Page 165

52

C ora greeted the North Tower Library not with the affection of a friend but the respect of an old enemy. She stepped inside the circular space and found it just as impotent as ever. It was merely a dim, moonlit room, clean enough to prove it was well maintained but with a staleness that spoke of having very few visitors.

She slowly stalked the perimeter of the room with her head held high, not bothering to skirt away from the shadows that gathered in the darkest corners. She swept past pools of moonlight and shadow, as if they were one and the same, and remembered how far she’d come. Just like she’d done the night before her wedding, when she’d awoken from that fiery nightmare, she was here to remind herself of the enemy she’d already defeated. Of the dark energy she’d banished from every object in this room.

Morkai was gone.

Soon Darius would be too.

She’d returned from El’Ara ten days ago, her alliance with the Elvyn secured along with a plan for their ambush. By now, all the pieces should be in place. Larylis and his soldiers were posted in the woods, some near the ambush location, others ready to defend the real tear. Ailan should have sent some of her Elvyn soldiers to join them. Ailan herself would be waiting in the Blight near the tear for the signal that it was time for her to face Darius. The rebellion in Norun should have begun. Cora and Teryn had sent a battalion north to defend the border, should Darius’ forces suddenly invade. In two days, Cora and Teryn would ride to join them and prepare for the meeting with Darius. Meanwhile, Ridine’s garrison was prepared to defend the castle should Darius appear at any time.

Her mind reeled to keep all the plans organized in her mind, as well as to measure the time discrepancy between the human world and El’Ara. She wasn’t sure whether it was a blessing or a curse that time went by so much slower here. For Ailan and Mareleau, just over a day had passed since Cora had left. They would experience a flurry of activity from dawn to dusk until the battle began.

Even Valorre had a job to do. For the last week, he’d been seeking out all his remaining unicorn brethren, and perhaps any other fae creatures who may have come through the Veil. Most of the unicorns had figured out how to return through the Veil on their own after they’d gotten their memories back. But there were still some who hadn’t left, and she didn’t want them trapped here when she pushed the mora back. Cora ached at the silence that had once been filled by Valorre’s presence, and it was only made worse knowing she wouldn’t see him again until they reconvened at Centerpointe Rock. He may be there already, but she wouldn’t know until she arrived.

In the meantime, Cora could only wait. Prepare. Plan for numerous scenarios.

She blew out an anxious breath and circled the room once more. This time, she paused at the nightstand upon which her talisman of twigs and crystals rested. This was the only surface that gathered dust in the room, for the servants knew better than to disrupt this design. Only Cora tended to it.

With tender care, she removed each twig, each crystal, with careful reverence, then dusted the table with a silk handkerchief she’d tucked into the front of her chemise. Once clean, she replaced the items one at a time, crossing each stick with precision until it formed something like a star, then arranged the crystals around it. With her protection talisman back in place, she gave the nightstand an approving nod. She stepped away, but not before her eyes fell on the nightstand drawer. That was where she’d previously stashed the talon collar, right next to Morkai’s book of blood weaving blueprints.

A book Cora now knew Teryn had read.

He’d told her all about what he’d done with the blood Darius had left behind before he’d taken Cora to Syrus. Told her how he’d made a bond with Morkai’s warrior wraiths, earning their loyalty for one final battle, before he’d give them eternal rest. All Teryn had to do to summon them was offer his blood.

She’d been chilled to learn of what he’d done, yet she hadn’t felt an ounce of fear. It was more…awe. Relief. They now had a way to bolster their numbers without their enemy being any the wiser.

As for their enemy…

He could act at any time.

Cora sensed Teryn’s approach before his footsteps sounded on the stairs. She glanced over her shoulder to greet him with a tired grin.

He was dressed down to his shirtsleeves and trousers, his silver hair hanging in waves around his face. In a few slow strides, he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He nestled his face into the crook of her neck. “Couldn’t sleep?”

“No,” she said. “Besides, I wanted to wait for you.”

