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C ora eyed Centerpointe Rock from her vantage point on the hillside. Dawn had just broken over the horizon, illuminating the valley that surrounded the rock and casting a crown of gold upon the hills that stood sentinel around it. The rock itself was an enormous piece of weathered stone with a flat surface. It looked nothing like an ancient ruin from a forgotten war, nothing like a remnant of a fae palace. Now that she knew what it was, she couldn’t help wondering what part of the palace the ruin stood in memory of. Was it once the floor of a throne room? A library? Some ancient fae queen’s bedroom?

Her gaze wandered to the surrounding valley. The ground was green and plush, covered in a light morning frost. On one side sat her brother’s camp, a sea of tents beneath standards of indigo and violet—indigo for the duke and violet for the king. The king’s entourage had been camped there for three days—as long as Cora and her company of Forest People had been stalking the hillside—while the delegation from Selay and Menah had been camped at the opposite end of the valley since two days prior. Today was the day the meeting would commence.

She wrapped her wool cloak tight around her, chilled at the thought of what was to come. The Forest People had a plan that would end in the duke’s death, but it didn’t stop her from agonizing over every way it could go wrong. Cora had come to Centerpointe Rock with a small group of some of the strongest magic users among the Forest People. Roije for his tracking. Druchan for his proficiency at wards and concealing. Their elder seer. Two witches with incredible clairaudience who could listen for threats at a distance. A host of their best archers and spearmen. Several other highly accomplished Faeryn. The latter included Salinda and Nalia, despite neither having an Art honed for fighting or hiding. Cora felt a bit overshadowed by her companions’ statuses, but there had never been any doubt as to whether she’d come along. This was her plan, after all. Mostly.

Cora may not have had firsthand experience with war, but her childhood education in history and warfare had been thorough. She understood what to expect from the proceedings. The meeting would begin with Khero delivering their demands and terms for the two kingdoms’ surrender. If Menah and Selay didn’t surrender right away, they’d be given a short time to deliberate. A second meeting could be set, at which the royals would need to deliver their final answer. If they surrendered, they’d get Teryn back. If they refused, they’d settle on terms for war.

A dark cloud of dread filled her gut. She knew Morkai had every intention of harnessing the magic and becoming Morkaius before leaving the meeting, regardless of what the royals decided. The fact that the negotiations were taking place at Centerpointe Rock—the very source of fae magic—was proof of that. If the two kingdoms surrendered, Dimetreus would be named King of Lela. Until Morkai killed him and took his place, of course. As terrifying as that thought was, it was the outcome she both expected and hoped for. Not the part where her brother was killed but where the royals surrendered. Because—as soon as Teryn was safely returned to his people—the Forest People would act. Morkai wouldn’t get the chance to kill Dimetreus or harness the magic he sought.

But if the royals refused to surrender, it would mean?—

Cora shook her head against the thoughts that filled it. Thoughts of Teryn. His fate. What Morkai would do if Menah and Selay rejected his terms. What Teryn had asked of her before she’d fled the dungeon.

Tell my father everything you know. Everything we’ve seen. Tell him to let me go.

A pinch of guilt prodded at her heart. She knew she was working against his wishes, but her plan was better. Her plan would save Teryn’s life and the fate of Lela. It didn’t assuage her guilt, but she supposed it was better than what lingered beneath it—the memory of their shared kiss, of his trickery, of the way her body had so eagerly responded to his.

She bit the inside of her cheek to distract herself from the tingling warmth in her stomach and brought her mind back to thoughts of war.

Her gaze swept toward her brother’s end of the valley. His party was moderate in size—about the same as the combined entourages from Menah and Selay—which boded well, for it meant Morkai might not be planning to strike immediately should negotiations turn to war. Roije and the other scouts had confirmed that no hidden armies were waiting beyond the hills, no secret reinforcements were poised to invade. Then again, the duke could summon wraiths to bolster his numbers. While she’d seen the specters contained only to the charred field, she had a feeling Morkai could conjure them elsewhere.

The plan remains the same no matter what , she reminded herself. Get the Roizan away from Morkai. Keep him from amplifying his powers through his well of dark magic. Then kill him.

Still, thoughts of Teryn lingered in the back of her mind. If they didn’t surrender…

They must surrender. They must. It’s the only way he lives .

Something soft bumped into her shoulder. She turned to find Valorre at her side, his presence immediately settling her nerves. With a weak smile, she stroked the side of his face, then rested her hand at the base of his horn. She frowned at the layer of cotton surrounding it. Even though the Forest People kept their hiding place safe behind wards and illusions, Cora figured extra precautions couldn’t hurt. She’d glimpsed the Roizan at a distance a few times, stalking her brother’s camp with its loping gait. She wasn’t sure how far it could sense a unicorn’s horn, but she wasn’t willing to find out. Not when Valorre was so integral to their plans. If there was one thing that could separate the Roizan from its master, it was a unicorn. “That isn’t uncomfortable, is it?”

I am not so easily bothered , he said, in contrast with the flutter of embarrassment that rippled through him. I must look foolish though .

“No, you look rather imposing in that pink floral pattern.”

Do I? All right .

“You don’t grasp sarcasm, do you?”

I…don’t think so .

Cora’s laugh was cut short by her sudden awareness of an approaching presence. Her walls had been kept down to allow her to perceive nearby threats. But this presence was no threat.

Salinda appeared a few moments later. She was dressed the same as Cora, in britches, a wool tunic, and a boiled leather breastplate and gauntlets. With a warm smile, she came up beside Cora and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Rianne has seen it. The meeting will happen very soon.”

Her mouth went dry. “Did she see how it would end?”

“She saw possibilities,” Salinda said. Rianne was a seer but that didn’t mean she could see the future. Her magic was more about catching glimpses of possibilities. Quiet magic, not certainty. Salinda gave Valorre a reverent nod. “Speaking of seeing, I still can hardly believe what stands before my eyes. He’s a faerytale come to life.”

I am majestic, yes, Valorre said. She may pet me if she wishes. One could hardly blame her. I am so very strong .

Cora rolled her eyes. She hadn’t introduced Valorre to the entire camp, only the small party she’d come here with. Not wanting to overwhelm him with a flurry of starry-eyed admirers, she’d waited until their task force had begun their journey to Centerpointe Rock before revealing him. He’d received a warm welcome and had relished their adoration. It made her think he wouldn’t have minded being the center of the entire commune’s attention after all.

Salinda gave him a gentle pat on the side of his neck, then turned to Cora with a more serious expression. “Are you ready?”

Cora nodded, one hand wrapping around her bow. It may not have been the bow she favored, for she’d lost that one at Ridine Castle, but it was still a bow. Her preferred weapon. A source of comfort and strength. She brought her other hand to her belt and the three knives slung there. She froze when her fingers brushed the hilt of the dagger she’d finally removed from the bottom of her quiver that morning. Repulsion shot through her, but she breathed it down. She hated carrying a weapon that had been wrought from death and suffering, but if Valorre’s role in her plans became compromised, it might help to have alternate means to draw the Roizan away from Morkai. She wasn’t sure if the blade was as potent as a living unicorn, but it had brought Prince Helios to his unfortunate doom.

She lifted her hand from the dagger and balled it into a fist at her side. “I’m ready.”

Silence fell between them, the burden of what was to come hanging heavy like a shroud. Together they stood watching the valley.

Waiting.

Waiting.

Waiting.

Until someone strolled onto the field.

Cora’s blood went cold as the figure left Dimetreus’ camp. With slow, confident moves, Morkai walked toward Centerpointe Rock.

Cora met Salinda’s eyes. The woman gave her a knowing nod.

It was time.