The Source (Creasan #1)

Chapter 16

It was chaotic as they rushed to find safety in the maze of the forest. Fendrel was leaning almost all his weight on Thea, and sweat dripped down her face as she struggled to hold him up.

"We need to stop," she insisted, breathing heavily.

"It isn't safe out here," Carac warned. "I can still hear footsteps. Neither the wolves nor the Guards are very far."

Thea stopped walking and looked around. Fendrel's head lolled toward her and then away as she turned back. She surveyed the area around them, but it was just more of the same blasted forest. Trees and trees spreading for miles around them. No sign of civilization. Nothing at all to indicate where they were. She couldn't even see The Forbidden Mountain anymore.

Suddenly Carac started walking again, a purpose in his steps.

The group followed in confusion, Brom beginning to huff loudly under Merek's weight. Isolde's hand clutched Peronell's shoulder as she asked Carac, "Where are you going?"

"Trust me."

And they did. They limped and tripped after him. Eventually, he dodged a tree and stood in front of a dark tunnel burrowed into the ground. It was large enough for even the alpha to fit, but they all hesitated at its entrance.

"We don't know what made that, mate," Merek said. "Or if it's still in there."

"Izzy is losing blood fast," Carac said. "And the prince is already unconscious. We don't have another option."

"He's right," Thea said. "Everyone inside."

***

Favian had been kept in his bedroom for so long he'd begun to lose track of time. The days blended together, and his only visitors were Destrian and Ana. Althalos had been barred from entering his chamber entirely and it made his blood boil. He needed to know what his son had found. Needed to know if he was right.

He paced the floor so much that he'd begun to wear a rut into it. As long as he stayed on that path—the one he'd walked day after day—he'd be fine. The voice couldn't reach him there. The pain in his head was bearable. All was well, as long as he kept to the path.

A knock sounded at the door, interrupting his pacing. It was a mocking noise. Whether or not Favian wanted it, the intruder would be entering his room. He'd given up calling greetings or rejections a while ago.

Destrian stepped in and Favian rolled his eyes so hard that his entire body turned around. Of course it was the old man. Favian had never felt anything but warmth and respect for Destrian, but now his very face repulsed the king.

"What is it?" Favian snapped.

"Your Majesty," he greeted. So proper, one might forget he was holding the king hostage. "There has been word sent from just outside Hyt. The prince," he said, "has been spotted."

Favian's foot froze in mid-air. He balanced on his other, not falling off his path but not continuing either. "By Hyt?" Incredulity coated his words.

"Yes, sire. And...he isn't alone."

"Well, that much is obvious. He took that Guard fellow with him—"

"He's with her, Your Majesty. With The Source."

Favian slowly lowered his foot and stared, unblinking, at Destrian. "He's with her."

Destrian nodded.

Your crown taken by your own brother.

Favian growled as he spun on his heel and paced back along his path. "I should've known he would betray me. The moment he didn't return, I should've known. Trying to take my crown. Mine!" He shook his head and he paced back. "Him sitting on my throne. Ruling my kingdom. Aestus gave it to me! Not him! No, no, no, no, this will not do." He stopped again and faced Destrian. "Put out a kill order. I want him brought back to me with his head on a stake."