Page 53 of Queen of Legends and Lies (Dragons of Tirene #4)

“Guess he’s the God of Lost Things for a reason.

” My eyes linger on the empty chairs, heart growing heavy as I think about those missing.

“Eldor, Mother, Alannah, Blair, Ezra…we can never forget their sacrifices. The sacrifices we’ve all made to get here.

We fight for them as much as for the living.

And I know they’ll be watching over us, every step of the way. ”

Sterling’s hand finds mine beneath the table, strong fingers lacing through my own. “Enough focusing solely on defense. No more fighting in our homelands. It’s time we go on the offensive. Stand up and resist with everything we have. We’re taking the fight to them.”

His dark eyes blaze into mine. “Lark has an idea. A dangerous one, but I think it just might work.”

“Honestly, there’s a good possibility it won’t.” I squeeze Sterling’s hand, grateful for his unwavering faith in me. “But nothing worth doing comes without risk.”

“Agreed.” Agnar leans forward. “I trust you. You always find a way out, even if it’s through a haze of ash.”

Everyone around the table nods. Even Helene and Elijah.

Bolstered by their confidence in me, I square my shoulders and lift my chin. “I’m going to explain the plan in full. But I need you to wait until I’m finished before asking any questions. Can you do that?”

Sterling arches a brow, lips quirking. “Look at you, having a plan.” Amusement colors his throaty voice.

I can’t help but grin as I remember how often I’ve complained about the council insisting we sit and strategize without ever taking action.

“Shocking, I know.” Sobering, I lean forward, resting my elbows on the polished wood.

“There’s a network of caves beneath Flighthaven that houses an abandoned Palace of the Gods.

It’s hidden deep underground. That’s where Narc’s bones are. ”

Everyone at the table knows this, but true to their word, no one interrupts.

“I believe we have to merge all four elemental powers directly over that land. That’s the other thing Orin, the God of Lost Things, told me…

or rather, implied. That it’s the only way to destroy Narc’s corpse completely and cleanse the corruption tainting everything.

If we succeed, we’d stop this war in its tracks. ”

A weighty pause follows my words.

Then, with a nod, I open the floor to questions.

“It sounds doable.” Bastian rubs his bandaged head. “Dangerous as hells but doable.”

Leesa frowns. “The issue is that none of us know how to merge the way you and Knox can.”

I turn to Agnar, studying him. “Actually, I’m pretty sure we merged during the attack on Tír Ríoga.” His brows furrow as I press on. “Were you unusually cold the day after? Shivering and unable to get warm?”

Agnar’s eyes widen. “Yes, actually. I thought I was fighting off a head cold. Didn’t think much of it, really.”

I incline my head toward Sterling. “He’s always freezing after we merge.

The opposite of my power. And I’m beyond dehydrated after merging with him.

But with Alannah, it felt like I couldn’t catch my breath.

With you, Agnar, I was dizzy for hours. At first, I thought it was simply exhaustion from pushing my magic and body so hard in battle.

But it kept happening, even when Knox and I practiced.

That’s when I started putting the pieces together. ”

Bastian sips his tea. “That sounds similar to something I read this morning.”

No one seems surprised that he went straight to the archives after the healers patched him up. That’s just Bastian, always seeking knowledge, even in the face of injury and exhaustion.

“Can anyone merge? Or just Tirenese?” Helene cuts off a bite of her pastry, holding it midair. “Without magic, I feel so damn useless. But if I can merge with someone who can access their abilities, I can at least be of some help.”

“I still have a lot of reading to do, so I don’t know all the answers. But Eldor left notes…” Bastian trails off, his hazel eyes distant as he mentally sorts through the information.

Regret pangs in my chest. He tried to show me all day, but I was too busy to spend time with my grandfather. If only I’d realized this was his last day to draw breath…

The invisible hand squeezing my lungs tightens. My only solace is the knowledge that the issues keeping me from him were also the ones preventing the traitors from returning to Xenon with information about our forces. “Can you get them? Eldor’s notes?”

Bastian nods, already moving toward the door. “I’ll head to the archives now.”

Sterling stands abruptly, his large frame unfolding from the chair. “I’ll send a couple guards to help you retrieve them.” He strides to the door, exchanging low words with the sentries outside.

As he does, I continue. “There are a couple potential issues with the plan.” I hold up a finger. “First, we need permission.”

