Through the Eyes of a Fae
Chapter 24

Kora was still furious. She stomped past them all, the fire burning behind her. She headed for her chambers at the speed only another Fae could match. Not there were any. She was alone, and her “friends” were keeping secrets. No way had those men been able to get this close to her without some report of them coming across Malik’s desk. They hid it from her, and why? Like she would go running out to them with open arms? Do they think her daft? Because she was trapped once, she could not be trusted to guard her own power? They did not even understand the trickery that went into her entrapment. She slammed her door open with frigid air and pulled it back past her, slamming it behind her. It did not take long before the pounding on the door started. She heard Ben’s voice over the others, and the door was opened by Stella. Magic, Kora seethed. She would fix that door, so no one could enter. Malik spoke first.

" Kora, we fully intended on telling you tonight. This was not an attempt to keep it secret, we all swear.”

" Speak for yourself, I am with Kora, I did not even know!” Stella too was furious; the enemy was in her home! Kora sucked in a breath, and then pointed at Stella.

" You did not know? Honest?” Stella nodded enthusiastically, walking to Kora’s side.

" I would have come right to you as soon as I got my head around it.”

Kora nodded.

" Stella’s forgiven, the rest of you SUCK. Get out!” Kora shouted.

“Kora please this is my fault, it was me who volunteered to tell you, I just didn’t believe the enemy was so close, and got caught up with stupid meetings, it truly was my fault. Please, we are so sorry we put you at risk.” Ludis was pleading, Kora could see the tears in her eyes.

" We honestly did not expect them to be here, there is a barrier in place surrounding the city, it specifically is to alert and to trap anything with tainted magic that touches it. We really had no idea that there was real danger here.” Ludis continued, mortified at the failure of her barrier spell.

" I felt my heart stop when Ben said you were not in your study, and the maidservant had said you received a message from me. I thought we might have been too late until we drew closer.” Ludis did start to cry now, the fear and relief on her face clear.

" Is this what you think of me? That I cannot even be trusted to guard my own secret? What do you think happened to me years ago? That I walked into the encampment of the Men of the Grey and begged to be taken hostage? Do you all think so little of my intelligence?” Malik stepped forward.

“Of course not, but the fear is real Kora, that something may happen to you. If they were ever able to get the drop on you again, we would not survive another war. We must be careful. Kora felt the bitterness in her heart. She was a danger to everyone. Just by being alive. Tears began to fall.

“You should have killed me.” Her words caused a gasp to go around the room, and Ben came forward, grabbing her by the arms.

" I would murder a million men before I ever let you die.” He was fierce, His eyes silver in anger. ” You. are. not. dying.”

She yanked herself from his grip and walked back a few paces.

" Do you want to know how the enemy got ‘the drop’ on me, as you so eloquently put it? Do you?” Kora was shouting now, the tears and the shame hot on her face.

" The Men of the Grey murdered my family. My father and my brother. My best friend. I was left to rule everyone. The old kingdom was in danger, the Men of the Grey were growing. I feared for my people. I was never meant to rule. Not only that, but I was so alone. There… there was a man.” Kora’s voice grew quiet, and she shut her eyes. The pain was crushing her lungs. Drew’s face came to her mind, and she sobbed.

“He was so … patient. Kind. I fell for him. I thought that if I had someone, and I was not alone, I could do this. You don’t understand. The torture I had endured, and the betrayals… I thought I could trust him. I thought I loved him. On the 5th anniversary of my family’s death, I went to Attrition Castle. It was the first castle of the fae. Deep in that cave, I sang. Sang so my ancestors could hear me. I begged for guidance on how to defeat the Men of the Grey. We were on the brink of all-out war. The one you inherited. Only he knew I was there, as he had accompanied me. I turned, feeling his presence behind me. I was so sad, and I was reaching for him. I saw too late the small Obelisk in his hands. Made of Obsidian and carved with the ancient symbols of the gods. I was sealed away in a second. One second. It was so fast...” The confession was heartbreaking. Ben stood there, and now he understood her fear of him and of her lack of trust. He looked helplessly around the room. Malik’s face was stone-cold, ashamed of his crass statement of her being so careless that the enemy was able to trick her. The level of betrayal that had happened to Koraline was beyond evil. Ludis was covering her mouth. Stella looked heartbroken for her friend. Kora put her face in her hands and Ben reached out to hold her.