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“What do you need, Calista?” he said without hesitation.

“We need more warriors. Davorin took out a great many. We need healers for any wounded.”

Cuyler nodded and gestured for his watchers at his back. “We’ll see to it, Cal. Trust us at the gates, give us that burden. You and the Wraith, take the littles to safety, they’ve all been through a great deal. Then we’ll plan this . . . battle. We’re truly at war again.”

My jaw tightened. “We are. But we will fight to the end, just like my Shadow King says.”

“Go.” Cuyler gave me a reassuring look. “Your warriors are here to fight for you. For you all.”

I followed the crowd of royals and littles toward the gates. Silas had a hand on the iron bars, and with a low hum, he paused. The lock clicked and the wardings at the first gates fell away in a rush of wind.

Silas turned around, nervous and obviously unsettled. “Inside, there are rooms aplenty.”

That was all he said before taking a long step to the side, slinking into the shadows of the knobby trees and tangles of branches. I hurried to his side.

When I clutched his hand, his palms were trembling. I tightened my grip. “You are magnificent, you know.”

He snorted, watching the folk of distant kingdoms traipse the gardens of Hus Rose. “I said five words. I’m a marvel.”

I chuckled. “I cannot imagine how overwhelming this is after so long alone. Yet, you have not once ceased trying to overcome the unease. To me, that makes you magnificent. Accept it.”

He grinned and lifted my knuckles to his lips.

“Hello, my lovely storyteller.” Niklas Tjuv approached with all the confidence of a man who’d not had his world torn to bits, who’d not survived battles in his own land. Between his palms he tossed a sack of some elixir. “That was rather frightening, wasn’t it?”

“I could’ve done without it.”

“Well, it seems we will work together again.”

“Good,” I said. “You’re one of my favorites. That’s an honor, by the way.”

Niklas beamed and pointed at Silas. “This one brings a slew of questions, doesn’t he? But first, Lilianna Ferus, she’s overcome with a manipulated curse of bloodlust, much like Valen.”

“Bleeding hells.”

“It’s a nasty bit, but I know how to end it. No death and dying on this one since it stems from that battle creature’s dark glamour. Thanks to our impressively cunning skill last time, I know how to ward against it. Still, to avoid her slipping from me and devouring us all, is there a safe place to work where she’ll be separated from the littles?”

“Silas?” I turned to him.

“Ah, one question answered,” Niklas chimed, still wholly unbothered.

Silas hesitated. When he spoke, he spoke to me, not the Falkyn. “There are . . . there are catacombs and cells in the gardens. Plenty of thick walls.”

“Perfect.” Niklas’s smile widened.

By now, I suspected the Falkyn was hiding his own unease to better aid in Silas’s clear discomfort at all the royals.

Silas cleared his throat. “I’ll . . . I’ll lead you there.” He lifted his gaze to mine. “I’ll meet you in the upper room.”

“Do you wish me to come with you?”

He seemed ready to shout a resounding, desperateyes, but he took in the wandering royals, the children, and shook his head. “Help them first.”

“We’ll be back before you know it, Cal.” Niklas winked, then faced Silas. “I can be silent, stoic, or quite pleasant in conversation. I’ll leave it to you to decide, Wraith. But I must say, I’m glad I get to meet you before Ari. No doubt he’ll take all your time soon enough.”

Silas’s face paled. I bit my cheek to hide my smile. He was trying, and even if he hadn’t been alone most of his life, my royals were overwhelming in the most beautiful ways. Once they learned all he’d done—they’d draw him into their arms and hearts, and he wouldn’t have one damn chance to refuse.

“You all better see this.” Cuyler waved from one of the walls surrounding Hus Rose.