Page 8 of Magic Undaunted

But despite her cover, Elyria felt exposed. Her pulse thudded in her ears as she moved deeper into the heart of the High Council’s celebration. She had no business being here—not anymore. The banishment and the stain of the wolf-shifter’s forced bond still clung to her like a scar that would never heal, never fade. Yet here she was, weaving her way through the upper ranks of the fae, the very people who had cast her out, all to gather the one thing she needed most: information.

She brushed past groups of fae, their conversations filled with careless gossip and idle flattery, the sound of their laughter grating against her nerves. They were oblivious to the growing darkness outside Celestia’s borders, the disappearances of the lesser fae, the dark magic creeping ever closer. Elyria gritted her teeth, pushing down the anger that simmered inside her.Focus.

She needed to find answers. The rebels had their suspicions, but rumors and speculation weren’t enough. The disappearances, the whispers of dark magic—they had to be connected to something bigger—something she was sure the High Council was hiding.

As she neared the edge of the hall, her heart pounded harder, her senses sharpening. She caught a quiet exchange between two fae lords, their words hushed but clear enough to make her blood run cold.

“The human mage… they say his power rivals even the highest fae.”

A human? Elyria’s pulse quickened, and she edged closer, pressing herself against a pillar, careful to keep her head down as she listened.

“I heard he’s already made alliances with the lower courts,” the second lord said. “If the rumors about the weapon are true, Oberon will have complete control of Celestia. The lesser fae won’t stand a chance.”

The mention of a weapon hit her like a physical blow.A human mage? A weapon that could shift the balance of power?Elyria’s stomach tightened as the gravity of the situation sank in. This wasn’t just about the disappearances. This was about control—domination. And if the High Council got their hands on this weapon, whatever it was, it could mean the end of any resistance. Anyone who dared to defy Oberon—the rebels, the lesser fae, anyone—would be crushed.

Elyria’s heart beat loudly and the urgency to act—to do something—was almost overwhelming. She needed to get this information back to the rebels—needed to warn them about the looming threat and to develop a plan to counteract it. The thought that she could stop whatever was being planned and bring Oberon and his corrupt council down at the same time made her grimly determined and was oddly gratifying. Before she could move, a familiar presence brushed against her senses like a gust of wind.

Stryker.

A sharp jolt ran through her, and she froze, every instinct screaming for her to flee. She didn’t need to turn around to know it was him. She could feel him, just as she always had. There was something unique about his power, his presence that was unique and undeniable, like a storm ready to break. Her throat tightened, her pulse hammering wildly. Of all of those who resided in Celestia, why did it have to be him? The one person who knew her so well that he might be able to see past her glamour.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

His voice was low, commanding and sent a shiver down her spine. Slowly, Elyria turned to face him, her breath catching in her throat when their eyes met. Stryker stood before her, tall and imposing, his dark gaze burning into hers with an intensity that made her catch her breath. Had she always felt like this in his presence? He looked the same—formidable, handsome, with a dangerous edge of his power barely restrained beneath the surface.

But it was the look in his eyes that unnerved her. He wasn’t angry or accusing. He was just watching her, like he was trying to figure out what to do next, as if he didn’t know how to feel seeing her again.

“Stryker,” she said softly, her voice betraying none of the chaos that was swirling inside her.

His gaze flickered over her, lingering for a moment before he spoke again. “This is a dangerous place for you, Elyria.”

Dangerous. As if she didn’t know that already. She fought back the urge to snap at him, to remind him that her entire life had always been dangerous, especially so from the moment she had been banished. “I could say the same for you,” she shot back.

He didn’t smile. Didn’t react. Just stepped closer, his presence devastating her senses. Elyria’s heart raced as his voice dropped lower. “I know what you’re doing.”

Her stomach clenched. Did he know? Was he going to expose her right here, right now? “You don’t know anything,” she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

Stryker’s jaw tightened. He glanced around the hall briefly before leaning in, his voice barely a whisper. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Elyria. If anyone else recognizes you?—”

“They won’t.” She cut him off, her heart pounding as she took a step back, putting distance between them before the pull between them could intensify. “The High Council is too busy congratulating themselves to notice anything real.”

His eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here?”

She didn’t answer. Couldn’t. The truth that she was now working with the rebels, gathering intel that could change the course of everything was too dangerous to admit. Even to him, especially to him.

When he didn’t speak, Elyria’s expression darkened, frustration tightening her features. “You’re still loyal to them, aren’t you?” she asked, her voice sharp, unable to hide the bitterness that bubbled up inside her. “After everything they did, you still believe their lies.”

“That’s not what this is about,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

“Then what do you think this is about?” She stepped closer, her anger rising. She hated that he still had this effect on her, that the man she had once loved could still make her feel so raw, so vulnerable. “You can’t see it, can you? There’s something bigger happening, and you’re too blind to see it.”

Stryker’s gaze bore into hers, the tension between them coiling tighter, like a venomous snake ready to strike. His nearness with his familiar scent and the pull of his personality sent a wave of heat crashing over her. She closed her eyes for just a moment, forcing herself to focus. This wasn’t about him. This wasn’t even about her. This was about the rebels, about the dark magic threatening Celestia. She couldn’t afford to get distracted. Not now.

Elyria was on the brink of walking away, but Stryker’s next words made her pause. “Then explain it to me,” he said, his voice softer but no less intense. “Tell me what you believe is really going on.”

Her breath caught, her resolve wavering for a split second as she stared into his eyes. She could feel it—the old connection between them, the pull that had always existed, drawing her closer, even now when they were at odds. It was still there, simmering beneath the surface, dangerous and irresistible, but she couldn’t give in.

“I can’t,” she whispered, her voice breaking the tension.

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