Page 93 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

“Aelia, please don’t cry. We will figure this out. I will find a way.”

She sniffled.

“I’m never going to hold you again, am I?”

“Don’t say that.” Yes, it was a real possibility, but one of them had to stay strong. Clutching a pillow close to his chest, he tried not to cry.

“How can I not? The man I love will marry someone else. This is the cadence of my life.”

A dagger dug itself into his heart.

“Aelia…” He desperately wanted to portal to Ruska and take her into his arms.

“I have to go. We’re meeting Conrad. There is nothing more to say. I care for you, Tharan, but I will not let you jeopardize your kingdom for me. I’ve already destroyed more than I ever planned to.”

A knife twisted in his heart.

“Aelia…”

Only silence echoed his words.

22THARAN

Tharan tappedhis fingers on the marble balcony of his room overlooking Elohim. He knew being the Alder King would mean making sacrifices. He just didn’t know that meant giving up happiness. There had to be another way. He had to get his mother to help him. She’d already warned him this place was not as it seemed. There were pieces of the puzzle he didn’t have yet, and he couldn’t put them all together until he did.

A knock at the door echoed through his chamber.

“Enter,” Tharan said, watching his breath turn to vapor and billow into the wintery night.

Hopper and Sumac entered, each wearing an elaborate satin dining outfit.

“The king didn’t ask you to dine with him. This is an insult!” Hopper said, pounding his fist on the table.

“Dinner is the least of our concerns, Hopper.” Tharan crossed his arms over his chest. “And I hate to say it, but it’s going to fall on you to solve.”

“Wonderful.” Hopper popped an almond into his mouth. “So, what is it?”

“Arendir will only help me find the Wells if I agree to marry an elven woman.”

Hopper shrugged.

“You should do it. Allying with the elves will strengthen us in the long run despite our history of aggression.”

“But allying with Arendir means allying with the Highlands,” Sumac said.

Hopper laughed.

“A kingdom that has no ruler? Wars will be fought over their lucrative mines. I have no doubt Arendir is marching a battalion to the Highlands as we speak. You likely did him a favor. He no longer has to ally with a race he hates.”

“He hates everyone but himself,” Tharan said, sitting at the long dining room table in his quarters. He rang a bell to alert the servants they were ready for dinner. Three human servants placed a silver platter in front of each.

“Smoked whitefish—an elven delicacy, on a bed of rice,” one of the servants said, promptly pouring Tharan a glass of wine.

Tharan stared at the very bland-looking meal on his plate. Elves were known for their elaborate cuisine. Were they being punished, or was this how all sylph were treated here? He dismissed the servants and threw up a silencing shield so they could eat in peace.

“Now, where were we?”

“Your marriage.”

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