Page 69 of King Elijah (The Zemiran Chronicles 2)

Aiden’s eyes widened as a sudden chill swept through him.

“Yes,” Kieran continued. “Word spread that a Newick witch and a white-haired Elven woman had visited an inn in Heyerberg. King Elijah was with her, but my men would stand no chance against his power. We shall use her as bait to reel him here. Then I will kill him and take Zemira, his guards, and your sister.” Kieran’s wicked grin caused Aiden’s stomach to twist. He didn’t have to be so close to the man to feel the dark magic swirling around him, trying to reach out and grab his own power. Challenging it. If what he said was true, Aiden hoped and prayed to the Gods that Elijah had his army ready at the borders for an attack. Otherwise, Zemira would never see them coming.

“Take Zemira?” Aiden asked. “Why?” He gestured to the window. “The Shadow Creature? Did it ever occur to you to simply ask Elijah for help in defeating that monster? It would be far better than going to war over a kingdom that doesn’t belong to you?”

“Oh, Aiden,” he said, “there’s so much you don’t know.” Kieran straightened his shoulders and snapped his fingers at a man near the back of the room who opened the doors, escorting Tegan inside.

Aiden sharpened his gaze as she strolled past him. When their eyes locked, she nodded her head, and a slight smile reached her lips.

She retrieved the sword, he said in his mind. But can I trust her to stay quiet about it?

Tegan lowered her head, watching her feet and avoiding eye contact with Aiden as if to hide from Kieran their voiceless communication.

He was still unsure if he could trust her, but he was taking a leap of faith.

“Twenty-two years ago,” Kieran started, “King Matthias went to war with your species and all magical creatures, slaughtering those who disobeyed his law. Matthias came here soon after removing magic when he discovered that not all Fae and elves had fled Zemira to the Eastland Forest. He learned ‌my parents had given them homes and a safe haven. He slaughtered my mother and father right before my eyes as punishment. I was only seven years old. My uncle, Bastian, then assumed power over the coven. Bastian feared that the sorcerers on the land would not be strong enough if Matthias and his soldiers came back for the rest of us. So, he began to prepare. If power wasn’t enough, he could make it enough.”

“Hybrids,” Aiden said, watching Kieran’s wolfish grin flit across his lips.

“After Bastian died, the coven went to me. I was seventeen when all of this became mine. It scared me to keep making these forbidden creatures with such unpredictable magic. I grew alongside Tegan as she developed. Her command over her power and the way she executed brutal strength with such ease . . . It was magnificent, and it renewed my dedication to building up the hybrid armies. I was trying everything I could to pull this community back together and protect who was left of our kind. The hybrids are our only hope.” He gestured around at the people. “I had to create more like her. No matter the cost.” He reached up and brushed a hair away from Tegan’s face. “They are the future of every battle that will soon be fought. We will train them for what’s coming.”

He held out his hand for Tegan, but instead of taking it, she shifted to the left, avoiding him. Kieran’s face didn’t grow hard at her defiance, only concerned, as if he hadn’t understood why.

“The daunting battles ahead of us are more complicated than you and I can ever imagine. Kings or queens don’t rule Myloria . . . but they can. With me as king, Janelle, my queen, and Elijah’s—”

Kieran was cut off abruptly as Aiden spat on the floor.

“I thought I told you not to speak about my sister,” he hissed.

A cold, humorless smile spread across Kieran’s face as the room went silent. Then, lightning-quick, his arm shot out, and he wrapped one firm hand around Aiden’s neck. Aiden was far from small-statured, but he still felt the breath explode from his lungs as Kieran shoved him back against the wall.

“As I was saying,” the sorcerer continued, “with me as king, Janelle as my lovely, supple queen, and Elijah’s soldiers . . .” There was a brief pause as he tightened his grip on Aiden’s throat, slowly dragging his body upwards. He was pinned between nothing but the wall and Kieran’s hand, choking out his breath. “We will have everything we need to defeat any attack on our people, even by creatures who cross through portals. Zemira is close enough that we’ll form one country together, from one sea to the other. One union of all people: witch, monster, fairy, elf. You and I both know Elijah is not fit to lead. His own people hate him. And you, dear Aiden. . .” Kieran released his hold as he said Aiden’s name, letting the elf fall and crumple as he hit the ground. “You can direct that army. You can join with the rest of our people who sought protection and strength after King Matthias banished magical folk. My parents gave the Fae and Elven a home. Loved them. Now it is my turn to lead them.”

Aiden coughed, taking in enough deep breaths to clear his vision and find his voice again. His lips set in a grimace as he stood and addressed his captor. “You want to go to war with Elijah over his army?” He waved his hand at the door. “I’ve seen the Shadow Creature that has been attacking your coven. If you want to save your people from that thing, you need Elijah as your ally.”

Kieran scoffed. “Ally? Elijah is the reason the Shadow Creature left its own world and entered ours. The pirates and Elijah must both be stopped. He might pretend to be on our side, but he’s not.” He waved his hand around the room. “These people here, both Newick witch and Elven, together, we can take what we want while creating our own species.”

“But you’re doing all of that by force!” Aiden added.

“Not by force. Every elf here chose this because they also believe it is the only way. Tegan here—” He gestured to her, but she still wouldn’t look up. “She was the very first half-elf created on our land.”

Kieran placed his hand near her hair and tucked her red strands back. Then, he put his hand on her ear, and purple mist left his fingers. When he removed his hand, Aiden saw what magic had made him blind to—her pointed elf ears.

“Her mother offered her body to create this life with one of our own. We knew if Janelle failed to kill Elijah that you would come here to find a way to protect her. Tegan offered to assist in your journey and bring you in if you crossed Whitestone Mountain. I’m a bit surprised Tegan felt inclined to fight off my men, but she did the right thing in the end. You came right to our gates.”

Anger grew inside Aiden’s chest, but the wrath wasn’t directed at Tegan. Seething anger replaced the pain that Aiden had initially felt at her betrayal. First, his sister, now Tegan. Kieran had made a career by giving young women impossible choices and then making them do his dirty work. He wanted to slit the man’s throat with a rusty blade and watch him drown in his own blood.

Tegan was yet another victim. He thought of every plea she had given him since they met. She warned him to go home. He didn’t listen. Because why would he?

“So,” Aiden said, “no matter what I say, it will not make a difference?”

Kieran let out a hearty laugh. “Assuming you’re here to trade your life for Janelle’s, my answer is no. Especially when I can have both of you—the most powerful, magically gifted elves ever born.”

Aiden reminded himself of the reason he was there. He knew the one thing Kieran would want more than Janelle. At least, he hoped that the sorcerer’s greed would overtake his lust. He had to carefully choose his words, or his plan wouldn’t work.

“What if I can give you something more powerful than Elven blood?” Aiden said, looking to Tegan, whose eyes grew wide. He was sure now she understood why that sword was so vital.

Kieran grinned. “What could you possibly offer me, Aiden?”

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