Pointing the sword at the closest fae to me, I demand, aether barely lacing my voice, “Who sent you?” When they don’t answer, I repeat myself, this time with so much magic in my voice that they’re forced to their knees, my hesitation to use the aether-voice gone in my fury that they would attack me. Everyone in the room cowers from the commanding magic, and as the terrified expressions of my people reach me, a pang of guilt and shame washes over me. I push it down, determined to deal with my emotions after this attack is stopped. “Who sent you? Was it Velmara? Answer me, or I’ll kill you where you stand.” The room shakes with my power not my voice echoing with an other-worldly reverberation. My eyes cut back to the Velmaran, who has halted in his tracks and gone to his own knees, staring me down with a mixture of fear and awe.

The red-haired male looks at me, hatred burning in his eyes. “No one sent us,” he spits out. “We’re here for ourselves.” He stands and spreads his arms wide. “We’re the Sons and Daughters of Thayaria, and we won’t be stopped. Your reign of witchcraft is over!” Dozens of swords and daggers rise up around me, the sharp blades cutting through the air with a zing. He’s a strong metal channeler. Probably one of the strongest in Thayaria, since the trait isn’t commonly found here. The weapons point toward my heart, but I only smile, vicious and feral. Let him try and touch me.

The moment the weapons move, I obliterate them with a single thought. No shards are even left behind, a light dust falling to the ground the only evidence they ever existed. I sigh inwardly at the slip in my cover, but move forward, hoping to distract the room from the magic I just displayed with more conduit-based magic. Vines creep through the windows and wrap themselves around the group of rebels, pinning them down in a drapery of green. The tendrils wrap several times around the head of the man who spoke, covering his mouth so he cannot speak.

“Guards,” I command the group of Royal Guards who have arrived, Carex at their head. “First, bring all the palace healers in here and help those who are injured. These vines will hold the rebels, so take your time.” I smirk. “Then, escort these traitors to the dungeon and chain them up. I’ll take care of them, in due time. Carex—I expect a full investigation report from you on why the Royal Guards allowed armed civilians into this chamber.” Carex blanches, but nods as he and his soldiers begin to act on my orders.