Page 20 of Realm of Crows (Wings of Ink #5)

Fifteen

Ayna

We leave the study at twilight, our footsteps scattering in all directions as we each head for our various destinations.

The afternoon gave us a lot to consider, too many uncertainties that may demolish our chances at winning this war, but at least we have the infrastructure we need to make quick communication with the key groups of the rebels to redirect them before they get too far east.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come?” Myron asks for the third time since we walked through the ornate oak door into the glimmering hallway. “I could give you moral support if nothing else.”

Slipping my hand into his, I slow my pace, allowing us more time to reach the throne room where Clio said she’d meet me in a few minutes after gathering the rebels currently residing in the fairy palace.

“Kaira will need your help setting up everything for the bonfire.” It’s a weak consolation, but at least this way, he’ll be busy while I’m gone to convince the rebels out there to abandon the plan they were given mere weeks ago.

The last thing we need is for them to wonder if we know what we’re doing.

It’s bad enough all we can do is wild guesswork, but I guess that’s what strategizing for war is.

We’ll never have all the information of Ephegos’s moves, or we’d defeat him before he makes them.

Between him and Erina, we’re fighting two enemies with misaligned goals.

Then there’s the ace Erina mentioned he had up his sleeve.

Whatever he plans to keep Ephegos in check, I can’t even begin to fathom.

How I wish I were back on the Wild Ray, the only worry when we’d loot the next merchant ship.

Life was easy as a pirate. No responsibilities other than that for my crew, and the only reckoning force the weather.

At sea, everyone needs to work together, or the ship will not arrive at its destination.

There is no hiding or escaping if you mess up.

And there is only the loyalty of the family you make aboard a ship.

“What are you thinking about?” Myron studies me from the side, his strides shortened to slow to my pace.

I take a deep breath, tasting the air for the salt and brine of the ocean I so miss. Winter and spices are all this place offers me when I long for the untamed winds carrying me across the waters. “That life was easier as a pirate. ”

A guard in one of the alcoves between columns nods at us as we reach the wide set of stairs to the entrance hall. I give him a smile before continuing down the steps.

“Would you go back to that life if you could?” The caution in Myron’s tone makes me consider my words carefully.

“I miss the freedom of it and the simplicity.” We reach the bottom of the stairs, turning into the long hallway decorated with carvings and portraits that leads to the throne room. “But I don’t think I could go back. Even if I wasn’t queen of two realms.”

“Because of what … happened to you?” He says it cautiously, as if expecting for me to draw the dagger strapped to my hip and attack him the way I did Royad.

He’s afraid to ask what truly happened since the clearing, and I get it.

I myself am scared of revisiting those memories when all they do is bring back fear and bitterness.

“It’s not because of what happened to me.

” I squeeze his hand, savoring the warmth of his palm against mine, his calm, steady presence.

“I changed, Myron. I’m not the same broken girl you ordered brought to your palace from Fort Perenis.

I had to change, to grow and adjust, or I’d no longer be breathing.

I’d have died the first time I was attacked in your halls or later, when Ephegos first put me under the influence of that drug.

Or when I was tortured. In every single battle we fought, I would have died had I remained the pirate with such simple loyalties and values. ”

I halt outside the throne room, facing Myron.

His eyes are the storms above the oceans, thin black veins creeping around his irises, threatening to spread.

He stands still, quiet, like a statue weathering said storm, but I can tell the turmoil raging inside of him, even when he’s doing his best to control it so I may not shy away from telling him whatever truth I need to share.

So I do.

“I had to harden to survive, had to learn how to deal with the darkness this world— our world—comes with. But more than that, I needed to learn that I’m stronger than the woman who married you all those months back.”

Myron’s throat bobs.

“I’m strong, capable. I learned to survive, to defy even the gods.

And most of all, I am not alone. I will never be alone again.

” Like the sun breaching the clouds after a storm, silver light spills from between our palms where my mate mark lights up, pouring the power of starlight into him, a reminder of how much more we both are.

“The stars are eternal, Myron. And we are the stars, you and I.”

