Page 90 of The Last One Standing (Rogue X Ara #4)

ROGUE

T hree days.

Sixty-eight hours.

We spent the last day with the Bloodsworn.

Still hidden beneath the spell, they marched closer to the Capitol and set up in what looked to be a deserted encampment, abandoned by Auryna’s failing armies.

Ice-crusted remnants remained: paths created by steady footfall, a pile of animal bones near a fire pit, stray tents, rotten and collapsed, and roughly half a mile away, we found the graves.

Rows of them, enough to fill the clearing, marked by disturbed dirt, packed down over time but too frozen under the nightly frost to regrow grass.

For some reason, I shared the sight down my connection with Guardian.

He stayed quiet, too.

We both knew I’d done this: stolen their food for my own men, deprived them of supplies and communication, leaving them stranded and starving in the dead of winter.

All for the sake of raising Ravaryn’s odds.

This is war , they’d say. Death is synonymous with war, unavoidable and often necessary.

I’d fought and killed in the throes of battle too many times to count. Blood stained my hands during the full decade of the Ten Year War, body after body falling in my wake. I’d burned entire armies to the ground, unbothered by their screams, but this…

This was different.

This was what my people had suffered in the years immediately following the Ten Year War.

They’d been starved and displaced, forced from the homes they’d known all of their lives, or tortured and maimed at the orders of a man who never laid eyes on their faces.

Never heard their pleas for mercy or heartbroken sobs.

This was war, the killing of thousands, while those who wield people like bargaining chips sit behind their impenetrable walls, arguing and scheming, eating, drinking, sleeping.

Disgust rolled in my gut.

I had done that to these men, killed these men in silence with nature’s worst weapons without ever seeing their faces. I’d known what I was doing, but knowing it and understanding it were two entirely different things.

I understood now.

Thousands of faceless people ran through my mind, both human and Fae, lost in a senseless war started by selfish kings—mad kings.

I’d fallen right in line behind Adrastus and Adonis.

I wouldn’t again.

Find wild game, boar or deer, I said to the wyverns dispersed throughout the kingdom, and deliver enough to feed the men in Auryna’s most isolated stations.

Relief delivered by wyverns would read like a bribe or baited offering, the infamous, bloodthirsty Fae King attempting to buy Auryna’s favor. They’d be suspicious, but starving men wouldn’t turn away food.

They stirred and took flight, despite their confusion bleeding into my mind. They’d shared many ways of the old kings, common strategies and techniques of battle, and in my desperation, I’d happily taken their advice.

It was here, at the foot of three hundred and forty-seven unmarked graves, that I realized there were much better kings to emulate—much kinder kings.

The daughter of one of them placed a hand on my shoulder, and I glanced back to find Ara, her lips pressed into a line and brows knitted together.

There were kinder rulers , I corrected, one of which I found myself helplessly in love with.

“Come on,” she said quietly, tipping her head towards camp, but as I turned to her, she wound her arms around my waist and buried her face in my chest.

I slowly wrapped my arms around her in return and laid my cheek atop her head. I didn’t have to explain myself, and she didn’t offer meaningless words of comfort. Her presence was enough. I inhaled the sweet scent of rain and wildflowers, and it cascaded over every frayed nerve in my system.

Minutes ticked by, but she didn’t pull away. She stayed as long as I needed her to. When I finally let go, she kept my hand firmly locked in hers as we walked to our tent at the edge of the war camp.

Lee, Godrick, and my five generals awaited us there, eyeing Godrick as they stood around the table set up within eyesight of a sparring circle—Ara’s request. Lee unrolled his spelled map, and Drustan studied it, mouth agape.

As we neared, Serra and Kaelin smiled at Ara, but they all dipped their chins in greeting—all but Boyd, who grumbled and fussed with his bag. He clearly held a grudge over his tongue, but foolish people won foolish prizes.

I pressed my lips to Ara’s forehead. “Don’t train too hard.”

“Too hard isn’t possible.”

