Page 76 of Chaos Tempted

“My people?” I wave my hand around, demanding their company before returning to Elfhame.

With my senses, Wyn’s emotional state slams into me full force.

Fear.

Then an overwhelming pain crashes into my mind and body. It feels as though my soul is being torn in half. What can it be? My mind races to the worst. Wyn is dead. The tales of bonded mates suggest that when a mate dies, the pain is much like this. Unbearable.

Pieces of my being are being shredded and sliced. I fall forward, and only my horse’s neck keeps me from crashing to the ground. Corwin steadies my horse when it startles from my collapse.

“Prince Eldrin?” Corwin calls. “What’s wrong?”

“Wynstelle,” I gasp. “She’s gone.”

Then my eyes close, and I’m falling into a dark pit of loss.

What I expect is several hours later, I wake to find myself in a small, rustic shelter, much like the travel cabins built along the main roads for royal messengers and guards to use.

I’m alone.

“Corwin?” I call out. When there’s no answer, I call for my father’s second-in-command, “Turgon?”

No answer.

Wyn. My heart, my princess. I feel my heart ache, remembering our connection being shattered. Is she really gone?

I try to reach out through our bond again, but I can’t even find a frayed thread. The cord has been ripped away completely.

If I wasn’t already slumped on the ground, I would collapse again with the grief of losing her.

I vow I will kill whoever is responsible for her death. Tears stream down my face, and I let them flow freely.

I will never be the same. Elves are never whole after losing a mate. And although our bonding has been brief, it does nothing to diminish the loss I feel down to my very core. Perhaps it’s harder to deal with because we didn’t even have a moon cycle to enjoy our love bond. Let alone the years, the decades, or maybe even centuries we should have had together.

After the wave of sorrow washes over me, my mind clears for a moment. I wonder what has become of Oakes and Jaden. My guards.

Gaining some strength after my breakdown, I stand and walk over to the simple wooden door. I turn the handle, but it doesn’t move. “Hello?” I shout over and over. Then I pound on the door to get someone’s attention. “What happened to Wyn?” I let the pain of my bruised fists ease some of the pain in my heart and soul.

“Let me out! I command you!”

I hear no rustling or sounds outside to indicate that there’s anyone in the area. I move back and run, charging and smashing my shoulder against the door. It doesn’t even budge with the force of the blow. This is no ordinary door. A spell has been cast upon it to make it as solid as a wall.

Futilely, I scream and slam my fist repeatedly against the wood in a rage until my knuckles bleed. Then I run over to the window high on the opposite wall. I can just barely see through the narrow pane.

There is no one in sight—just wilderness that stretches as far as my eyes can see.

I slam my fist against the glass. It’s just as spelled as the door.

Locked in with magic.

I look out the window, and by the light in the sky, I guess that most of the day has passed since my capture.

Why would they lock me up and leave me alone? And how long do they plan to keep me here?

After searching the room, I find there’s no food, no supplies, and, more importantly, no water. Perhaps they plan on letting me die a slow death? Or is this a temporary holding cell?

Is it Turgon who has put me here? Is this on my father’s orders? Will my father really resort to killing his only heir?

Anything is possible. Oddly, I don’t care if this is my end. Wyn is gone.Shegave my life purpose and meaning. She gave me the drive to be a better elf. Without her, it feels pointless to go on.

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