Page 80 of Taloned Heart

Oh, but she had so much pride in this young man. He had never once disappointed her and she could hear how disappointed he was in the other mortals like himself. They were letting him down in this moment.

But the Baron, one of the few men to actually speak, cleared his throat. “I will say, the humans would follow you, my lord. You are the leader we have been looking for, not an elf who considers herself a goddess.”

Ah, there it was. All the people in her life wanted to leave the elves in the dust. “I am not an elf,” she snarled. “I’m half elf. Half your people, half theirs. Don’t you understand that means I have been denied my entire life by both men and elves? All I want to do is help you people and instead, you squander that help by claiming I am lesser because I amnot like you.”

The last words were shouted, and she felt the entire earth tremble with her anger.

She needed to get better control of herself. And she couldn’t do that in this room with so many people looking at her with fear, disgust, or disappointment.

Patting Zephyr’s hand on her shoulder, she gently moved it away. “Talk with your people, my friend. Guide them to see reason or I will take this kingdom for myself and lead all the fools who refused to save it.”

Zephyr met her gaze and seemed to straighten, as if the poison in his veins and the curses that had taken their toll had never happened. “I promise you, Lore. I will fix this.”

And perhaps for the first time, she looked at him and saw a king.

Thoughts boiling in her head, she stalked out of the Ashen Deep’s home. They had not gone far, as the Matriarch did not want anyone knowing how deep these tunnels went or in what splendor her people lived.

Still, it took longer than she wanted to get outside and drag the fresh air into her lungs. And she was so tired of living underground. So tired of being far from the moon and without the only person who had always spoken reason into her heart and struggling mind.

Had her dragon made it to the island safely? Were her own children with him already? Safe and sound and whole? If only she knew that they were fine.

She could use her magic again, but she didn’t want to hover around any of them for too long. They were all adults now. All capable of taking care of themselves and she couldn’t be that mother that never let them grow up, or the partner who did not trust her mate.

“It’s a rather hard life, isn’t it?” The voice was strangely familiar and yet not. Turning away from the opening of the Ashen Deep’s realm, she saw a shadow in the forest. One with a light beard and hair that floated around him like snow. A brightly colored bird sat on his shoulder, watching her with human eyes.

“Lindon?” she asked, shocked to see a magician in the middle of the Ashen Deep’s forest.

The old man had no magic left. How had he gotten past the wards and all the magic that the deepmongers had laced through the trees?

He stepped toward her with a small smile on his face. He finally looked older, though nowhere near his much advanced age. “I heard tell there was a goddess who returned with a dragon at her side. And I thought, perhaps, I might be of use.”

“You have no magic left.” She eyed him with no small amount of distrust. “Unless you lied.”

“Oh, I have no magic.” He tucked his hands behind his back and approached her, the sylph on his shoulder ruffling its feathers at her nearness. “But I still have use even without it. It occurred to me that you would need someone to fight by your side, and while you do not have a lot of someones to fight with you, there is knowledge that I have which may be useful yet.”

She tilted her head to the side. On one hand, Abraxas would be furious that she was even talking to this man who erred toward evil. On the other hand, this was the first time she’d even thought the magician might stick his neck out for people like her.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because I do truly wish to make amends, and I am tired of seeing my home in constant turmoil. I started all this, Lorelei. I was the one who urged people forward onto a path of destruction and hate.” He spread his hands wide. “I thought, perhaps, I might be able to help end what I began. And I thought that was perhaps with you, but then another took your place on the throne.”

Lore tilted her head to the side. “And just how are you suggesting to help?”

“The spell that was given to Zander long ago, the one that created the Umbral Soldiers, can be edited by someone with a power equal or greater than my own.” He eyed her with a meaningful gaze and an intent in his eyes. “You could alter it, my dear. If you would like to. I can gift you an army that the dwarves can build.”

And, oh, that was tempting. That was useful.

“What do you want in return?”

He grinned, and that’s when she knew, of course, there would be a bargain. “A safe place to rest. I’m tired of sleeping on the sands by the sea. After spending time with you and Abraxas, I realized I am still better suited to court.”

“You want a position as an advisor.” It was not a question.

“Indeed.”

“Of who?”

He tilted his head. “Whoever is on the throne, my dear. Whether that is you or someone else.”

---