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Una flinched in my grasp and made a sound of protest, but I ignored her.
I took hold of Una’s hand to guide her at my side to the throne room of her former home.
She was tense and quiet. Too quiet.
“Do not worry, Princess. I have no plans to harm your brother.” I glanced at her fearful expression. “Or you,” I added.
She didn’t answer as we passed through the white corridors of Valla Lokyr, my wraith fae on guard at every turn.
When she finally spoke, her voice had a detached, dreamlike quality. “I do not know what is in store for me now. All I know is that my life is no longer my own.”
I would like to have argued against her belief, but I would not lie to her. She was right. Her life was no longer her own. Fate did indeed have a certain future orchestrated with her as its primal center, its glorious star. And for that future to come to pass, she must be mine.
And I was about to ensure that once and for all.
Chapter 9
UNA
As we approachedthe doors of our great hall, I pulled my hand free of Gollaya’s. I wouldn’t be dragged into my own goddess’s temple by him. I would walk with my head held high when I faced my brother. I wouldn’t have Baelynn see me with fear in my eyes or being hauled like baggage into our home.
As the two wraith fae guards opened the doors, I soaked in the splendor of the Moon Temple, a place that had always brought me solace and peace.
The glass dome of the great hall above us cast a pool of moonlight onto the center of the white marble floor. Within that moonlit circle were inlaid, painted tiles, a mosaic in the likeness of our Goddess Lumera’s face—high brow, sculpted jaw, eloquent nose, soft mouth, intelligent eyes.
Stone pillars carved in the shapes of her handmaidens wreathed the wide chamber, their arms reaching up to hold up the ceiling of this hallowed room that served as both a receiving chamber and a temple to honor our most sacred goddess.
At the head of the room were two thrones on a dais, one for Baelynn and I to greet ambassadors and visitors as we had together since our father had become bedridden.
For hundreds of years, the royals of Issos have received foreign ambassadors and nobility of every great house across Lumeria to Skeldos. But never in all the histories I’ve read had there been a dark fae king and his army standing within these walls.
The room was lined on both sides by Gollaya’s Culled, his elite guard. The one striding quickly for us was the one he called Soryn, apparently his second in command. He had four horns, the bases of each encased in decorative silver. His bare wrists were sheathed in silver guards also, decorated in some kind of pattern. His eyes were deep red, and his face was handsome, though his dark scowl was set on me before he looked at his king.
He called loudly in demon tongue, “Veksal Gollaya il Näkt Mir et Northgall.”
The other warriors bellowed in unison, “Goll!”
As Soryn moved closer, I saw my brother held on the other side by two wraith fae. “Una!”
Without hesitation, I ran across the room toward him. Goll must’ve given the guards a signal behind me for they let him go. Baelynn met me halfway and pulled me into a tight embrace.
“Are you alright?” he whispered, voice trembling.
“Yes, yes,” I assured him, pulling back so that I could look at him.
There was a purple bruise coloring one cheek, below his eye. “You’re not,” I snapped.
“I’m fine.” He gripped my shoulders. “You are truly unharmed?”
I nodded. He bent his head closer to me.
“Don’t worry,” he whispered. “I’ve read the treaty his drawn up. I won’t sign it. I won’t allow him to take you back there.”
Studying his face—both fury and fear mingling in his expression—I managed to smile, trying to ease his distress. He had no idea that Gollaya wouldn’t allow it. I was certain of that.
I glanced over his shoulder to see there had been a number of the Issosian Royal Guard, hands cuffed in iron and seated on the floor to one side. They must’ve taken the palace mere hours before. Gael was one of the Issosians also cuffed and held against the wall. His furious gaze bore into mine.
I shook my head at him, willing him to understand there was no other way.
