The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 343: Trapped By Her

Jessamyn clasped Jerrick’s hand, her gaze locked onto his as he mulled over their next move. The tension in the air was thick, each second a countdown to the inevitable.

How could they reach William without alerting the Council? Jerrick’s mind raced, weighed down by the urgency of their situation. The oppressive magic of the Council’s barrier made any form of communication a perilous gamble.

"Jaylene..." Jessamyn’s voice was a soft whisper, her eyes lighting up as she remembered the bird. "She was with me before I crossed the barrier. She’d still be outside, waiting."

Jerrick’s face brightened instantly, a rare smile breaking the grim set of his features. "You’re amazing!" He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead, his eyes glimmering with newfound hope. "I know exactly what to do!"

He moved toward the tent’s entrance with purpose, leaving Jessamyn alone for a moment. She looked down at their son, his tiny chest rising and falling in peaceful sleep. Despite the looming danger, the sight of him brought a brief, fragile peace to her heart. His skin, still flushed from birth, was soft and warm beneath her fingers as she tucked the blankets tighter around him.

She could hear the wind howling outside, a cold, unwelcoming force. The mountains surrounding them, jagged and unforgiving, seemed to mirror the chaos swirling in her mind. Despite the baby’s Lycaon blood—powerful and resilient—he was still just a newborn, so small and fragile.

Her protective instincts surged as she gently stroked his downy-soft hair. Her heart ached with the thought of leaving him, even for a second, but there was no choice. She was needed elsewhere.

Exhaustion weighed heavy on her limbs, her body begging for rest after the birth, but her mind was too alert, too aware of the storm that was about to break. Time was slipping through their fingers. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Jessamyn took a shaky breath, fighting the fatigue clawing at her. She stood and moved toward the back of the tent, her eyes scanning Jerrick’s collection of medicinal herbs and spell jars.

Moments later, Jerrick returned, his eyes catching hers as he saw her rifling through the jars. His brow furrowed, surprised. "Are you looking for something?" he asked, his voice cautious.

Jessamyn looked up, startled, then forced a smile. "Nothing... it’s just... one of the jars was open. I wanted to make sure everything was in order." Her voice was light, but her thoughts were far from casual. She was stalling, buying them precious seconds. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep this charade going.

Jerrick didn’t seem to notice her inner turmoil. He stepped closer, concern shadowing his features. "You should be resting." His tone was gentle, but there was a command beneath it. He helped her back to the bed, but Jessamyn’s mind was already elsewhere.

"I will," she promised with a small smile. "Do you think Jaylene will reach William in time?" There was a soft edge of desperation in her voice now, her hope hanging on this one fragile plan.

"I’ve cast a spell to speed her up. She’ll be faster than usual," Jerrick reassured her, his hand resting on her shoulder for a brief moment before he pulled away to sit beside her.

Jessamyn nodded, her heart heavy as she contemplated what they were about to face.

"Tell me... how do we get past the barrier?" she asked, her eyes searching his face for answers. She knew the barrier was almost impenetrable. They needed something drastic, something that would either break them free or give them the upper hand.

Jerrick paused, his gaze drifting as he considered. "We could try the same spell I used in the Sanctuary," he offered cautiously. "But casting a teleportation spell that powerful might alert the Council. We’d have no element of surprise."

Jessamyn shook her head, her eyes steely with determination. "No, Jerrick, we aren’t running. We’re going to fight them—inside this unbreakable barrier. We’ll protect those we care about, and we’ll destroy the Council from within."

A flicker of understanding sparked in Jerrick’s eyes. Slowly, a smirk curled at his lips. "You’re suggesting we make the barrier work in our favor."

"Exactly." Jessamyn’s voice was steady, her mind already racing ahead. "We’ll teleport your men to safety first, then fortify the tent with our own protective spell. When the Council comes, they’ll be trapped with us inside. No one else will get hurt. We’ll fight them on our terms."

Jerrick’s heart raced with anticipation. For anyone else, her plan might have sounded insane, but Jerrick knew that Jessamyn’s strategic mind was unparalleled. He had fought in countless battles, but this was the ambush of a lifetime.

Jessamyn winced as she shifted her weight, her hand instinctively moving to her aching back. She was still healing, but her determination wouldn’t allow her to stop.

Jerrick began weaving a protection spell around the tent while she knelt on the cold earth inside, drawing an intricate spell circle, her fingers tracing the lines with precision.

Once the protective magic was in place, Jessamyn straightened, her eyes sharp. "Now," she commanded, her voice firm. "Send your men to safety."

Without hesitation, Jerrick summoned the teleportation spell, and one by one, his soldiers disappeared, transported far from the impending battle. The wind howled outside the tent, but inside, an eerie silence hung between them as they worked.

Just as the final soldier vanished, another portal materialized outside the tent. The atmosphere shifted, a cold dread creeping in as the barrier shimmered ominously.

"Jerrick! Get inside!" Jessamyn’s voice cut through the tension, sharp and urgent. Jerrick darted into the tent, his heart pounding in his chest.

The moment he stepped inside, Jessamyn moved swiftly. She thrust their newborn son into his arms, her expression unreadable. "Hold him," she said softly, her voice calm despite the storm brewing outside. "And stand right there," she pointed to the spell circle she had drawn earlier.

Jerrick blinked, confused, but did as she asked, stepping into the circle that he didn’t even notice, with their child. The moment he did, the spell ignited, trapping him inside the shimmering lines of magic.

His eyes widened in realization, panic rising in his throat. "Jessamyn! What are you doing?"

Jessamyn didn’t respond immediately. She stepped out of the tent, her gaze meeting the eerie brightness just beyond. The air shimmered, and there they stood—the Council. All the elders, their eyes gleaming with cold satisfaction.

"I’ve done as you asked," Jessamyn said, her voice steady, betraying none of the turmoil inside her. "I’ve trapped the Lycaon Wulfhednar and his son."

The Council members looked pleased, their expressions twisting into cruel smiles. Jessamyn’s heart thudded painfully in her chest, but she kept her face emotionless, masking the storm of guilt and fear that threatened to break her resolve.

Behind her, inside the tent, Jerrick’s voice rang out in desperation. "What are you doing, Jessamyn?!" His voice was filled with betrayal, the weight of her actions crashing down on him.

But Jessamyn didn’t turn around. She stepped into the night, her heart heavy with the knowledge of what had to be done.