The Crystal Mines

79 Faolan

I left Evander to spend much needed time with his brothers after the news they had just gotten. I couldn't help but wish for my mother and father in that moment. It wasn't in our culture to cling to our parents, as it was seen as a weakness, especially for the son of the Alpha and Omega. The wolves were a humble and proud family. We didn't boast our bloodline, and there was no reason to with Erix's prejudice towards wolves. But we prided ourselves on being able to live for ourselves and rely on each other at the right times. It was a balance, as my father always said.

My parent's had managed to escape the fourth trial when I had been taken with Nik. They had been able to return to Sieghild and kept my capture quiet. Wolves were territorial and aggressive when it came to our own. If my parents had said anything to more than their most trusted, there would have been an all-out war, or better put, slaughter of our people. We would not have won against Erix. I hadn't told Nik of my lineage and I should have a long time ago.

It had nothing to do with trust. She was mine. I claimed her as my own. A friend that became family, maybe even more, if that was possible. But the way of the wolves was that we just didn't talk about who we were. Our blood line was not flaunted the way it was in the rest of Tarsen. The Alpha and Omega were born leaders like any king and queen, yes. But wolf leaders relied on the pack. Working together to determine what was best for our people. It wasn't just orders to be carried out without question. There were arguments and discussion, and more arguments, until a conclusion was made.

Nik was well, Nik. She had known for some time, it seemed, that I was the son of an Alpha. Likely Callion told her after figuring it out himself. Direct descendant of Faolin. My lineage was no secret from me, but I did not know that my parent's had Elvin blood. If I was hearing what Atiweh didn't say correctly, then the Elves that were placed around Tarsen did so in secret and each under glamour performed by Slater. And if his glamours were so convincing, then he meant for his own to be seen in Aegran's throne room just a couple of days ago.

I was savoring a plate of freshly cooked meat in my room when there was a frantic knock at the door. All of my thoughts were abandoned when I opened the door to see a worried Callion standing there wringing his hands like a small boy. It was such an uncanny sight that it took longer than I'd like to admit before I welcomed inside.

"Is she ok?" I asked him, knowing it could only be about Nik.

He shook his head. "No. I can usually talk to her. But I don't have the same skill with words the way Ameer does or the same comfort you bring her. She won't stop crying and her power grows. Her power doesn't scare me, of course. But I can't get through to her. She needs someone else. She needs you."

Gods above the King of Salvare was rambling, and to me. We hadn't spoke at length since the prison. For no reason other than I was preoccupied with Evander, making up for lost time, and he with Nik and Ameer. I reached out and made to touch his arm but paused remembering what Nik told me of his past. He took notice immediately but said nothing on it. He only continued to wear a face of pleading.

"It's Nik. Of course, I'll come. But first, you need to calm yourself or you will feed into her panic. When Nik panics, she can spiral in her own thoughts and its hard to bring her back to reality. Alden was the only one that could help her for the longest time." I watched Callion pace my room, grasping the pummel of his sword as if it were a neck, he wished he could wring.

"Then let's get him," Callion said without resolve. He knew what he was asking, knew that Alden still loved her. The male before me would do anything to help her.

I shook my head with a smile. "Not yet. She'd be so pissed at me. Let me try first."

"I doubt she could ever be mad at you," Callion said as I followed him up the live tree steps to the rooms at the top, where the pressure of her power grew.