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We returned to the cavern with our hands still linked, and the topic of Imogen’s challenging anyone wasn’t invoked again.

Chapter 30

Tarian

Isurveyedthetall,wide cavern encompassing us, the same that had hosted the meeting the day before.Preparations for the conflict to come had set in fully now, and there was an air of activity around me as a defence strategy was planned out in dozens of small conversations.It was baffling that there was such a spread of power and decision making among them.They’d formed a dozen committees all dedicated to different aspects of strategising, and each group had nominated someone to feed information back to their queen at regular intervals.I was sceptical of how much accurate information Sylara was receiving based on this process, but she seemed to trust that the reports coming back to her were clear and accurate enough.

The strength in the approach appeared to be in the innovation that seemed to thrive because of the number of voices contributing, as some of the ideas I’d overheard had surprised me with their creativity.And I heard a lot of what was passed on to her, since she kept engaging me in conversation.I suspected this was a strategy to keep me busy more than because she wanted my opinion, since my presence made her people either grow nervous and fidgety or stiff and sullen.The effect was universal, no matter which reaction they leaned towards; they clammed up, and conversation stalled.Not the best conditions for brainstorming.

‘Keeping everyone below ground is risky,’ I said.‘All it would take is a strong blast of magic to collapse your cave system and bury you all alive.’

‘But above ground we’re exposed,’ Sylara persisted.‘We’d be too easily picked off.In the tunnels, they will be forced to thin out and split up.It’s the only way we won’t get completely overwhelmed by their numbers.’

I tapped my fingers, thinking.Lesser fae magic was no match for the might of both Seelie and Unseelie Kingdoms.Confront them on open ground and the whole conflict would become a slaughter.Those strong in Seelie magic would use concentrated light to burn their opponents, like ants beneath a magnifying glass, and tricks and illusions to disorient them.The Unseelie had powers such as my mother’s talent for causing pain at their disposal, as well as the likes of shadow bending and black flame weapons, which burned with a dark fire that consumed life and warmth and magic.Then there were those among each force with elemental affinities.Lesser fae magic, on the other hand, was smaller and more difficult to weaponise.It was usually limited to wisps of power that could achieve things like making vegetables grow faster, luring prey close, protecting a hearth fire from going out or altering appearance.In a fair fight, the lesser fae would lose.They always did.

But staying underground… if I was the one attacking them, I’d strike their walls with magic, turning rock to rubble until I triggered a collapse and brought their whole court crashing down.

A bubble caught my eye over Sylara’s shoulder, floating past in a shimmer of colour.My gaze found Imogen where she was sitting with Marietta, surrounded by a handful of children, her hands spread before her and brow furrowed in concentration.

‘Give me a minute,’ I said, already walking away.The children clustered around Imogen were blinking up at the bubbles.One, a little half-breed boy with pale hair, a pair of horns and a furred tail, was sitting as close to her as he could without touching.His eyes darted nervously to me as I approached, and the other children shuffled back.Imogen smiled up at me, brow smoothing.

‘I think I’m getting it,’ she said, eyes shining.‘Look.’She held a hand palm-up, that look of concentration taking over her expression again.In the centre of her palm the air shimmered like an oil slick on water, turning and distorting until a small dagger was lying where before there had been nothing.

‘You are,’ I agreed, picking it up, feeling the weight and texture of it.The blade was a strange, clear crystal, the hilt a twist of wood that looked more grown than made.The sort of thing that might be worn in a boot.‘Why a dagger?’

‘A weapon seemed like something useful.’

I switched my focus to Imogen’s face, noting her high colour.‘Are you being careful not to wear yourself out?’

‘I’m fine.I’m taking breaks.’

‘And eating,’ Marietta added.‘She’s eating a lot in her breaks.’

‘Well, magic seems to make me really, really hungry.’

‘You’re burning energy,’ I said.‘Eating is good.Rest is better.But would you try something for me?’

She climbed to her feet and dusted herself off.‘Sure.What is it?’

I held out a hand and she took it.Marietta’s watchful eyes clung to us as we walked away.

‘Everyone here seems to think I’m going to bite you,’ I grumbled as we neared the cave wall.‘I don’t expect them to trust me for their own sakes, but surely they realise I’m not going to hurt my own mate.’

‘The fact that you kidnapped me and threatened to kill me when we first met notwithstanding?’She arched a brow.

‘That was months ago.I was stupider then.’

‘Even so.’She sobered a little.‘I think they’re worried because of the prophecy.I mean, here we are, plotting to turn against everything you’ve been raised to uphold.And… well, maybe they think it’s a little convenient for you to be so willing to support me.’

It didn’t bother me overly much if her new friends thought as much, but that twist of uncertainty around her eyes suggested she had some of the same doubts.That, I couldn’t accept.

‘I’ve never actually wanted to sit the Unseelie throne,’ I admitted.

She laughed.‘Don’t be stupid, that was the whole reason you came looking for me in the Human Realm.Because you’d never be allowed to take it while you were prophesied to bring it down.’

‘It’s not that I don’t want totakethe throne.Because that’s always meant casting Moriana off it.But being king has never been what I wanted.’

She stared at me, brows raised.