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Diawen smiled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Oh, my sweet Bayleon, I have no desire to harm your beloved queen. The last thing I want is to start a war with the fae. I may have my power, but I am no fool. That is a battle I could never win on my own.” Her expression softened and her lips curved into a gentle smile. “I am sure your queen has found a way to track you and will be here soon. She is a very wise woman.” Diawen rose to her feet and cast a glance in Bastian’s direction before turning back to me. “When she arrives, Rogan is going to kill you and your brother. Once that is done, Lia will no longer need to find a cure for the curse.”
“But what happens to Lia after we’re dead?” I asked.
Diawen snorted in disbelief. “Rogan imagines he will have his way with her, but we both know your queen will kill him within a few seconds. Regrettably, after that, she will return home to grieve over her passed loves.”
I allowed a short laugh to escape my throat. “Lia will hunt you down,” I stated with certainty.
Diawen shrugged. “If she is chasing after me, then I know she’s not searching for a way to break the curse.” She started for the door.
“What would happen if she did?” I called out, causing her to pause.
Diawen slowly turned around to face me, her features filled with an arrogant assurance. “She won’t. And she isn’t the first one to try.”
My mother came to mind and I tensed; Diawen noticed the change in me. She nodded, her face conveying her understanding.
“Your mother was a formidable person. Anyone who can withstand the Tyvar’s seduction is a powerful individual. No wonder she gave birth to two remarkable children.”
“What do you know of her?” I snarled.
Diawen interlocked her fingers, her expression turning impatient. “Your mother was a bit too clever for her own good. Like your queen, she sought to break the curse because of her love for her sons. She didn’t want the Tyvar life for you. It turns out she was very close to an answer. But I couldn’t let that happen, so I informed your father of her doings.” As soon as she brought up my father, dread flooded through my gut.
“You see,” Diawen continued, “there are a lot of men here who don’t want the curse broken. They enjoy being what they are. Your mother was a threat to that. And, of course, I couldn’t allow her to succeed.”
“So you had her killed,” I said, feeling my fists clench and a wave of heat wash over me.
Diawen shook her head. “Ididn’t have to do anything. Your father did that on his own.Hewas the one who killed her.”
My breath caught in my throat and my vision blurred as I processed this new information. The anger and hatred I’d felt so many times before poured into my veins and I could imagine myself lunging at him and tearing out his throat, only that was never going to happen. The bastard was already dead. Our mother would’ve been alive today if he hadn’t taken her away.
A wrenching sense of regret filled my chest and I felt like my world was crumbling around me. I could’ve done something to protect her if I’d only known.Diawen released a deep, resigned sigh, then turned and disappeared through the door.
Bastian groaned and lifted his head, his body quivering with fury. Blood bubbled up in his mouth and he spat it onto the floor. His eyes slowly opened, blazing with anger, and he hissed.
“That son of a bitch. I’m going to enjoy killing him.”
I nodded grimly in agreement. “You and I both,” I said. “Rogan is going to suffer greatly.”
He winced as he leaned against the pole, looking over at me. “What did I miss?”
I swallowed and took a deep breath. “Everything. Diawen is luring Lia here so she can watch us be killed. That way, she’ll give up searching for the cure.”
Bastian’s eyes widened with fear for our queen. “What are we going to do? Lia can’t come here.”
I nodded. “You’re right. We must find a way out.”
I wrenched against the ropes, feeling them bite into my wrists, and a steady trickle of blood began to seep from the wounds. A surge of determination filled me, and I ignored the pain, pushing against the bindings harder. Bastian did the same, but we both stopped when the door opened and Rogan strode in, dragging a Summer fae behind him. Her tanned skin glistened and her golden blonde hair cascaded down her back. Her green eyes were glazed over, and she seemed to be under Rogan’s power. He pulled her to him, his hands roughly exploring her body, and she moaned with pleasure. He laughed, his evil leer spreading wider.
“It’s torture, isn’t it?” he goaded, pushing her toward the bed in the corner. He looked at Bastian and me with a malicious smirk on his face. “I’m going to need my strength before I kill you both. I hope you enjoy the show.” He stalked over to the bed and then glanced back at us. “You’re going to want to watch this. It’s exactly what I’ll do to your queen when she arrives.”
The rage boiling inside me was overwhelming, and I had to fight against the urge to lash out. I gave Bastian a warning look, silently urging him to stay calm—now was not the time for us to act. We had to bide our time, to be patient.
Soon, there would be a chance to take our revenge.
Chapter20
Lia
As we approached the lake, I saw the thick fog crawling over the water, masking the Tyvar encampment. I motioned for Aidan to stay back while Lerissa and I stepped out from behind the cover of trees, my sword, dagger, and bow and arrows strapped to my back.
