Aerén reformed on the castle terrace, needing to cool off before he went in search of Leya. Fucking rebels. He’d finally gone to the cells to question the bastards. One chose death rather than reveal anything. The other blurted a name of who was in charge of the lot, as if that would save him.
FuckingSaij.
The same name Leya had given him. The bastard had not only pushed Leya through the portal into Dregarus, almost causing her death in the frozen hell, but had also used a demon in his attack. Aerén had taken the deathly hellfire hit meant for Leya, causing the damn slow-healing wound.
No, his fear for her would never leave, not until he killed the bastard.
Gingerly, he rubbed the throbbing injury on his side.
The air stirred. Drav appeared in a flash. “Ren, we have a problem.”
Aerén frowned. “More rebels spotted?”
“No. I just came from the town of Issyrus. Rumor’s flying around that you have a human female who isn’t a Chosen here, and you’re laying claim to her. The council isn’t happy.”
After yesterday’s disaster, he was afraid of this. “What else?”
His expression grim, Drav said, “They want proof she is who you say.”
No matter his intense draw to Leya or what he thought, the damn scroll test said otherwise. Their eyes hadn’t taken on the neon blue of a soul-joining like Reynner had mentioned.
But there was something deep-seated and primal between him and Leya, and he wasn’t about to deny it for any council or lord.
He had to get that test redone ASAP.
Haroth hurried out to the terrace. “Sire, Lord Kez of Issyrus, and the head of the council chambers, Lord Varon, are here.”
So Eregen’s sire turned up? “Bring them out here.”
With a bow, Haroth hurried off.
“Drav, kill the rumor, then find Thiorr and get back to the castle. We’re leaving for Earth.”
With a nod, Drav dematerialized.
Hands in his pockets, Aerén waited, studying the fading, wilting shrubs.
Haroth appeared. “Sire, the Lords.”
A second passed, then footsteps sounded, and the two males appeared. Both wore the chamber’s official charcoal cloak. Kez, lean and tall with the same red hair his offspring inherited, appeared a little harried. Varon, equally thin but an inch shorter, sported a determined glint in his dark eyes. Both were pompous assholes.
They bowed. “Your Highness.”
“Lord Varon, you here because of the Chosen.” Aerén got straight to the point, meeting his head council’s dark stare, and the male nodded. “I can understand you seeking me out, but why you, Lord Kez?” Aerén folded his arms over his chest.
Kez’s stern features didn’t change at the direct question. “Because you committed a grave misdeed, Your Highness.”
“Is that so? Considering I read Eregen’s mind? So, his conspiracy with Jehel to trap a Chosen as a mate, then also cause her near death, should be brushed off?” Just thinking about what else the bastard had planned, his fury grew.
Kez’s cool demeanor cracked, his eyes bulging. “Your Highness, you were misled—”
“Was I?” Aerén asked, his tone melded in ice. “Did he really think I would allow a revered Chosen to be used in his machinations to become more powerful?” Aerén didn’t give a fuck about the man’s shock. “Let me reiterate. Given what he caused, I will kill him if he comes after her again. My word is law when it comes to a Chosen’s protection in Cidéra.”
Kez’s jaw snapped shut.
Damnfosser.
“The scroll test would have been carried out, but a rebel shoved her through a portal into Dregarus, and he would have likely killed her if the weather didn’t,” he bit out. “I brought her to Cidéra because I had to Ground, then take care of a few things that thecouncil,” he cut Varon a flat stare, “should have seen to before we left for Earth to get the test done. Is there anything I missed?”