He’d been in the study all evening, arranging correspondences with the trusted few who knew about Larylis’ formal abdication. They were keeping it a secret for now, so as not to alert Darius of their intentions, but they still needed to set some things in motion so as not to throw Lela into chaos once all was said and done.

They stayed like that for several long, quiet moments. These were the moments Cora treasured lately. The calm before the storm.

Too soon, Teryn pulled away. She turned to face him, lacing her hands behind his neck. He frowned, then ran a hand down her bare arm. “Aren’t you cold?”

She hadn’t noticed the cold until now, but dressed in only her chemise so late in the evening, and in a room without a fire, she had to admit she was chilly. “A little.”

He smiled down at her and rubbed both of her gooseflesh-covered arms, pausing as one of his hands brushed over her bicep. He stroked the skin with his thumb, eliciting a shiver from her. “Your tattoos have grown again.”

Brow furrowed, she slid her hands from behind his neck, resting one palm on his chest while she inspected the other arm. Sure enough, on the inside of her bicep were more geometric shapes that hadn’t been inked with a needle. “Oh, you’re right.”

She hadn’t noticed before now, as it wasn’t a part of her body she regularly inspected, nor was it an area that drew her attention in the mirror. Yet as surprised as she was to see the new designs, she’d experienced a similar phenomenon last year, when a spiral appeared on her inner elbow. Salinda had explained that Cora wasn’t the only one whose insigmora had taken on a life of their own. The tattoos themselves were a Faeryn tradition, passed down to the Forest People—Faeryn descendants and witches alike. Now that she knew more about Lela’s history, she wondered if it was the influence of mora that made the tattoos grow on their own.

Furthermore…what would it be like once fae magic was properly sealed behind the Veil?

Would her insigmora cease growing without the aid of ink and needle?

Would the Faeryn descendants who lived among the Forest People cease being able to use the Magic of the Soil? Would they never again wield roots and vines like they had during the battle at Centerpointe Rock? Would only witch magic be left in the world?

Her questions left her with a pang of guilt, for she hated to think she might be condemning some of the Forest People to a magicless life. Yet it was impossible to know the answers, and she’d already made her choice. She knew what she had to do. She’d deal with the consequences after the mora was sealed and Lela was safely hers.

Teryn ran his hand over her arm again from bicep to wrist, then lifted the back of her hand to his lips. “We should get to bed.”

She stepped closer to him and heaved a sigh. “Must we?” She’d spoken out of anxiety, for she dreaded sleep these days, fearing all the ways things could go wrong during slumber. But the way his eyes dipped to her mouth made her reconsider her motivations behind the statement.

Teryn lifted his eyes back to hers, holding them with passionate intensity. Her palm was still pressed to his chest, her other hand still resting in his. Slowly, he lowered his lips to hers and caressed them with the softest, sweetest kiss. It was a balm on her soul, a blanket for all her frayed nerves. She melted against him, angled her head, and let him deepen the kiss.

Mother Goddess, she loved him so much. Loved how a single kiss could make her forget her fears. Her worries. The risks they’d soon face.

Yet Teryn’s kisses could only do so much.

They couldn’t drown out the clamor of bells that shattered the night.

Cora’s heart hammered against her ribs as they raced down the stairs and through the main hall. Captain Alden and several members of the royal guard intercepted them.

“What happened?” Cora asked, though she expected she already knew the gist of it.

“Heavily armored soldiers are appearing within the perimeter wall,” Alden said, her blue eyes wide with terror. “Two dozen at a time, surrounding the castle. I’ve sent archers to the wall, but the invading army hasn’t attacked. They’re waiting beneath a shield wall.”

Cora’s stomach turned. Darius was here. He wasn’t going to wait for the border meeting after all. She breathed past her fear, reminding herself that they were prepared for this scenario. Even her guards were ready, as demonstrated by the clothing, weapons, and armor they carried. One guard passed Cora a pair of trousers, a leather gambeson, and a breastplate while another handed similar items to Teryn. With no time for modesty, Cora and Teryn dressed in the proffered raiment with haste, then donned their weapons—Teryn’s sword and Cora’s dagger.

