Broken Vows
Chapter 20

Message to the King

Three days pass, and I feel stronger than I have in years. Being away from Hadeon and him leaching the magic from me, I am recovering like Lilith said I would. I have left her little cottage and ventured around the hollow in the mountains. The air is thin and cold, but it pulses with magic here. I can feel it again, and I relish the idea of making Hadeon pay for everything. I let hate into my soul; I don’t care if it breaks me. I hold on to that hate with every ounce of strength I have.

I have Lilith’s words in my head, which mix with my mother’s. We never get to know our future. We get glimpses of things that can be and might be. We get to choose our path, and I have chosen so poorly. This truth will haunt me for the rest of my life. I can only hope for a short existence now. Lilith said I should replace something to live for. Revenge is the only thing I can think of. Revenge for my daughter and my mother, revenge for Cadmus, and revenge for everything Hadeon took from me. I can get revenge for all the lives he stole and stop him from hurting anyone else. I hate him and draw on that with everything left in me.

I’m walking in the cool morning hours because my dreams keep me from sleeping much. I see Serena even when I don’t cross into the void by accident. It has happened, and Lilith is more than happy to dump water on me every time.

I almost think the woman hates me, but she’s like that with everyone. I can never get her to elaborate more on being the wife of death or tell me how old she truly is. I can’t even tell if I like her or not. She is a hard one to enjoy.

The dragon stronghold is located in the hollow of the mountains. It’s a small, secluded valley that is easy to hide in magic. The tall mountainsides all around make it a perfect spot. It’s heavily enchanted, thanks to Lilith and a few dragon elders who have honed their magic.

Dragons are naturally magical creatures, but it isn’t often something they can wield like Fae in witches can. A few of the elders, though, can use their powers, and they helped Lilith hide this place as well as all traces of dragons. The spells are so strong that the world may never replace the dragons again, but they almost flourish here in this valley. The few children play like nothing in the world has changed.

I take a deep breath filling my lungs with icy air as I walk down the little road between houses. There are even caves high in the mountainside. Many of the dragons have turned them into homes. Amazingly, this world can exist so contentedly all on its own.

This morning I’m walking to the larger cottage where Rana and her family reside. I learned they came here nearly three years ago when they started noticing strange things happening to the small coven communities around them. People kept going missing, and then shifters started vanishing. At first, it was slow and so infrequent no one noticed anything. Still, in the last few years, things have progressed quickly, and it makes too much sense to me now. The last few years with Hadeon had been the worst. I hardly saw him, and it was almost always unpleasant when I did. He was so good at reading me that he knew everything. When I thought I was close to being done with him, that’s when he would suddenly do everything to remind me how he used to be. The memories of it all make me sick now.

I get to the door, and before I can knock, Rana opens the door. The smell of breakfast hits me in the face. Elizabeth is cooking up a storm in the tiny kitchen. I know that must mean she is distracting herself.

“Moring Rana,” I tentatively say.

“That it is. I hope you are hungry. Mother has cooked enough to feed everyone in the valley and then some,” Rana half chuckles.

“Has something happened?” I ask as Rana locks arms with me walking with me inside.

“Well, yes and no. Father wants to take you to see the Fae King. We think he is the next big target, and father wants to get him on our side. We have what is left of the shifters. The wolves are rallying them, but we’ve learned more about Hadeon. Since you have been gone, he is silently collecting an army of dark creatures at the castle. He has goblins even leaving their damp holes in the western mountains. I didn’t think they could be capable of helping anyone but themselves. I don’t know what Hadeon has promised them.”

“He promised them the Fae king and his lands. King Gavin sent the goblins to those mountains hundreds of years ago. The goblins are Fae, but Gavin never did appreciate them the way they thought he should. The goblins tried to overthrow him. Gavin won the battle and banished them from their home. The goblins have wanted revenge for that for a very long time. Hadeon is just providing them with the organization and tools they lack,” I scoff. Goblins are not the kind of creature you want to deal with; they are nasty evil things.

“What about the vampires? Are they still uninvolved?”

Vampires and wolves have a natural hatred of each other. No one completely understands, but I don’t want them joining Hadeon’s cause now too. The look on Rana’s face tells me everything I need to know. They are starting to join him.

“How many clans have joined him?” I sigh.

“Only a few, but we fear more will join quickly to support each other.” Rana looks worried, and I replace I agree with Rich: we need allies, and we need them now.

We enter the kitchen, and the smell of bacon and sausage is strong. So is the smell of coffee and fresh pastry. Rana and I join the clatter in the kitchen, and we see that a few men stand with Rich. One is the leader of the wolf clans. I believe his pack was called Wolf Moon, but I can’t really remember. I learned that he was appointed to represent them just for the coming war with Hadeon. That is what it has come to: war. The other is the leader of the largest clan of bear shifters.

