Page 80 of Night Meets the Elf Queen (The Elf Queen #4)

HEL

H el pushed through the doors of Thane’s study and found him leaning over a stack of papers.

Ink and quill were by his right hand. The books on the shelves behind him were lined up perfectly.

It wasn’t that long ago he’d taken up this room for his own.

The single bed that had once been in the corner was replaced with a chair and footstool and a potted ivy plant on a white stand.

He looked up from the page and set it down. “Hel,” he sounded surprised.

Hel glided into the room with his hands behind his back. “Were you expecting someone else? Katana perhaps.”

“Possibly.”

Taking the seat across from Thane, Hel pulled out a civar and lit it. “I hope it works for you two. I called it weeks ago, she’s perfect for you.”

“I trust that it will,” Thane said with a smile.

Something had happened while he and Valeen were gone but he wasn’t one to pry with these sorts of things.

Hel waved his hand, and a bottle of wine appeared along with two glasses.

He poured one for Thane, then himself. “Now, to the reason I’m here.

Are the dragons on their way? And what are their numbers? ”

“The king has promised a hundred of his royal army. I sent for them while you were gone. They will be here in the morning.”

“A hundred will do for this battle, but it wouldn’t if they invaded. The combined army of the council will have a thousand dragons or more.”

“He will send more when they come. But the population up north is smaller than Ryvengaard. Half of them are female and most of the males aren’t soldiers, even if they’re dragons. Anyway, I can’t feed a thousand dragons for an unset amount of time while we wait to see if they invade Palenor.”

Even a hundred dragons would go through Thane’s food storage at the castle in a matter of days. And they preferred meat, which elves didn’t have in abundance. “Mathekis is marching with my army as we speak. I made an appearance. They are eager for war.”

Thane picked up his wine and rolled his eyes. ‘They always are.”

“Well, in this case it’s to our advantage. Now, Pricilla’s walls will be nearly impossible to break, and I think we should keep the dragons as a surprise.”

“Then you need to draw her army out to fight,” Thane mused. “How will you do that? It would be stupid of her to leave the walls.”

“I’ll piss her off.”

“You killed her son and threw his head on a spike right in front of her and she did nothing.”

“You let me worry about that while you do your part.” Hel took a long inhale of the civar and slowly blew out smoke rings. “When I draw them out, I will need you to be there with the dragons and your Ravens. I need the god of war, my brother, with me.”

“I will be there, Hel.” Thane swirled his red wine around in his glass. “How are you going to get our immortality from her?”

“If negotiations don’t work, I’ll put Soulender to her throat.”

Thane smiled behind his glass then held it up to Hel. “To battle.”

“To the god of war.”

Clink .

War drums thundered with the pounding of feet. Growls and cries for battle pierced the air. The pale ones were eager for this day. They’d been pent up in the Void for too long, and he promised them blood.

Blood they would have.

Pricilla’s army was at her walls, archers ready. A dragon clung to each turret waiting to take flight. The mauve trees scattered blossoms into the air, creating a rich aroma, but it wouldn’t cover the coming stench of death.

His pale ones already shouted for battle, their weapons raised high.

Hel sat on the back of Starborn at the front of his army. Mathekis waited beside him on a white horse with hooves the size of dinner plates and ebony armor cover its chest. “What are your orders, Lord?”

“We wait for Pricilla to meet with us.” The saddle creaked under Hel as he adjusted the left stirrup. “There is a rule in Runevale. A meeting must take place before any battle between gods in case an agreement can be reached to prevent the loss of life.”

“Would she give you the same right if we were still in Adalon, Lord?”

“We’re not in Adalon.” Truth was, he wanted to get her face-to-face to know if there were any other gods with her.

The gates opened and three riders on hippogriffs came out. Pricilla wore pink armor, and her hippogriff had a matching chest plate and helm. Everything in her territory had some shade of pink from fuchsia to salmon to a light blush. It was unsettling.

Hel nudged Starborn forward. Mathekis rode beside him, meeting them in the emptiness of the center field.

“Zaurahel.” Pricilla raised her chin and touched her nose as if he had a stench.

Across Pricilla’s chest was a hot pink bow and on her back, a quiver of arrows.

Her white corset with pink jewels and matching pants gave a false appearance of sweetness.

Soft golden-brown curls tumbled in a half-up half-down style with little pops of baby’s breath weaved in.

Overly bright pink blush stained her cheeks and lips.

There was something about her face that reminded him of a ferret with a small, upturned nose and pinched lips.

