“What?” The satchel strap cut into my shoulder like a warning as I pulled it closer.
“He knows your powers aren’t bound, Elariya.” Mother stepped closer. “He saw you use them in the magical realm.”
My blood turned to ice in my veins. “Oh, Gods.”
That was a secret we’d kept all my life.
The sentence for such a thing was death. We’d be treated worse than those who practiced witchcraft.
Blessed Mother,thatwas why everyone had been on edge and so scared they could barely breathe.
“He’s threatened to deliver us to Prince Maelor if we do not cooperate, if… you don’t marry him.” Mother placed a hand to her heart. “Then he’ll have all of us killed.”
Gods above. That was what he meant yesterday about holding the power.
And he was right.
That asshole had it all.
The bravado I previously felt evaporated like mist in a fog, and a tremor of terror coursed through me.
My family more than needed me. This was no longer about keeping the house and our lands. It was about life.Their lives.
Grandmother reached forward and took my hand with the sigil. She inspected it and gave me a sad smile. “I knew what it meant. I knew that a member of House Nightblade must have given it to you. But I couldn’t risk entertaining it with Thayden around.Itold him it was the mark of a spell.” She pressed her lips and intensified her gaze. “Which of the princes gave it to you?”
“It was Wolfe.”
Her eyes grew wider, and she glanced at Mother looking visibly shaken. When she looked back at me, I could see she was trying to maintain her composure.
“Elariya… Gods be good. My dear girl—” She faltered, as if the words themselves carried weight. “Wolfe Nightblade is not someone to trifle with. Of all the Fae, he’s one of the most powerful and dangerous beings in the magical realm.”
Goosebumps prickled along my arms. “I know.” I’d written extensive notes about Wolfe and his powers and his danger, but it didn’t change my mind. “He is all of that, but he gave me his mark.”
“He bonded his soul to you. But it does not mean thatyouare bonded to him.”
My brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Your curse. With one like yours, where your choice is impaired, a bonding of the soul would go against the laws of fate and destiny.” She gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “Though you may have been in love, you don’t remember it.”
A pang of guilt stabbed at my heart. The fact that I didn’t feel like I was in love with Wolfe just proved her point.
“Wolfe is missing.” I decided to focus on more important matters. “He was with me when he went missing. That must have something to do with whatever Thayden did to get me back.I’ve been asked to help find him. I can’t remember him, but I can’t with good conscience abandon him.”
Mother rushed forward and held on to my shoulders. “Elariya, you have no idea where he may be. Vaelthorne is a dangerous place.” Mother’s grip tightened, too tight, like she could keep me here by force. “I can’t allow you to go where it’s not safe. Please do not do this.”
I gazed at her long and hard. “Mother, this isn’t only about me leaving. You still haven’t asked how I even came to know Wolfe Nightblade.”
“How?” Emabelle blurted, stepping closer. “How did you meet him?”
“It was Wolfe who took me. Because of Father. Because of what he did the last time he crossed into the magical realm.”
The moment I said that, Mother held her breath.
“What did he do?” she asked, her moon-white skin growing paler.
“He killed Wolfe’s father.”
Grandmother’s hand slipped from mine. Mother’s did, too, like her fingers had forgotten how to hold. For a heartbeat, she looked as if she might fold in on herself.
