Page 5 of Bonded

“And our father?” I whisper.

“He died five years ago, I’m afraid. He never quite recovered from our mother’s death and your disappearance. He always hoped you would come home, but he was a sickly man.” He clears his throat. “I am king now.”

Zyran’s jaw clenches and he looks away.

“So not only do I have no memories of them, but they’re gone. Wonderful.” I squeeze my knees with my hands, digging my nails in.

“Not everyone is gone, Meredith. I am here. I could tell you everything about our mother and father,” he offers. “About what it means to be here and to be a royal. The people will be glad of your return. Especially now. We could do with a little hope in the darkness.” He glances at Zyran. “I gather you brought her here because it isn’t safe anywhere else. I think it’s time I ask some questions now.” His eyes move to my neck. “I’ve seen that mark before in books. You were in the Folkland?”

“Yes.” I nod. I do not want to talk about the Folkland. I think I need several years of intense therapy to wipe my mind of everything that happened…but then again, I have to find a therapist that doesn’t leave the room crying like the first and only one I had. She said I was insane. It was a fair assessment. I’m sure my new added trauma would only put me further up the coo-coo list.

“And you won it?” He leans forward. “Did you use your oblivion powers? Can you control them?”

“Yes, I won, but as a human. I only found out I had powers when I had already won,” I admit. “And control them? Erm, no. I levelled a mountain range by accident.”

Zyran laughs low. “It was spectacular to watch. Her power is indeed something to be witnessed.”

“Interesting. Usually, it’s a human who wins. You are not human. You’re oblivion-touched. Oblivion—that dark magic you can weave—that is its name. Only royals can use it, connect to it or give it to trusted allies to the throne. All royals choose at least ten royal-blessed fighters to protect them, like Zyran. When you’re ready, you can choose yours. They are blessed with our extended life span and connection to the dark god. There are always one hundred royal-blessed alive at one time, each sworn to protect the throne and chosen by the king or queen. Many of our parents chosen make up the guard here, and my picks of course.”

I glance at Zyran for a second, and he nods once, his dark eyes telling me a story I just can’t figure out. Dain continues, “Oblivion, it is alive and aware. You can hear it sometimes, and it can talk to you…but be careful. It is a dangerous magic, and speaking to oblivion comes with a heavy price of madness. You immediately need to be trained so that you do not go insane from listening to it.” He pauses. “Did the alphas just let you go? Usually, the Champion is someone they claim and use…at least until the Champion suddenly and suspiciously dies.”

“I don’t want to talk about the dickhead alphas, the fucked-up heirs, or anything else to do with wolves,” I warn, feeling that sharp glint of pain in my chest once more.

“They killed her best friend,” Zyran softly tells Dain, the softest tone he has offered to my brother, and I know it’s for me.

Dain locks eyes with me. “Then they are traitors to us, and there will be punishments. We have ignored the wolves, dealing with our own problems on our shores, but it is a shame to hear they haven’t changed one bit since I was a child.” He stands and smooths his tailored clothing before casually clasping his hands in front of himself. “You should rest, Meredith. I promise you are protected and safe in my castle and home. No one will hurt you here.”

“No, they won’t.” Zyran’s tone can’t be mistaken as anything but violent.

Dain ignores him. “I will have someone bring you to the guest rooms for the night.” His eyes slide to Zyran. “You should not have him at your side or speak of him at all. In fact, it would be entirely better if he simply left you alone.”

“No,” I say, rather quickly. “You should be thanking him—he brought me here. Returned me home and saved my life several times.”

“I will never thank him. Neither should you. There is much you do not know, sister, but some of your naivety could be considered fortunate for you. The rest is not.” He looks between us. “I will not bring you in front of the court until you decide that he will not be at your side. Whatever bond lies between you, it would be best if you severed it.”

“No,” I snap, a deep feeling of possessiveness washing over me. I can’t control it as shadows explode out of me and smack into the walls, leaving massive cracks up them, echoing with those dark whispers.

My brother looks at them and back at me with an arched eyebrow. “A temper like that will not do well when you are touched by oblivion, sister. Control is the price you pay for power. Rest. We will discuss more in the morning over breakfast.” He walks out, shutting the doors behind him.

I stare at the space where he was, then look up at Zyran, who is watching the door too. “He was always a difficult person to like,” Zyran murmurs. “Turns out getting the crown, getting the throne without challenge, made him more of an asshole than I remember.”

I let out a breath. “You said it would be safe here.”

“It is safer than any other place in this world,” he whispers back, his thumb rubbing a circle on my lower back.

“Can we trust him?” I ask next. I don’t get the feeling I should…even if it seems like he has all the answers in the world for me. This is where I was born, where I am meant to belong, but it feels like nothing more than a cold castle.

He tips my chin towards him with one finger. “No. There is no one you can trust in this world except for me. There is one thing your brother forgot to mention. The crown of Oblivion is chosen by power, by the waves of oblivion that appear when a royal babe is born. He may have the crown, but there isn’t a person in this castle or city who doesn’t remember the day you were born and the city was drenched in oblivion…and wonder, if you’d lived, would you have been crowned the heir?”

I can hear my heartbeat in my ears. “You think he might see me as a threat to his crown?”

His hand slides down my jaw, down my neck, touching the mark there. “You’re a threat to this world, Meredith Duskmore…and we all know it.”

Chapter Three

“Little human?”

I spin around, water splashing underneath my feet as I face Reed. He looks like a god of water—ridiculous and unfairly attractive. He is sitting on a rock, with an actual waterfall behind him, splashing water onto his golden chest. There is only a small space between us as his eyes fix on me, only leaving my eyes briefly to look at my neck and the marking. I glance at his, a crown of swirling water and sharp ice diamonds. It is glowing as blue as the waterfall behind him, as bright as the rivers spreading out in every direction from his rock seat. His powerful legs are spread wide, and he’s wearing nothing except dark underwear, and with how wet and tight it is, he might as well be wearing nothing at all.