Myron’s breath catches as he holds back words I might not be ready to hear, or just words that won’t do the emotions in his eyes justice. I don’t care. What I care about is the burning heat between our palms and the softness of his lips as he presses a kiss to my forehead. “I love you, Ayna.”

I don’t need to tell him I love him, too.

The light snaking from between our palms up his wrist, along his arm, and over his shoulder, until it settles at the center of his chest where his mate mark is hidden beneath black fabrics and leather, says it all.

For a heartbeat, it flares like a shooting star, weaving the bond between us even tighter.

Only when it fades do I dare peel my gaze away from his, and together, we cross the threshold to the throne room.

We’re the first ones here, but it won’t be long before Clio and Tori arrive with another few fairies ready to site-hop through the world, and the rebels who we hope will serve as messengers.

The polished floor reflects the balls of fairy light sitting on the chandeliers like candles, while outside the windows, the darkness of night is eating away at the tearing tissue of daylight.

In the heart of the garden, perhaps a hundred feet from the fountain behind the palace, someone is stacking wood for a fire.

“Is that Herinor?” Tori asks over my shoulder, almost giving me a heart attack as he pops up behind us. I blow out a breath to steady myself. “Ever since you brought him back from that Guardsiansdamned Tavrasian camp, he’s been tamer than a house cat.”

I suppress a chuckle.

“Who’s a house cat?”

My gaze whips around to find Clio on the threshold, Andraya and Pouly to her sides. Next to the door, four more fairies in the black and gold uniform of Rogue’s personal guard stand at attention, and between them, Rochus, Ed, and Gabrilla stand like forlorn sheep lost in a pack of wolves.

“Good.” Clio claps her hands, marching up to us, the guards and rebels trailing after her. “Now that we’re all here, let’s get to work.” With a brief glance, she dismisses Myron, who drops a kiss on my temple and squeezes my hand once before prowling from the room .

“I’ll see you at the bonfire,” he calls over his shoulder as he disappears, and my heart wants to dislodge from my chest to fly after him, but all I do is smile at him with all the love I have.

The guards take formation in front of Astorian as if reporting to the general, while the rebels stick close together.

Ed, Gabrilla, and Rochus are still more jumpy than Andraya and Pouly, who have been dealing with Crows and fairies long enough not to cringe whenever a new face enters the room, while all of this still seems to be new for the other three.

Clio gives me a nod—time for a speech from their queen.

“New information has come to light that allows us to anticipate the pending attacks will be coming much sooner than expected. The rebels have been doing an excellent job of distracting Erina in the south, but Ephegos is focusing his efforts on the north. He’s marching on Aceleau as we speak, his troops still scattered but ready to gather and strike in full force. ”

Ed swallows while Rochus instinctively reaches for the sword at his hip. Gabrilla’s face is unreadable, but she doesn’t appear afraid, more defiant, if anything.

“What do you need us to do?”

I could hug Pouly for understanding right away that they haven’t been called here merely to hear this information.

“I need your help.”

All five rebels bow and curtsey in deference, and my heart nearly bursts from gratitude .

“Whatever helps us ensure a Tavras free of Erina is something we’re willing to do,” Rochus speaks, and both Andraya and Pouly second his sentiment with a small incline of their heads.

“And I want to thank you for that. Tonight, we’ll celebrate the Winter Solstice together, but before that, I’ll send each of you to speak with several rebel groups to redirect them to a new meeting point. We need to meet Erina’s armies before they can get too close to the city.”

“The Askarean armies will block Erina from the north, but we’ll need the rebels to close in from the east,” Tori explains with the calculated tone of the general.

“We won’t have time to merge our forces into one big army the way we intended to.

We’ll need to come at them from two sides, and we’ll stand a better chance if we’re the ones to attack rather than wait for Erina to make his move. ”

I don’t need to ask Pouly and Andraya what they think because their faces are already set with determination, but Rochus appears hesitant.

“What is it, Rochus?” I prompt, keeping my tone polite even when, deep inside, I wish I wouldn’t need to share any details of the dangers I’m sending my people into.

“If you’ll allow…” He stops himself, glancing me up and down with the assessing eyes of a soldier. “It’s easy for you to speak of battles when you’re better equipped to survive an encounter with a blade.”