Page 52 of The Kingdom of Flames and Ash

“You arenothanding yourself over to that ashbreath.” Tavish’s chest heaved, and darkness curled around his body as his temper took control. He marched over and clutched my arm. “I won’t allow you to do it. Your sister purposely took your place, and you’d dishonor her sacrifice? Do you have any idea of what that would do tome? Knowing you’re with him would kill me. And if our places were reversed, would you let me leave? We will fix this or go to war with the ashbreaths. You’re worth fighting for, and I vow I will strike down anyone who stands in our way until my last breath.”

I didn’t like him telling me what to do, but even as I tried to hang on to the anger, the buzz of our fated-mate connection had it slipping away.

“He’s right, sprout.” Father winced as if agreeing with Tavish hurt him. “We have two full days to find a solution that doesn’t involve handing you over.”

I snorted bitterly. “It’s either that or a war.” If we wanted Eiric alive, we couldn’t just do nothing. Still, I lifted my chin. “For the record, I wasn’t talking about handing myself over. I meant we need to talk to Eldrin, and now.”

Tavish smirked, though I could feel his surprise. “Nowthat’sa good plan. Let’s go.” He immediately set off, leading us around the side of the castle. However, instead of flying upward to the castle windows, he stopped at a stone door that had been left open.

“The prison is this way,” he said, flying into an underground setup that was nothing like the cells in the castle at the ruined land or the prison in Caisteal Solais.

Lorne, Finola, and Struan stood in the center of a huge dark space with cement rooms on either side, each with a solid metal door.

“Your Majesty, the other guards left a few minutes after we got the prisoners secured in their cells.” Finola bowed her head, taking in both sets of parents behind me.

“Where’s Eldrin?” Tavish barked.

Lorne pointed at the door closest to us on the left.

“Open it.”

Not hesitating, Lorne did what Tavish commanded.

When the door opened, what I saw made me want to kill Eldrin even more.

18

TAVISH

Igritted my teeth, trying to come off as impartial as I could, but the way Eldrin leaned against the stone wall, wearing a smirk, had the nightmare illusion magic swirling inside me, wanting to release and cause him agony.

I couldn’t react impulsively. He had been strategic and calculating over the years, focusing on the end result—like I must now.

Next to me, Lira quivered, her rage spilling through our bond and making my bloodthirsty instinct surge to life. I’d been able to control it better, but ever since the Seelie arrived, my thirst for blood had grown harder to ignore.

With desperation causing sharp aches in my chest from the threat of Lira giving herself up to Pyralis to protect her sister, my sanity was blasting close to being lost forever. The only thing holding me together was the need for answers from Eldrin on how Lira could get out of this blighted vow that had been forced upon her.

With dirt smudged on his face, wrinkled garments, and white hair hanging limp with grease, he shouldn’t appear so confident, but he knew why we were there.

“Ah… you’ve ignored me, starved me, and forced me to carry that animal, but as soon as the dragons arrive, you’re back.” The lantern above his head flickered, providing the illusion that he’d called shadows to cloak him.

Too bad his wings were bound by the chains that kept him from using magic.

The Seelie royals and Lira’s second parents were behind us, and I needed to take control before the Seelie king did. I needed Eldrin to believe that no bad blood remained between us despite nothing truly being resolved.

“You aren’t our priority. In fact, I’d rather you not be here at all, but it seems Fate keeps granting you favors.” I kept my hand tight in Lira’s, needing to know she was at my side and not trying to sneak away.

“Fate?” Eldrin laughed and wrinkled his nose. “Fate has nothing to do with this. I set everything in motion. It was allme. And now I’m in a position to get out of this place and continue with my life without hindrance.”

“Likehellyou are,” Lira spat, moving to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me. “You’re going to stay in here and be the miserable piece of shit you are.”

He shrugged. “That’s fine with me. Go marry the dragon. I don’t blasting care. I think you don’t realize that either way, I win. I tell you, and I’m free to do as I wish. I don’t, and Tavish has the most important thing stripped from him. He’ll live in misery the same way I have for the majority of my life, not even considered worthy of being a spare, despite the king treating me like one of his sons.”

The hatred I’d nurtured for the past twelve years ignited. The edges of my vision hazed as I channeled all that hate toward the man I’d considered a second father. “You weren’t the heir. There wasn’t anything he could do. It’s not how our magic works. Youknowthis.” I released Lira’s hand and placed mine on the hilt of my sword, ready to slay him now.

Nightbane snarled, hunkering closer to Lira, sensing the threat before us. He’d always detested Eldrin even more than he did me, and I’d never thought anything of it. I’d grown up believing he was a stupid beast, but now things made more sense. Eldrin had always been despicable. He had no redeeming qualities, caring for no one but himself. He’d never truly cared about protecting the Unseelie.

I stalked inside the cell, torn about what to do. I wanted to kill the wildling, but if I did, I had a significant risk of losing Lira. My breathing sped up, and the walls seemed to close in on me.

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