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“Scarlett wants to find the lock first,” Azrael said. “She has been planning with Rayner. They will come for it soon. When she has it, the Wards around Avonleya can come down, allowing their forces to cross. When she returns, she returns with an army.”

“And until then?” Callan asked. “What do the mortals and the Fae do until then? How long will she make them wait?”

“She understands that time is not on her side, your Majesty,” Ashtine said kindly. “Until then, we turn to our allies. They prepare to aid us until she can come.”

“The Witches were preparing,” Razik cut in. “When we were there, the High Witch had stockpiles of potions and said they had been training.”

“The Witches on their griffins could be an aerial host to combat the seraphs in the skies,” Eliza said, leaning forward as her mind immediately began planning battle formations. “And any avian Shifters?”

She looked between Stellan and Arianna. It was the Beta who nodded. “Those who have larger forms will fight. The smaller Shifters are trained in stealth. We stand with the true Queen of the Continent.”

Queen of the Continent.

What would Scarlett say to that?

But it was true. She could take it all.Theycould take it all. No one would be able to challenge her and Sorin. Not anymore. Arianna had all but said they would bow to her.

“And the mortals?” Callan pressed. “What are they to do? Any mortal host will be carrion in this war.”

“Alaric does not care. They are chattel to him,” Stellan said.

“So who does care for us?” Callan asked.

“Scarlett does,” Azrael answered. “It is why I am here. I am to go with you to Baylorin, to aid you and your people in whatever way we can.”

“They will not trust you,” Arianna said, chin propped in her palm. “You are Fae. Everything they have been taught to fear. They are being told this is allbecauseof your kind.”

“She is right,” Callan said, a finger tapping absent-mindedly on the table. “It will be difficult enough persuading them to trust me, let alone if I show up with a Fae Prince.”

“I think you will find your people a little more willing to trust you than you think,” Ashtine commented. “It is interesting what light and dark can accomplish together.” Sky blue eyes settled on the mortal king. “Angel and Wraith.”

Callan lurched forward. “Tava is already risking enough. She is not to be part of this.”

Ashtine only smiled faintly. “You will find that is not true. She has always been a part of this. Just as you have always been a part of this.”

“So the Earth Prince and mortal king will go to Windonelle,” Stellan said, rolling out the map Ilyas had retrieved for him. It covered half the table, and they all leaned towards it. “The Wind Princess will stay here along with the Water Second and Fire General.”

“What if I didn’t?” Eliza said, the plan already taking shape as she spoke. “What if I went to the Fire Court on Sorin’s behalf? I could regain control of my forces. Alaric would be down at least one Court then.”

“It could make the other Court armies pause,” Azrael said, rubbing at his jaw. “They will see you making a stand. It will spark hope that we are still fighting and cause some unrest among their ranks.”

“Exactly,” Eliza said, pushing to her feet to see the map better. “We take back the Fire Court, and Windonelle and Rydeon have protection from the north. Toreall and the Wind Court have the Witches to the East. The Shifters can take the Water and Earth Courts. The Fae and mortals at least stand a chance then. We hold the lines until they can get here.”

“This could go poorly,” Arianna warned from where she still leisurely lounged down the table. “Alaric could simply decimate them all if they try to rebel.”

“We have to try,” Eliza retorted. “It is better than doing nothing.”

“I am not saying we do nothing. We will always fight against injustice and for freedom,” the Beta answered. “I am saying be prepared for all the possibilities. You never know what rebellion will cost you.”

* * *

It was late, the stars having long since appeared in the night sky. She should be sleeping. She needed the rest to refill her power reserves. After she refilled Razik’s magic and sent him on his way, she would go with Azrael and Callan to Baylorin. Azrael would eventually Travel her into the Fire Court, and she would make Bastien regret ever thinking he could run the Fire Court.

The male had always disliked her. It had probably started the day she’d handed him his ass in a sparring ring when she was still a grunt. Now she was his superior, and he had continuously toed the line of insubordination. In short, he was a pain in her ass, but his power was one of the stronger in the Court so she put up with him.

Yet here she sat, propped against the headboard of the bed with her knees bent and a book balanced before her instead of sleeping. The candle on her bedside table was burning low. She’d likely need to get another one soon.

Eliza saw him in her periphery. He was leaning against the doorjamb, arms crossed, barefoot, and, of course, shirtless. The same way he’d stood while he’d watched her retch on a bathing room floor weeks ago.