Twisted Enchantment (Unbreakable Force Book 5) by Kara Jaynes

but then, they were magic users, and the prince had freed Dahlia of his own volition. It didn’t make sense to anger him if he was willing to free the child so easily. “I came east to find a better life.”
    The prince cocked his head, considering. “What is wrong on the other side of the Dragon’s Tail Mountains?”
    “Magic users are not welcome there.” I looked at Dahlia on the table. She hadn’t moved. “I came here hoping to live a life free of prejudice and judgment.” I felt my voice harden. “But you treat the Denali just as poorly as magic users are treated on the other side.”
    Hydari smiled. “They’re Denali , not Twyli. Don’t worry about the land you left. Any persecution your people face will soon be over. The Twyli lands are expanding, and there isn’t a Denali alive who can stop us.”
    I frowned at him, but before I could ask him what he meant the remaining figure at the head of the metal table spoke. “A strange one.” His voice was barely above a whisper, but masculine. “Giving the Denali child the same importance as a Twyli.” The voice was incredulous.
    Myyre folded her arms and looked at me crossly. Her expression was one of jealousy, though I couldn’t begin to imagine why. Dahlia lay on her back unmoving, her little face looking up to the ceiling. I felt a tingle of uncertainty as I walked past them to reach Dahlia, but they made no move to stop me. I could feel the gaze of the hooded figure on me, but he was motionless as well.
    Dahlia was ashen faced with fear, her brilliant blue eyes enormous. Her lips quivered. I reached out, tucking a white-blonde strand of hair behind her ear. “Shh,” I whispered. She hadn’t made a peep, but she looked terrified. “It’s all right, baby, Momma has you.” I paused a moment before scooping her up. I hadn’t called myself that before. I kissed her forehead. “Let’s go home, let’s go find Aaric.” Dahlia didn’t say anything, content to wrap her arms tightly around my neck, choking down a sob.
    I turned around, and saw that the twins hadn’t moved. If they’d looked surprise to see me, they looked absolutely thunderstruck to see Fyrsil. He stood in the doorway, exhausted from expending so much magic, but standing ready in case I needed assistance. “Let’s go, Adaryn.” He jerked his head, indicating the hall behind him.
    The shrouded figure stepped around the table to stand by Myyre. “Fyrsil? Brother?” The stranger’s voice sounded shocked. “How did you . . . you’re still alive?”
    Fyrsil peered at him with narrowed eyes, silent. From his expression, he was as baffled as I was.
    The figure pulled back his cloak to reveal a face that, while older than Fyrsil, was nearly identical in look. Graying hair at his temples, yellow eyes, and a few more lines in his face were the only differences. Fyrsil could be staring at what he would look like in twenty years. And now, with Fyrsil in the room, I could see why I thought the prince looked familiar. He stood the same way as Fyrsil, his shoulders pulled back, the same nose and jaw.
    “Explain this, Father.” Myyre whirled to face the older man. “Who is this? Uncle is dead.”
    “I—” The man shook his head, peering at Fyrsil suspiciously. “You’re not my brother. You’re younger than I am. Who are you?”
    “I should probably be asking you the same question.” Fyrsil had smoothed his face and straightened his posture, hiding most of his fatigue. “Fyrsil is my name. It was also the name of my father.”
    Hydari leapt forward with a hiss, summoning a yellow blade that glowed with a pale, sickly light. He rushed past me and swung his sword in an arch at Fyrsil.
    The brigand king brought a pale blue blade of his own to meet his attacker’s and magic crackled around them. Fyrsil’s eyes were tight with strain.
    “Fyrsil may have once been crown prince,” the prince spat, “but Twyarinoth is my father’s, and will someday be mine. The western lands will be