Page 91 of Night Meets the Elf Queen (The Elf Queen #4)

“She should be at the Castle in Brightheart, not here.” Fennan ran his hand through his short black curls.

“Brightheart is right where they’ll be coming through the portal. They might destroy it on their way,” Leif argued.

“Enough,” Thane said, stopping his pacing. “It’s too late to send her away.”

To keep himself distracted, Presco took a brush from the stables and started combing Starborn.

Her loyal right hand would be next to her in battle.

It was how they’d always fought. She in her chariot, him flying beside her.

If she landed, so did he. He’d been with her so long she couldn’t even fathom him not making it through this fight.

He was her oldest and most trusted friend.

Minutes seemed like hours. There was no sign of Synick, although Katana had warned them he might know of Lightbringer’s significance to the wall.

Ronan and Dax flew in in their half-shifted forms and tucked their wings away.

Their scales shifted to flesh, and they strutted side by side down the path.

Ronan’s silver hair was tied back, while Dax’s dark-brown hair was left free.

She hadn’t seen either of them in a long time.

Ronan was slightly taller than his friend but barely.

“What’s with the pity party?” Ronan stopped before Piper and threw his arm around her shoulders. “The battle hasn’t even started and you’re all doom and gloom.”

Dax hand-signed to Ronan, Be right back, then strutted right through Fennan, and Leif, and around Presco.

Realizing who he was coming for, Valeen hopped out of her chariot, and he wrapped her in a bone-crushing hug.

“Hi, Dax.” The last time she’d seen him, she’d rode his beast into battle against King Tenebris.

Even if he couldn’t speak, they had a special bond.

Hel flicked his civar and slowly blew out the last bit of smoke. “Who the fuck are you?”

Should she like it when he was jealous? No. Did she? Yes. She giggled and Dax let her go and grinned at Hel. With a bow, he took a step back. Facing Ronan, he signed, This is her new man? When she was Layala, she didn’t know sign language, but as Valeen it was one of the many she knew.

“This is my husband,” she said.

He turned to her, brows pinched. You know sign?

“I do. ”

He frowned. Why didn’t you tell me before?

She signed back, I do now. I didn’t before.

“Hel, this is Dax. He carried me into battle once before. He’s Prince Ronan’s closest friend.”

He moved his hands quickly, His only friend. Ronan is a dick. Anyone else is only his friend because he’s royalty.

“Hey!” Ronan crowed. “I saw that.”

“Next time you approach my wife, don’t touch her without her permission.” Hel sneered.

Dax’s brows rose. I think Ronan and him would get along famously. They’re both dicks.

Valeen laughed, and Hel lifted his middle finger. “I know sign language too, asshole.”

“Anyway.” Ronan kissed the top of Piper’s head. “The army from the council is three miles from here. The fight we just had in Runevale was nothing compared to what they have now. If I had to guess, fifteen thousand strong, and it looks like there is more coming.”

The collective silence made the hairs on the back of Valeen’s neck rise. The quiet rustle in the trees and horses grazing in the pasture seemed loud. Hel’s gaze darted to her then Thane. It was the first time she’d seen him show any indication of worry.

“Holy shit,” Tif squeaked then slapped a chubby hand over her mouth.

“Fifteen thousand?” Valeen whispered. “How many of them are dragons?”

“There were at least a thousand in the air. There could be more on the ground, so we don’t know their true number.” He didn’t sound particularly worried. In fact, he almost seemed excited. Does he want to die? she thought.

I think he might just be a little crazy, Hel said. She hadn’t meant for him to hear that, and he smiled because he knew it too. “We knew this was coming,” Hel said calmly, but quickly took out another civar.

Leif scratched his head, sweat beading on his brow. “Is the dragon king sending more of your fighters, Ronan?”

He dropped his arm from Piper and sighed. “I sent a dispatcher to my father, but I don’t know if they’ll be here in time.”

“You don’t seem worried,” Hel mused.

He grinned. “If I die, I die fighting. It’s what dragons love.

This battle will be talked about for ages.

If I go down, I will be the dragon prince who fought with the god of war, the goddesses of night and day, and the god of magic to save the elves.

Greatness will be mine. Just remember to write songs about me, will you? ”

Piper lightly punched him in the side. “Don’t talk about dying before battle. It’s bad luck.”

Ronan tore his gaze from Hel and turned to her.

“I’m talking about glory, darling.” He lifted his chin.

