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“Does Sawyer know you are out here?”

“He sleeps. He worries too much about me. A promise he made to his brother.” Eliza shifted her weight, glancing down at the wolf. “You are restless,” Ashtine noted. “I will let you be.”

“Do you need anything?” Eliza asked before Ashtine turned away.

“I am well,” she answered, moving to the settee on the veranda she usually occupied when she came out for fresh air. Maliq followed, dropping to his belly at her feet, ears perked up and listening.

Still waiting.

Callan appeared before their usual time, Azrael with him. Eliza was still working through her own routine. The mortal king moved to sit next to Ashtine, while the Earth Prince took up a position across from Eliza and drew his sword. She didn’t question him, eager for a chance to spar and work out her edginess.

They’d only been sparring for a few minutes, and she was burning through a vine Azrael had cast in an attempt to distract her from his attack when the first warning came. Avian Shifters flocked to the palace. The cries of hawks and screeches of eagles filled the air, and she and Azrael both lowered their weapons, looking to the skies. Moments later, a tawny-colored wolf came racing up, shifting mid-stride. Ilyas stood before them, face grim.

“Winged beings. From the northwest,” was all he said before he shifted once more and took off.

“Seraphs,” Azrael ground out.

“You and Callan need to go,” Eliza said, striding towards the princess and the king.

“We weren’t going to put things into motion for another few days,” Azrael replied tightly, sheathing his sword down his back.

“Things change. On the very small chance Nuri has not reported Callan’s return, we need to maintain that element of surprise. The seraphs cannot see him or you here,” she retorted. “If you go now, you have a bit of time to gather a few things. Sawyer and I will stay with Ashtine.”

“How will you get to the Fire Court?” Callan asked, already on his feet as they approached.

“I can create a wind portal if needed when the time comes,” Ashtine said calmly. Maliq had sat up, and she was idly dragging her fingers through his thick coat.

“You two need to go now. Before they can track you,” Eliza snapped. She turned to Callan. “Don’t die. Scarlett will kill me.” He barked a dry laugh, nervously fingering the hilt of his sword at his side. She could see the unease in his hazel eyes. “None of that,” she said, knocking his hand away. “I have been training you for months now. You saved me from a powerful Witch. You have slaughtered seraphs and have survived hours of being knocked on your ass by various beings. You have stood up to a Fire Prince and stared down a terrifying Fae Queen. You have a sister to fight for. A love to fight for. A kingdom to fight for. You are a king of this realm, Callan Solgard.”

“You truly believe I can do this.” It was a realization, not a question.

“I would not have wasted my time training you if I did not think you could do this,” she said, pulling him into a tight hug. “Be quick. Be smart. Be fierce. Don’t forget about your left side, and for fuck’s sake, watch your footwork.”

He huffed another breath of laughter, returning her embrace. “Thank you. For everything, Eliza.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she muttered, shoving him away lightly. “Go be a king.” Her gaze cut to Azrael. “Send a message when you can.”

He nodded once before he turned, and the two set off for the palace. They no sooner rounded a corner when Sawyer and Arianna appeared around another. The Water Second rushed to Ashtine’s side, handing her twin daggers. Neither of them would let her fight, but they weren’t stupid enough to leave her unarmed either.

The Beta had lightweight golden armor strapped to her forearms and shins, along with a chest plate. Twin swords were strapped down her back. Her many braids were tied up, and her eyes were shifted to that of a bird of prey as she watched the sky.

“Stellan has dispatched some fighters to try to weaken them before they arrive,” she said, Jamahl prowling into view in his tiger form.

“If we can drain them of any magic, it will help,” Eliza said, tightening buckles and straps on her own leathers. She began pulling various weapons from a pocket realm, sheathing some and handing others to Sawyer. A bow and quiver came last.

“You should go inside, Ashtine,” Sawyer said, sliding a bandolier of throwing knives over his head and fixing it to his chest.

“I will be better served to stay here,” she replied, pulling up one side of her dress. “Do you mind?” she asked Arianna, holding out one of the daggers and its holder. The Beta crouched down, quickly strapping it to the princess’s thigh, making sure it was within easy reach. The other dagger Ashtine kept in her grasp.

“Ashtine, will it not be safer for the babes if you are inside?” Sawyer tried again.

“You argue with the winds, Sawyer.”

“The time for debating is over anyway,” Arianna cut in, attention returning to the skies. “They’re here.”

“Ashtine stays in the middle at all times,” Eliza said as they moved a little more into the open. The last thing they needed was to get trapped in an enclosed space. “If you get a seraph down, it needs to be burned to keep it that way. I’ll do my best to keep up.”

She reached over her shoulder and grabbed an arrow from the quiver, wishing for the hundredth time it was her Fiera arrows. These couldn’t be imbued with her fire, but they could certainly do some damage to feathered wings. She nocked it to her bow and waited as the first dark specks appeared in the sky against the morning sunlight.