“I do not,” I answered, as my eyes drifted back to her. “But Idohave a dungeon.”
Chapter thirty-eight
Kellan
Braynon and two guardsled the way through the courtyard and down to the dungeons, where the queen had offered the witches a place to put their magic on display. I walked alongside Idina, positioned behind the others, as we followed them.
My body couldn’t shake the feeling of being under the High Witch’s spell. She effortlessly commanded and steered my body any way she desired with just a movement of her wrist. I had never been a fear-driven male—in fact, I absolutely despised them. However, the suffocating darkness that crept beneath my skin as she took control of me sent an undeniable alarm through me.
This was no longer just a war of fae and mortals. An unknown power had entered unannounced, and it threatened us all. Not only that, but it threatened my fucking plans for it.
The queen was desperate to hold on to the power she obtained through cold-blooded murder. Desperation led to a lack of judgment, and if she believed the High Witch had unlimited power, that meant she could eliminate me frommy position. I had no fucking time to be dealing with such nonsense.
“My queen, I feel as though…” I started in a hushed whisper.
“I do not pay you for your opinions, Captain,” she cut me off. “You are employed to lead our armada and guards in the direction I demand of you. Nothing more.”
“Is it wise to put such trusting fate in a pair of monsters that show up at your city’s door unannounced? After they had just been with Elianna? It could be a trap.”
Her eyes remained forward as our steps continued. “You truly believe that they would offer to aid our victory in the war if they were working for Elianna?”
No, I fucking didn’t. But that didn’t mean I wanted them around, either.
“You would barter away a piece of your realm at the first force of power that presented itself to you? My queen, I know I am not a King’s Lord, however—”
“Correct, you are not. And I am no king. I am thequeenand have no need for an advisor, and if there were ever a time I did, it would never be you, Captain.”
My jaw locked as my hands balled into fists at my sides. Everything I worked for was gone in an instant and by fuckingfemales. I refused to remain just the captain of the queen’s guard.
I bit my tongue with so much force that blood trickled to the back of my throat as I worked to choke down my retort.
Her steps slowed, and mine matched on instinct, pushing a farther gap between us and those who led the group to the dungeon’s cavern.
“I have been advised by males my entire life, Captain,” she admitted softly after a few moments of silence. “I will not be bartering away a single sliver of my land. When the time comes, we will be rid of them, even if I once again have to slit a throat myself.”
My steps faltered at what she declared, but hers remained marching forward, leaving me behind in the dark, twisting halls of her dungeons.
Once we arrived at the back of the cavern, my memory flashed back to when Elianna escaped. My eyes darted to the far corner of the space, where the crumbling rocks that fell from the tunneled ceiling remained.
Braynon moved to light the torches that were fastened along the walls, but with a wave of the High Witch’s hand, flames ignited at each pillar.
Her focus returned to the queen.
“Queen, is this the space you are able to provide for us?” Her gaze shifted to the chains on the floor. “Ah, this was once the beast’s home.”
“It was,” Idina answered as she took a few steps up to the witch. “Before Elianna stole it from us and rode it out of the city as if it were a warhorse. Now tell me, Azenna, what purpose does this cavern serve you?”
Azenna's gaze met the crone’s, who stood by her side, an eerie stillness surrounding her as she watched us all attentively. As she extended her hand, the decrepit woman placed the wyvern scale into her open palm.
The High Witch shot me a wicked grin right before she moved to the center of the open space and placed the scale on the ground before returning to our side.
“The queen asked you a question,” I growled. “It would be wise to answer before her patience is lost and your time has run out.”
Her eyes began to faintly glow as she turned her attention to where the queen stood. “You asked me what the space was needed for, and I am about to prove to you only a fraction of what our power can do.”
Before anyone could respond, the air crackled with a sinister energy, and storm-like winds brewed within the confines of the dungeon.
Azenna stepped forward, her silhouette draped in an elaborate cloak that seemed to absorb the dim torchlight, and raised her arms with deliberate grace. Her eyes, pools of red-rimmed darkness, gleamed with an otherworldly intensity.