I joined them at the table as she stepped into the sparring ring. We’d already discussed our plan in intricate detail, and thus, she left me in charge of relaying the news.

With a ball of nerves in my gut, I inhaled a deep breath, turned my attention to the seven around the table, and launched into the tedious retelling of everything we’d come to know since our last briefing.

From Ara’s memories of Adonis to the liminal moon to our near-death experience in the Southern Sea, I explained it all in grave detail, so they’d fully understand what came next.

“She has Severance, and I have Sacrifice.” As I unsheathed the dagger to show them, its unintelligible whispers started again—the ‘ hunger ’ as the weapons legend called it. I slid it back into its leather home before the urge to listen took root, and the whispers ceased.

“You…spoke with Vaelor?” Godrick asked. “As in Vaelor Wrynwood?”

“Yes.”

“The Kind King?” Serra asked.

Godrick pointed a finger at Ara, who now sat cross-legged in the sparring circle, staring into the surrounding forest. “Her father?”

I released an exasperated sigh, planting my hands on the table. “Yes, I spoke with him, and?—”

“He’s dead.” Serra looked to the Kaelin. “He is dead, yes? Or has my mind finally failed me? Have I gotten so old?”

I slammed my hand, and their attention snapped to me. “I took a tonic that allowed us to converse in my dreams.”

“He was a good king.” Godrick stared at an obscure location on the map, a small village near the Marsh. He cautiously traced an acre of trees, planted in neat rows—an orchard. “A good person.”

“He still is. He’s not gone from existence.

He just…watches from over there now, which leads me to my next point.

After Ara returned from the realm of the dead, he tracked down Adonis.

” I gestured to his armies inching across the spelled map.

“There’s a reason this camp was abandoned, along with many others. He’s recalling them to the Capitol.”

I pointed to the jagged edge of Auryna and the few miles between its precious capital castle and the sea. “That’s where he expects we’ll be in two days’ time.”

Drustan asked, “Why?”

Boyd shook his head, his ruddy cheeks red with frustration as he scribbled on parchment. When he finally lifted it, it read, “Why near Capitol? Suspicious.”

Samuel nodded. “Who in their right mind would call the enemy to their center? Sack the Capitol, and the kingdom is conquered.”

“Adonis is very much not in his right mind,” Godrick cut in, his anger palatable, “and Auryna is not his priority.”

Auryna never was his priority. It was merely another tool for him to manipulate and leverage in his pursuit of the crown he was promised by Adrastus and Vaelor’s return.

Lee sighed. “He’s leaving a deterrent behind.”

“A castle chock-full of his people,” I said. “Vaelor informed me Adonis has decided to host an impromptu masquerade ball on the evening of Winter Solstice.”

“A few of my spies confirmed it,” Lee said. “Invitations were given out liberally, especially to those near the capital.”

Godrick’s eyes widened and fell to the kingdom he still cared for.

“Amid a war?” Kaelin asked. “There are wyverns scattered throughout his kingdom, people starving in the far corners of the realm, and whispers of a”—she threw a glance at Godrick—“ true ruler run amok. Surely he doesn’t believe people would be so quick to attend.”

Godrick’s face snapped up. “A true ruler?”

I caught his gaze. “Stirling blood runs through Livvy’s veins, and the people remember.”

The hint of a smile crossed his features before he dipped his chin.

“I would imagine those invited retain enough wealth and status that they don’t concern themselves with difficulties of the common folk.

” He rolled his eyes with a scoff. “The aristocracy’s blind self-importance will lead them into their own slaughterhouse. ”

“Not to mention, no one other than his staff has set foot within the castle walls in twenty years,” I said. “Sheer curiosity will get the better of them if nothing else.”

The ballroom doors hadn’t been unlocked in Ara’s lifetime, and now, anyone with an invitation would be permitted entrance, of which there were many.

“Why would he think a ballroom of humans would be a deterrent?” Drustan asked, and the others nodded. “If he wants to leave lambs for the slaughter, then so be it.”

