Page 98 of Forged By Heart and Claws
“What’s a fated mate?” Elara placed her hands in her lap.
“Some people call them soulmates.” I smiled sadly as a fresh wave of pain crested inside me. “It’s when your souls merge and you can talk to each other through your mind, and feel your partner’s emotions. They’re the piece of you that was missing, and when you find them, you’re both whole.”
Myantha exhaled. “That’s so beautiful.”
Thalen looked at her and smiled.
Even though I hated ruining their moment, my priority was Vad. "I'd rather die than leave him here. And I won’t abandon our kingdom while Colm tears it apart.”
Ember met my gaze again, and this time, it was with understanding. “You’re right. I would do the same. No matter what anyone said. So… I’m staying too.”
“And of course that means I am too. You’re my sister too, and we don’t abandon our pack.” Ryker nodded, his eyes burning with determination.
Tears pricked my eyes again, but this time, they didn’t fall. “I love you both. But let’s get the plan together.” I swallowed hard, forcing breath into lungs that still felt half-caved in. The hollowness inside me pulled like an undertow, but I pushed through it and rose to my feet. I stepped into the center of everyone.
“I don’t know how long I was asleep.” No matter the answer, it was too long. Every second that we didn’t save Vad, the closer he was to death, if he hadn’t already been k— I stopped myself, unable to consider the option. “Do we know anything about Vad? How much time before the coronation?”
Elara gestured toward the exit to the palace corridors. “Finbar sent word. It’s confirmed that, as of now, Vad is alive and being held in the Ceremonial Hall.”
“Do we know if he’s injured or…” Myantha trailed off.
“He’s with Colm.” Anger roiled through me. “He will have injuries.”
Siray frowned, concern flashing in her dark eyes. “Do you think he’s died since the last update?”
Rhielle shot her a glare. “Don’t.”
The question struck like a dagger. Memories of our last moment together and the finality of the snapped tether of our bond lurked beneath my skin like a wound unstitched. I forced myself to stand straighter. “No.” My voice was steady. “He’s alive. And wearegoing to get him back.”
Yes,” Elara said. “There are numerous guards and traps set around the main entrance to the hall. They’ve restored the servant access points and the bride and groom’s doors on either side of the dais. Those are made of lighter wood than the older doors, and they have basic locks with simple tumblers.Finbar’s man left us with lockpicks. But he warned that Colm is anticipating an attack on the Ceremonial Hall.”
“Ryker and I can pick locks,” Ember said, nudging Ryker with her elbow. “He showed me how, and I’ve been practicing.”
“So can I.” Thalen lifted a hand.
“You didn’t tell Finbar which route we’re taking, right?” My stomach twisted, bile souring in the back of my throat. Though I’d been able to test the individuals present at Finbar’s outpost for loyalty, it hadn’t been even half of his forces. Someone was feeding Finbar information, and it would be all too easy for them to be a traitor. I was glad Vad had insisted that only someone I had vetted be allowed to bring us supplies.
“No.” Elara’s mouth tightened, and she crossed her arms. “It didn’t seem wise. Vad didn’t tell him everything either. It’s not that I distrust Finbar personally, but this is war. And war breeds betrayal.”
It did. I set my hands on my hips, grounding myself. “We have a tough job ahead of us, but we’re going to give it our all. We also need to release the prisoners and get them to safety. If Colm’s forces are focused around the Ceremonial Hall and dealing with Captain Finbar's men, then maybe the other exits will be more accessible, and we can get people out."
Silus rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s possible, but it’s risky.”
“That’s the point,” Quen muttered under her breath. “Everything worth doing is.”
“While we enter the prison, someone can scout ahead to see if the exits are open or easy to break through,” Elara suggested. “The rest of us will focus on rescuing the prisoners. It’ll take a while to get them out.”
Thalen held up a small ring of keys. “Vad gave me these.” He tossed them to Elara. “They’ll open the cells and might shave off some time, but there are still a lot of prisoners to move.”
My skull throbbed, and the ache in my chest pulsed harder than before. I wanted to sayWe’ll get them all, but I couldn’t lie that much even to myself. We’d do everything we could, but my main focus was saving the man I loved with everything in me.
We broke down the rest of the plan.
If the palace exits were sealed or swarmed, the most vulnerable prisoners—the children, the elderly, and the wounded—would be brought here to the vesting chamber. It was large enough to shelter them while the rest held the line. The adults would be stationed just outside in the cavern, close enough to the vesting chamber to have some defenses, even if it wasn’t much, far enough to avoid being trapped with the gas in the prisons.
Elara, Silus, and Ryker would lead the prison rescue team, with Silus scouting once they were closer. Finbar’s information gave them some good details on what to expect. Ryker would keep mental contact with Ember to time everything perfectly. Quen, Vyraetos, Many-Greats, Siray, and Elias would accompany them and explain to the kings and queens what had happened and gain their support. When we reclaimed the Ceremonial Hall, we’d need witnesses for proof of Colm’s and his allies’ treachery.
The rest of us would breach the Ceremonial Hall directly. Thalen, Veralt, and Rhielle would approach from the bride’s side. Kaylen, much to her annoyance, would be tied up and staged in a smaller waiting room off that corridor. Myantha would stay there to guard her, while the others continued toward the dais and would bring Kaylen in if we got that desperate for help.
