Page 26 of The Bound Mage
The shadows grumbled amongst themselves, slinking back to curl around his boots like chastised hounds. Loren fell back a step, the breath he’d been holding rushing out in a shaky sigh of relief. No one would die today because of him.
“Stop looking at me like that,” he ordered the younger guard. “I’m not what you think I am.”
The guard flinched, but didn’t drop his gaze, staring at Loren with the wide-eyed amazement people usually reserved for ghosts and legends. It made Loren’s skin crawl.
“Forgive me, Your Highness,” the younger male said, his voice shaking. “I—I never thought?—”
“Eloria is still regent.” Loren rolled his shoulders, trying to shake the tension from them. “I’m not the savior you think I am.”
“But you?—”
“She’ll see him,” the older guard said, hurrying back. “Apologies, Your Majesty. We didn’t know?—”
“Thank you,” Loren cut in, shoving by them. They didn’t stop him this time, instead flattening themselves against the walls as the shadows surged ahead of him, restless and impatient. They wanted this over, eager for him to finish this so they could return to the only thing that mattered to them—her.
But any hope that this would be a short visit died the moment he stepped into the room.
It reeked of salt, blood and death—two shrouded bodies stretched out across the scarred table where Eloria had held court just yesterday. His sister stood at the head of the table with her spymaster, her hands clasped behind her back.
“Where is your mate?” she demanded.
The shadows hissed, the bond jumping under his skin at her tone.
“She’s at Ithralis.” Loren glared at her. “You don’tsummonher, El. Not without an explanation.”
For a heartbeat, Loren thought she’d snap back at him. But Eloria’s expression only hardened, her dancing green eyes cold. “Remove the shroud for my brother.”
Eryn reached forward, even his composed expression strained as he deftly folded back the white linen to reveal the faces and shoulders of two fae females.
“Two fishermen pulled them from the water this morning,” Eloria said. “Do they remind you of someone?”
Loren swallowed hard. Both were young and red haired, with pale skin and clipped ears. Even worse, while one of the female’s ears were old and scarred, the other’s were raw and unhealed—as if someone had mutilated her ears right before they killed her.
“It could be a coincidence,” he said.
“A coincidence?” Eloria barked out a short, humorless laugh. “Look at this and tell me you still think it’s a coincidence.” She yanked the shrouds free completely, revealing the full extent of what these females had suffered.
Loren’s stomach lurched, bile burning his throat. Fishermen might have pulled them from the water, but they hadn’t drowned. Lash marks split their flesh, a rainbow of bruises blooming across their throats, arms, and thighs where the inquisitors had held them down.
And after everything he’d endured, Loren knew with sick certainty they’d still been alive—still screaming for mercy—when the inquisitors burned their message into the soft flesh of their bellies.
RETURN HER
Eloria turned to him, her expression like ice. “Well?”
Loren shook his head. He couldn’t speak—couldn’tbreathe. His lungs spasmed in his chest, the racing drumbeat of his heart twining with the shadows’ hissed demands for vengeance until he couldn’t tell where he ended and they began.
Never, they hissed.Never. Never. Never?—
Loren grasped the edge of the table so hard wood creaked under his hands, his knuckles whitening. He sucked in one deep breath. And then another. This was a message—a direct threat against his mate. But he had to breathe. To steady himself before the fury boiling under his skin took shape. Or he wouldn’t be able to help her.
“I need a moment with my sister,” he said through gritted teeth.
Eryn didn’t move. Didn’t even blink. He only lifted a brow, flicking his gaze to Eloria—because Loren’s orders meant nothing to him. Loren might be the prince, but it was Eloria he answered to.
Loren stared at his little sister, begging her without words to understand. To give him this.
Eloria held his gaze for a long, unreadable moment. Then, finally, she gave a small, deliberate nod.