The men are discussing whether or not Gavin will aid the cause now or if waiting would be better. They mostly just sound like they are arguing. Elizabeth looks like she has had enough of it all.

“We need to get Gavin on our side. Hadeon wants Gavin dead, and he isn’t going to wait that much longer. We all know of their relationship, and for Hadeon, it’s personal. I don’t know if Gavin even knows the danger he is in. I think this is an easy decision you are making harder. I will go myself and talk to Gavin,” I announce loudly. I am done with the meek and mild. For three days, I have listened to these men argue over every detail.

“About time you start acting like the Supreme.” The dry cackle laugh is unmistakable as Lilith comes into view. She is in the far corner of the kitchen, peeling vegetables.

“I’m glad you approve,” I say as I grab a pastry off the table.

“And how do you expect to make him listen to you?” the leader of the bear clans, Biorn, asks. The man looks like a bear, even as a human. His massive shoulders, shaggy hair, and beard give him a wild look. Even the wolf shifter, Jakob, looks small next to him.

“Well, the man has always had a weakness for me. I’m sure getting an audience with him will be easy enough.” I shrug, taking a bite of pasty.

All three men gape at me, but Lilith cackles louder.

“What? The man has never been discreet in his love of himself or women. I may as well use it to my advantage.” I look at Rana, and even she seems shocked for a brief moment.

I’m done caring about what I should or shouldn’t say or do. I just want to get things moving. The sooner I do, the sooner I can get what I want. I just hope killing Hadeon will bring my soul peace or kill me.

“I agree with Willow,” Rana says. “Gavin has always been fond of her, and I think he would listen to her before listening to any man.” Rana is confident in her statement. The three men exchange looks and nod to each other.

“I’m so glad that is settled. When do we leave?” I ask bluntly.

“We will get things together. If we leave the border of the stronghold, we can send a message to Gavin asking him to open a portal outside Bryer. it’s a small mostly human town not far from here. Hopefully, he accepts,” Rich says.

“Let me send the message, and he will accept,” I smirk a little.

Rana fetches a paper and pen, handing them to me. I get to work on the note choosing my words carefully.

My dear King,

I request an audience with you, for only you can help me now. I am in need of your assistance, and I pray that you will not refuse me in my time of need. If you will answer my prayers, please open a portal tomorrow one mile to the north of the human town of Bryer. I desperately await your reply.

Faithfully Yours,

Willow

Rana read the note smirking at me. When Rich reads it, he chokes.

“You know how that sounds?” He questions, a little shocked.

“Yes, that is the point,” I smirk.

“I like this you much better than that meek little thing I met three days ago,” Lilith smiles. Somehow, she has the note now. “Come with me, and we will go and send this to that vain king,” she chuckles.

I follow Lilith out of the kitchen. Rana locks arms with me as we follow Lilith out of the house and down the path that leads to the one opening to the little hidden valley. It’s the small passage that the cart drove through. It nearly killed me three days ago when the protection spells kicked in. I nearly died due to the various curses and dark magic placed on me. Lilith had been on her way to meet us at the boundary because she thought something might go wrong, and she was right. The protection spells thought I was some dark creature. If she hadn’t been there, I would be dead. Rana couldn’t detect the spells, nor could I at that point, but Lilith could.

The three of us walk silently down the path. Eventually, we clear the border and walk into the woods. When Lilith stops and turns, she brushes her hands on her skirt.

“Well, let’s see if you are strong enough to send that note now.” She gives me a critical look, and I feel like this is some kind of test I may fail.

I sit on the ground. Leaves crunch under me as I cross my legs and fix my dress a moment. Rana sits down more quickly in her trousers. I take the note back from Lilith and start folding it, muttering the spell to send it to the King. Every little fold works in the spell. When I hold out my hand, the little paper crane sits unmoving. I fear the worst; I can feel my magic again, but what if I can’t use it? The little paper crane twitches.

“Concentrate,” Lilith mutters.

A soft breeze starts to blow, and I mutter the spell again, concentrating as hard as I can until beads of sweat start to form on my forehead. The crane twitches more, and the tips of the wings start flapping. Soon the wings are entirely moving. The crane lifts from my hand, flying into the air.

“Willow, you did it.” Rana happily beams at me. I don’t want to say it, but Lilith does.

“Yes, she did a spell any child can do, but it is good progress. Now, she can work with me and get back into fighting form.”

While I hate to hear it out loud, Lilith isn’t wrong. I’m far from being ready to face Hadeon.

“Well, first, let’s get Gavin on our side,” I say, getting to my feet and brushing leaves from my dress.

“He will,” Rana reassures me, but she doesn’t look completely confident.

“Come on, let’s get to work, girls. We can’t leave those men in charge. They will just argue over who gets to take Willow to Bryer,” Lilith scoffs. Rana and I giggle slightly knowing full well that Lilith is right.