Page 21 of Hidden Kingdoms

Her words were etched into my mind after the amount of time I’d spent going over them, I doubted I could forget them now even if I wanted to.

Why couldn’t they be simple and concise instructions on how I could protect this kingdom? I’d let Kaius convince me going to her was the only way and now look where it’s got me.

The years we wasted pouring magik into that fucking stone, just waiting for the day we could pin down a location on theone thingthat was supposed to fix everything.

Maybe not everything, but it was supposed to help.

And when it works, what happens? It leads us to a girl. Not a weapon.

The mere fact that The Darkness turned up the moment we found her proves she’s of no use to me. It was purely instinct that had me pulling her to safety within the shield of the wards, and it was in my best interest not to feed that thing any more than its already taken.

I knew we were exposed outside the wards, but I hadn’t expected it to get so close to the palace. Thank fuck it hadn’t got through them.

But now what am I left with? A pathetic human I have to feed and shelter who somehow has enough magik to perform insignificant tricks and not die when we travel her. I could tell the moment Kaius locked eyes on her that he wanted her for more reasons than the one that sent us to her. While she looked tempting with her full tits half hanging out and her dishevelled white hair, those dark eyes round with surprise before they narrowed as she took us in, I didn’t need the added complication of wanting to fuck the thing that wasapparentlygoing to save us all.

With The Darkness on our tail, we’d had no choice but to arrive back the way we did. We might as well have rung a belland announced ourselves. I saw the glances that were sent her way, and I didn’t like it.

Kaius caught up with me then, his footsteps falling in sync with mine as we cut through the passages within the thick outer wall that circled a good section of this land. There would be time shortly for us to focus on the shit show we had just been through. I couldn’t deny that while Marcellus’ news was yet another untimely issue to deal with, it got the human off my hands.

Let him deal with her for now.

Despite the ridiculous need that had surged through me to keep her from The Darkness, I had no wish to be in her presence. Not until I could figure out what she could do for me, why she was supposed to be so fucking important.

I glanced at Kaius out of the corner of my eye. He was already cosying up to her and I didn’t like that. We needed to use her, not get inside her.

Kaius could charm the birds from the trees; I’d seen him get his way when even I’d thought it impossible with nothing but a sweep of his hair and a sly grin, but this felt different even while I hoped it wasn’t. That all the soft touches and lingering looks were nothing more than a way to soften her to our needs.

The studded wooden door we were heading towards came into view, and we carried on in silence as I flicked my fingers at the lock, making the door swing open and invite us in.

I sent a prayer to Suri before stepping inside, asking the goddess for some semblance of control as the door swung shut, plunging us into darkness before I reached out with my magik again, feeding it into a second, more complicated lock that clicked as entry was granted. This room was alight with flames burning in sconces along the rough stone walls. Two more doors were set into them and a heavy, carved oak table filled most of the space, with seven chairs lined either side, one more at thehead. Five were taken, their faces all turning towards us as we moved into the room.

Bows of heads and quiet greetings were murmured as we took our seats, the concentration of so much magik in a small space making the air feel alive. The room was sealed with energy to ensure that any issues that arose between those inside could not spill out through the stones. We could rip each other to shreds in here and not a whisper of magik would escape.

It did, however, make for an uncomfortable space to reside in for too long, and despite being one of the most powerful people in the room, it chafed at me; the need to feel air not charged with the emotions of the men around me, a physical urge I had to withstand if I wanted to keep my place here.

Noting the number of empty seats, I allowed an internal sigh of relief that there were no new spaces, though the loss of over a third of the heads of the most powerful lines was still a hard blow. Many were missing, a fact that wouldn’t leave this room. Others were just gone. Some had been lost and the space filled by the eldest son, though not all who took their fathers’ seats were worthy of it.

There were still the old Fae who clung to their power in fists that should have relaxed their grip generations ago, who were so old that they could no longer make it to the chamber, but pride kept them from passing on their place. Heirs waited with bated breaths at the sidelines for the moment their time came to step through the door. Few enough were worthy of the wooden table they sat around, whose actions for the kingdom in service of the throne were done not out of their own selfish gains, but to see this kingdom thrive.

Then there was Kaius, who neither belonged here nor was an heir to a seat at the table, but not a single man sat around it would speak against his presence here. Many were too terrifiedto dare a word against him, but they still held the respect for him that he deserved.

It’s not like there isn’t any space.

He was currently occupying the chair of Lady Regine Feueral, who claimed she was too old to brave the frigid temperatures. I knew it was nonsense; the old bag's blood ran with fire like most of us, but she’d just rather spend her time shacked up with whatever pretty boy was vying for her favour. Yet as long as she still held her seat, no one else could take it from her.

It was an old magik that required the owner to willingly relinquish their hold, one I doubted could be broken. It was also how we knew the difference between those who were lost to us forever, and those who were just lost.

They didn’t know yet about the girl, and I was under no obligation to tell them. Whatever had prompted this meeting was about something wholly unrelated, of that I was certain.

I knew we were the last to arrive, the rest dead, missing or called away—my own father and uncle included. Silence settled thick around us, stretching on and adding to the tension of us all being in this small space. I delighted in their subtle squirms, the unsure glances which passed around at our obvious state of dishevel. I wouldn’t be addressing the room, since they had called me here and not the other way around.

Despite how my magik was still reacting furiously to the events from the last hour, the fire I could normally keep contained simmering within me eager for release, I reclined in the hard wooden chair, eyes flicking over the men at the table, the picture of ease.

Lord Amos Petras sat there, head of treasury and an advisor to my father for over thirty years. Long before the streaks of grey had appeared in his slicked black hair, I hadn’t liked him even then. Now he was my advisor, and soon enough I’d have to spinhim a tale on why I arrived at the gates with The Darkness trying to swallow me up, with an added extra in tow.

The moments dragged on. Kaius pulled out one of his favoured daggers and began twirling it through his fingers with ease. Lord Amos’ eyes pinned on the movement, along with others.

“There’s been another raid.” A gruff voice boomed through the silence and heads swivelled in its direction. “On the border to the east of Rhodanne, a village called Delevore. We don’t know yet the exact details, or who has been taken, but it will likely be much the same as the others. The First Guards have been sent to search the area and make a list of those missing.”

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