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“What about them?” Ricordan echoed.

“Spirits.” Lyria rubbed her brow. “I nearly forgot. Kakias’s control over her armies and the ability to manipulate Mindshaper magic against us.” Tolek tensed, and I placed my hand atop his. “This isn’t a normal army we’re fighting.”

She did not need to explain how that power could drive a whole legion of warriors to madness. How it could torture them with their own thoughts. I heard Tolek’s screams every night.

“I might be able to help.” I hadn’t expected Jezebel to be the one to speak, but realization dawned on me. How she’d communicated with the prisoner and had been working with Trevaneth, using Tolek’s research. “My power doesn’t work quite the same as theirs, but I have been able to slip through certain things. It may be enough to…assist.” There was something in the way her lips pursed that told me she knew more than she let on, but I didn’t question it in front of the group.

“You can’t be in the battle, then,” I said. “Not where you’re vulnerable.”

I had assumed Jez would be with my team. I hated leaving without her, but if this could help, it was what she was meant to do.

“She can be positioned with the archers on the lookout points,” Amara offered. “It is the safest place.”

“I’ll stay with her as a guard,” Erista confirmed, and I thought her brother’s shoulders sagged with relief, too.

“Okay.” I nodded, deferring to Lyria. “If this is all right with you, I’ll support it.”

“It’s an incredible asset.” Lyria’s eyes were still slightly wide at Jezebel’s revelation. “You Alabaths might save us yet.”

“Let’s hope.” Or doom us all, I thought.

We spent the next hours laying a plan against the queen’s army with the help of Ricordan, Trev delivering food and lingering on the stairs. Once the sun was high, Lyria adjourned the council, sending us all off with various orders.

There was a storm building across the southern mountains, one that would pose a threat to our troops, but a fiercer one stood around that war table.

“We are securing our defenses,” Lyria said from the head of the table as we all stood. Her eyes landed on me. “All except you. You drive as fiercely into their ranks as they’ve tried to ours. Lure her out, and the rest of us will protect the namesake we were born for. Your group moves tonight.”

Chapter Fifty-Two

Ophelia

“Are you okay with this?” I asked Tolek as we climbed the creaking stairs to our cabin. We’d all agreed to take a few hours to rest before we started preparing.

“Ophelia, when have I ever tried to talk you out of a plan?” One hand guided my lower back as he swung open the front door. Warm mystlight woke with our presence, and I considered. Tolek had always questioned me when necessary, had raised concerns, but never stood against me. That wasn’t all that mattered anymore, though.

“I suppose you have a point,” I said, removing my cloak. “But as long as we’re together, our lives are entwined. I want to be sure you’re in agreement with whatever we do.”

Gently taking my cloak from my hands, Tolek caught my eyes. “You act as if I wouldn’t venture to the Spirit Realm and walk through burning Angellight for you, Alabath. A little trap for a queen is hardly a challenge.”

He spoke so casually, but my breath lodged in my throat at the promise. At how my heart fluttered to return it. “Let’s focus on the queen for now.”

Chuckling, he turned to hang our cloaks by the door. I strode into the room, propping my hip against the leather couch and crossing my arms. Knit blankets hung over the back, their warm tones accenting the thick rug beneath my feet and the dark wood shelves lining one wall. As opposed to Lyria’s cabin, which had been converted into a strategy center, this one was quiet and cozy.

It was the second largest next to hers as well. They had saved it for us, which I thought was rather unnecessary given how many warriors had been here much longer than we had. I was fine in a tent. Spirits, as long as we had mystlight or a fire, I was fine outdoors. Angels knew we’d grown used to it. Four bedrooms with a small living space and kitchen was plenty more than we needed. Especially considering how soon we would be leaving.

When I’d asked Malakai why he hadn’t taken a room here, he’d mumbled a dismissive excuse. I thought he liked the privacy of his tent. He had never been one for extravagance, now even less so.

Tolek removed his boots, leaving them by the door. The action was so mundane, it made my heart clench. I hoped one day we could lead a life in a home where boots lined the entryway. I hoped cloaks and books and blankets littered the rooms. I hoped lives could be indulged in, not run through as they were now.

My eyes dropped to my Curse scar—the start of all of this—and for a moment I just hoped.

A finger touched my chin, tilting it up until I met chocolate eyes. “What’s wrong?”

I searched the cabin. “I don’t know. This place feels…uncomfortable. Wrong.” Like there was so much suffering beyond these walls, how could we hide away in a cabin? It twisted my stomach. “Do you think we’ll be fighting like this forever?”

Taking my face in his hands, Tolek pressed one soft kiss to my lips. “We won’t be.”

“How can you be so certain?” A bit of fear wavered through my words, and I exhaled at finally letting it out.