“ I would say it’s good to see you, but, as always, it’s a displeasure.

” Her voice was saccharine sweet and laced with poison.

“Likewise.” But it wasn’t Pricilla that had his attention now, it was Atlanta, god of the seas, primordial, and Katana’s ex-husband.

Atlanta wore full battle armor, his blue trident glittered in the sun, each point a threat.

The fierceness in his eyes made him more than just an ally, he was here for personal reasons.

Any time primordials were involved it was personal. As the most powerful of the gods, they otherwise stayed neutral.

“Your disgusting creatures don’t belong in my land. Remove them,” Pricilla said.

“Gladly, if you give me what I want. If not, I am looking forward to seeing how far this curse will travel. It takes one bite to turn. Half your army could be mine by the end of this battle.”

She waved a dismissive hand and giggled like a schoolgirl who’d just received flowers from her infatuation. “From what I hear it’s a curse exclusive to the elves.”

Hel smirked. “Are you absolutely certain of that?”

That stupid smile dropped, and her hawkish eyes narrowed.

“So, you want your immortal strength back, is that it?” Pricilla sneered and petted the feathered neck of her hippogriff.

The male to her left was Alehelm, god of vineyards.

The golden helmet and armor with grapes and leaves etched into the metal was a giveaway.

Perhaps the new member of the council to replace Rogue, or her lover. Either way he wasn’t a threat.

“I wouldn’t be here otherwise, wench.”

Alehelm snorted in disgust. “Don’t speak to the head of the council with such disrespect.”

Her hippogriff was upset too, fluffing its feathers and snapping its beak. With slow methodical strokes, she calmed the animal. “Relax,” she cooed. “His filthy words mean nothing.”

“What are you even doing here, Alehelm?” Hel tsked.

“He’s an ally.”

“Rogue’s replacement?”

She pursed her lips and scrutinized Hel from head to toe. “Rogue was an honorable god, and you, wicked savage, don’t deserve to even say his name. His wife was innocent.”

“So was mine.”

“Ha,” Pricilla guffawed. “Not only are you a murderer but a liar too. Valeen being innocent is the best joke I’ve heard in a long time. And where is your wife? She should be here for this negotiation.”

“Far from here.”

“Where is mine ?” Atlanta snarled, slamming the hilt of his trident on the ground. “Give her to me and you’ll get your immortality.”

“Well, now, that is tempting.” But no doubt a lie. Pricilla squirmed in her saddle at his words, ready to object to them. “Would that be only mine?”

“ One in exchange for Katana,” Pricilla added. “The other will not be given without Soulender in exchange.”

“Other or others ?”

Pricilla smiled, her bright pink lips spread wide over her too-white teeth. “You destroyed War’s immortality when you murdered my son. And you have no one to blame but yourself.”

A heavy stone seemed to drop into his gut. Hel gripped the reins until his hands ached. Fuck . “If immortality can be taken and given, then what’s to stop me from taking yours.”

“You don’t have enough power to do that,” she sneered.

“I have two primordial goddesses and the god of war on my side, I think we could pull it off.”

“Give me my wife, now!” Atlanta jumped down from his hippogriff and marched toward Hel. His eyes were alight with an aquamarine flame. The ground beneath his feet turned watery.

This prick was truly starting to get on his nerves. First, he showed up in Palenor demanding things from Valeen and now he was stomping around like a great man child. Any god as old as Atlanta who couldn’t control his temper was no one to fear. It made him easy to toy with. He gave away too much.

Starborn reared up, Hel tightened his thighs and gripped the saddle horn. Starborn’s wings flared out, then he slammed down and snorted at Atlanta. “She’s not here. Last I checked she was in bed… with my cousin.”

“What?!” he boomed. “I will gut you where you stand.”

“Why, that isn’t very nice. I’m not the one humping her. War is. She has a sort of glow about her now. I’m certain she’s never been happier.” Hel couldn’t help but smile. People simply were too easy to piss off.

“How dare you, you filthy little–”

“Atlanta,” Pricilla chirped. “Don’t fall for his games. You will get your wife back. Let us continue in a civilized manner.”

“I will march right past you and go take her from the elven realm.”

“You will not.” Hel pulled the golden sword from his hip and pointed the tip of it at him. “You will not take another step forward until this negotiation is over. You can’t start a battle until after. These are the rules of engagement you primordials set.”

“Fine.” He stared at the weapon all of them feared and backed up several paces.