Chapter 24 The War Council
Janelle
The war room hummed with tension thick enough to cut with a blade.
I sat at the massive oak table, surrounded by the Southern Kingdom's military leaders, but I barely heard their heated discussions about troop movements and siege weapons. Every part of my body ached with a deep, bone-deep pain that had been getting worse since the messenger's arrival. My chest felt like it was being crushed, and sometimes I couldn't catch my breath.
"Princess Janelle?" General Marcus Blackwater's gruff voice cut through my haze. "Your thoughts on the northern approach?"
I blinked, realizing everyone was staring at me. Maps covered the table, marked with colored pins and battle formations. These men were planning to invade Ashwick, to use me as their excuse for war.
"I won't do it," I said quietly.
The room fell silent. King Edmund leaned forward, his brow furrowed with concern. "Janelle?"
"I won't be your weapon against Magnus." I stood up, my legs shaky but my voice growing stronger. "Not until I know Adrian is safe."
"Princess, with respect," General Blackwater said stiffly, "Prince Adrian made his choice when he agreed to marry Princess Sophia. He chose his crown over you."
"He chose to save my life over his own happiness," I shot back, anger flaring in my chest. "There's a difference."
"The difference doesn't matter now," another general interjected. "He'll be married in two days. After that, any alliance between our kingdoms becomes impossible."
"Then we make it possible another way." I placed my hands flat on the table, leaning forward. "We save him from this marriage and expose Magnus for the murderer he is."
"How exactly do you propose we do that?" General Blackwater's tone was skeptical. "Walk into Ashwick Castle and politely ask them to release the prince?"
"If necessary, yes."
The generals exchanged looks that said they thought I'd lost my mind. Maybe I had. The pain in my chest was getting worse, making it hard to think clearly.
"Janelle," King Edmund said gently, "I understand your feelings for the young man, but we must think of the greater good. Magnus has been murdering our people for years. This is our chance to stop him permanently."
"By starting a war that will kill thousands more innocent people?" I shook my head. "That's exactly what my parents tried to prevent."
"Your parents are dead because they chose love over duty," General Blackwater said harshly. "Will you make the same mistake?"
"My parents are dead because Magnus is a monster who can't bear the thought of peace," I replied, my magic stirring with my anger. The candles around the room flickered. "And I won't honor their memory by becoming a monster myself."
Before anyone could respond, the war room doors burst open. Darius strode in, his face grim, followed by a woman I thought I'd never see again.
"Elena?" I gasped.
The former healer from Ashwick's dungeons looked older, more worn, but her eyes were as sharp as ever. Her gray hair was braided with small bones and herbs, and she wore the robes of a Southern Kingdom witch.
"Hello, child," Elena said, her voice carrying the same warmth I remembered. "You look terrible."
"How are you here? I thought you were executed."
"Scheduled for burning, not executed," Elena corrected with a slight smile. "Prince Darius's people helped me escape the night before. I've been treating wounded rebels in the forest camps."
"Elena," King Edmund stood respectfully. "Thank you for coming so quickly. Prince Darius said it was urgent."
"More urgent than you know." Elena moved to my side, her experienced hands checking my pulse, looking into my eyes. "When did the pain start?"
"What pain?" I tried to lie, but Elena's sharp look stopped me. "Two days ago. When I heard about the wedding."
"And it's getting worse?"
I nodded reluctantly. "Sometimes I can't breathe. My chest feels like something is crushing it."
Elena cursed under her breath in a language I didn't recognize. "I was afraid of this."
"What's wrong with her?" Darius demanded, moving closer.
"Mate bond sickness," Elena said grimly. "It's what happens when a true mate bond is forced apart for too long, especially when one half tries to bond with someone else."
"Adrian isn't bonding with Sophia," I protested. "He's just marrying her for politics."
"The magic doesn't understand politics, child." Elena's expression was grave. "A wedding ceremony creates spiritual bonds whether the participants want them or not. When Adrian marries Princess Sophia, it will conflict with the mate bond he shares with you."
"What does that mean?" King Edmund asked quietly.