Amused glances dart between the others, and a few quiet laughs escape their lips.

I can’t blame them. Since when have I ever asked for permission? But this is different. “The main problem is we require the landowner’s approval to implement such a permanent and destructive change to their property. According to the gods.”

Understanding dawns on their faces as the magnitude of what we’re proposing sinks in. Altering the very landscape—even for the greater good—is not a task to be taken lightly.

Ten minutes later, Bastian and two guards arrive with stacks of books and scrolls.

Sterling directs them to a side table.

After they deposit the texts, the two guards depart, and Leesa and Bastian descend on the pile, rifling through the parchment.

Leesa glances up. “And the second problem?”

I hesitate, the implication of what I’m about to say already weighing on me. “We need wielders of all four elements to pull this off.” I meet each of their gazes in turn. “Fire, water, earth, and air.”

The room stills, the gravity of that last word hanging between us. We have fire, water, and earth accounted for. But air? After losing Alannah, our options are painfully limited.

My voice is grim as I utter the question that’s been plaguing all our minds. “Which Tirenese air wielder is both powerful and trustworthy? Who’s strong enough to withstand the merge? And willing to risk everything,” perhaps even their life , I leave out, “to see this through?”

Silence descends, heavy and absolute.

Because we all know the terrible truth.

Dowager Queen Alannah would’ve been the perfect ally.

But we’re too late in our discoveries. If Celeste hadn’t betrayed us, I would’ve learned about this from Eldor.

If Serle hadn’t betrayed us, Celeste would’ve stayed in the dungeon, and Alannah would be alive.

Sharing a meal with us and plotting how to win this war.

Giving us her quiet wisdom and the benefit of her experiences.

She was always there at our backs when we needed her.

There’s no replacing her. And yet, we need to find someone who can stand with us in her stead.

A sudden knock jolts me from my bleak thoughts. The guard leans into the room, his armor glinting in the firelight. “Councilor Rafe Bennett to see you, Your Majesty.”

Rafe strides into the room, face devoid of the disapproval he usually reserves for me. What in Ziva’s name is he doing here?

Before I can voice the question, Sterling’s fingers brush against my hand. “I asked Rafe to join us. We need his help, Lark.”

I bristle, my opinion of the council still smarting from last night’s betrayal. Three of them turned on us, ready to hand our kingdom to the enemy on a silver platter. But even though Rafe has seemed skeptical of my abilities since day one, I have to admit he was never truly the problem.

Schooling my features, I meet his caramel-colored eyes. “Councilor Bennett, we’re planning an invasion of Aclaris. To strike at the very heart of the corruption destroying our lands.” I lift my chin, holding his gaze. “Will you join us?”

I brace myself for excuses, for the same rhetoric he’s spouted in countless council meetings. The need for caution, to shy away from outright conflict.

To my astonishment, Rafe simply shrugs his broad shoulders.

“I will.” At my blatant surprise, a wry smile tugs at his lips.

“And I owe you an apology, Your Highness. I misjudged you and your ability to lead our kingdom. You may be young, but I realize now there’s more to leading than age.

And after witnessing you in action last night?

Seeing the strength of the team at your back?

I’m ready to lend my magic, my blades, my life, anything you need to defend our people. ”

Shock can hardly describe the emotions jolting through me.

As his words sink in, I find myself humbled by his conviction. And if I’m being honest, Rafe’s had good reason not to trust me. I was so focused on being the lone savior, I nearly doomed us all. But this fight is bigger than I am. It always has been.

Prophecy be damned. I can’t do this on my own.

“Thank you, Rafe.” I shake off my guilt and astonishment. “Welcome to the team.” Relief washes over me. We found our air elemental.

A grin splits his face, transforming the usually stern planes. “Excellent. Now, what’s first on the agenda?”

I spend the next few minutes filling Rafe in on our plans.

Then, Bastian glances up from the pile of Eldor’s notes, his face alight with discovery.

He turns to Leesa and murmurs something too low to catch.

With a nod, she tugs the cord by the door.

A maid enters within moments. Had she been waiting in the hall?

Leesa presses a folded note into her hand and sends her off with a whispered command.

As she hurries away, Bastian clears his throat and consults the parchment. “To begin the merging process, we’ll need a few specific items.”

I lean forward, the thrill of purpose chasing away the specter of doubt. “Tell us everything.”