Grounded

Chapter 9

Firnen

Telepathically, I've been communicating with my father. He's keeping me abreast of a plan to stage a coup against Maloch and the palace to restore the rightful rulers to power. I've tried contacting Katia, but I've had no luck. She's either shut me out or unaware I'm trying to reach her. Perhaps she can only hear me when she's in close reach. We haven't had a lot of time to explore our mating bond.

It's no bother. I'll be with her soon enough. After a deep conversation with the house staff, including Georgiana, I follow my father's directions to the tunnel entrance. It's been several hours since I've seen Katia, and it feels like days because I need to tell her that I have been fighting to keep her comfortable, but I can no longer lie to myself or her.

When I arrive at the entrance, I use my fae magic to create a key, shaping the lock on the door covered by moss—only one who, with pure intention and knowledge of the door, would be able to do so.

I enter the tunnel easily, and after a few miles, I find my way to Katia and the underground royal society. I'm met with faces I haven't seen in close to a decade for some. Others, I've seen briefly here and there. It's interesting how many people were able to gather here. There's an entire world built here, with rooms etched into the walls that look like small caves: makeshift beds, stoves, and privacy curtains. To think, royals living this way... It's interesting.

"Katia, I need to speak with you," I say upon finding her. She turns to look at me, and I expect her to speak, though I'm greeted with a hug. I hold her there for a moment, enjoying the embrace, when I hear a loud boom coming toward the entrance we used to find the first time.

Our eyes are drawn in that direction, and then curdling screams follow.

"We're under attack!" Someone shouts ahead of us.

"We have to get you to safety!" I turn to Katia, and she nods, but her eyes shift, searching for something.

"My parents," she starts, but I place my hand in hers. "They will be fine, I'm sure. There must be defenses down—"

My sentence is caught between another word and an even louder, harder blast that breaks the tunnel ceiling. Rocks begin to fall in on us, and Katia and I start running for the other exit.

Her parents show up shortly after, running out of one of the makeshift rooms. They, too, are holding hands.

"Geralt!" The queen calls ahead, and I spot my father to the east.

"We don't have time to figure out how this happened. We have to get everyone to safety," he says, then it strikes me... I have not seen Coatl once. I can only hope he's made it to safety.

My father and I help to usher the royals toward the top entrance, where we know they'll be safe since only someone with pure intention can enter, which begs the question of how someone could have entered the other way.

Unfortunately, it seems our efforts have been for naught when the rocks that were blocking us from being discovered are blown to bits, and through the midst of calamity, I see Maloch, several of his goons and guards, and men from the slave trade operation.

"So, it is true. They do live," Maloch's voice reverberates against the rubble, reaching us.

"We do live, Maloch. Your attempt to kill us was weak. Now, let's stop this nonsense before things go too far again," the queen announces, and she comes to stand before us, along with the king.

"Sister, it truly is a sight to see you. In all fairness, I never really wanted to hurt you. I just wanted your husband and daughter out of the way. You and I, it could be like old times. We could rule together," Maloch laughs, and it's as evil as he is.

"For what you did to my daughter, to our kingdom, forgiveness is off the table. A swift death is what you deserve!"

The queen raises her hands, and green power streaks fly in Maloch's direction. He jumps out of the way and unleashes his goons upon us.

A fight ensues, and my top and only priority is to save and protect Katia.

My father and I surround Katia, using our fae magic to defend Katia and several other royals, who are also fighting off more minor attacks.

The queen and king have kept Maloch busy, for the most part, until he sacrifices three of his goons by tossing them toward the pair, and the couple hits the rock wall of the tunnel.

"Mother! Father!" Katia shouts, and her body begins to radiate pink. She does not know how to control her power, and I can't let her get hurt.

"Go!" My father shouts as he witnesses me breaking my stance.

"I'll return." I nod and take off after Katia.

She's shooting balls of light from her hands, and when they strike her opponents, they burn up instantly. That isn't something I've ever witnessed.

The closer we get to Maloch, the more power she releases, but it's too late before I realize his strategy. Rather than aiming for her, he aims for me with his hands, and electricity shoots toward me. I can't dodge his attack, and I'm knocked to the ground with an electrical wire hovering over my skin.

Slowly, I feel my magic leaving me as though it's being absorbed. Katia is running toward me, and she hovers over me. I shake my head no... afraid of what will happen if she touches me.

Her red face, covered with tears, is the last thing I see before everything goes black.