“The council you told us about, they think they are doing right, but they will be seen as the tyrants. Elves are known for their peaceful nature, and they’ve come to eradicate them.

I wouldn’t be surprised if your woodland elf neighbors joined us too. ”

“They won’t.” With a frown, Thane shook his head and folded his arms. “Not only have we killed their last three lords, they’ve never helped us before. Although as a last hope, I did send a messenger. I doubt they’ll even believe what is about to happen unless they see it.”

Ronan shrugged. “You never know. No one would have thought the pale ones would fight with you and not against you.” He looked Hel up and down.

“You’re a remarkable warrior by the way, Black Mage .

I had my doubts on what you were actually capable of but no wonder everyone was afraid of you.

My parents wouldn’t even leave the north because of you.

Whispers of your return had them shitting their pants.

” He smirked. “And your cursed army went down, but it was magnificent. The history books will love this.”

Hel chuckled and took a pull of smoke. “I have no quarrel with the dragons. Your parents don’t need to fear me unless they give me a reason, like not showing up with reinforcements for example.”

“Well, they did sign a contract that would kill them both if they don’t, so they’ll come, let’s just hope it’s in time.”

“Ronan may want glory,” Fennan said angrily, throwing his hand at him.

“But this isn’t about glory. We could easily lose this battle.

We just lost all of Hel’s army and at least two hundred Ravens, I don’t know how many dragons you lost but that leaves us with maybe four thousand warriors.

” Fennan’s voice came out scratchy. He looked like he might be sick. “The odds can’t get much worse.”

Valeen knew exactly how he felt but they had to believe they could win, or it was already lost. “I’ve seen battles won with worse odds. It’s not hopeless.”

“I haven’t, and we have nowhere to retreat to this time.”

Hel stepped forward. “That’s right, so you better give this fight every fucking thing in you, or this city, your home, is gone.

There will be no Palenor left. You are fighting for your land and your people.

They will take the females as slaves, rape them and make them wish they were dead, and then kill every male here, including children.

I have seen it. But they are only here on command of their god.

” Hel shoved his finger into Fennan’s chest. “You are fighting with this.” Just when she thought she couldn’t love him more, he said that.

She beamed at him, and he quickly added. “We show them no mercy.”

Leif bobbed his head and grinned. “No mercy.”

“None.” Hel smiled back at him.

“No fucking mercy!” Ronan howled and threw his fist into the air. “I like this new curse word.”

“No mercy!” Tif added to the chorus, and everyone laughed. Valeen blew out a slow breath and rolled her neck. It was time to kill as many people as possible. She took out Zythara and swung it around her hand.

Thane grabbed Fennan by the shoulder. “We have the magical barrier that gives us the advantage. We will send arrows and catapults at them, and we can retreat inside whenever we need to, and they can’t get to us. We’ll take out their leaders and they will leave. We can win this.”

“Not only can we win, but we will,” Valeen said. “You know why I named this sword Darkbringer? Because when I bring it out my enemies will not see light again. The god of war is your king and does not lose, and Hel wants revenge more than any of you truly know. We will win.”

“It’s time to get to our positions,” Thane said. “They’ll come from the west. Piper, you’ll go with Ronan and help command aerial. Leif, Fennan, you’re with me.” He looked between Valeen, Hel, and Presco. “Where will you all be?”

“I’ll be where I can take Pricilla’s head,” Hel said.

Worried, Valeen glanced at Katana. She was staying here at the castle with Tif and Talon. “Presco and I will fly with the dragons. You’ll need us there.”

“Damn, we get led into battle by the goddess of night.” Ronan lightly punched Dax, and he grinned back.

Katana stood and brushed the grass off her tan pants. “If anything happens here, I can communicate with Thane,” Katana assured. “Tif and I will wait in Valeen’s room protected by the enchantments.”

“Let’s go.” Thane held onto Phantom’s reins and signaled everyone to move out, but he didn’t mount him yet. He probably wanted a moment with Katana.

Valeen dropped into a crouch beside Katana and Tif. “Tif, stay in the room until I get back, alright?”

Tif put one of the flower necklaces over her own head. “I will, don’t worry.”

“Katana, nothing can happen to Lightbringer.”

With a bright smile, she pressed her hand to Valeen’s cheek and patted gently.

“If Synick tries to sabotage it, I will tell Thane, and you’ll come.

Everything will work out. The All Mother is with us.

I can feel it.” She lifted her hand toward the sky.

“There is not a cloud in the sky and the sun shines brightly upon us. You used to believe in miracles once. Believe again.”