by Brenda Trim
“You mean dungeon?” Brokk asked as he glanced through the opening.
Shiloh laughed and shook her head. “No. I mean basement. It used to be the sewers, but I had this section retrofitted when I purchased the brothel, so I had an easy escape. I closed it off after the humans took over and my sister and her husband were killed. I knew those of us willing to fight back needed a safe place to meet.”
Before they went down the stairs the door opened, and the server brought in a tray laden with ale and wine along with glasses. Ryker rushed to her side and took the tray from her. Before he turned Brokk took the platter from his hands. He raised an eyebrow, but his friend just smiled then headed down the stairs.
“What was that?” Ryker called out as he motioned for his aunt and Maurelle to descend before him.
“You’re the King not a waiter. Things like this are for us pleebs to do, not you,” Brokk replied over his shoulder.
Ryker’s chest tightened and an uncomfortable sensation settled there. He was different from his friends. They saw him as more important than themselves. That was farthest from the truth. They were as important, if not more so than he was.
“Stop it, Prince Charming. You are the most important being in this realm. Without you we all fall into some Dark Fae’s clutches,” Maurelle interjected. He hadn’t noticed she stopped and was staring back at him from her perch a few steps below him.
“I am not more important without you guys,” Ryker growled while keeping his eyes trained on Maurelle. He laid his emotions bare trying to convey how much she meant to him. “If I lose you, I am nothing. I cannot continue this journey without you all by my side.”
Sol clapped him on the shoulder. “We aren’t going anywhere, brother. Let’s get to this meeting, so we can plan how to discover the asshole behind all of this.”
Ryker nodded and followed his aunt and Maurelle in silence. He slipped his hand into hers and twined their fingers. The temperature dropped several degrees as they descended. Next to him Maurelle shivered, making him wish he had a jacket to give her.
Voices echoed from ahead, making him squint into the darkness so he could see what they were walking into. Lifting his free hand, he called a mage light and used his air to make it float ahead of them.
“It’s the rebellion in my room ahead. I have secret entrances in various spots in the Edge,” Shiloh informed him.
He nodded and followed her to the door that was visible in the distance thanks to the light that emanated from the open panel. The volume of conversation increased, and he heard his mother’s voice.
Increasing his pace, he dragged Maurelle behind him and into the room. Sol rushed in behind them and then Shiloh and Daine. Brokk was already in the room pouring wine into a glass he handed to Maurelle.
“Ryker,” the mother who raised him called out as she stood and crossed to his side. “You could have told me you were calling a meeting, son.”
“Mom,” he greeted and kissed her cheek then hugged her. “I hate involving you in this mess. I can’t risk losing you in this process.”
“Are you going to introduce us?” A male called out from the table.
Galina let go of him and turned around. “This is my son, Oberon. The heir to the throne of Mag Mell.” Gasps echoed around the room and Ryker said a silent prayer that there wasn’t a mole in the group. Otherwise his life just reached its end.
“I can’t sense the mantle within him,” Oberon countered as he stared at Ryker with narrowed eyes.
“That’s because he is carrying a concealment charm,” Shineah announced as she entered the room.
“Peridun,” Maurelle said as she dipped her head.
“It’s good to see you, Maurelle. I see that you have opened to more of your mates. That’s a good sign for the realm.” Maurelle blushed and lowered her head.
“I’m glad you’re here.” Ryker interjected as he redirected the conversation. “I’m hoping someone here has information on the council leader. I believe he is the Dark Fae behind the death of my parents.”
“How can we be sure? Savelle has done everything in his power to protect the realm,” a female blurted. Ryker had seen her around the Edge. Her pink eyes were peculiar for a Fae.
“He’s shown us what he wants us to see, Phoebe,” his mom, Galina replied. “I have always sensed something off about him, but assumed it was the fact that he lost his mate forty years ago. He was the one that spearheaded the kidnapping of Ryker’s mate and first Guard.”
The room went silent and their eyes traveled to Maurelle and Brokk. She shuffled from foot to foot and moved behind Ryker and out of view. Oberon crossed his arms over his chest.
“The male that seemed to be in charge of our torture wore a brown hob mask. He is also the one that escaped. We have to find him and take him out,” Brokk shared then tipped back the glass he’d been sipping from and drank the rest of his ale.
“We will be eliminating him, so he doesn’t pose a risk to Ryker,” Sol added.
“Plus, we are going to make him pay for harming our Maurelle. No one gets away with making her bleed,” Daine promised.
Ryker wanted vengeance as much as Daine. Was that why he wanted to find this guy so bad? No. He refused to allow his people to suffer anymore. Whoever this Savelle is he is evil and wanted to control the entire realm. And he had for nearly two decades while making it seem as if the humans were the ones taking everything Fae needed.
“He will pay,” Ryker promised. “For everything he has done. We need to know where he is, but also how ingrained the humans are in his plan. From the looks of it they are the ones running the realm. They’ve stolen lands that rightfully belong to the Fae. We are weaker than we ever have been because of it.
