“I’ll return shortly.”
Her fingers curl against my chest as she presses another kiss to my lips. “Don’t take long,” she murmurs.
“I won’t,” I promise.
While the healer is assessing Vivienne, I go to the main council chambers. Tarin is already there, along with Dain and several of my warriors.
“Another raven came from the Goblin King,” Dain says, handing me the scroll.
I unroll it and read the message. “He’s demanding she be brought to his court immediately or else he will come for her.” Anger burns through me as I scan the note, but it falters when I reach the signature at the bottom. It’s different.
Before, the messages were signed onlyKing of Thornreach, likely dictated to some servant. Now… there’s a name. My grip tightens on the parchment. “Branneth’thyr is king now?”
One of my advisors steps forward. “We’ve received word that his father—Grynlon’myr—stepped down and passed the throne to his eldest son a little less than a year ago.”
“This doesn’t make sense.” I frown. “Does that not make the bargain null and void if Grynlon’myr is no longer king?”
“If it did, I doubt he’d be so insistent that your queen go to his kingdom.”
He’s right. A Goblin bargain is usually a very complicated contract, with several clauses and twisted wording that is always bent in their favor.
“Your warriors are ready to march, my Lord,” Dain says, and the rest of my guards all nod in agreement. “We’ll not allow the Goblin King to take our queen from us.”
Our queen.The words strike deep for they mean they’ve already accepted and embraced Vivienne. She has earned their respect through blood and choice, and the unyielding strengthof will she has shown them since the moment she crossed into Valethryn.
Pride fills me as my gaze sweeps over Dain and the others. In their eyes I can see the truth. They would follow her, fight for her… protect her.
“I’ll send a raven to King Branneth’thyr,” I tell them. “We will march upon his kingdom, and I will challenge him to trial by combat.”
Dain starts to protest, but I quickly add, “I appreciate your willingness to go to war for your queen.” I look at my warriors. “But she is my mate. And if the Goblin King is not a coward, he will accept my challenge.” I curl my hands into fists at my sides. “I will defeat him, and end this once and for all.”
“No.” Tarin steps forward. “Iwill challenge him on your behalf. Valethryn cannot afford to lose its king.”
“She is my mate. This isn’t your fight.”
“What if you fall?” Dain asks in concern. “The queen would then be handed to him anyway, would she not?”
“The trial by combat is a claim-forfeit challenge,” I explain. “If I win, he must release her from the bargain. And if I lose, my life pays the debt, fulfilling the terms. But she will be free.”
The room falls completely silent.
Tarin’s expression darkens. “You would risk leaving her—”
“I wouldsaveher,” I reply, resolute. “She will not be bound to the Goblin King. I will fight him, and I will win. And if I do not, then my death will ensure she is never his.”
“No,” Vivienne’s voice rings out. My head snaps in the direction of the sound to find her standing in the doorway, a devastated look on her face. “I won’t let you die for me, Auren. I won’t risk losing you, my love.”
“I won’t surrender you to him, Vivienne. This is the only way to make sure you’re free.”
“No, it’s not,” she fires back. “I will go and speak with him. Surely he can be reasoned with.”
“No.” The word leaves my mouth, sharp and final.
If Branneth’thyr is anything like his father before him, the very idea of her being anywhere near a monster like that is unthinkable.
“Well, I won’t let you sacrifice yourself.” Defiance sparks in her eyes. “You cannot stop me.”
The air shifts and cold seeps into the room, prickling my skin. Tarin and my warriors fall silent, sensing the change as well.
