Azenna’s eyes glowed even brighter, and my body felt as if it would shatter.
“Yes.” I cursed myself as she forced the word from me.
“Very good, my darling. Now, where does she plan to attack us?” she asked.
My body was thrashing, desperately trying to escape the spell's suffocating hold, but in reality, I remained motionless before them. An ear-shattering, internal scream threatened to deafen me, but the only ears it fell upon were my own, having never left my lips.
“Gates,” I answered, and a single tear slipped from my lower lashes at the betrayal I couldn’t help.
A cackle left my mother, accompanied by a wicked, beaming smile. “Here? The Islan gates? Surely you’re joking.” Then her smile dropped as her eyes darted back and forth. “But you cannot lie. So it must be the truth,” she whispered. “And Elianna thinks she is better than me, bringing a war straight to its citizens.”
The queen turned to Kellan. “I want every fucking soldier here immediately guarding the city. I want ships stationed in the harbor and an army guarding the gates at all times. Am I understood? Call for aid from other cities. Any army that can march here as soon as possible. Send all the falcons we have. Their queen demands this.”
My mother then looked at the witch. “You may release her.”
My body dropped to the floor the moment Azenna’s hold on me lifted, and I broke out into a fury-filled sob.
Kellan approached the queen. “Her plan may change now that we have her.” He motioned toward me while I remained on the marble floor.
My mother contemplated his words before saying, “Do as I commanded, Adler. Her plans won’t change. She will come for my daughter.”
The High Witch aimed for my mother, her movements so smooth she appeared to be floating. “May I suggest a gathering of your citizens?”
“For what?”
“This would be the perfect opportunity for you to turn any of her lingering supporters against her. Show themyour daughter has willingly returned to you and that Elianna is the true usurper. She desires to bring the war straight to their city’s gates.” She paused for a moment and took another step toward the queen. “They will not take that lightly. This is their home.”
My eyes flared, and I pushed myself to stand. “I willneverturn the citizens against her. There is nothing you can do to me that will make me.”
The High Witch lifted a single brow at me, the corner of her lip tilting up into a challenging smirk. “My dear, little red one. Was my last demonstration of power not enough to convince you? You have no idea what I can make you do.”
I forced myself to swallow as I stood beneath her crimson gaze, a shiver running up my spine.
My mother observed us all as the tension in the throne room escalated. “Adler, be sure she is locked up. I don’t need her wandering off again. We will need her to convince the citizens.”
Kellan approached me then. “Don’t put up a fight. We know how well that went for you the last time.”
And I didn’t. Without another word from my mother, he forcefully clasped my hands behind my back and escorted me back down to the dungeons.
Chapter fifty-nine
Elianna
I stared at themap carved upon the stone table in our war chamber and was instantly overwhelmed by the sense that we were about to be vastly outnumbered. Our expected numbers and allies were quickly diminishing as we lost the troops in Ellecaster and the possibility of bringing other soldiers from our small villages hidden throughout the realm.
The door creaked open, revealing Jace, Gage, Veli, and Zaela standing beneath its arch.
“It’s late. You should all be sleeping.”
“And so should you,” Veli answered.
I turned from them and faced the window, crossing my arms as I looked out at the moon. All I could think about was how I snapped at my sister, screaming in her face as I let my rage consume me when all she had ever done wassupport my claim. My throat clogged, realizing I never had the chance to apologize properly.
“I don’t think I will be getting much sleep for the foreseeable future,” I finally answered.
They all entered the room and took their seats at the table.
“We’re here to help you with a plan. We’re going to get Avery back,” Jace assured me.
