated that she wasn’t aware of her heritage.
Now I’m saddled with figuring out how to help her come to terms with it on top of my other responsibilities. Normally, this wouldn’t perturb me so much. Everyone has a right to knowwhere they come from, after all, but she’s a dragon shifter. Fae and dragon shifters tend to steer clear of one another. Our kinds have been in dispute over territory and resources for generations, and the idea of working with one, even if she is only a half-breed, isn’t ideal. Every now and then, she pulls against my grip, testing her limits, but I’m not letting her out of my sight.
But I must trust what the Sight reveals to me, and it brought me to her. She must be key to reclaiming my kingdom.
As we continue and approach a grove ringed with towering yew trees the air grows noticeably denser. Here, the forest floor is carpeted with a thick moss that glows faintly underfoot. And there it is: the Veil. The Veil ripples and sways like a living, breathing curtain of iridescent mist, swirling gently in the still air. Its colors shift and dance in hues of pale blue and gold, as if touched by an invisible breeze. To anyone else, it might seem merely a play of light and shadow, but to those of fae blood, it is a clear portal; a thin separator between the Enchanted Forest and the realm of my clan.
I can sense Astryl’s confusion as we draw near, her eyes unable to perceive the magical gateway that will lead us to my kingdom. With a deep breath, I step forward, gently guiding her through the Veil. The moment we cross the threshold, the world around us shifts, the colors and sounds of the forest fading away, replaced by the familiar sights and sounds of my realm. Astryl gasps, her eyes widening as she takes in the sudden change in surroundings, realizing that we’ve entered an entirely different world in the blink of an eye.
“Where are we?” she demands.
“We have passed into my clan’s realm, where my kingdom, Veridale, resides, “I answer.
“Your clan?”
“Yes. You’ll be staying with us.”
“Like hell, I will. You’re holding me prisoner.”
“It’s the best way for us to ensure you’re safe.”
“I don’t need your protection.”
“We’re not here to protect you,” Elira interjects. “We’re here to save our kingdom.”
