Page 20

Evelina

The camp in the Zenovia valley had its own rhythm. The first few days, Evelina mostly stayed in her cabin with Gloriana. They went through every single jar that was stocked along the wall, familiarizing themselves with the healing mixtures and memorizing the location of each tonic so they could access them easily in a hurry. The entire living room had been transformed into a place suited for mixing herbs and making tonics. Most of the walls were lined with shelves to house the jars, bandages, and other supplies.

The valley nestled beneath the mountains was forested and rocky, the plush trees doing little to block the icy wind that breezed through the camp at night. Small cabins and tents were scattered around the healer’s cabin, while a tall cavern rested behind what she now knew to be Alpha Fleet’s dwelling. Theirs was the largest, but not by much, making her wonder how well seven soldiers fit inside. She hadn’t been in yet, nor had she drawn closer than a hundred paces, her fear of crossing with Daimon only slightly outweighing her want to see his life here.

When the days were warm enough in the valley, she would open a sliding shutter covered in animal pelt to keep the heat in when the sun wasn’t out. She’d note the way the Alpha Fleet worked in perfect unison in all that they did. They trained together on the ground outside the cluster of cabins, sparring and testing one another. Occasionally, one of them would have to come to her cabin for a mending salve—usually Keir or Brielle. They were the Aegis of the group, so that didn’t come as a surprise.

Then she would watch as they mounted their wyverns, taking their practice to the skies when they weren’t patrolling. She watched Daimon leading them, not shouting orders but laughing along with them.

It was odd to see him this way—relaxed and in charge. They had hardly said a word to each other since being here, but he seemed fully at ease with his fleet. She thought she’d be relieved seeing he was doing well now. But seeing how his life had moved on without her hurt more than she realized.

Today, she and Gloriana were still arranging the last of the supplies, tidying up the shelves and tying each bottle off with a label. Then, the door to her cabin burst open. A soldier came in carrying a Rider Evelina hadn’t met. Her eyes were closed and her head was cradled against his chest.

“Willow was hit while patrolling the west region of the border,” the soldier said quickly.

Gloriana bustled past Evelina and met them beside the nearest cot. Evelina helped the soldier lay Willow down, careful of the wound on her thigh.

“She’s lost a lot of blood,” Evelina said as she examined her. “Blood-replenishing tea?”

Gloriana nodded sharply and Evelina ran to retrieve it from the shelves. She quickly grabbed a heated kettle that hung in a fireplace on the other end of the room. Her head snapped up as the open shutter rattled and jars clinked together. The wyverns were restless, pounding the ground and beating their wings. As the water heated, Evelina moved toward the door to check outside.

On the other side was organized chaos. Foot soldiers were running about, gathering weapons and saddling their horses. The Riders were mounting their beasts, hastening to take to the skies. She saw a flash of Daimon before he disappeared into the clouds.

Her heart thundered in her chest, but she promptly closed the door and set her attention back on the tea. Gloriana was using her light to mend Willow’s wound on her thigh. Her eyes fluttered open, a painful cry emerging from her lips.

“Help me sit her up,” Evelina commanded the soldier. “She needs to drink this tea; it’ll speed up the process of her blood replenishing itself.”

The soldier nodded, hoisting Willow up and causing her to whimper. Evelina held the cup to her lips, careful to make sure she drank the lukewarm liquid.

“She should rest here so we can watch over her for the next several hours,” Gloriana said, her light dimming as she finished mending the gash on Willow’s leg.

“She might not be the only one who needs healing soon,” the soldier said tightly.

Gloriana and Evelina exchanged a look.

“Find us more cots and bring them in here, maybe even a few out front just in case,” Evelina said. “We will prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

She found herself sending a prayer to Eurydice for the soldiers’ safety, adding an extra one for Daimon as he led them. She may have always known he was on the battlefront, but seeing it with her own eyes made her realize the weight of it—to realize what was at stake. How afraid it made her to allow her heart to care more for him.

Daimon

The battle was quick—only a handful of rebels attempting passage through the mountains. They had caught Willow off guard with a ferrum arrow while she was patrolling, slowing down her healing ability. Daimon’s fleet took care of them before the foot soldiers even arrived. But they captured one of the last remaining rebels.

Daimon landed further out from the cabin, ripping off his scaled armor so he could breathe. Keir landed beside him, his wyvern clutching the rebel in his talons—a fae, a traitor to his own crown. Codax slammed into the dirt, pinning him to the ground and caging him in.

Daimon stalked over, his shoulders stiff. Keir raised a hand, fire winding around his arms and blazing with the promise of death.

The rebel hissed, baring his teeth and thrashing beneath Codax’s talons.

Keir sneered at him. “Sickening one would abandon their crown so easily,” he said as Daimon stopped beside him.

“Fuck the crown,” the rebel spat.

Daimon took a step forward. The rebel’s head snapped toward him, watching him curiously. The trees danced above them as a wind swept through the forest. They stood in silence for a moment, leaves floating through the air around them.

Daimon jutted his chin out. “Think we’ll get any information out of him?”

“Probably not, but it’s better we try now that we have one.” Keir’s gaze traveled over the rebel, barely holding back his disgust. “He might change his mind come sundown.”

Daimon wasn’t surprised. Keir didn’t shy away from using more…questionable methods to get an edge in this war. He was the commander of the Aegis, after all .

Keir turned to walk away, Codax in dutiful pursuit when he paused.

“Well, come on, commander.” Keir’s fire grew brighter as a smile stretched across his face, the flames highlighting his scars. “You’re doing the interrogation with me.”