Read Online Armageddon (Angelbound) by Christina Bauer - Free Book Online
Authors: Christina Bauer
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thousand years. You’ve no idea how hard it was to hire her. Maxon’s safe now.”
“You see?” says Octavia. “You can trust your Father. He may not be able to tell us everything, but he knows the full story. If he says Maxon is more than protected, then he is.”
“Not good enough, Mother. Not by a long shot.”
Octavia leads Connor toward the door in slow, shuffling steps. “Children, I realize you’re worried about Maxon. Connor and I feel the same way. However, there’s no point causing family strife over something we can do nothing about. The compulsion is unbreakable, and that’s an end to it.”
She’s not getting away that easily. Even I know what we can try next. “This isn’t over,” I say firmly. “Connor’s going to the Striga Elders.”
“Agreed,” says Lincoln.
The Striga Elders are the most powerful witches and warlocks in Striga. Totally badass, especially their leader, Elder Faustina. If anyone can break the spell on Connor, they can.
“The Striga Elders?” Connor looks at me like I just grew two heads. “Criminals go there. I’ve done nothing wrong. I won’t set foot in that chamber.”
“Oh yes, you will.” Lincoln opens door and barks orders down the hall. “Guards, take the King Emeritus into custody.”
Octavia gasps. “No! Not your father. What will the people say? He’s already stepped down from the throne.”
A muscle feathers along Lincoln’s jaw. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that, Mother.”
Not for the last time, I look at Octavia and wonder. Who is this person and what have you done with Octavia?
“This is outrageous,” bellows Connor. “I stepped down from my throne for you. I’ve spent years doing everything I can to keep your son safe.”
“Except tell me what’s going on.” Lincoln opens the door wider; a half-dozen guards march in.
Connor shrinks back. “I won’t go. Hasn’t my name been ruined enough for you? Everyone sees me as a weakling for stepping down so young. Now, I’ll seem like a criminal, too.”
“Use the enchanted manacles,” says Lincoln in a low voice. “He won’t fight you then.”
The Captain of the guard pulls a set of iron links from his waistband.
Connor raises his hand. “Stop right there, boy. I ruled these lands when you were only a babe suckling your mother’s teat. You do this to me? There will be consequences.”
The Captain hesitates. Quick as lightning, Lincoln steps in and grabs the man’s forearm. “Make no mistake, I’m the real power in Antrum. Have been ever since I was nine years old. Who are you really afraid of, solider?”
The Captain nods and snaps the manacles onto Connor’s wrists. The barest purple hue flashes through the dark metal.
Connor raises his chained hands. “Since you wish to humiliate me, I won’t go quietly.” He raises his voice to a howl. “I want everyone to know this wasn’t my choice!”
“Take him by the back stairs,” commands Lincoln. “Lock him up in the dungeons.”
Connor pauses mid-rattle. “You…You don’t mean that.”
Lincoln raises his brows. “I mean that precisely.” He gestures to the guards. “Solitary confinement until we can get the boats ready to travel to Striga. We leave as soon as possible.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The Captain of the guard grips Connor’s shoulder, angling his body toward the door.
“Wait,” pleads Octavia. “The Anointing starts in a matter of hours. You want to handle this quietly, fine. But take Connor to Striga after the ceremony is over. We can’t Anoint the new Earl if you’re both in Striga. At least, give me that.”
Lincoln and I share another long look. We’ve spent three long years investigating, gutting and rebuilding Acca. Octavia’s spent decades plotting against them. Plus, there’s something to be said for getting some additional insight before we see the Striga Elders. “I’d like talk to my father first, anyway. Would be good to get his thoughts before we
“You see?” says Octavia. “You can trust your Father. He may not be able to tell us everything, but he knows the full story. If he says Maxon is more than protected, then he is.”
“Not good enough, Mother. Not by a long shot.”
Octavia leads Connor toward the door in slow, shuffling steps. “Children, I realize you’re worried about Maxon. Connor and I feel the same way. However, there’s no point causing family strife over something we can do nothing about. The compulsion is unbreakable, and that’s an end to it.”
She’s not getting away that easily. Even I know what we can try next. “This isn’t over,” I say firmly. “Connor’s going to the Striga Elders.”
“Agreed,” says Lincoln.
The Striga Elders are the most powerful witches and warlocks in Striga. Totally badass, especially their leader, Elder Faustina. If anyone can break the spell on Connor, they can.
“The Striga Elders?” Connor looks at me like I just grew two heads. “Criminals go there. I’ve done nothing wrong. I won’t set foot in that chamber.”
“Oh yes, you will.” Lincoln opens door and barks orders down the hall. “Guards, take the King Emeritus into custody.”
Octavia gasps. “No! Not your father. What will the people say? He’s already stepped down from the throne.”
A muscle feathers along Lincoln’s jaw. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that, Mother.”
Not for the last time, I look at Octavia and wonder. Who is this person and what have you done with Octavia?
“This is outrageous,” bellows Connor. “I stepped down from my throne for you. I’ve spent years doing everything I can to keep your son safe.”
“Except tell me what’s going on.” Lincoln opens the door wider; a half-dozen guards march in.
Connor shrinks back. “I won’t go. Hasn’t my name been ruined enough for you? Everyone sees me as a weakling for stepping down so young. Now, I’ll seem like a criminal, too.”
“Use the enchanted manacles,” says Lincoln in a low voice. “He won’t fight you then.”
The Captain of the guard pulls a set of iron links from his waistband.
Connor raises his hand. “Stop right there, boy. I ruled these lands when you were only a babe suckling your mother’s teat. You do this to me? There will be consequences.”
The Captain hesitates. Quick as lightning, Lincoln steps in and grabs the man’s forearm. “Make no mistake, I’m the real power in Antrum. Have been ever since I was nine years old. Who are you really afraid of, solider?”
The Captain nods and snaps the manacles onto Connor’s wrists. The barest purple hue flashes through the dark metal.
Connor raises his chained hands. “Since you wish to humiliate me, I won’t go quietly.” He raises his voice to a howl. “I want everyone to know this wasn’t my choice!”
“Take him by the back stairs,” commands Lincoln. “Lock him up in the dungeons.”
Connor pauses mid-rattle. “You…You don’t mean that.”
Lincoln raises his brows. “I mean that precisely.” He gestures to the guards. “Solitary confinement until we can get the boats ready to travel to Striga. We leave as soon as possible.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The Captain of the guard grips Connor’s shoulder, angling his body toward the door.
“Wait,” pleads Octavia. “The Anointing starts in a matter of hours. You want to handle this quietly, fine. But take Connor to Striga after the ceremony is over. We can’t Anoint the new Earl if you’re both in Striga. At least, give me that.”
Lincoln and I share another long look. We’ve spent three long years investigating, gutting and rebuilding Acca. Octavia’s spent decades plotting against them. Plus, there’s something to be said for getting some additional insight before we see the Striga Elders. “I’d like talk to my father first, anyway. Would be good to get his thoughts before we
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