Page 214 of The War and Deceit Series omnibus

I’m standing with some of the chiefs and describing how Stix and I first met, the imp sitting on my shoulder. “Stix saved the elf,” he exclaims proudly after I’ve just shared the story of how he told me where to find the nos weed.

Chuckling, I nod my head, and the chiefs smile. “Yes, you—” A strange wave of magic rolls over me, cutting off my words. My head snaps around to face the direction it came from, but I can’t see anything as it’s somewhere deep in the forest. The hair on my arms stands on end. Whoever is using it is very powerful. Vaeril and Tor are instantly by my side, and Eldrin and Naril join us seconds later when they realise something’s wrong.

“What’s happening?” Vaeril’s voice is low, trying not to cause a scene, but it’s too late, people have already worked out that something’s going on. The fae scurry into the trees, adding to the strange atmosphere.

Revna strides over, takes one look at me, and whispers to the chiefs, who start clearing the area, already taking action. Once they’ve moved on, she steps in closer. “Are we under attack?”

Another wave of magic hits me. It’s searching, probing, and it makes my back arch. I know this magic, and it recognises me. I’m overwhelmed by the feeling, my voice taken away temporarily. My mates step closer, and Eldrin growls as he looks around for the invisible threat.

“Care to tell us what’s going on, chosen one?” Naril bites out, his back to me as he mimics Eldrin’s protective stance.

The clearing is mostly empty now, save for us and High Chief Revna. Everyone returned to their tents and the fae to the forest. All except Stix, who is still merrily sitting on my shoulder. “Magic man has returned,” he says in a singsong voice, his legs swinging happily.

Hearing him say it out loud breaks me out of my trance, my heart thundering with joy in my chest. “Grayson.”

Istep forward, only to be jerked to a stop. Glancing at the hand on my arm with a frown, I turn to scowl at Vaeril. His grip isn’t tight, but he also isn’t letting go.

“Clarissa,Alina,”he starts, his eyes wary as he scans the forest behind me. He’s unable to feel the magic himself, only the second-hand reverberation through the bond. “This could be a trap.”

“He’s right, you can’t just go running off into the forest,” Naril chimes in with a disapproving scowl.

Stepping back, I shake off Vaeril’s hand, not quite believing that they’re trying to stop me from going to Grayson. I know how to look after myself, and I know Grayson’s magic. He’s calling to me. For whatever reason, he needsmeto go tohim. The bond between us has been strained for so long, and now I have the chance to go to him. I’m not going to let them keep me from my mage. I’m sure Vaeril can feel all of this down the bond, his brow furrowed as he watches me.

“Can someone explain what’s going on?” my aunt demands, looking between us, her frustration evident on her face. She’sjust evacuated the area in preparation for a potential attack based purely on the fact that I sensed something different, so I don’t blame her for wanting to be updated.

“Grayson, my third mate is here,” I inform her, ignoring Eldrin’s low growl and the taut expressions on the elves’ faces at his name. “He’s in the forest, I need to go to him.” The explanation is brief, but the need to reach him is making me twitchy.

“Why isn’t he coming to you?” Suspicion lines her eyes as she takes in the tension of the elves surrounding me.

“He’s a magician,” I clarify, looking over at Eldrin, who’s practically vibrating with anger. He’s the only one who’s not met Grayson yet, and I’m sure it’s going to be explosive when they finally do, if this is any indication. “The elves and the magicians don’t exactly get on.” We both know this is a huge understatement, but she hums in agreement as she looks at the elves again, her eyes landing on Eldrin.

“You’re sure it’s him? His magic can’t be mimicked?”

Her question is an interesting one, one I’ve not thought of before. Can magic be mimicked? I play the thought over in my mind as another wave of his magic reaches me. It’s gentle this time, like a finger trailing down my spine. It’s intimate and loving and all Grayson. The bond in my chest thumps. Magic may be able to be mimicked, but you can’t mimic our bond. Unbidden, a smile spreads across my face and I nod, making Eldrin growl and stalk away before he slams a fist into the nearest tree. Ignoring him, Revna turns to the other elves with a shrug and raised eyebrows. “Then you can’t keep her from him.”

“No,” Eldrin barks, stalking back towards me. When he’s angry like this, he seems huge, his golden eyes almost glowing as his face twists, his scar making him look savage, but I don’t back away, that’s exactly what he wants. I hold my ground andshow that I’m not afraid of him, until he reaches me and we’re standing toe-to-toe.

“Eldrin…” Naril steps closer, but I hold out a hand to stop him, not taking my eyes off his raging brother. Vaeril is nearby, he wants to step in, but he knows I can handle his friend in a way he’s never been able to understand.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I raise an eyebrow as I wait for Eldrin to say whatever has him so wound up. Something in his face changes when he sees he hasn’t scared me off with his rage. “I don’t trust him,” he grinds out, and I nod my head.

“I know,” I agree, reaching out and taking one of his hands in mine, squeezing it tightly. “ButIdo.” His eyes flick over my face, and he realises I’m still going.

“Don’t go.”

My heart breaks a little at the vulnerability in his voice, and I know this isn’t about the fact that Grayson’s a mage and Eldrin’s an elf. He’s asking me to choose him, but I can’t choose, and I thought he already knew that.

“Eldrin, this doesn’t affect how I feel about anyone else, but he’s my mate. Ihaveto go.” I beg him with my eyes to understand, to hear the double meaning in my words. That I choose him just as much as I choose Grayson. His gaze hardens, and for a second, my heart feels like it stops as I think he’s going to reject me, but a determined expression settles on his face and he nods, crossing his arms and retreating to the treeline.

The others have been watching in silence with varying expressions of confusion. Naril regards his brother with a raised eyebrow before turning to look at me with an accusing spark in his eyes. He knows. He’s worked out that whatever relationship Eldrin and I share has moved on to something far deeper than friendship.

Tor is standing by my side with a frown, but he doesn’t seem as concerned as the others. Placing my hand on his arm, I look at him with a question in my eyes, pleading with him to trust me.

“I’ll go with her,” Tor announces. I begin to protest, I don’t need anyone to come with me, but he stops me with a finger on my lips. “Only as far as I need to so I can see it’s him and that you’re safe, then I’ll leave,” he placates, then turns to the others. “I’ll keep her safe.”

I realise that although I don’t need a bodyguard, it will make everyone else feel better if Tor comes with me, so I bite my tongue and nod my head. With a few murmured goodbyes and a quick kiss from Vaeril, we depart without much of a fuss.

As we leave the campsite behind us, a sense of guilt settles over me, like I’m drawing a line and leaving the elves behind, but I push it aside. Grayson is my mate, I’m not doing anything wrong. Tor walks silently beside me, and I watch him from the corner of my eye. He’s standing close as usual, his arm swinging as he moves so it brushes against mine occasionally, but his gaze is trained ahead, his eyes scanning the forest for threats. For a race that’s known for its brutality and ferocity in battle, of all my mates, Tor has always been the peacekeeper, and I think that’s one of the things I love most about him.

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