"It means both Adrian and Janelle will start dying," Elena said bluntly. "The competing bonds will tear them apart from the inside. Usually it takes weeks, sometimes months. But this bond is unusually strong."
My legs gave out suddenly, and I collapsed back into my chair. The room spun around me, and I could hear my heart beating irregularly in my chest.
"How long?" I whispered.
"At the rate you're deteriorating? Days, maybe less." Elena knelt beside my chair, her hands glowing with soft healing magic. "And if he goes through with the wedding ceremony..."
"It'll kill us both within hours," I finished.
The war room erupted in shouts and arguments, but I barely heard them. Adrian was going to die because of me. Because he'd chosen to save my life, he was going to lose his own.
"There has to be something we can do," Darius said desperately. "Some way to break the bond, or strengthen it, or….."
"The only way to stop mate bond sickness is to complete the natural bond," Elena said sadly. "Which means..."
"Marriage," I said numbly. "The bond can only be satisfied by marriage to the true mate."
"But Adrian is already getting married," General Blackwater pointed out. "In less than two days."
"Then we stop the wedding," King Edmund declared, his voice ringing with royal authority. "General, prepare the troops. We will march on Ashwick immediately."
"No!" I struggled to my feet again, ignoring the wave of dizziness that followed. "I won't let you start a war because of me."
"Janelle, you're dying," Darius said urgently. "We don't have a choice."
"There's always a choice." I looked around the room at all these powerful men who wanted to solve everything with swords and armies. "I'm going to Ashwick. Alone."
"Absolutely not," King Edmund said firmly.
"You can't stop me." I felt my magic respond to my desperation, silver fire dancing around my fingers. "I'm a princess of this kingdom and a witch with royal blood. Either you help me save Adrian, or I'll do it myself."
"It's suicide," General Blackwater protested. "Magnus has hundreds of guards, and they're all looking for you."
"Maybe. But it's my choice to make." I turned to Elena. "How much time do we have?"
"If you leave immediately and travel fast..." Elena hesitated, then sighed. "You might reach Ashwick before the ceremony ends. Might."
"Then I'm going now."
"We're going," Darius corrected. "I told you before, family protects each other."
I wanted to argue, but another wave of pain hit me, stealing my breath. The mate bond sickness was getting worse fast.
"Fine," I gasped. "But we go as spies, not warriors. No armies, no battles. Just us."
"This is insane," General Blackwater muttered.
"It's love," Elena said softly. "Love makes people do impossible things."
King Edmund stood silent for a long moment, studying my face. Finally, he nodded. "If this is your choice, then we'll support it. But you don't go completely alone."
He gestured to one of his advisers, who left the room quickly. Minutes later, the man returned with a small group of the kingdom's best scouts and spies.
"These men know every secret path between here and Ashwick," King Edmund explained. "They'll get you there alive."
"Thank you," I said, meaning it.
"Don't thank me yet," the King replied grimly. "Thank me when you come home safely. Both of you."
As we prepared to leave, Elena pulled me aside. "Child, there's something else you need to know."
"What?"
"The mate bond between you and Adrian is stronger than anything I've ever seen. When you get close to him, especially if he's in distress, your magic will respond. It might be..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Overwhelming."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean your power will try to protect him at all costs. You might do things, destructive things, without meaning to. Promise me you'll be careful."
I nodded, though I wasn't sure I could keep that promise. If Adrian was in danger, I'd do whatever it took to save him, consequences be damned.
"Princess," one of the scouts called from the doorway. "We need to leave now if we're going to make good time."
I was turning toward the door when another scout burst into the room, his face flushed with urgency.
"Your Majesty!" he gasped. "News from the north!"
"What news?" King Edmund demanded.
"The wedding, sire. Our spies report that Prince Adrian's wedding ceremony has already begun!"
The words hit me like a physical blow. My vision went gray around the edges, and I felt myself falling. The last thing I heard before darkness claim
ed me was Elena shouting my name and the sound of chairs scraping as everyone rushed toward me. Adrian was getting married. And I was too late to stop it.