Page 32 of Rebel's Fated Mate

"What about Kael?" Corvus asked, his eyes narrowing. "Your former captain you so cherished."

Draven's smile widened, revealing yellowed teeth. "Did you not call him a traitor? We have only one reward for traitors. Place his head on a stake and bring it to me."

Corvus laughed, the sound echoing through the grand hall. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

The guard grabbed my arm, pulling me away. I struggled to keep my composure, my mind racing with thoughts of escape. I couldn’t let them win. I had to find a way out, to warn Kael, and to stop this madness. The fate of our world depended on it.

At the end of a long corridor, the guard shoved me into the chamber, a lavish room compared to the dungeon cell. The walls were adorned with rich tapestries, and a grand bed stood in the center draped with silks. I glanced around, taking in every detail, searching for any possible means of escape.

"Get cleaned up," the guard ordered. "The bath is ready." He pointed to a door leading to an adjoining room.

I nodded, feigning compliance. "Fine. I’ll need my hands free."

He hesitated, then untied my hands. "These runes you see throughout the palace are installed to protect the Emperor from potential threats. They also suppress the abilities of any guests or prisoners with magical talents. Sorcery such as yours can never prosper within these walls so don’t try anything stupid," he warned, his eyes narrowing. "Of course not," I replied, my tone placating.

I entered the bathroom, closing the door behind me. The bath was filled with steaming water, [MN70]and various oils and soaps were arranged neatly beside it. I splashed water on my face, trying to clear my mind. The runes in the walls pulsed faintly, their suppressive magic still working on my powers.[MN71]

As I stepped into the bath, I focused on the runes. The magic was strong, but I could feel a slight fluctuation in their energy. I took a deep breath and reached out with my senses, testing the boundaries of the suppression.

"Think, Elara," I whispered to myself. "There has to be a way to weaken their hold."

I closed my eyes and concentrated, feeling for the weak points in the runes' magic. It was subtle, but there—a faint pulse, a rhythm to the energy. I followed it, mentally probing for a way to disrupt the flow.

A knock on the door jolted me out of my concentration. "Hurry up!" the guard barked. "You don’t have all day."

"Almost done," I called back, my mind racing. I needed more time to understand the runes, to find a way to manipulate them without drawing attention.

I finished bathing quickly, dressing in the fine clothes provided. As I combed my hair, I continued to feel out the runes' magic, searching for any signs of weakness. The pulses were regular, like a heartbeat, but there were occasional flickers, small disruptions.

"Maybe I can use that," I muttered, placing the comb down and focusing harder. I reached out again, this time trying to synchronize with the flickers, to push against the suppression during those brief moments of instability.

The door opened abruptly, and the guard stepped in. "Time’s up. Let’s go."

I stood, smoothing down my dress and nodding. "Lead the way."

As we walked through the corridors, I kept my mind on the runes, testing my ability to manipulate them subtly. Each step brought a small victory, a slight easing of the suppression. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

We reached another chamber, where several attendants waited. "Prepare her for the emperor," the guard commanded before leaving.

The attendants fussed over me, but I paid them little mind, focusing instead on the runes. I continued to push against the suppression, feeling the flickers of instability grow slightly more pronounced.

I will find a way out, I thought. "For Kael, for our people, for our future."

As the preparations continued, I maintained my mental assault on the runes, each small victory fueling my resolve. I would escape, and I would fight back. The empire would not break me.

I focused on the flickering instability in the runes, pushing against their suppressive magic with all my mental strength. The energy pulsed and wavered, and I felt the suppression ease slightly. It was now or never.

The attendants finished their preparations, leaving me alone in the chamber. I took a deep breath, summoning my courage, and made my move.

“Excuse me,” I called out softly, feigning a distressed tone. “I need some help in here.”

The guard hesitated but then nodded, stepping into the chamber. As he entered, I moved behind the door, reaching for the heavy brass candlestick on the table.

Once he was fully inside, I swung the candlestick with all my strength, striking the back of his head. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

My heart raced as I dropped the candlestick and stepped over the fallen guard, slipping out into the corridor. The palace was a labyrinth, but I had a vague sense of direction.

Moving quickly but quietly, I began my escape.As I rounded a corner, a guard spotted me. "Hey! Stop right there!" he shouted, drawing his sword.