After they were fully dressed, the party proceeded to the nearest battlement. Once at the parapet, Cora glanced down at the castle grounds. Just like Captain Alden had explained, soldiers gathered in clusters of two dozen all around the castle.

“Seven devils,” Teryn cursed from beside her, his hands gripping the edge of the crenellated wall so hard his knuckles turned white.

“There’s at least one hundred soldiers,” Captain Alden said under her breath. Then, “No, one hundred and fifty. And more keep appearing.”

Cora swallowed hard. Their garrison boasted three hundred, but that wasn’t enough when the enemy was already inside the gates. Darius had memorized locations inside the keep itself; soldiers could already be surging through the halls…

Despite the fear tightening her chest, she anchored her soles to the floor, flooded her nostrils with cold night air, and connected to the elements. Earth beneath her feet. Breath in her lungs. The mist in the air. The light of the moon. The fire of her rage. Then, lowering her shields, she sought a specific strain of energy.

It sparked in her periphery, on the distant ground, then was gone the next moment. She whirled toward where she’d sensed him and saw a group of soldiers where there had been none a moment ago.

Then his energy returned, closer this time.

Then closer again.

She and Teryn turned away from the parapet just in time to see Darius appear on the battlement.

“There you are,” Darius said with a smirk. He was dressed in his same dark military-style ensemble as before, his gray hair swept back from his severe brow, but with a cuirass and gauntlets.

Captain Alden raised her sword, as did the rest of the royal guard, but Darius disappeared in the next breath. His absence did nothing to relieve Cora’s fear, and in another heartbeat, Darius was back, a dozen soldiers behind him. His arms were linked with two of his soldiers, and theirs were linked to their comrades, forming a clustered chain of sorts. Cora’s eyes widened at the sight. He could travel with that many companions simply by linking a group together and only making physical contact with two of them.

Darius’ soldiers dropped each other’s arms and withdrew their swords, taking up defensive stances.

“Majesty,” Alden said, her eyes narrowed on Darius. “Orders?”

“Hold positions,” Cora said, infusing her voice with as much calm as she could muster. Her fingers begged to unsheathe her dagger, yearned to flinch toward the bow and quiver that weren’t there. Yet she kept her arms at her sides as she and Teryn stepped forward, flanked by Alden and another guard. Darius’ men held their positions while their king mirrored the step toward the other party. He stood tall, his sword fully sheathed at his hip, hands clasped behind his back as if he had no reason to fear the blades pointed at him.

Why should he fear when he could worldwalk out of harm’s way in the blink of an eye?

“What is the meaning of this?” Teryn asked. Cora could feel the fear rippling off her husband, but he too was putting on a good show of keeping his composure. “You agreed to give us three weeks to make our decision?—”

“Yes, but that was before my reinforcements were stalled.” Darius narrowed his eyes. “Did you have anything to do with that? Aiding your friends in Tomas?”

“We were not involved,” Cora said, holding his gaze without falter.

“Ah, but you knew about it, didn’t you? When you asked for more time to consider my offer, you knew about the rebellion, right?”

“You threatened us with war. Why wouldn’t I use any advantage to protect my kingdom? You’re the one who broke my trust. You assured me you’d prove your merit?—”

“Don’t bother with that,” Darius said, a dark chuckle coloring his words. “You never intended to consider my offer of alliance, did you?”

“I suppose you’ll never know now. What you’re doing—showing up at my castle with an army—is unforgivable.”

He took another step forward, pausing only when Cora’s guards did the same. Still, he kept his gaze locked on Cora’s. “I told you my threats weren’t empty, and I was tired of waiting while I knew I was being toyed with. You seem to have forgotten what I said about Ridine. That I could and would take it in a single night, should you give me a reason to.”

“So you’re here to fight us?” Teryn asked.

“I’m here,” Darius said, “to give you one last chance to make a reasonable choice. You’ve forfeited your option of alliance, but I will still accept surrender. Take me to the tear at once, or Ridine is mine.”