Chapter 403

Rafe sighs, frustrated and tired of waiting for his father to finish his sentence. “Or,” he says, continuing where his dad left off, “Ariel did some serious damage to their forces in that battle before they took her, and Atalaxia is forced to treat with our ambassadors because they’re no match for us in war. Or, they’re buying time to rally their forces again.”

Dominic turns his head to look at his son with pride, pleased that Rafe put that all together.

“Did Ariel really do that?” Mark asks, his eyes going wide.

“Yes,” Ella murmurs, a bit of pride in her voice as she continues to pet Mark’s hair. “Big Sis destroyed their entire air force and damaged a large portion of their ground troops and supplies.”

“It’s the reason why the physical battle has come to a grinding halt,” Dominic says. “Ariel is…incredibly powerful, especially with Jackson at her side. If they hadn’t managed to take her when they did, it’s likely that she would have ended the war that night. Which is…insane.”

Mark shakes his head in disbelief even as Rafe nods, assured, guilt rolling through him. Because he should have protected her – both because she’s his sister, and the best weapon they have to protect their people.

“So,” Mark says, tilting his head back to look up at his father. “The war isn’t going forward?”

“Not right now,” Dominic says with a shrug. “We’re in the rare position of having the tables turned for the moment, where our military has all the power. For now, they won’t attack, because they now we’ll take them out.”

“So, why don’t we just…go shoot all of them?” Mark asks, his face twisted with confusion.

“Because they have my baby,” Ella says, her voice soft. “And if we do, they might hurt her.”

“Yeah, it’s one hell of a stalemate,” Dominic murmurs, running an anxious hand through his dark hair.

“It’s not a stalemate for long, though.” Rafe murmurs, angry. His family turns to him with surprise. Rafe frowns around at all of them, not really understanding why they’ve let a week pass with Ariel in Atalaxian clutches. “Don’t you guys get it? They’re not just going to keep Ariel in a cage somewhere – they know what she can do.”

“What are you saying, Rafe?” Mark asks.

“I’m saying,” Rafe says, his teeth clenched, “that us biding our time like this just gives them more time to figure out how to control Ariel, how to use her as a weapon against us.”

“But Ariel would never,” Ella whispers, pressing a hand to her chest.

“No, Rafe is right,” Dominic murmurs, shaking his head and looking down at his feet. “The Atalaxians have strong magic, just as we do. We have no idea what kinds of things they could turn Ariel towards.”

“Or,” Rafe snarls, angry. “How long it will take them to do it.”

“This way, please,” the young Atalaxian man – a boy, really – says, bowing deeply to the delegation from Moon Valley. “It will be great pleasure to show you to your chambers.”

Ben starts forward but Haversham, an old and experienced negotiator who is also their lead on this mission, casts a hand to the side, blocking anyone from Moon Valley from stepping forward.

“I don’t think so, young man,” Haversham says, his voice deep and serious. “We will not be going anywhere without first speaking to someone of authority to begin our negotiation and set a schedule for future conversations.”

“Oh, I am so sorry,” the boys says, bowing low again, his voice squeaky both with puberty and apology. “But I’ve only been given clearance to take you to your rooms.”

Ben inhales a deep breath through his nose, considering this move on the Atalaxian part. They’ve been let inside the castle but have been greeted not by force or authority, but instead a single boy?

“Then we will stand here,” Haversham says, crossing his arms. “And wait for someone with authority to appear.”

The boy raises from his bow, looking at Haversham with wide eyes. “Then I’m afraid you’ll be waiting forever, sir,” he says, shaking his head, worried. “This is as the King wills it. If you wish you may stay as long as you like in this chamber, but he will not meet you here.”

Haversham and the boy stay silent, locked in a stalemate. Unlike Haversham, though, the boy fidgets and looks anxiously over his shoulder. “Please, sir,” the boy says, true terror coming into his voice now. “I’ll get in so much trouble if you don’t let me take you to your rooms. It’s my first day –“

Ben smirks a bit, finally seeing the plan now. That the Atalaxians have forced them into a situation where their choices are to do as they’re told or play bully to a little boy. It’s clever. Ben shifts his eyes to Haversham, curious about the choice he’ll make.

“Fine,” Haversham says, waving towards the boy and staring forward. Ben’s smirk deepens because he knows Haversham by now, and knows that he didn’t merely give in for the pity of some child. That he’s simply consenting to play according to Atalaxia’s rules a little longer. Their goal, after all, is to get in and have the conversation.

And so they must go deeper into the belly of the beast in order to reach those goals.

Ben is only mildly surprised when the little page leads them through the castle to a hallway with a long set of doors, beginning to bow and gesture to each door in turn, insisting that each of the Moon Valley ambassadors enter their individual room alone. But when they pass a few doors and Ben realizes that they’re being separated from each other, each kept in individual rooms that probably lock from the outside, it becomes a bit clearer.

They’re allowed to be here, but individual conversation is forbidden.

Yes, Ben thinks, running an anxious hand over his wolf’s fur inside his soul. These Atalaxians, they are clever, aren’t they?

Finally, it comes Ben’s turn. He gives the page a little bow in turn as he steps through the bedroom door that’s clearly for him. The page murmurs that he hopes that Ben will enjoy his stay before closing the door behind him.

The first thing that Ben does is try the handle on the door. As he predicted, it turns, but nothing unlatches.

Yes, he is under Atalaxian control.

Sighing, Ben moves to the bed and awkwardly sits down, glancing around the fine but rather bland room as worry starts to curl in his chest. What…what the hell is he supposed to do if he’s just…trapped in this room?

How is he going to find…her? Find…

Ben hangs his head, guilt rushing through him at the secret he’s been keeping deep in his heart. That he is here to help Ariel – of course he is – and that’s his first priority. But the entire time he was walking through the halls his wolf was rushing back and forth in his soul, sniffing for him, desperately trying to find him.

His mate.

His fucking mate.

Who is here – Ben knows he is – he can smell old, stale sniffs of him everywhere, which indicates that he’s been around but perhaps does not frequent this part of the palace very often. Which makes sense considering he’s a god damn Atalaxian prince.

But…how on earth is Ben ever going to find him?

Ben falls back on his bed, covering his face with his hands and heaving a heavy sigh. Because he’d thought that this was all going to be a lot easier, a lot clearer once he got to Atalaxia – got into the palace.

But now that he’s here, locked in this bedroom, all alone and completely without resources?

God, but Ben feels…just as lost as he has since the moment he heard that Ariel was taken. That she’s gone.

Still, even as hopelessness threatens to overwhelm, Ben sets his heart to the task.

We’re going to do it, his wolf growls, baring his teeth and prowling forward. We’re going to find both of them and get them out of here.

“And take them home,” Ben murmurs, nodding once, assured. “Home, where we can all live in peace.”