“He removed us from the areas, so he was the only one able to access the power from the elements in these places. Not only did that weaken us, but it also made him more powerful. He was in the perfect position to use potions to control the rest of us for his own gain. That will stop now. We will not remain in the slums any longer.”
“How are we going to do that when he has humans supporting him?” Shiloh asked. “I want that more than anything, but I don’t want you to be hurt or worse. Your parents wanted you to live.”
“That’s why I’m here. I need your help,” Ryker admitted.
The group looked at one another before Phoebe took the lead. “We need to get one of us inside the new council. After its loss there will be a call for new members to be assigned. No one is happy they continued to allow humans to occupy our lands. He will have to cave when we start making demands.”
“You hope he will. He might not need a council anymore,” Maurelle pointed out. “He has his mind manipulation in most of the population and our small group doesn’t stand a chance against the humans. Of which most are innocent.”
Galina nodded her head in agreement. “You’re right, but it’s the only place we can start at this point. We need more information on how things work to be able to take our realm back with the fewest casualties.”
“That’s assuming we can remove the humans when Ryker takes the throne. They have firepower that can take us out without much effort,” Oberon added with a shrug of his shoulders.
“Are you suggesting we do nothing?” his mom countered.
Ryker reached into his pocket and removed the talisman Shineah gave to him and placed it in Maurelle’s hand. “Enough,” he shouted. Everyone immediately went silent and all eyes went to him. He stood there with his red and black wings spread wide and his arms over his chest.
“Who would like to infiltrate the council? We are moving forward with this plan. We cannot stay in the same place. There are many unknowns, but what I do know is that Savelle will be eliminated and the Fae will rebuild this realm in a way that benefits us most.”
“I will seek a position,” Oberon told him.
“I can, as well,” a male with amber eyes and maroon and gold wings offered.
“Are you sure, Devon? We need
you in your position over the enforcers,” Galina questioned as she reached for a glass and the wine. Ryker was there first and poured his mom a glass then handed it to her. She smiled and cupped his cheek reminding him of how much she’d loved him throughout his life.
He had her to thank for being the strong, dedicated male he was today. She devoted her life to him, and he was going to make sure she had an easier life from now on. He loved her so much. She deserved to live in luxury, although knowing her she wouldn’t want it if others didn’t have what they needed to survive.
“I will be keeping my position, but he asked me to join him long ago. I never really understood why I refused at the time. Now I can’t help but wonder if I sensed something on some level,” Devon admitted.
“We need to work together to ensure Ryker takes power,” Shineah informed them. “The fate of our realm rests in their hands. Gather what information you can and be prepared to help when called.”
The group agreed and Ryker wrapped his arms around Maurelle while he considered their precarious position. He hated that his mate and Guard were at the heart of this. They were in more danger than last year when they nearly died at the hands of his enemies.
If there was a way that he could do this without anyone else, then he would. Shineah met his gaze over Maurelle’s head and shook her head. ‘You need them. You will fail if you try to face Savelle without your allies by your side.’
Dizziness assailed Ryker as the Peridun spoke inside his mind. He knew she was right. It didn’t make it any easier to accept. Regardless of anything else, he would do everything in his power to make sure they were safe when the time came. For now, they had a Dark Fae to find and eliminate. And, he couldn’t wait.
Authors’ Note
Thank you for reading this book. If you enjoyed the story, please consider giving me a virtual hug and leaving a review. If this is your first novel of mine, check out my website, www.brendatrim.com, for details on my other works.
I have co-authored over thirty books in the bestselling Dark Warrior Alliance and Hollow Rock Shifters series and created the Bramble's Edge Academy series, as well as many other titles.
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Never allow waiting to become a habit. Live your dreams and take risks. Life is happening now.
DREAM BIG!
XOXO,
Brenda
OTHER WORKS BY Brenda TRIM
The Dark Warrior Alliance
Dream Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 1)
Mystik Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 2)
Pema’s Storm (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 3)
Isis’ Betrayal (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 4)
Deviant Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 5)
Suvi’s Revenge (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 6)
Mistletoe & Mayhem (Dark Warrior Alliance, Novella)
Scarred Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 7)
Heat in the Bayou (Dark Warrior Alliance, Novella, Book 7.5)
Hellbound Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 8)
Isobel (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 9)
Rogue Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 10)
Shattered Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 11)
King of Khoth (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 12)
Ice Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 13)
Fire Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 14)
Ramiel (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 15)
Rivaled Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 16)
Dragon Knight of Khoth (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 17)
Ayil (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 18)
Guild Master (Dark Alliance Book 19)
Maven Warrior (Dark Alliance Book 20)
Sentinel of Khoth (Dark Alliance Book 21) TBA
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxsets:
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxset Books 1-4
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxset Books 5-8
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxset Books 9-12
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxset Books 13-16
Hollow Rock Shifters:
Captivity, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 1
Safe Haven, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 2
Alpha, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 3
Ravin, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 4
Impeached, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 5
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