Page 35 of The Nymph King

Ellisar threw the curtains open and shot her a glance over his shoulder. “I asked what you knew about the Lochheim Kingdom,” he repeated.

“I know what you asked,” she snapped. “I need to think.” She bit her nail, considering his question. She’d only heard of Lochheim once before, in an overheard conversation with Tanyl. Imani couldn’t even be sure she’d heard correctly, but she’d been surprised to hear of another kingdom in the Mesial Realm.

“There’s a slip forming in the Fabric,” Ellisar said, voice steady. “It’s opened at the edge of the Draswood, near the Neshuin Sea, and it won’t stay contained for long. So, I suggest you answer.”

“There were skirmishes with the Essenheim queen months ago. I heard Tanyl discussing them with his commander,” she replied.

“Well, in the past few hours, this has already escalated beyond a skirmish,” Ellisar said, his tone grave. “Lochheim is attacking, and it’s happening now.”

Her head snapped up. “How are they here?”

“A slip,” Ellisar explained. “But we think it’s tied to an attack they’ve been building for longer than anyone realized.” He glanced ahead, jaw set. “They’ve been pushing against the Fabric in ways they shouldn’t be able to, and now it’s tearing open for them.”

“Then this isn’t just a natural breach,” Imani mused, her voice shaking as she caught up to the implication. “It’s a move, and they’re not hiding it anymore.”

Ellisar nodded shortly in agreement. “Exactly. There’s also another way to demonstrate who you are,” he said. “One that doesn’t involve bloodshed. But it will need precision—and it will be noticeable.” His mouth curved faintly, not quite a smile. “If you succeed, no one will doubt your claim. If you don’t…” He shrugged casually. “Then we’ll both know the truth.”

Imani stepped into his space just enough to challenge it. “Then you believe me?” she demanded, her voice taut, edged. Her chin lifted, unyielding.

“You’re asking the wrong question,” he said, almost gently. “Whether I believe doesn’t matter. The only thing that counts is that something like this can only be fixed by someone as powerful as a monarch.”

“How so?”

“A glamour can imitate the Crown of Life in most ways,” he continued. “But it cannot force the Fabric to obey you. Close the slip, and no one has to die proving what you are.” After a pause, he added, “And it must be now.” His eyes met hers briefly, confident and calculating. “Unless, of course, you’d rather I find out you’re not who you say you are in a less… convenient setting.”

“So, if I close it, I prove I’m the Essnheim queen, and everyone who sees it will know it. But if I don’t…” She let the thought hang for a fraction too long, then finished it herself. “Then I’m exposed, and whatever protection I have disappears with it.”

Ellisar leveled her with a serious look. “Let’s just hope you do close it.”

Imani worried her lip. This was a real solution. Her magic would be observed, judged, and discussed across the realm. Which changed everything. If they were watching, visibility was an opportunity to seize power.

Convincing one man hadn’t been as complicated as she first thought. Convincing a realm would be more interesting, though.

“If I do this for you, I’m not being taken anywhere,” Imani said. “I’m choosing to step into this.” Her gaze narrowed on him. “Don’t mistake following your lead for control. I decide when and where I act when it comes to the slip.”

Ellisar crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Good,” he said, nodding. “I’d rather you walk into it of your own accord. Just be certain your decision holds when everyone is watching.”

A firm resolve settled over her, her decision settling deeper. “Then let them watch.”

Not waiting for him to lead, Imani maneuvered around him with ease, tossing an expectant look over her shoulder.

Ellisar didn’t move right away, but his expression subtly changed to a blend of approval and curiosity.

Then, he moved to follow her.

When she reached for the handle, they entered the corridor side by side, like two rushing streams flowing in parallel without merging.

“Power like this doesn’t come without consequences. Remember that when you’re drawing on the Fabric,” Ellisar said under his breath.

Imani didn’t reply, but she understood perfectly.

As they walked together, his intimidating presence stood in stark contrast to her smaller stature, but her newly honed resolve, no longer held back by hesitation, made her steel her spine.

Once she sealed the slip, it would no longer be about who controlled whom, but about what she chose to become despite the world’s attempts to hold her back.

CHAPTER 11

The sound hit her before the shore did. Shouts overlapped with the violent crash of waves against hull and rock, and magic detonated in concussive bursts that rattled her bones. Wind tore off the Neshuin Sea and blasted into her, dragging her hair back and stealing her breath as the full scene snapped into focus. All she saw was blood spraying, water rushing, and magic shattering from every direction.