I DID THE RIGHT THING. FOR ME AND FOR ISAY, HAVING VINDICA’S fiercest warriors out of the prison and searching for her was the right thing to do. It was the only thing to do, only thing I could do for my daughter.
It was my fault she was in this mess to begin with, indirectly of course. I had subjected Isay to this world of horrors. Not everything was bad here, however. I was loved. She was loved, too, whether she knew it or not.
In a way, we belonged to Vindica more than we ever did in Elverstone. Promise of love kept me grounded in that cabin longer than I expected. I would have waited for it for eternity had Grath not given me more than promises. His love set me free from my past.
I took careful steps into the study where Grath hovered over a stack of official-looking papers. A letter in his hands had recently arrived, and he frowned reading it over for who knows how many times already.
The rest of the study was neatly arranged to match his impeccable taste. Wooden masterfully carved bookshelves were as much of a display as the works they held. High panelling matching the dark oak reached half-way to my hip while the rest of the walls were painted warm grey. The man behind his massive desk, however, was far from being warm. Not right now, at least.
Grath’s black hair hid his eyes from my sight, but the curve of his lips stopped me from walking in any further. He hadn’t looked up from the letter even though I knew he heard me come in.
I did not blame him. He was mad at me for releasing Karmuth and Regar. I’d gone against his orders. I’d also indirectly encouraged several more of his subjects to defy direct commands. Someone was going to pay for my actions. I just hoped it wasn’t going to invoke a death sentence.
It didn’t please him to see me hurting. I knew he cared for Isay, too. Being a leader meant he was stuck making decisions based on the benefit of many. I’d taken that opportunity from him when I set war loose on Felroth. They’d been asking for it, and, I hoped every one of them burned to ashes.
“Siya, my dear.” Grath’s deep voice vibrated through me every single time he addressed me this way. His tone always softened when he spoke to me, as if he was holding back the authority he’d been born with. He also gave me a tight smile, not managing a real one.
I’d thought I’d never feel loved again after Nefari, after he’d… left me to raise Isay on my own. He had no space in my heart any longer; I would not let him. I was done waiting for his return, and I’d given myself over to another male, a good male. His love was my freedom.
“My heart and soul,” I replied.
“I owe you an apology,” Grath said. Finally dropping the paper, he rounded the table and joined me where I’d stopped in the middle of the study. “I should have heeded your pleas. We’d have Isay back by now had I not delayed the rescue.”
I swallowed the worry for my daughter down, keeping a strong and confident front even before Grath.
What I feared the most? That Grath had been wrong, and they’d hurt her irreversibly. That the warriors would come back emptyhanded, either not finding my girl or reaching her too late.
What if Grath’s delay had cost Isay’s life?
Could I forgive him, could I look him in the eyes and forgive him if the worst was to come to pass?
I did not know if my love for him was strong enough to survive the devastation losing Isay would put me through. I could not lose Isay.
If all was lost, I’d have only Grath to lean on. I mustn’t loathe him for his verdicts. He’d been under constant pressure longer than I’d been in court. His fae were starving, growing weaker every day that their feeding grounds stayed restricted.
I could share my ecos with the court, but I was only one fae and couldn’t generate barely as quickly as I’d hoped to. Isay could do more, and she had already done more for the court than I. Nefari’s bloodline ran deeper than I’d ever suspected.
No one could know… No one could find out from where her power originated. She would remain off-limits, safe. Once she was back... if she’d be back.
“They’ve reached her by now. She’ll be home in no time.” I hoped. I needed to convince myself. It was the only truth I was willing to accept. “What changed your mind?”
Grath wrapped his arms around me, and my façade crumbled. I sank into him, allowing him to counterweight my weakness. His embrace worked to subdue my fears but couldn’t quite manage. Especially since he’d admitted defeat.
“King Rothian refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing by his court. He does not accept the blame, nor will he adhere to the official summons.” Grath’s voice was rougher, angry. If he’d voiced his summons in the same tone, the Felrothian was wise to stay away. However, rejecting an official invitation was simply not done, no matter the occasion.
I swallowed over my tears. “Perhaps coming from Elverstone, or even Hessia, the request could no longer be avoided.”
Vindica did not ask for help. Ever since their reputation lay tainted, there was no help to be had. Isay’s kidnapping was going to change that. Elverstone could not look past such an act even after we’d left, after we would never be welcomed back again.
Hessia had no choice but to respond, either. It would all come out when he’d respond, but there was no other way. If Felroth kept up their attacks unrestricted, who knew what they’d plan next? Grath would deal with it. Isay would forgive me. The truth could no longer be silenced.
“Sweetness, you have no sway in Elverstone,” he said very gently so as not to upset me. He didn’t even mention Hessia, but he couldn’t know. Not many had any influence in Hessia.
“Let me send the request anyway,” I begged. “The council must assemble. Once they see Isay, Felroth can no longer deny their involvement.”
If Isay will be back. If she’ll be back. If…
A lump in my throat forced me to take my next breath more painfully. My eyes grew wet, despite me forcefully blinking away the tears.
“You’re free to use the fax, sweetness,” he said carefully. He wasn’t convinced I’d even receive a response; that much was clear in his voice. He was not going to prevent me from trying, however. After his mistake, he couldn’t.
There was nothing more modern than a fax machine in Belfean Realm. We’d used birds before the invention, but they were never as reliable. As with all technology, only high fae were able to afford any, and with faxing growing increasingly outdated on Earth, there wasn’t anything rarer.
Nefari would own one. So would my king. If Ilario remained nonchalant, Nefari would make him reconsider. In the end, the council would arbitrate.
And Isay will be back. She’ll be back. She’ll…
I tried to hold back a sob as I stepped away from Grath’s embrace but failed. Grath’s worried eyes got me to snap out of it. I had to be strong. We had no news, but it didn’t always denote bad news. I would not break before I knew for sure.
Know what exactly? She’d been tortured. Everyone in the court knew she’d been tortured. The way Karmuth screamed… My baby girl had gone through much worse. I knew that with certainty. How could anyone survive such pain?
She’ll be back.
“Siya?” Grath prompted, voice taut.
I shook my head to clear the mistiness that followed tears. There was nothing more I could do to get Isay back faster. I could, however, get justice for her. I could get revenge. That’s what I needed to focus on.
Turning my back on Grath, I stepped closer to the table and the stack of papers. From the very top King Rothian’s denial shone back at me, further fuelling my rage.
