The room tilts, and Mrath’s words fade. “I must leave as soon as possible.” Even with the dragon, I do not see how the trip would take less than four days.
“Then you are prepared to help us?” Mrath asks.
I ball my fists, not wanting to help any elf ever again.
“You are planning to kill the king, aren’t you?” I respond. “What would that mean for Arlet?”
Mrath considers me. “Well, we were just discussing that. I would like to use her as an asset to get close to the Throne of Living Wood, that she might help me claim my crown.” She looks at Teo.
“So you have no plans to harm her?” I press, not trusting elves anymore.
“Not if she complies.”
Something in her tone doesn’t sit right with me. “And if shecannot ‘comply’? You swear you will not, under any circumstance, hurt her?”
“Fear not. The only way I would hurt her is if she carries Arion’s child. I do not think it would be likely before the wedding, but if she is the continuation of my brother’s line, I would have no choice but to dispose of her and the child.”
I fucking knew it. No elf can be trusted.
Before I can think logically, I lunge at her, only for Teo to grab me by my shoulders and pull me back from the mess. My hair falls in my face, clumps puffing out from my eyes as hot breath pours from my mouth.
“She will not harm her, Vann! Did you not hear what she said?” Teo shouts, while Mrath draws a dagger and points it at my throat.
“Attack me again, troll, and I will slice the skin from your face,” she hisses. “Our alliance is not so ironclad that it cannot break.”
The weight of a heart, of fully feeling the mating bond, is stronger than I anticipated. My chest heaves. My throat and neck burn.
She wasn’t saying she would kill her, and Arlet has long struggled for a child.
I am acting irrationally.
“Vann,” Liana starts, walking between the leader and me.
“Forgive me,” I pant, relaxing my stance. “…Travel has made me mad.”
She studies me for a second before understanding blooms across her features.
“So youaremated to the human,” Mrath says flatly. “I wondered when you came to my home, but now there can be no doubt.”
“I…” I grit my teeth, but Liana completely pulls back my hair, revealing the side of my neck.
Teo and Estela share a look, and a knot forms in my throat.
“The mating marks have appeared,” I say flatly, finally identifying the localized heat that sears into the side of my neck.
Mrath begins to laugh. “Very well. Then I will alter my plan.”
“What plan is that?” I bite out.
She tilts her head to the side, giving me a long look. “As I toldyour king, I do not wish for a civil war in the Elven Dominion. I wish to take power, and a broken empire would be wasteful. I intend to show the elven court that I am the one chosen by the gods to lead them.”
I nod. “I think that is…wise.” As her allies, I do not want the Enduares dragged into another war while we continue to rebuild our society. We have a lot to offer, especially if this is to be such a calculated strike.
She ignores me, continuing as she walks around the large stone table where maps and other scrolls have been laid out. “So, you will go to Shvathemar first. You will get entry to the palace, and you will help Arlet plant a seed in the throne. Its power has been corrupted by a foreign god, and I will need the conduit to reconnect to Doros for my plan to work. Then, you will help us gain entry to the palace.”
I stare at Mrath. “Help you enter the elven palace?” I was hoping that my trip to Shvathemar would be as quick and efficient as possible.
“Yes, or I cannot guarantee the safety of any of your people. Mate or not.”