Page 73 of Chaos Tempted

“I will find Oakes and Wyn,” Baelen offers.

I know my loyalty has to be to my royal oath, but I loathe being bound by my magical promise to protect the prince at that moment. I want to run toward my mate first. “If you can’t find me again, we’ll meet at the mage temple. Go!” I charge in the direction where Eldrin should be.

Through the brush, I hear Eldrin shouting. I approach quietly, but two Elven soldiers come up behind me.

I curse under my breath, and I pull a hidden blade from my saddle. Wyn’s—the one she made as a youngling. The one she gifted me to hold on to until humans could wield weapons in Elfhame. My heart aches as the metal kisses my flesh.

Then, through our bond, I sense her fear—she’s in trouble. Fruitlessly, I try to reach out and let her know I will do everything in my power to find her and keep her safe. However, I’m not sure what will become of me.

I turn my horse slowly, keeping the blade concealed against my forearm. As I turn, the soldiers glance at each other. It’s a look I recognize. They are confirming their intentions.

I’m about to die no matter if I give my cooperation.

“I’m not getting out of this, am I?” I say, more to buy myself a few moments to formulate a plan than for their answer.

“Odds aren’t good,” one of them sneers.

“You are with King Magnus?”

The soldier waves dismissively. “That is no longer your concern.”

“I’m guessing yes, then.” I catch sight of movement behind the soldiers, but I don’t let it show on my face or allow my eyes to drift to identify the person. Instead, I ask, with all the cockiness I can muster with my nerves so rattled, “Which of you wants the honor of dying by my hand first?”

The soldiers laugh. “You aren’tthatgood.”

“I suppose we’re about to find out.” I signal my horse with a flick of my reins.

My horse takes its cue, moving closer, and rears up toward the soldier on my left to create a distraction.

My secreted blade surprises the soldier when my arm comes down with a weapon, but the elf blocks my blow.

Baelen jumps from the brushes and stabs the other soldier in the back while he’s distracted momentarily by our skirmish.

Quickly pulling her sword free, she spins and swings at the soldier fighting with me, slicing the soldier’s neck.

As the two soldiers lay dying, I nod my thanks. Then I realize Baelen hasn’t fulfilled her mission when I don’t sense my mate close by. “What happened with Wyn and Oakes?”

“They were being forced through the new portal. I couldn’t help them. There were a dozen soldiers on this side and a few dozen that I could see on the Elfhame side.”

“An invasion.”

“Yes. Waiting for the right moment to attack.” Baelen hangs her head in defeat. “I’m sorry. I failed you.”

“Doesn’t sound like there’s much you could have done. At least we know they both are in Elfhame.” I look back to where I last heard Eldrin. “Have you seen the other guards? Corwin? Agis? Daylor?”

“No. But Corwin and Agis were guarding the prince.”

We take several more strides and come across our guard, Agis, lying bloodied on the ground.

“Fuck!” I hop down from my horse. I check for signs of life in my guard, but Agis is dead. “This doesn’t bode well for us. First, they are willing to kill me, and now they have killed at least one of our people.”

“The soldiers made no attempt to kill Oakes and Wynstelle,” Baelen says, trying to sound optimistic. “That gives me a little hope for the prince.”

“True. I’m probably a liability to Magnus and you too, as Eldrin’s guard.” I scan the area, sniffing and listening for others. “Prince Eldrin should be close. I still smell his scent in the air. I heard him arguing.”

“Maybe they killed off Agis to steal the prince away,” Baelen says as she returns to her saddle.

I wish Wyn and Oakes were here. They could probably sense the prince’s whereabouts and his condition. And I desperatelywant to know Wyn is all right, too. I walk over to my horse, and raise my foot to land in the stirrups, but double over when I feel something slice my soul in half. In a whisper, I call out, “Wyn?” I grab my chest in pain.

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