Broken, but Not Defeated

Chapter 49 (Wesley)

Caldina stares at the fae male, face a mask of cold hatred. Neither looks away from the other, the room falls into death-like silence. No one moves, everyone seems to be holding their breath, as the two rulers face off, neither one willing to break the stare.

"Uhh hate to be the bearer of bad news but um... we have a shapeshifter, four human boys, at the most two hundred witches and a thousand fae, and if Nora knew about this when she left about ten years ago, that means Lunetta's been planning this for ages. Yet the question arises, why now? Why wait for Caldina to reach for full potential? Why wait for her sister's children to grow up?" Winhilda, the oldest of the Thirteen says, stepping out from the shadows. Winhilda is the Liberian, the wisest of the Thirteen. She was right and from the shock on Caldina's face, I knew I'm not the only one who knows that. Those questions bounce through my head. The sound of padded feet makes me look at Anya. She creeps to Juliana's side, and butting her head against her leg she moves to the stairs. She bounds up them, taking them four at a time. Turning back to look at Juliana, she growls. I feel Cole tense beside me, and looking over at him I watch as he purposely doesn't look at Anya. I guess someone still hasn't come to terms with what Anya is. Juliana and Anya disappear.

"Again that adds our numbers up to about one thousand, two hundred and five. The chances of winning are slim. Percentage, 29%."

Caldina whips around to Levindal, "Give me your brother!"

My mouth practically hits the floor. It was no secret that Caldina hates Rowan, and from the shock on Rowan's face, I guess Caldina surprised him too. Levindal raises his eyebrows again.

"Please?"

Wow, okay, that came out of nowhere. Caldina doesn't beg. Still, he does nothing but raise his eyebrows even further, that's when Caldina snaps.

"Fine, you want me to get on my knees and beg you?"

"I wouldn't mind," Rowan says. Levindal shoots him a look before he could say anything more. Rowan mumbles something under his breath.

"Well!" Levindal stares at her as if she's an equation he can't figure out. Caldina turns on her heels, and witches and fae scramble to get out of her way.

"68%"

"What?" Caldina asks, turning back around.

"68% say you all still die even if I give you my brother. So, Princess, tell me this," Levindal says, stalking Caldina who tenses up. "Why would I give you my brother when it is more possible that he'll die than live."

"Because this is only the beginning." They both stare at each other as if having a mental conversation.

"Tell me then, even if you happened to win, I know you won't take the throne. So what would you do? Give it to your sister? I think not, she is too weak and the witches who are secretly loyal to your aunt would tear her apart. Even if you happened to kill all of those loyal to your aunt there would still be those who hate your sister. Yes, maybe your sister has her magic, but what about the others that also have the magic?"

"You're talking in hypotheticals, I never said I wouldn't take the throne."

"Let's be honest, Caldina. You hate the throne with your gut, despise it."

"Maybe I do, but..."

"But what?"

"None of your business!" Caldina snaps, swiveling back around, she storms up the stairs. I watch her go. Making up my mind, I race after her, but a hand around my bicep stops me. I probably would have done a face plant if it wasn't for the hand on my arm.

"Let her go, Wesley, some things are better left in the past," Levindal says, releasing my arm. He too walks past me heading for the door. "Tell Caldina my guards will be ready to go in three days." He moves through the door, all power and grace. "Rowan!" I watch as Rowan glances to the stairs, but instead of falling in behind his brother, he walks towards me.

"Tell Caldina I'll try to convince him."

"Why?" I snap. "This doesn't affect you." A painful look crosses his face.

"Because... I... I don't want to see Juliana hurt."

Surprise filters through me. "You really actually care for her." I sputter out.

Rowan gives me a small smile.

"I would care for her whether or not she is my mate. I loved her the moment I laid eyes on her, Wesley," Rowan says, walking out.