Page 115 of Her Ivory Flame

“Find something?” Booneasked quietly.

“Yeah, looks like Mavros was set to be king and even found his mate to marry.” she answered back, the word mate sticking in her mind over everything else. “Before the wedding, she fell in love with Emris and rejected the bond.”

“I never knew Emris had a wife.” Xander scoffed.

She looked back down at the book, her eyes trying to read the text as fast as possible.

“Mavros rebelled against the court and his brother for the betrayal then disappeared for half a century. Emris sent out dozens of scouts throughout the years but couldn’t find him.” she read out loud.

“Kaden’s mom.” Boone breathed.

She tensed at the information and she felt her heart start to race realizing he had been living in Mydalsa for a time. Anxiety pulled at her as images of her torture flashed into her mind and then knowing he was Kaden’s biological father, the two men so far opposite it was almost unbelievable.

Her spine shook and she felt that tug on her stomach again get more aggressive. She tugged on it back, hoping he would realize she wasn’t in any danger.

“As far as the public was told, Lyra died during childbirth but official recordings state Emris murdered her in a fit of rage. Many witnesses, who have now disappeared, stated Lyra had changed her mind and wanted out of the marriage due to the intensity of the bond she still felt for Mavros and Emris lashed out. Witnesses saythey couldn’t tell if it was on purpose but when Mavros returned and found out the truth, he destroyed half the castle before Emris was able to banish him to the Obsidian Mountains.”

They all stood silently for a moment and processed the information. This was why they hid the books here and why Emris was careful to keep the reason for the war so secretive.

“So let me get this straight.” Xander started. “Emris stole Mavros’s mate, and the crown, and then killed her.”

“Sounds like it.” she sighed.

“It’s one thing to kill a girl Mavros loved but hismate, that’s way worse.” Boone added.

“I remember reading about Fae mates as a kid but I don’t remember the significance of the bond.” She looked at both men and they looked nervously at each other. “What?” she asked hesitantly;

“On record, there has only been two mates paired per century since Emris took the crown and that was ten centuries ago.” Xander stated. “If someone decides to accept the bond, they are permanently intertwined with each other's souls. They can feel their mate’s emotions and even track where they are at all times. Some say it’s a tether between them and if it’s strong enough, they can even communicate down that tether verbally.”

She could feel the color drain from her face, the realization slamming into her so hard she stopped breathing and she gripped the table to keep herself upright.

A tether.

Her heart raced faster and she could feel her own tether to Kaden start to pull wildly but she couldn’t focus enough to respond back this time.

He was her mate.

“Alyra?” Xander said next to her but barely heard him over the raging thumping in her ears.

“We need to go.” Boone sounded farther away and Alyra saw a hand appear in front of her face: Xander signaling her to leave.

It snapped her out of her trance, the full weight of the situation sinking into her already queasy stomach and she tried to take a deep breath to pull herself together.

She followed both men out of the door and up the stairs, Xander tentatively looking around the secret door at the top to make sure no one saw them before sealing it shut.

It was quiet, and they calmly walked out of the room as if nothing had happened, even though her heart was racing faster than she could ever remember.

Thundering footsteps could be heard as soon as they entered the hall and she turned to see Kaden barreling down towards them, his face a mixture of panic and rage.

As soon as their eyes met, she could see his rage subside but her heart wouldn’t calm. This man coming towards her, maroon eyes and a predatory stride, was hermate.

She felt a tear fall from the corner of her eye and his stride quickened a few yards from her. He grabbed her face as soon as she was in reach and pulled her close.

“What happened?” he growled.

“Not here,” Xander said quietly, gesturing towards the direction of their rooms.

“I’m ok,” she whispered as he wiped the tear from her cheek.