Page 101 of Reign of Stars and Fire

When he caught sight of me, his eyes widened. “Ari.”

Dammit. His bleeding voice cracked. A thief, a survivor, a prince, if Gunnar Strom started to sob over me, I’d embarrass the whole of my bloodline. Past and future.

I pressed a hand to my chest, tilting my head, and forced a wry grin. “My Prince.”

Gunnar’s brow furrowed. Hagen reached for him, but the young prince was already across the room. He winced when he wrapped his arms around my shoulders. Gunnar clapped my back several times before he stepped back, trying to hide the way he wiped his eyes.

“Decided to wake your ass up?” Hagen chuckled and clasped my forearm.

“I figured my presence had been missed long enough and you all knew how to truly appreciate me now.” I sobered. “I heard about Eryka.”

“There is no reality where I’m not getting her back.” Gunnar blinked his rage at the ground. “After what Sofia tried to do, I’ve heard talk that it might be used as a way out of this war.”

“From whom?” My eyes narrowed. The next person who tried to take me from my wife would sleep with my knife in their eye.

Gunnar shifted on his feet a few times. “Honestly, Bjorn was counseling with Gorm about having . . . options.”

“And what did Gorm say?”

“What do you think?” Gunnar scoffed. “If the Raven Queen commands it.”

Gods bless the loyalty of Lord Gorm. “Was Bjorn placated or must I take his head?”

“From what I heard, it seemed to be only a suggestion. Not a demand.” Gunnar’s face twisted in anger. “We should not be placing our sights on the damn past; we need to get Eryka.”

“We need a plan, son. You storm in there like this,” Hagen said sternly, “and you’re dead before you find her.”

“You didn’t ever quit on us,” Gunnar snapped. “You always fought for Maj no matter the risk.”

“Yes,” Hagen said. “And we will do the same now. But your mother and I tried to be wise. Only when we grew desperate did we get caught and nearly lose our heads.”

“You fought for Saga,” I told Gunnar. “You fought for me. No doubt you already know what I’ll say, but I am with you. I also agree with your father. We don’t know where he’s keeping her, so we must think, we must plan, then we take a victory.”

Behind us, Calista hummed softly. Only a few notes, but enough to draw our attention. The storyteller lifted her gaze. “Won’t be long.”

“What was that, Cal?” Gunnar asked. “Were you singing?”

“It’s a new trick,” she muttered flatly, as though she hated that she’d done it. “Don’t you like my voice, thieving prince?”

“Her power is growing and changing,” I said, ignoring Calista’s glare. “She doesn’t like to talk about it.”

“What’s coming?” Hagen asked.

Calista hid her face in her palms, unsettled. “Now.”

In eerie timing, the double doors at the entrance of the great hall banged open. Cuyler and three of his watchers stormed inside, soaked from the gentle, but constant rain outside. From the clatter of their blades on leather, the gust of wind cutting to the bones, and the brisk way they spoke, Saga shot up on the chaise.

“What’s happened?” Her frantic gaze scanned the space, and only when she found me did her shoulders relax. In hurried movements, she kicked her legs off the chaise and made her way to my side. She clasped my hand and faced Cuyler. “What’s going on?”

“My Queen,” Cuyler offered a slight head bow, too rushed to pause long. “There’s trouble at the gates.”

Saga’s grip on my hand tightened.

“Follow me.” Cuyler shifted on his feet for a pause. “And someone should wake Lord Magus.”

Chapter32

The Raven Queen