Renai took another step forward, but I lifted my head and met her gaze. A tear slipped free as I watched her. Her face was contorted with horror as she clutched her chest. “Please don’t come back. I can’t see you again,” I whispered, my voice cracking as I held back the agony and lowered my head once again.
I heard her footsteps echo against the stone floor as she walked out of my cell, locking it behind her and leaving me alone with the broken pieces of my heart as I let the darkness in my soul swallow me whole.
Chapter30
Renai
Iran.
I ran from the tower, from the truth which had spilled from Damien’s lips. I ran from everything that had happened over the past two days.
“You are mymate, Renai. Whether you like it or not, it’s the truth.”
Gods, the word sent shivers down my spine. A sense of pining and dread all at once. I’d never wanted this—not with him. How could I?
For so long, I’d made peace with the fact I would be alone in life. After Ollie, I’d closed myself off completely. I wasn’t sure what had changed over the past month that would make me yearn for someone as I had with Kalen, but I never would have thought I’d have a mate set aside for me from the gods. And for it to be him, of all people?
The sex between Damien and I was too good; the way I ached for him was unnatural—and that was before we’d even crossed that line. But what did that say about me if a man like him was destined for me? I’d convinced myself repeatedly that he wasn’t a dangerous man, and I thought I believed that. Maybe I did. Or maybe I’d let my feelings cloud my judgment. Or maybe it was my own soul calling to his, ignoring his faults because of that desperate need for proximity.
None of it mattered, because I could never accept the bond. I could never tie myself to him, even though I’d been hit with a wave of nausea since I’d fled his room.
Get out.
Leave me to rot in this room.
Please don’t come back. I can’t see you again.
The hurt in his eyes was the only thing flashing through my mind as I ran down the corridors to find Eva. Briar was a fucking traitor, and we now knew where Lachlan would strike. But I wasn’t from Helia, and had no knowledge of this flower he’d mentioned. At least this was enough to come up with some sort of strategy.
I didn’t bother knocking as I slid to a halt at the door and threw it open. Alric, Eva, and Ciena were gathered around a map speaking in hushed tones. It was littered with small black pins, each one marking The Horde’s movements.
As I entered, they all turned and stared. A look of alarm passed over their faces. Alric ran over, helping me to a chair as my legs gave out from under me. My heart thundered in my chest as I struggled to control it, taking deep breaths one after another to soothe the adrenaline that had pushed my body to its limits.
The stress was too much. Unbearable pain coursed through my body as I cried. “I don’t know—” I began, but couldn’t find the words.
Rage. Despair. Happiness. Longing. Hope. Loneliness.Each emotion swam through me, gripping me in their iron fists, and refused to let go. They wanted to be felt—demanded it—but all I wanted to do was shove them away.
“Renai! Are you alright? What has happened?” Eva asked, crouching down beside me. She motioned for a glass of water, which Ciena poured quickly, and brought over to me.
I turned toward Ciena, clutching the cup in my hands and watching it ripple as I brought it to my mouth. “The elixir worked. Damien said Lachlan was coming, that the attacks on the villages to the west were nothing more than distractions. Something just to lower our guard and deplete our sentries. And he enthralled our villages on the east, adding them to his ranks. He knows you will hesitate before killing your own people.” The room became deathly quiet. I didn’t want to tell her about Briar, even though I knew I had to, but I also knew this would fucking kill her. “There’s something else…” I took a deep breath before continuing. “Lachlan has been using Briar for information. We don’t know if she is doing so willingly or if she’s been subjected to the control he used on Damien, but everything we’ve done since the throne room is no longer a secret. Lachlan is bringing The Horde to Helia. He’ll burn it all to the ground just because he can.”
“You’re sure of this?” Eva breathed, her hand shaking slightly. She looked at her father, whose lips were pursed in a tight line. The silence throughout the room spoke for itself, each person letting the new information sink in.
I nodded. “As sure as I can be. Of course, it’s possible Lachlan tampered with his memory, showed him false plans, but Damien seemed so certain. I can’t explain it. Everything happened at the same time. It was like a rush of memories crashed into him instantaneously.” I recounted the events to the best of my ability, leaving out what had occurred between Damien and me.
As I finished, Eva slumped against the desk. Her hand rested against her chest, skin ashen. Alric’s face was grim. Ciena paced back and forth, her arms crossed, long-nails digging into her skin. I looked between them all, unasked questions hanging in the air.
“What is it?” I asked.
Alric took a shuddering breath, casting a glance at his daughter’s stricken face. “There was an attack this morning on an outlying village twenty miles west of here. Matthew, Trystan, and Luka took a battalion to scope the damage and assist any survivors they might find. We’re running dangerously low on soldiers to protect the city proper. If Lachlan attacks today…”
“If Lachlan attacks today,” Eva said, her hazel eyes brimming with fire. “We do not have the force necessary to face his wrath. The kingdom will fall.”
“Send out ravens,” I said. “Right now. Perhaps if we get them out soon enough, our allies could come to our aid and we can recall the troops back to the city.”
Alric shook his head. “We can try, but I doubt there will be enough time for anyone to make it back. Did Damien say anything about when the attack would be?”
I wracked my brain, trying to remember the name of the peculiar flower. It wasn’t native to Druiston, so my knowledge was limited. “Yes. Something about a flower that only blooms once a year. Some sort of–”
