Page 19

“Where are we?”

“Welcome home, Eilish,” Pyre chuckles. “They once called this the City of Angels. Humans risked so much throughout their history to come here. It all seems silly now.”

We walk along the roads, weaving between immobile cars and ancient bones.

Ivy crawls up the buildings and half the city appears to be flooded by the ocean.

But some of the history has been preserved.

There are no signs of fae or the precincts that had been established after the Singularity.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” I utter in disbelief.

Pyre pulls his mask away and I can finally see the smile on his handsome face.

“There are a few buildings I wish to show you.” He leads us to a building that seems much older than the ones around it, but more structurally sound.

“Earthquakes nearly decimated the entire city during the Singularity. This is a campus that was built in the nineteenth century and yet it still stands while the modern world crumbled around it.”

“It looks large enough to hold all of us.”

“My thoughts exactly,” he says.

I turn towards the others to give orders.

“Cambion, I want you to take the mages and clear out the three buildings still standing. Make sure no demons or other creatures have made homes there. I want beds for everyone and a medical wing set up first. Then work on finding a lab for Zir.” Next, I look to Dragan for his assignment.

“Dragan, establish a perimeter with Myerdoth and the guards. I want this place secured and protected.”

He nods and waves to his companion, disappearing into the crowd.

“Baron, I need you and the other clan leaders to get people to start erecting walls. With the other buildings falling apart, there should be plenty of materials to use. Work swiftly, but don’t tire them out completely.

We have a long way to go before this can be called a home.

It’ll take all of us.” I wait until Baron is out of range before I speak with Theren.

“I need runes. Blood magic strong enough to keep anyone with malicious intent away from our people. Can you do that?”

Theren nods even though I can see how pale his face is. He’s still wounded and needs time to heal himself.

Pyre places his hand on my shoulder. “He will be fine. Cambion can heal him later.”

I nod and face the smallest of our group. “Flumph and Noni, I want you to gather the fae in the courtyard. I need you to start making enough food and blankets to keep people comfortable.”

Flumph salutes me and Noni blows me a kiss.

“And me?” Pyre asks.

“Send the scouts on a supply run into the city to see what they can salvage. Then create your own quarters in one of the towers. When that’s finished, I want you to come find me. I’m going to need some company after I make my announcement.”

“Just the two of us?”

I pull up onto the tips of my toes and press a kiss to his lips. “Just us.”

Pyre reaches for me, but I duck out of the way before we get too caught up in one another.

I climb up a pile of rubble until I can see what’s left of the rebels and the refugees.

I have to say something to them—to welcome them to this new home and to offer them words of encouragement.

I just feel so drained, physically and emotionally, that I’m not sure how to even start.

But I start anyway. “I know you came to the Mercenary Stronghold to start anew. I know you felt safe in the knowledge that Variant and his forces couldn’t touch you.

But until the real enemy is dealt with..

. the truth is that none of us are safe.

Anywhere.” I take a breath. “That much was already revealed when Variant took the Mercenary Stronghold. But… we can rebuild here. Build walls that are stronger and taller than the last.”

“But it won’t make a difference!” someone calls out.

I nod and lift my hand to silence the discord that starts among them. “King Galmer was slain in battle. His family fled. What we must decide now is who will lead you into a new future.”

Kolvar moves towards the front of the crowd and climbs up beside me. The satyr looks out at the people who lost everything. “The Banefire Horde will continue to stand with Lady Fulthain. I now ask the other clans to vote for our next leader. Olveroth Clan, who do you stand behind?”

Hemoteph, leader of the lycans and beast shifters of Olveroth steps forward. “We stand with Lady Fulthain. She has led us to many victories since she joined us. I believe she is a worthy warrior and will make a fine leader.”

Kolvar nods his approval. “Adamante Clan, who do you stand with?”

Belroth of the Adamante, leader of golems and rock trolls, steps forward. “We too stand with Lady Fulthain. Her treatment of the fae has proven she is also a merciful soul.”

“Imatriat of the Thradsaryl, who do you stand with?” Kolvar calls out.

The wraith warrior steps forward as well and bows his head to me. “Lady Fulthain.”

“Mournblades, who do you stand with?”

I flinch when the brooding vampire looks my way. “We stand with Lady Fulthain.”

“And Sunder’s Might. What leader will you pledge your sword to?” Kolvar asks.

King Galmer’s son Novak isn’t present, but his commander took his place.

“I am Titan and I speak for all of Sunder’s Might. We will join Lady Fulthain.”

Their responses are... enough to renew my drive and fuel my fire to continue. Kolvar raises my hand high with a victorious smile.

“We lost many of our own in the fight to escape,” he calls out.

“But we would have lost many more if we’d listened to King Galmer’s orders to abandon the fortress and leave those behind that could not fight for themselves.

He was a good king in the days when we needed a leader, but he was a man full of fear in the moments before his death.

Lady Fulthain and her companions fought beside us and they delivered us to safety so we were not forced to wander the cursed desert until we dropped dead from thirst.”

Heads within the crowd began to nod in unison.

Kolvar looks towards me with tears in his eyes.

“From this day forth, the clans shall unite beneath one flag. No more are we separate entities, but a people. We are The Vindication and we will prosper beneath the light of our leader... Queen Eilish Inoa Fulthain, daughter of Gildlorthoine, the lost King of The Succubae, and Maeline Fulthain, Healing Light of The Angels.” Kolvar’s words are met with a thunderous applause.

Queen .

The title is... unnerving, but I don’t have time to dwell in my thoughts long. Kolvar yanks me off my feet and spins me around in his arms. “Congratulations! I always knew you had it in you.”