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Mal betrayed me.
Could Cor’than have gotten to her? There must be an explanation. A misunderstanding, somehow. I collapse, and I watch her from across the room.
Her movements are languid as she lifts herself from the bed we share, taking her time to put on a short silk robe that I bought for her at the menagerie we visited last summer.
“Exactly. I was your only ally. Think on that while you rot in my dungeon.”
She gives a faint nod, and the captain levels a spear at my bare chest. Tearing my eyes from her, I glance at my weapons leaning against the wall across the room. I blink my eyes to clear the blur from forming tears.
“Come with us, Prince Dan’thiel.”
But I ignore him, looking again to Mal, who watches with a flat affect. “Why, Mal?” I ask around the lump in my throat. The captain shuffles his feet, inching the tip of his spear closer to my heart.
She arches an eyebrow as words like venom spit towards me. “You made your bed, traitor.”
“Prince Dan’thiel, you’re charged with treason. We will strike if you do not comply.”
I raise both hands in a sign of placation, showing I have no intention of fighting while I summon my Chroma despite the nausea welling in my stomach. Whatever is going on, I won’t go down easily. I still feel out of sorts, but the powerful Chroma available to me pours into my veins.
Suddenly, the room is brighter, my senses sharper. Sounds of children playing in the courtyard below now drift through the window so clearly. The subtle crease of Mal’s frown catches my keen eye while the power inside me eases the ache of my knees against the creaky wooden floor. Churning within me is a tempest of power begging to be released.
I never intended to raise my magic against another High Elf again, except for Cor’than.
But today, I make an exception.
Rising to my feet, I take a step forward with my head hung low, shoulders slumped. A male of defeat before them. As the other guards surround me, their new prisoner, Captain Murdock keeps his spear level with my heart, clearly suspicious.
I raise my narrowed eyes to his, unleashing my power in a visceral roar. Green light blasts from my palms, shattering the spear’s wooden handle, sending splinters flying across the room. Another blast of air sends the other four guards flying backwards.
In the corner of my eye, I see Malicryn jump to action, sending a maroon dampening shield towards me. It shoots out like spiderwebs, trying to fall around me. To block my access to Chroma. I throw myself to the ground, rolling away from Murdock. Mal’s shield misses me by an inch, but the guards are already recovering from the blast, scrambling to their feet.
They lunge for me, but I leap to the side, landing in the center of the room. I spin and slam a kick into the stomach of the closest guard. She doubles over, and I follow up, driving a blast of wind into her center of gravity, slamming her back to the ground.
Another spear thrusts towards me, but I easily knock the guard off balance when I step towards him. I throw my own shield towards Malicryn as I pummel my fist into the guard’s midsection. If she shields me first, all hope is lost. I need to cut off her access to Chroma. Another guard charges me, swinging a sword. I dodge and send my fist into his jaw. But two other guards are closing in, including the hulking captain.
I spare a glance for Mal, launching another green shield to block her channeling. It slides within a hand span of her as she moves effortlessly away. My weaves are clumsy and rushed. A spear head tears into my thigh, releasing blood down my leg. Three shield spells slam into me in rapid succession. The magical webbing engulfs me as my chroma sputters out, access to power blocked. I drop to my knees with a scream, defeated.
The guards surround me cautiously, making an opening for Malicryn as she approaches my bleeding form.
“You traitorous-,”
Her hand strikes my face, knocking the words from my mouth. The sting on my cheek hurts worse than the torn muscle in my leg.How can she do this?
She finally meets my eyes, and I don’t recognize the person behind them. Hatred and fury glare down at me, sending the final blow to my heart. My body slumps as if gravity suddenly pulls me harder to the ground.
“You think I’m just going to let you run off and go fuck another woman? That I’ll just lie down and accept your disrespect? You’ve made a mockery of me! I risked everything for you.”
Her words knock the air from my lungs. I shake my head in disbelief.
“You, of all people, should understand why I have to find my fated mate, Malicryn. I’m duty bound. You know this. You said you understood.”
She scoffs at me, motioning for the guards to take me away. A tear rolls down my cheek as two guards lift me to my feet. I hang my head low between my shoulders while they drag me to the dungeon.
I wake on my back in a cold cell I’ve never seen before. The only light is a flickering torch dancing across the stone room. I feel dizzy. My vision swims as I lift my head. They must’ve poisoned the water.
I reach for Chroma, but the dampening shield is still in place. Clamping my eyes shut, my head sags against the hard stone altar I’m lying on. I wish the room would stop spinning. The iron manacles around my wrists and ankles sear painfully into my skin.
Wood creaks. I open my eyes to see Malicryn approaching me. A low growl escapes my throat. I bare my teeth at her, but she doesn’t care. Her languid walk and arrogant smirk burn into my soul.