I eyed the Capitol. Its surrounding walls and battlements were high enough to create a challenge, but not enough to hold off an army. Their portcullis was wooden, and wood burned—as did people.

But then, I looked at the former king of this failing kingdom. He had turned as still as stone, his face downcast and forehead more wrinkled than usual.

“Sacking the capital is not the goal,” I said. Godrick closed his eyes and released a silent breath. “Acquiring Auryna has never been the goal. Our only goal is Adonis’s head on a spike.”

Silence followed before Serra said in a low voice, “Mass casualties for the sake of land and power are lives wasted.”

Godrick added, “Lives wasted and families destroyed.”

Her mouth ticked up in a half smile. “Vaelor?” He nodded, and she said, “He was a good person.”

“Is,” I corrected. “Vaelor is a good person.”

My chest warmed with a faint wisp of pride. If my decision aligned with that of Vaelor, then it was the right decision.

“We have the weapons, the knowledge, and the numbers. We won’t have the wyverns on the night of the liminal moon, but they can assist until then, and Adonis doesn’t know Ara has her memories. We can avoid senseless bloodshed.”

“What do you propose?” Samuel asked.

“Vaelor overheard Adonis telling his coordinator that he’ll be at the ball until just before sunset.

” I flattened my hands on the table. “I say, let the pretentious bastard enjoy his last evening of celebration, but when he moves to join what remains of his army, we’ll intercept and kill him before the battle ever begins.

Before his precious moon has a chance to rise. ”

If they answered, I didn’t hear it.

Ara’s rage slammed into me hard enough that fire swallowed my eyes. My pupils turned to slits long enough for each person around the table to take a hefty step back.

I ran to Ara as dark clouds rolled in. Wind whipped her hair around her form, thunder rumbling in the distance as she clutched a letter in her hand.

When I knelt on one knee beside her, she held the parchment out.

Dearest mutt,

I have no doubt you harbor anger or resentment towards me for my treatment in the dungeon, but I must admit, I enjoyed our time together. I can only hope that when the dust settles, you’ll see that the end always justifies the means. In two days, I can assure you, you’ll forgive and forget.

Soon, everything will return to the way it should’ve always been, and you’ll thank me.

In lieu of an apology, I hereby cordially invite you to attend the crown’s first masquerade ball in honor of Winter Solstice, and more importantly, success . We have much to celebrate.

As an act of good faith, I’ll offer you this: bring your captor. I’ll free you of him and set you free in the process.

Sincerely,

Adonis Draki

A cacophony of emotions consumed her, one after the other: anger, hurt, fear.

Tears brimmed her bright eyes, sparkling like stars off an angry sea. “ This is how he plans to trick us into being there that night.”

“I’ll kill him.” A promise. An oath.

“He’s sick,” she spat. “Sick and twisted and delusional if he believes I would ever come back, even without my memories… He…” She squinted at the letter, head tilted.

“He must’ve planted something in my head that this would’ve triggered had the Goddess not removed his magic.

Why else would he ever believe an escaped prisoner would return? ”

Lee strode over. “It’s clearly a trap.”

“It gives us a chance to catch him off guard,” Ara said. “He doesn’t know I have my memories, so I’ll just…play the role. I can get close to him.”

The flames in my eyes and veins flared. “No.”

“He wants you there. I don’t think it needs to be said, but you shouldn’t do anything he wants.” Lee ran a hand over his face. “It’s dangerous. You’ll be trapped in there with him and whatever snare he’s laid.”

My head snapped to him. “ He would be trapped with us .”

“Fate’s supposedly on our side.” Ara crumpled the paper in her fist, and rage cracked in her irises, matched by a bolt that struck my chest. “Damn the prophecy. In two days, he dies. Not you. Not the world. Him.”

I nodded and kissed her with my vow of bloodshed.

If I had to crawl from my deathbed with Sacrifice in hand, I would. I would drag myself across all of Auryna just to deliver the final blow that freed Ara from him, once and for all, I would.