The Frozen Prince (The Beast Charmer #2) - Maxym M. Martineau Page 0,121

easier between Cruor and Hireath now that I was on the Council.

When we appeared beside the twin sentry towers marking the entrance to Hireath, Dreagles leaped from the stone platforms to inspect us. Oval eyes peered at us until they spied Gaige, Raven, and me. Once they did, they abandoned their pursuit and returned to their stations, folding their wings and ignoring us entirely. No need for their sharp bugle warning call when Charmers returned to Hireath.

“It’s quiet,” Gaige murmured as he sent his Telesávra back to the realm in a pool of citrine light.

“Very,” I said.

The crashing water from the falls was the only sound, and it rushed over the open clearing with deafening authority. No bestial calls from happy creatures. No pleasant murmurings from milling Charmers or laughing children. Nothing. We took a few steps out into the frost-covered field, and our feet crunched against the sparkling grass.

“This can’t be good.” Oz rubbed a thick hand along the back of his neck. Wordlessly, Calem and Kost fell into step around me. Their protection was a soft blanket I wanted to wrap myself in forever, but the icy chill of the air couldn’t be ignored. Something was wrong. And as much as my body ached to remain on the safe side of the unknown, my heart and soul urged me forward.

To Hireath. To the Charmers. To Noc.

Twenty-Nine

Noc

The throne room in Hireath was quiet, despite being packed full of bodies. So many faces, and yet none of them belonged to the one I was searching for. The oath on my wrist simmered, and I cracked my neck. Soon. Yazmin had promised that if I protected her from potential danger, she’d give me what I wanted.

Lingering on the fringe of the congregation, hidden behind one of the thick columns and enough shadows to blanket an entire city, I waited and watched. Red tendrils threaded through the darkness, keeping my purpose clear. I would kill. I would end this horrible nightmare and bring peace to everyone I loved.

Yazmin stood on the dais with the Council’s thrones at her back. “We’ve been betrayed, my fellow Charmers.” Her voice was somber but clear, rolling through the room without an ounce of trepidation.

“What happened?” a voice called from the audience.

“The Council abandoned us. Our newest member, Leena Edenfrell, poisoned their minds and turned them against us. Tristan and Eilan are no more.” She placed a trembling hand to her chest. “The rest are missing. They’re responsible for the attack.”

Leena. The red tendrils sharpened. Soon. Soon.

A hushed mumbling and shocked inhales sounded from the Charmers. Yazmin clasped her hands before her to quiet them. “It’s true. I feel I’m to blame for this egregious turn of events. I was the one who recommended Leena take Wynn’s seat.”

“No!”

“It’s not your fault!”

“Protect us!”

Yazmin waved her hand. “As the Crown, I will protect you. I will always defend our people.” Stepping down from the dais, she approached a glowing circle etched with ruins from their ancient language. Pulsing, muddy-red symbols pushed faint light into the space around her. The same putrid shade of red as the red haze in my mind. As the color of her tainted Charmer’s emblem.

At the very center of the circle sat an empty pewter basin. She stared at it as she retrieved a vial of blood from her cloak. My blood. A small price to pay to finally be able to deal with this oath.

Yazmin returned her gaze to the crowd. “I fear the worst is yet to come. The remaining Council members have fled. At Leena’s behest, they’ve joined ranks with Wilheim. They intend to run us out of our home.”

Angry shouts of confusion rose in a clamor.

Yazmin only raised her voice and spoke over them, ushering in more shocked silence. “I cannot pretend to understand why they would do such a thing; I only know it’s coming. And so, we must stand up for ourselves. We must fight for our home.”

A man in the front row frowned. “But we’ve never gone to war. Many of us don’t even have beasts with that kind of power.”

Yazmin’s lips thinned. “We must go to war.”

She was met with stifled silence. This was taking too long. The shadows flared around me, responding to my impatience. Their war meant nothing to me. I had a job to do, and the burn of the oath wouldn’t subside until I took care of it. The people I loved wouldn’t be at peace.

“War is inevitable,” Yazmin said, voice level. “But