Chapter 141 An Unexpected Revelation - Adele's POV

Chapter 141 An Unexpected Revelation - Adele's POV
“Bringing people together?” I asked, my voice hesitant.

“Yes.” He moved away from the fireplace, though he kept a careful distance between us. “You don't seem to understand what you are, Adele. You aren't simply a queen because you wear a crown. You are something this kingdom has been waiting for.”

I shook my head. “That sounds like another excuse.”

“It isn't.”

“Then what is it?”

Corwin's gaze moved toward the window, toward the distant sea. “The mainland has spent decades divided, fighting among themselves. The vampires fear the witches and the witches fear the demons. Everyone is afraid of everyone else, and no one trusts the next kingdom enough to stop fighting.”

“And you think marrying me will fix that?”

“I think you could.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “That's convenient.”

His eyes returned to mine. “You have already done it once.”

I froze. “What?”

“The Isle.” He gestured toward me. “You brought people together there.”

“I didn’t, though,” I murmured. “Our village moved to another. That’s it. There were three others out there that have never met me.”

He laughed under his breath. “And you think they won’t unite?”

“Why would they?”

Corwin's expression softened, though I couldn't understand why. "Because they know what you are."

I frowned. “They never met me, and those in the village didn’t follow me. So, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Not yet,” he replied.

I stared at him. “That doesn't make any sense.”

“It will.”

I nodded, then tried to find something else to look at. This conversation was going nowhere fast, and I didn’t want to be a part of it anymore. He was just talking in circles, which is how he normally did.

“If Craven comes,” Corwin continued, “he’ll bring the entire Isle with him.”

My brow furrowed. “No, he wouldn’t.”

Corwin's expression told me he didn't agree. "He will."

"You don't know that."

"I know Craven."

"So do I." I folded my arms across my chest. "And he would never risk everyone on the Isle just to get me back."

"Wouldn't he?”

"No."

Corwin's eyes narrowed slightly. "You really don't see it, do you?"

"See what?"

"How much he loves you,” he said slowly. “The look on that man’s face isn’t something I thought I would ever see. He never loved anything, but that was love in his expression.”

“That’s what you think,” I laughed. “We barely know each other.”

“And yet you made a bond with him. So much for barely knowing him,” he mumbled, then headed to the door.

I watched him go, wondering where he was heading, but didn’t ask.

The door opened, but before he could step through it, I heard footsteps coming from the other side. Corwin immediately stopped, his hand still resting against the door.

A guard stood there, his head bowed. "My prince."

Corwin's expression hardened. "What?"

"The council is waiting for you."

"Tell them to wait longer,” he snarled.

The guard hesitated. "They said it was urgent."

"Everything is urgent to them."

I almost laughed at that. Almost.

Corwin stepped out into the hallway, but the guard didn't move. His eyes shifted toward me, and I noticed the way his expression changed when he realized I was standing there.

"Is there something else?" Corwin asked.

The guard's eyes immediately dropped. "There have been reports from the southern shore."

“Not possible,” he said, his voice low.

“Those who remained on the shoreline of the Isle just returned,” he admitted, his voice soft. “They report that those on the Isle are making a boat, but do not think it will go farther than that.”

Corwin's expression changed immediately. "They're making a boat?"

The guard nodded. "That is what they said. They saw several of them working near the edge of the village. It appears they intend to leave the Isle."

My heart began to pound. I looked at Corwin.

He was staring at the guard as though he had just been told something impossible. "How long ago?"

"Before they left to make the trek here.”

I could feel the hope building inside me, and I was afraid to let it. For days, I had been trapped here with nothing but the silence where my bond had once been. I had forced myself to believe that Craven was alive because Corwin had told me he was, but I didn't know if I could trust anything he said. 

Now there was a boat. They were leaving. Craven was coming for me.

My chest tightened at the thought. The moment they landed, it would be chaos. Guards here would destroy them before they ever reached me.

Oh, what a stupid plan they had.

"How many?" Corwin asked.

The guard hesitated. "I don't know, my prince."

"How many people did they see?"

"I don't know."

Corwin's eyes flashed. "Then find out." 

The guard shook his head. “They would have to return to Isle to do so, my prince.”

Corwin growled and looked at me.  I didn't like the look in his eyes.

"What?" I asked.

He turned back to the guard. "How long will it take them to reach the mainland?"

"We don't know, my prince. The waters are rough this time of year, and if they are building the boat themselves, I doubt it will be as fast as ours,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. “Minimum three days. Could be a week.”

He nodded at that, then glanced once at me. “I have a meeting to attend to. Don’t leave this room.”

“I won’t,” I said, almost laughing. “Where else would I go?”

As soon as the door slammed, I flinched. My hand settled on the mark on my hip, which started burning again. It had been mostly quiet since I left the Isle, though I didn’t know what that meant.

“I’m in a mess, aren’t I?” I muttered to the glass. 

The sea was just beyond the line of guards. I watched them, trying not to cry as I thought about how dire my situation was.

I rubbed over the fabric that covered the mark once more, noticing a tingling sensation in my hand. Without thinking, I looked down, only to find my hand glowing.

“What?” I slowly lifted my hand as little sparks danced between my fingers. My breath caught in my throat. “My magic—” I swallowed hard. “It’s not…dead.”