Wycke took a huge chance on telling this man about Piers, and the silver cuff hid the majority of Wycke’s abilities. Chynne could take the blame for building the portals they’d used.
Taking someone’s power killed them. If Nyanda took power from Piers… If Wycke didn’t trust this man, get his help, Piers could soon be dead.
And Nyanda returned, more powerful and power-hungry than ever.
“Some of her former followers have been missing for several seasons,” Aberfrer mused. “Their bodieshaven’tbeen found.”
The mages he’d seen in the human realm, when he’d battled Radre. “Want to make a wager you’ll find them at Myrgren Castle?” Something occurred to Wycke then. “Do you know the father of Nyanda’s child?” Chynne said it wasn’t Father but never said who.
“After I returned from a journey one day, High King Umbri carried on about a beautiful noblewoman he’d entertained. He looked everywhere, but none of the courtiers recalled her.” Aberfrer huffed out a laugh devoid of any humor. “My mages could not detect her glamour, and I thought the woman arriving the very day I left highly suspicious.” He sat heavily into his chair again, face grim. Or rather, grimmer than usual. “The timing would have been right…”
For the love of all the gods. Was Piers High King Broen’s paternal brother?
Next in line for the throne. Did Nyanda merely want her magic back, or did she intend to depose Broen, take over her son’s body, and rule herself?
“Aberfrer, if you don’t let Saris and me out of these cells, you’re going to have a dead king on your hands.”
Aberfrer snapped to attention. “What do you mean?”
Please let me be doing the right thing.A deep breath didn’t calm Wycke’s wildly pounding heart. “Radre has far more power than he should, and Lady Nyanda’s son has returned to the magical realm.”
Aberfrer gasped. “Do you know where he is?”
With all Wycke’s heart, he hoped he did the right thing. “I imagine he’s a prisoner at Myrgren Castle.”
“How do you know all this?”
Wycke gritted his teeth. Could he trust Aberfrer? If he didn’t, he stood no hope of helping his mate. With a weary sigh, he confessed, “He and I are bonded.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Saris wore her plain attire as regally as the queen she was. She sat in a chair in Aberfrer's oversized office, Jess behind her, turning her messy braid into something more befitting her station. Perhaps they'd settled their differences.
Over hair.
“Will Broen be all right?” Saris asked, wringing her hands together in her lap.
So, she did care for her mate. Too bad she'd waited so long, possibly too long to do Broen, or their relationship, any good.
How could she not care for her mate? The bond guaranteed that Piers occupied Wycke’s mind. Or did more than the bond make his heart ache for what Piers could be enduring, even now?
Aberfrer sat behind a massive desk, which was proportionate to the room. Everything appeared built for the man’s generous size. Even the books arranged on his bookcase started on the third shelf.
Large windows looked out over the sea. Six chairs, all in shades of green, took up space haphazardly in the office. Wycke wouldn’t question the one facing the corner.
Though not the typical style in Dhugach, tapestries hung from the walls, depicting… well, Wycke wasn’t sure. He turned his head to the side. Nothing.
A far cry better than the cells, though.
Aberfrer laced his fingers together, meaty hands on the desk. “That is yet to be seen, Your Majesty. I have my best mages in attendance, and they've confirmed that the high king has been ensorcelled. They'll do whatever is needed to keep him and the kingdom safe.”
Eyes down, Saris didn't see the blink-and-you'll-miss-it eye contact between Aberfrer and Wycke.Whatever is needed.He pictured Broen snorting in exasperation at something Wycke did or hiding a laugh from courtiers when Wycke told an inappropriate joke at an inappropriate time.
Though Wycke considered High King Broen his jailer, Broen wasn't a cruel man. The jokes. The scolding. For all he'd seen less than twenty winters more than Wycke, he’d played the role of father figure much better than Wycke's actual father.
So much said with a single glance. If they couldn't break Radre's spell, Broen might forfeit his life. The ice forming in Wycke's heart melted. No! They'd find Radre, save Piers, free Broen. Wycke refused to accept a life without Broen's eye rolls and grumbling.
He also clung tightly to the hope of Saris providing some royal heirs one day and couldn’t wait to see Broen’s eye rolls at the pranks Wycke would teach the tykes to play on their father.
