Chapter 137: The Way Out
Aveloria tried to process the information, surprise spreading through her expression. "What?"
Eirene tried to move, to reach towards the iron gate, but the chains burned her skin, and she cried out in pain. She gasped, catching her breath before continuing.
"It is dangerous. Very dangerous. I found out at your bond ceremony that Rowena went behind my back to make a pact with the coven. She accepted to be a vessel for the Witch-Queen spirit. And now that she has been crowned Queen, my father’s plans to become immortal will be fulfilled."
Aveloria stared at her, not knowing what to say.
"If Rowena becomes too powerful, it will be dangerous for the entire world. And if Marek finds his way to her, if he reaches Drakwyne and they are reunited, the realm will suffer for it. In no time, they will lay hold of your other mates. They will use them against you."
A desperate look formed in her expression.
"You need to understand the prophecy. The wanderers have their own interpretation of it. They believe —"
Aveloria cut her off. "I know everything. I know what they believe. I know what is at stake. And my plan is not to let them succeed."
Eirene was silent for a moment. Her mind is working on how to get her plans into action.
"How do you know your daughter has been crowned Queen? You are in this dungeon. And you’ve been here for months now. How do you know what is happening in Drakwyne?"
Eirene’s eyes brightened. "There are people in the court who work for Zareth. They are loyal to him. One of the elders who has a close relationship with the king brought me the news. They want me dead. They know that as long as I am alive, I threaten Zareth’s plans."
"Give me their names. The ones in my court who work for the dark lord."
Eirene was silent. Aveloria waited. When Eirene did not speak, she continued.
"Are you silent because you have a plan to buy your freedom with that information? Do you think you can trade names for your life?"
Eirene looked straight at her. "Yes."
Aveloria laughed. The sound was loud and sharp. When she stopped laughing, her face hardened.
"Of course. Of course. What was I thinking? Listening to your sob story. Feeling bad for what you have been through. You are exactly what I always knew you were!"
"No. That is not why I told you my story. I did not tell you to gain pity or sympathy. I told you so you would understand. Everything I have ever done, every terrible thing, was all to protect my daughter. That is the only thing that has ever mattered to me. Rowena."
"And my kingdom matters to me." Aveloria gritted.
"I know. I know. Listen to me: Zareth knows that if I ever find Rowena again, I will rid her of that spirit, even if it destroys her. Even if she is never whole again, I will do it to save her from him."
She leaned forward as much as the chains would allow.
"My being in this dungeon is dangerous. Not to me. To the world. If Rowena becomes powerful, Zareth will use her to plunge the realm into darkness. I am the only one who can save her." Her eyes were desperate now. "I will give you the names of every elder working for Zareth. I will tell you where to find more cells within the regions. I will help you destroy them to send a message to Zareth that Lycanthria is not to be messed with. Just let me save my daughter."
Aveloria shook her head slowly. "Killing wanderers will not help. Zareth will only retaliate. He will destroy more packs like he did to Embersphire."
Eirene’s eyes widened. Her face went pale. "What?"
"There was only one survivor."
Eirene stared at her, her mouth still open. She seemed to have no words.
"How do I find Drakwyne?" No response. Aveloria pressed. "Eirene! How do I locate it?"
"I cannot help you find Drakwyne."
Aveloria’s expression darkened. "Because your daughter is reigning as Queen there? You will not lead me to her."
"No," Eirene said quickly. "No, that’s not the reason. Zareth already ordered my death, which means he must have magically cut me off. I cannot locate Drakwyne anymore. My connections to them have been severed."
Aveloria studied her for a long moment, trying to determine if she was telling the truth.
"The only reason I might have considered giving you freedom is if you provided the names of the traitors and also helped me locate Drakwyne. That was the price. You have given me nothing."
She stepped back from the gate. "You will await judgment." She turned to leave.
"Aveloria!" Eirene’s voice stopped her. It was a desperate call. "I have a plan—a way to stop everything. There is a way out of this. I know how to end it all, not just the wanderers in Lycanthria, not just the traitors in the court. I know how to find Marek!"
Aveloria stopped on track.
"I know how to find Marek." She repeated desperately.
Aveloria turned to face her. "How?"
"I can undo the spell and can help find him. There’s a way to do it. But I need to be free. I need to get to Rowena. If I can reach her, if I can get close enough, I can break the bewitchment and the vessel bond. I can pull the witch-Queen spirit out of her. It will destroy me, but it will save her. And with her, Zareth’s plans will fail. He will age and become vulnerable. You can kill him then." Her eyes pleaded with Aveloria.
"I do not trust you, Eirene."
"I know. I am only asking to save my daughter. Let me do this one thing. Let me fix it."
Aveloria stood in silence, her thoughts conflicted. Galen stood close to her now, waiting for her decision.
"You will await my decision."
Eirene sighed. A flicker of hope rises within her. Aveloria turned and walked away with Galen behind her.
