Page 19 of A Story of Sinners

“I am uncomfortable, Brandon,” I whispered over my shoulder. “I can’t help it. The rune cuffs burn and itch—they rub my skin raw.”

“I know,” he sighed behind me. “At least the iron chain is gone.”

“Lucky me,” I mocked, lowering my hands and squeezing my fingers around my thigh to avoid gripping the cuffs.

Brandon’s energy shifted behind me, an aura of joy radiating from him as Lord Henshall of the first land was announced. Brandon had always been fond of the lord, a tall, gangly man with light brown hair and blue eyes. As far as I knew, they had been lovers for many years.

The lord winked at Brandon as he approached the king.

“Welcome to Cambriel, Lord Henshall,” Aiden greeted. “I am very grateful for your presence at the summit, and I hope we can reach an arrangement before the end of this meeting.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. You can count on my state to supply whatever is needed to close the portal. If your country is in danger, we all are in danger,” Lord Henshall replied. “It will only be a matter of time.”

“Indeed,” Aiden hummed.

“Their Royal Highnesses, King Bazel and Queen Marla of New Hazel,” the herald shouted, and Lord Henshall dipped his head, bidding farewell.

Gabriella’s parents started down the aisle. The king and queen’s olive complexions held a golden tan, a healthy complexion few from Cambriel were able to maintain due to the lack of sunlight. Her mother’s smile stretched from ear to ear, making it clear the Queen of New Hazel felt overjoyed at the reunion with her daughter.

The look on Gabriella’s face did not reflect the same joy.

Though New Hazel was the safest place on the continent, allowing all lifestyles and religions, her mother and father had made her a recluse, thanks to their wildly overprotective streak. Her entire life, she’d yearned to be out from beneath her parents’ reach, only to end up with a controlling husband and an obsessive George.

“My in laws, thank you so much for joining us. I understand you are safe from the darkness for now, but I thank you for joining on your daughter’s behalf,” Aiden greeted.

The country of New Hazel had been free of the darkness for half of the first war, thanks to its considerable distance, but it would only be a matter of time before it reached the island.

Queen Marla spoke before her husband could. “Anything to protect my precious Gabriella.”

Gabriella rolled her eyes. “Thank you, Mother,” she greeted. “It’s very nice to see you.”

Her mother eagerly moved forward, prepared to grasp her daughter, but the king gripped his wife’s arm and pulled her to his side, retreating to join their court. Gabriella’s eyes slid to mine, and a small laugh trickled from her throat as her father chastised her mother.

Aiden glanced around the hall, now filled with the courts of nearly all nations of the continent, and chewed on his lip. There was one more land expected to show, but it was doubtful the Royal Court of Faerie would make an appearance. Brandon mentioned they neither bothered to reply to the invitation nor return the messenger who had ventured to the bubble.

I doubted the fae cared.

My stomach sank at the thought. Who knew what fate that messenger met and by whose hands. Would the High King be Ryken or his brother? Was Ryken successful in the mission he’d abandoned the continent for? Abandoned his mate for? There was no way for Aiden to discover the truth, and the risk of sending yet another messenger was deemed too dangerous.

Driven by desperation, I’d tried to reach out and call for help, but my link with Ryken had seemingly withered and died. I couldn’t feel him, couldn’t sense him. Our connection had been severed, either from the rune cuffs around my wrist or by my mate’s hands.

It was possible he could feel me, and if he could, it only made matters worse. It meant our bond worked one way, and after feeling my desperation, my impending death, he chose to do nothing.

Aiden rose from his throne and greeted the room with a smile, likely abandoning hope that the fae would arrive. “Thank you everyone for coming here to attend the summit. Tonight, there will be a banquet, followed by a ball. Tomorrow, the summit will be held in the auditorium of the sanctum and—”

The herald interrupted.

“The High King of Faerie—" The herald’s words were silenced, as if whoever would enter next did not want to be announced.

My body tensed—there was only one reason the high king of the fae would not want to be announced, and that was to maintain the element of surprise, to catch the enemy off guard.

My fists clenched at my sides. I knew who it would be.

Then, they entered. A procession of familiar faces. One after the other.

Fin. Eulalia. The two of them shoulder to shoulder as they kept an even, steady pace with one another. Eulalia’s dark skin glowed with a golden tint, her honey eyes bright and filled with life. It was the most vibrant she’d ever looked, as if she’d spent her days beneath the sun. Happy.

Fin strode beside her. His orange hair gleaming with healthy highlights, skin tanned and freckled, lips tilted upwards in greeting. He looked so happy, content.

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