Page 27

N ico, Luca, and Lucius had left at sunset to meet with the Raven’s Hand, promising they’d return in the morning. I’d had the brilliant idea to turn in early, hoping Hunter and Finn might visit me again. If nothing else, I’d take the coward’s way of passing the time until I knew they were safe.

But God, the Divine, or whoever was in charge—had other plans. I tossed and turned as if shifting positions might banish the gnawing thoughts crowding my mind. The more I craved sleep, the farther it slipped from reach.

When dawn’s light finally began to break through the darkness, I gave up. I found Fallon sitting on the steps outside, a cigarette resting between her elegant fingers, staring into the shadowed forest beyond.

“Sleep well?” she asked, not even bothering to look up at me.

“Like shit,” I grumbled, taking a seat beside her. My joints ached, and my thoughts drifted to the sprite ash. Maybe I should dose myself before the boys returned so they wouldn’t worry.

“In that case, we can both be miserable together,” she said, offering me her cigarette. The rich scent I now recognized as brimshade wafted up in scrolled columns of smoke. Apparently, her errands had proven fruitful.

I hesitated for a moment, but decided what the fuck . Maybe it was comparable to the medical-grade marijuana I’d been prescribed back home.

I took a drag. The ember flared cherry red in the dark, and the smoke went down smooth, leaving a subtle tingle in my lungs as I exhaled. The effects were immediate. The tension in my shoulders melted away, and the knot of anxiety in my chest began to ease.

“Now I understand the appeal,” I said, handing it back.“Finn and Hunter visited me yesterday,” I added after a beat, needing to share it with someone. The admission hung in the air while Fallon remained silent, pulling in a deep drag.

I wasn’t sure if she even heard me, or the mention of them had become too painful. But then she asked, “Are they alright?”

“They seemed okay. But it felt like… a goodbye. They told me Johan is planning something.”

She turned toward me, her eyes glassy under the weight of her emotions. “Did they tell you what it was?”

“No. Just that we should leave Hiraeth altogether.”

“Do me a favor, Mic. Don’t tell my brothers.”

“Okay… but why?”

“It’ll only sow seeds of doubt. Johan will always be planning something. They need to focus—not worry about contingency plans. That will only get them killed.”

“What’s your gut say? Think we can win?”

“That depends on how you measure success,” she said. “If you mean, did they relieve the fake king of his iron and his coin tonight—then yes, they were successful. But they’ve poked the bear, so to speak. Johan won’t take this lightly. They’ve won this battle, but the war is only just beginning.”

I didn’t ask her to elaborate. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know more.

“They’ll be back within the hour,” she said. “We should prepare something for them to eat. Today, the planning begins.”

“You should’ve seen his face, Mic,” Luca laughed, his breakfast sitting mostly untouched as he recounted the night’s events. “Red as his coat. He was all, ‘ You’ll pay for this! Johan will hang your bodies from the walls of Mathenholm.’” He pounded his fist on the table as he continued to laugh.

“You should’ve let me kill him,” Lucius grumbled.

“No, no—it was perfect.” Luca shot Nico a grin. “Thank you for not melting his mind into submission. I really needed a good laugh.”

“We needed him alive,” Nico replied. “We need witnesses to spread the word. When people hear we’re taking a stand, they’ll join us. And it sends a message to Johan: we’re not backing down.”

“It’s already working,” Fallon added. “The Raven’s Hand will bring new alliances today—I can feel it. They’ll be here soon.”

“So when do I get to join in on all the fun?” I asked. Lucius visibly stiffened.

“Yes, Mic! You’re such a badass. I can totally picture you in tight leather armor,” Luca said, looking me over as though he could already envision it.

“Dove, I don’t think—” Lucius started.

“Lucius, don’t you dare tell me it’s not a good idea. I want to help,” I pleaded before shifting my attention to Nico. We all knew he had the final say.

He held my stare for a moment, then nodded. “If the lady’s willing to train until she can hold her own, I see no reason why she can’t come along.”

Lucius narrowed his eyes at me. I knew he was already crafting a litany of rules I’d have to abide by in order to go.

“Don’t you all need to rest before the Raven’s Hand arrive?” I said, throwing a salmonberry at his head before he could plead his case any further.

Luca leaned toward me, grinning. “Why? Are you offering to go to bed with me? As you’ve just pointed out, I can go all night.”

“There will be no sleeping—or anything else you’re trying to get away with!” Lu growled.

