The Faeries began to whisper amongst each other, confused yet concerned by the ongoing drama. What was the human doing?
None of them could understand what was happening, but Islinda did, and that was why she was trying to get to Eli as quickly as possible.
Something was going on with Eli, and she knew Elena must have something to do with it. She was sure of it, especially when she turned to the side and saw the smug look on Elena’s face and the way she reclined comfortably into her seat.
It dawned on Islinda; she was a fool to have thought she could bring down Elena easily. Elena was clearly smarter and more dangerous than they had given her credit for.
"Just let me get to him," Islinda begged, looking around for Kalamazoo, who might help convince the guards to let her through. But he was nowhere to be seen. Unease began to grow inside Islinda; how was it that everything was conveniently falling apart at this very moment?
"My lady..." Ailee said, gesturing to the throne, and Islinda then looked up to see that Eli looked fine. Oh, thank the gods. She was relieved. For a moment there, she had thought Elena had done something to...
Islinda’s train of thought halted when her eyes met Eli’s, and it was so cold and unfamiliar she froze on the spot. That was not Eli. Oh god. Islinda swallowed, realizing at the last minute what Elena had done.
"You—!" Aldric pointed at her, staring at her with a killing look so intense it was a miracle Islinda was still breathing.
Islinda could not move, frozen on the spot with fear overtaking her. She knew that look in Aldric’s eyes; it was the same as that night he had attempted to kill her.
"How dare you! You dared to get into my head?!" He raged.
Islinda was confused at his accusation until she realized that the current Aldric, under Elena’s control, didn’t know that he had an alter ego. No wonder Eli had said he felt like the connection between the two of them was gone.
If this Aldric, unaware of his other personality, were to suddenly gain consciousness, he would certainly believe that Islinda had a hand in it and might even go as far as calling her a witch. Fuck. Islinda finally realized Elena’s plan, even though some of it didn’t make sense. How could Elena have known of Eli’s personality and chosen this strategic moment to bring Aldric to the surface?
"Arrest her this moment!" Aldric ordered, and Islinda’s heart leaped into her throat while shock rippled across the court. None of them could understand what the hell was going on right now.
No, no, no, this cannot be happening. Islinda panicked. She had to get out of here. Nothing she said at this moment could clear whatever suspicion Aldric had of her.
But the moment she tried to move, the guard who had been blocking her path to Aldric quickly grabbed her.
"My lady!" Ailee cried and wanted to come to her defense, but another guard came out of nowhere and grabbed her as well.
"Let me go this instant! What the hell do you think you’re doing? You are arresting the wrong person right now!" Islinda protested, struggling with the guard all to no avail.
Murmurs rose among the court members, and the high Fae from earlier stood up, demanding, "Can someone explain to us what is going on here?"
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