Book 2. Mina - The Hag 3

Book 2. Mina - The Hag 3
Mina hugged back the Archduke before giving a Herron a hug. 
The road ahead of her might be full of unseen dangers but there were people, who no doubt, would help her. At least she could count on Jayden’s father and sister and the oxcoas. After all, she was their queen. It was time to start acting like it. 
So much had happened in such a short time, forcing Mina to change, to become stronger. She had survived horrors, and evaded death more than once. But more than that, she had found Jayden, and while he was not the same, as a very important part of him was gone, they finally had a chance to really be together without the curse between them. 
“Alive, yes,” Mina said. “I am not sure about the last part, but I will be well once all this is over,” she told the Archduke and Herron before she asked them, “Would you like some wine?” 
“It would be must welcome,” the Archduke replied as he and Herron sat at the table. 
Mina grabbed two goblets before she joined the others. 
“How is Jayden?” she asked while she filled the goblets with wine. 
The Archduke took a sip. “To be honest, I’m worried about him. Fhehax influence on him will only cause harm.” He put his hand on top of Mina’s. “I’ve falled my son in so many ways. I lived my life putting what I thought was important in front of my family and because of that, I lost my soulmate. My son grew up hating me and I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I don’t want the past to repeat.” A flicker of hopelessness crossed his eyes before he tried to mask it. “I don’t know how to help him.” 
Herron wore the same expression as the Archduke–that of someone who was lost.
Mina understood. She felt like that too. With the curse gone, she and Jayden were free to love each other, but she was still afraid that he would not chose her, that he would still want Rosalyn. She did not want to doubt the words him–Abeel, not Jayden–had told her, but how could she not, when then man she loved had erected walls so tall around his heart, it had been impossible to climb them? 
What if, once Jayden remembered everything, he would reject her? Just because they were soulmates, did didn’t mean he would accept her. Rosalyn had been first love, the woman who had meant everything to him, while Mina was the woman he wedded probably out of spite. 
Her cousin will do. 
She had been someone convenient, someone Jayden only needed to obtain his title—not the woman he had actually wanted.
Despite the curse being gone, all her doubts still lingered. She couldn’t help it.
Jayden had told her many times that she was his mate. He had even marked her, tethered her life to his. And still… she doubted he truly wanted her.
Abeel might, but the man she had actually fallen in love had refused to let her inside his heart. 
A flicker of hope blossomed in her chest–maybe this time, Jayden would chose her. 
“There is a way,” the Hag spoke. 
“What must we do?” Herron quickly added. 
The Hag looked at Mina. “She is the only who can help Jayden. Her voice holds the secret to repairing his broken mind.” 
“Her voice?” Herron asked. 
It was the Archduke who said, “You can’t tell anyone, but Mina’s voice has power. Real power.” 
A frown appeared between Herron’s brows, so the Hag added, “There is great magic in her voice—magic strong enough to mend what the demons did to Jayden.”
Herron shot up to his feet, knocking off his chair. “Why haven’t you healed the Commander?” he demanded to know. 
The tigers opened their eyes and stared at Herror. 
“Sit down, wolf,” the Hag ordered Herror. 
He set the chair right and sat. 
The Hag nodded. “Good. As to why Mina hasn’t used her power, the answer is quite simple–she doesn’t know how to channel her magic or how to use it. She will need to learn. Only then she can heal Jayden.” 
“I will be staying here for the moment,” Mina revealed. “Could you look our for Talya meanwhile?” she asked the Archduke. 
“Of course,” the Archduke said. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“Keep an eye on Fherax,” Mina asked. “I’m not sure how, but he’s communicating with Rosalyn and I’m afraid that she’ll fill his head with more lies. She already convinced him that Jayden is her soulmate and I am the villain in their story. We can’t underestimate her. She is capable of everything if it means she will get back with Jayden.” 
The Archduke nodded. “Considered it done.”
Still, Mina pressed, “No one really wants to believe that Rosalyn is not a good person. But I know her. What she wants, she must have. And right now, she wants Jayden.” 
The idea of Jayden being back with Rosalyn made Mina physically sick. 
Herron tried to reassure Mina, “The others and me will make sure Fherax won’t allow Rosalyn to have access to Commander Jayden.” 
“Thank you,” said Mina. A knot formed in her throat as she added, “Tell… tell the children that I miss them and that I will be with them soon.” 
“They are in good hands,” Herron let her know. He shifted uncomfortably on the chair. “Shin and Xader… I am afraid they are still in Athea. They weren’t with us when the Necromancer attacked the city.” 
“I figured that they are still in Athea,” Mina murmured. “They are going to be fine,” she said more for herself than for the others. “They are smart and know the sewers very well.” 
It wasn’t only Shin and Xander who were trapped in Athea, but also Hugo, Ivy, Kara, and everyone else Mina knew. Except for the grandmother. Lady Cordelia might not have cared about Mina, not they way she cared about Rosalyn, but Mina didn’t wish something bad would happen to her grandmother. 
The Archduke finished his wine. “Herron and I will return home. Send a message if you need anything.” 
“Will do,” Mina promised. 
“Do you know how long you will be here?” Herron wondered. 
But it was the Hag who said, “As long as she needs. Learning to control her magic won’t be easy.” 
“Good luck,” Herron told Mina. 
After the Archduke and Herron left, the Hag asked Mina, “The necklace you received in the sewers, where is it?” 
She knew even about that?
“I’m afraid I left it in Athea,” Mina replies. “It’s in a safe place,” she hurried to say. 
Worry flashed in the Hag’s eyes. “Foolish girl. Well, we will have to due without it.” 
Mina frowned. “Don’t tell me the necklace is indeed the legendary weapon.” 
The Hag tsked. “Once you can control your voice, we will talk about the necklace and why it’s so important.” 

Sorry for the delay - I'm preparing book 1 for paperback, + great part of the plot of book 2 has changed in my mind, I am trying to make sense of everything.