Page 79 of Fated or Knot

Fuck. I wouldgive upanythingfor her. I didn’t need a stupid title, just her. She didn’t know that either, but I would tell her. I’d make things right with her somehow.

Theodred’s sword clattered to the ground beside Cymora’s chair, startling her. She’d been bracing herself for an impact while I’d held it in a white-knuckled grip.

“Don’t think I didn’t notice what you were trying to do.” I had the full feral voice but iron control within. I couldn’t have my p’nixie if I owed Cymora a grievance for harming her after vowing not to. Stars only knew what she’d ask for—though Isuspected it would be whatever would cause Lark maximum pain.

No more.

The fish sucked in a breath, the whites of her eyes flashing. That was true, pants-pissing fear, and she wasn’t looking at me. I wrestled my senses back from my feral side just in time to hear the door slam behind the male who placed his palm on my shoulder. I looked up into Theodred’s blood-red eyes.

“I’m proud of you, son.” The rare affirmation soothed some of my chafing nerves. “It’s time for you to go. I can take it from here.”

A good soldier didn’t question orders, so I didn’t argue. We clasped forearms like warriors, and he slapped me on the back with the kind of force that had Fal wincing. He just didn’t understand.

I left the room without another word, just to see that the lineup of observers had grown while I was inside the interrogation room. Mother was so upset that she was being comforted by two of her kings at once. It was quite rare for me to hear her whine, as she had to keep her omega reactions in check outside of private spaces. I didn’t like the sounds she was making at all, but her males had it handled. My father had his arms around her, murmuring and rocking her, while Rennyn had found us and was petting all of her fins.

I turned to view the room I’d just left through the magic-treated glass, trying to give them privacy. I mostly saw Theodred’s broad back from this angle but heard what was happening without a problem.

“I’m not going to hurt you. But I will make you no vow,” Theodred said. His bass voice and presence were usually intimidation enough when I’d seen him work other interrogations. “Let us start from the beginning. We are about to be very well acquainted.”

“Psst. Marius.”

I reluctantly turned to Rennyn, who’d whispered my name.

“Thalas sent a page earlier. He needs a strapping alpha lad like yourself for help in his workshop.”

That was all he had to say. Had something happened with Lark? Was she okay? Were her memories harming her as they returned? I’d only know when I got there.

“Nice to see you,” the dark elf king called after me as I went into motion immediately. “Missed you, kid!”

I grunted and dashed out of the underground prison as if my fins were on fire. Since he was comforting his mate as I left him behind, surely he’d understand that I had to return to mine.

I had half the palace to cross to get to the observatory slash workshop slash clutter box Thalas practically lived in. The run reminded me of another mad race to get to a different dream warden. Crossing Ilysnor’s market had been far more pleasant with my senses absolutely clogged with Lark’s chocolate and honey cracker scent, plus the intoxicating sweetness of her heat. I’d hated the loss of control then. I missed the pleasant haze of impending pleasure now.

“Out of my way!” I roared more than once, scattering clusters of courtiers and servants. The echoes of gossip whispered behind me. So be it. Lark’s identity as the next princess wouldn’t be a secret for long, especially with my packmates all acting erratically after an unexpected shared absence.

Speaking of them… I unshielded my pack bond to find it quiet. Fal was still withdrawn from it, and the lack of anything from Kauz suggested he was either asleep or unconscious. Tormund was present, boredom and anxiety his only contributions. I should’ve been right there with him with how out of control my feral side had become today. He may have fared better than me if we’d swapped places.

Who was I kidding? Tormund would never hold a sword to a female’s throat willingly, not even Cymora’s.

His side of the bond perked up when he sensed me. He sent a questioning feeling toward me, and I sent him back the mental equivalent of a thumbs-up. Anything else would cause him unnecessary panic without me there to explain what I meant.

I was just reaching the workshop and breathed a sigh of relief to find the magic-sealed door already propped open. Thalas paced on the ground floor, fiddling with his glasses on their long chain.

“About time Rennyn sent help,” he said, puffing in frustration. “Hello, Marius. Your mother’s emotions are spikier than your fins. I have no idea what in the stars is going on, but I cannot go to her until I have help moving Kauz and Lark to the infirmary.”

“What happened to them?” I demanded, perhaps with a little too much force. My roughened voice bounced in the empty space between the many balconies above us.

He put his palms up. “They’re fine. Only sleeping off their ordeals. Kauz depleted himself to the barest edge of essence to get Lark through the removal. Did I mention the silencing band?”

My ear flicked impatiently. “I know about the silencing band.”

“It’s off now. The magical outburst that occurred afterward was quite fascinating. Now that’s a rare phenomenon I am eager to study in further depth?—”

Good news about the band, but too many words. “Where are they?” I interrupted.

He pointed upward. “I can fly them both down, but you will have to carry Kauz while we head to the infirmary.”

I pulled a face and prodded my pack bond with a quick thought. Tormund would feel it and come to where he sensed Iwas. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Thalas to hold Lark; I simply ached to be the one to carry her to a safe resting spot.

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