“One of us might be able to make an exception for the lady if she requires a bed mate. ,” Nico said smoothly, his brow raised in challenge. “As next in line to the throne, I’m officially laying claim to that honor.”

Lucius looked like he was about to draw a dagger on both of them.

Before I could die of further embarrassment, Sawyer and Levi entered the room. A handful of males and females I didn’t recognize filtered in behind them.

“Are you ready for the meeting, my friend?” Sawyer asked, motioning to Nico. “I’ve got some people eager to meet you.”

“Yes, we’re all here.” Nico stood from his chair and stepped to me, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “You’re welcome to join us—or you can enjoy your breakfast.”

“I’d like to come,” I said, grabbing a few salmonberries from the table before rising to join him.

Nico shot me a half cocked smile. “I guess we’ll see about that later,” he said, his voice dripping with innuendo as he took my hand.

The king’s study, which Luca had dubbed the war room—was enormous. Nico offered me a seat between Lucius and Luca at the circular table in the center. Maps, scrolls, and open books littered the surface. The rest of the group filed in, taking up all available space.

Fallon had been right. Word of our rebellion was spreading.

Nico stood stoic, scanning the crowd until all of them fell silent. “Thank you for coming,” he said, his voice gritty. “I wish our meeting came under better circumstances. Johan sits on a stolen throne—a vulture feasting on dying land. No more.”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the room.

Sawyer stepped forward. “We’re with you or we wouldn’t be here. But how do we strike at him? Mathenholm is a fortress. It’s crawling with soldiers. We’re ghosts in these woods, but ghosts don’t storm castles.”

Nico leaned forward, fists planted on the table. “Maybe that’s exactly what we should be—ghosts. He won’t expect us to be so bold. We’ll haunt him in his own halls.”

“And the Bloodstone Sigil?” Levi asked. “You still haven’t told us how you’ll get the ring off his traitorous finger.”

Nico glanced down at the map beneath his hands, choosing his words. “I’m working on it.”

“His power grows every day that ring stays on his finger,” Levi warned.

“Or… the Sigil will reject him,” Nico replied. “We don’t have enough intel to prove otherwise. For now, we must act swiftly. We’ll focus on one thing at a time. But I promise you this—if I have to sever his hand from his body to get my father’s ring back, I will.”

“I’m not sure, but I’ll ask him,” a large male boomed, using his weight to push through the crowd.

Silver threaded through his auburn curls, which tumbled around his head like a wild mane.

A thick beard framed his ruddy face, barely hiding the crooked grin beneath.

He straightened himself as he stood before Nico, adjusting a rusted breastplate that hung over tattered robes.

“This is Amos,” Sawyer said. “The sage I told you about.”

Nico nodded at him. “What’s your question?”

Amos uncorked his flask with his teeth, took a long swig, then asked, “Will ya fight by our sides, or tuck tail and run at the first sign of blood? Because the Divine tells me…” he grinned, “there will be blood.”

“The Divine tells you this?” Nico asked, arching a brow.

“Aye. Now answer the damn question,” Amos said, grinning even wider.

“What did you say?” Lucius seethed at the stranger, his hand resting on his sword.

“It’s okay, Lucius.” Nico lifted his hands to calm the tension in the room. “And the answer is no—I will not run. I’m prepared to fight, even if it means forfeiting my life.”

Amos fidgeted with the myriad of small bones hanging from his belt as he glanced up at the ceiling. I jumped when he doubled over in a full-bellied laugh. After the initial shock, his glee was contagious, and I sealed my lips to hold in the chuckle bubbling up.

“The Divine does not favor you, my friend. I do apologize,” he said once he’d composed himself, wiping tears from his eyes.

“You’re mad, old timer,” Lucius grumbled as he stepped closer to me.

“You say I’m mad—perhaps. But madness is simply seeing what others ignore. Like her.” He pointed a meaty hand at me. “Sitting so quietly when she’s a favorite. You should listen to everything she has to say.”

I squirmed in my chair, feeling all eyes land on me. I shot a worried glance at Nico, hoping he wouldn’t start asking my opinion on war tactics. I was far out of my league here.

“Yes, Michaela is an important part of this council. We’re all thankful to have you—and the Divine—here with us,” Nico said, shooting Lu a withering look. “Maybe you could put in a request for blessings on our plan.”

“Let’s hear it, then!” Amos cheered, lifting his flask and taking a swig. He pulled the nearest chair up and settled his large frame, giving himself a front-row seat across from Nico.