the very moment they plotted against me and my mate.
I writhe against the compulsion and bellow again, barely acknowledging the presence of the goblin as he draws up to my side and plucks something from his belt.
“Time to even the playing field, I believe, now that you’ve got him distracted,” Grimsal mutters as he brings up a reed to his mouth.
There’s a whistle amid the chaos, but the thwak of a dart hitting the guardian resonates through my mind. As a black spiderweb of gorgon’s poison crawls through his skin from where the small dart pierces his neck, I can feel his hold on my magic and body fading away. It is only when he slumps to the floor, his lifeless eyes staring out ahead, that I am able to pull completely free.
With a feral snarl, I gallop over him, relishing the crush of his bones under my hooves as I head directly for the king who is withdrawing against his throne.
“You cannot harm me! I am the king of Lorandral!” Varthal shouts, and deep within my fetch form I smile grimly.
No kingdom nor empire lasts forever.
Lowering my head, I charge forward, my magic gathering around me to blind my foe as my horn sinks deep. It tears through the muscle and bone of his chest until I pierce his heart. I feel his weight collapse around me, but I throw him off disdainfully and watch as his body slumps to the marble floors of his great room. His blood flows, staining the white stones beneath him, but I turn away, no longer caring as I shift back and grab ahold of the goblin by the neck.
He grunts in surprise but lets out a laugh when I drag him close to embrace him.
“Thank you, my friend,” I whisper. “Now tell me, where is my mate?”
“I’ll take you to her. They traded her over to the fairies, and his royal highness himself came to retrieve her, but they didn’t get far before they decided to camp for the night. When you get ahold of her, you can thank her for accidentally bonding me to you. I’m surprised that the power held out this long, but glad for it!” he shouts as he darts out the doors.
“What?” I shout as I tear off after him, a scowl replacing my expression of relief as he laughs.
“That bond stuff… The shit is only temporary!” he shouts back as he pops out before I can close my hands around him again and reappears a safe distance away. “Come on, unicorn! Let’s go get your mate!”
Yes, my mate!
The elation that fills me at that thought quickly withers into despair. What am I even thinking? Not even being among the elves with all their particular laws kept my mate safe. What if nothing can?
I can’t keep her here with me in Lehamenin. I must see to it that she is returned safely to Fahal. The goblin would do it. He would see her safely after I am gone. I can’t endanger her further, and this is the price I must pay for going to her world to seek her.
Chapter 31
Steph
I’m in a fucking cage. Like an oversized birdcage with big metal bars—iron bars even because the fairies are careful not to touch it. Motherfuckers. I glare at them as they settle in for the night. They seem to be accustomed to being out in the late hours of the night, but it’s been hours since we left Lorandral.
Oh, we’re still within their kingdom. The fairies were bitching about just how big their territory is just a little while ago. Something about how fairy territories should be just as vast and grand… Blah blah blah. I didn’t want to listen to their pissing and moaning. I do spend quite a bit of time, however, glaring holes through their heads.
If looks could kill they would all be goners, especially the big one with the fancy black diamond wings: Prince Halathnar. The goliath among fairies, it seems, since he stands above them all at nearly the same height as Eliph.
I hate Halathnar more than I could ever claim to hate anyone. I don’t even think I’ve known hate before now. Every time he looks at me, I feel like he’s imagining how I taste. I’m just a thing for him to consume. It could be the licking his lips thing whenever he glances my way. If I were more optimistic, I would probably think that he’s just got a really