Page 98 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

“How utterly boring,” Sumac said, gazing at the assortment of nut breads displayed at one of the vendor’s shops.

“It’s not that bad,” Hopper said, smiling at the attractive elven man behind the stand.

Sumac rolled her eyes. “Now is not the time for you to be shopping for a date.”

Hopper chuckled. “I don’t date. I have brief affairs of the heart, and all parties leave satisfied.”

“Just make sure you don’t scorn any of them while we’re here.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Hopper stole one last glance of the shopkeeper, who smiled, brushing a dark curl behind his sloped ear.

They slipped through alleyways and down long promenades of gilded mansions until they reached the edge of the city, where the terrain became flat farmland.

They huddled under a bare oak tree. The wind whipped at their already red cheeks.

“What was so important you had to drag us all the way out here instead of just throwing up a silencing charm?” Hopper asked, tightening his cape around his neck.

Tharan threw up a sound shield. “All the elves we saw on stage yesterday behind the king were his children.”

“Well, that makes sense. He abides by the rules of old where kings would reproduce with as many women as possible.” Hopper picked at his nails lazily.

“They’re all by the same woman…”

Sumac and Hopper blinked unbelievingly at Tharan.

“Bullshit. Elves and sylphs have trouble conceiving one child, let alone twenty with one woman.” Sumac arched a brow at her friend.

“It’s true.”

“How?” Hopper asked incredulously.

Taking a deep breath, Tharan pondered how to explain it best. “They are my mother’s children.”

“Uh, what?” Hopper and Sumac exchanged baffled looks.

“My mother and grandfather have shared a bed for over a hundred years and are seemingly in love.” Just saying the words brought bile to the back of his throat. “And he plans to use me as his next breeding stud.”

“Gross,” Hopper said. “Well, we’re certainly not going to letthathappen.”

“There’s more.”

“There always is,” Hopper sighed.

“My mother thinks the mages of the Great White North know something about the Trinity Wells.”

Sumac chuckled. “That sounds like a wild goose chase if I ever heard one. Have you travel to the Great White North while Arendir invades the Woodlands? I don’t think so.”

“I don’t think she was lying.” Tharan fiddled with the rings on his fingers nervously.

“And what gave you that impression? She’s literally fucking her own father. All of those children are your siblingsandyour aunts and uncles.” Sumac’s nostrils flared as she waved her hands around.

“What other choice do we have? I’m not marrying one of the brides he puts before me. My mother said she would get a letter with the king’s seal on it so that we may enter the mage’s compound.”

Hopper rubbed his bottom lip with his thumb, deep in thought. “Here’s what we’re going to do. We will attend the king’s dinner tonight. Tharan, you will let him parade the possible brides in front of you, but you will caveat that it is only fair that other kingdoms have the chance to do the same. He will be upset, but it is a reasonable request. That way, we don’t look suspicious. We will leave promptly afterward. Letter or not.”

Tharan sighed. “Fine. I trust you two. If you say this is the plan. This is the plan.”

The three nodded and headed back to the palace.

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