Page 60 of Chaos Tempted

What is happening? Why has everyone lost control of themselves?

“Enough!” King Nathaniel’s face turns bright red. Waves of anger pulse around him.

I flinch. There’s an unnatural energy in the air, like the influencing power I called upon accidentally. I try to locate the source. But there are so many potent emotions swirling in the room that I can’t pinpoint the origin. Perhaps the anger’s sourceisme.

Goddess, I hope not.

“Guards!” King Nathaniel calls. The door flies open, and several guards are at the ready. “Take the elves to the dungeon.”

“What?” Eldrin shouts in shock and shakes his head in confusion.

“Now!” the king snaps, and his men seize my mates.

Our four Elven guards outside the chambers are surrounded and grabbed by the arms, held back from entering.

Jaden and his guards look to the prince for their orders.

“Don’t resist. We don’t want an incident.” Eldrin then says calmly, but firmly to Nathaniel, “I don’t want a war. Please reconsider this act.”

“Are you threatening me?” The king vibrates with rage.

“No, but my father will use this hostility against you.”

“Worry about your own skins.” Nathaniel narrows his eyes.

“What about Wynstelle?” Jaden asks sharply, looking at me, his body tense, ready to fight if he hears the wrong answer.

“Wynstelle has done nothing to deserve punishment.Sheis the victim of your manipulations.” King Nathaniel places his hand on my shoulder. “Wynstelle will remain with me from now on.”

When the human soldiers roughly pull my mates toward the door, I fall to my knees, pleading with my father. “Please don’t lock them up. They were only trying to help… to helpallof us!”

“Get up.” King Nathaniel yanks me to my feet. “Never beg! You aren’t a slave for the elves anymore, even if they’ve dressed up their title for you.”

His harsh words are a punch in the gut. Is that what he thinks of me?

27

CAPTIVE

WYNSTELLE

Icatch hold of Oakes’ sleeve as the human guards drag the elves out of the king’s chambers. “I will get you out as soon as I can.”

Oakes uses his telepathic link and says,“Please, my treasure, be more worried about your safety right now. I believe someone used magic to do this.”

“I know.”I project my thoughts to him. Outrage fills me at the injustice.

“I won’t survive if something happens to you. Stay safe.”

“You too.”

Before Eldrin is removed from the room, he pleads with King Nathaniel one more time, “Don’t do this.”

“I will do what I please.” The king huffs as he sits back down at his large desk.

Eldrin turns to me. “I’m sorry, my heart.”

After the elves are removed, the king’s guards close the door, shutting me in with my father and the changeling princess.

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