Free Betrayed by Julia Crane Page B

brightest light I’d ever seen.
    The room was once again cleared, and all the creatures—who were still alive—their bodies became relaxed. Gone was the rage that was there just moments before. What had he done?
    Everyone in the room was staring at Calamus with shock and awe. How could one destroy such darkness with a simple command?

Chapter Thirteen
    T urning , I glanced at Demitrious. He stood rooted in his place, staring at the young man; his face gave nothing away. I wondered if he realized he was the boy from downstairs. How had he grown into a man so quickly? Was he glamoured or had he truly skipped all of his childhood for this moment? I had so many questions I wasn’t even sure where to start or even how to address what just happened.
    Calamus turned as if to walk away, but I reached out and grabbed him by the arm. “Not so fast.”
    “I would like to introduce to you all, Calamus, the lost Prince of Seelie Court.”
    His head tilted slightly at my words, as if soaking them in. He knew, of course, I spoke a lie but it was what popped in my head. I couldn’t very well tell them who he truly was. And he could pass for full fae.
    He gave a slight bow to me, and I had to hide my smile. “Your majesty. I’ve been awaiting this day for longer than you can imagine.”
    Turning toward the creatures, I let the words flow—they were not my own, but I didn’t try to stop them. “Cale’s birth was kept hidden from the realms. Because of his power, he was taken from his family at a very young age, entrapped for years. He just now has found us, here on Earth. It was believed that he was taken by the Unseelie court, but this is not true. He was taken by the dark wizards. But his light was too bright, they could no longer contain him. As you just witnessed, his strength is unmatched. Please, treat him as an honored guest. His goal is to bridge the dark and the light, not destroy the dark. So do not fear him.”
    The creatures were confused, no one spoke. Their eyes drifted around the room, taking in the carnage that’d just taken place. The dead bodies that were strewn around the room.
    With a flick of my wrist, they evaporated into thin air.
    “Cale has been sent to Earth as a warrior to protect the Great Mother Earth. Treat him respectfully and there will be no trouble.” I left the veiled threat hang in the air.
    Thankfully there were no other fae present because they would have known I did not speak the truth. But with the halflings powers it might have been possible to implant this elaborate story into the waves of time where it would be true.
    “Excuse us, I would like to speak to the prince in private. Demitrious, please join us.”
    The others were still staring at Calamus with disbelief. They all feared him … and with good reason.

    A s soon as we closed the door, I threw up a shield and turned toward Calamus, who was once again a little boy. Great . I rubbed my temples, instantly soothing the stress away.
    Demitrious was staring at the little boy with a smile on his face. “That, my boy, was very impressive. How did you know what to say?”
    The little boy shrugged. “It just came to me. I channeled it just like she did with her speech.” He pointed up at me.
    Demitrious glanced over at me and I nodded in agreement. How the little boy knew this I had no idea. But I was starting to think there wasn’t much he didn’t know or have access to.
    “How’d you break through the barrier?” I asked, folding my hands over my chest.
    He gave me a look as if to say ‘you have to be kidding me’.
    I couldn’t help but crack a smile. My mother thought she had her hands full with me, I can’t even imagine what kind of mischief this one could get into.
    “Why did you change your size?” I asked curiously.
    “They wouldn’t have trusted a child. They would have tried to destroy me and then I would have had to kill them. I don’t want to kill anyone.”
    “Do you know what will happen to that dark man you