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A beat of silence passed between us, so I tried to mend the gap. “I’ll make sure you can stay here. You’ll be safe. But I have to go tell the others about all of this.”

Aurora’s hand reached out and gripped my arm tightly before I could even stand up to depart. “What happened to you?” she asked, her voice quiet and slightly fearful.

I gently broke free of her grasp, standing up as I responded, “I finally found where I belong.”

***

“But why do all of this? We had finally agreed on peace,” Byn asked, not for the first time.

The first thing I did after helping Aurora get dressed in some of my old clothes was find Byn. Fortunately, he had already gathered the Valwain, plus Laurence. He pulled us into one of the private wing’s meeting rooms, and I just started explaining everything Aurora had told me.

“It’s my fault—I didn’t realize my father was using our marriage as part of a grander scheme.

I really thought he was capable of change, but this simply proves he isn’t.

Now it makes sense why he dismissed everybody from the room when he made Teagan his proposition about Byn marrying me, why next to nobody was allowed to see me off, and why there was no one on my side who attended the wedding.

” Then, I shrugged and added, “Also, he’s simply power hungry.

He always has been. I think it runs in his blood at this point. ”

It’d been a half hour since I found Byn and the others, and we were still figuring out how to process this information. One thing that surprised me, though, was how easily Byn and the Valwain took my word to heart. They didn’t question me, or second guess me in any way.

It left that warm feeling in my chest.

Byn sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I honestly didn’t think we would have to face battle again so soon.”

The energy in the room shifted as everybody remembered what the last battle had cost Byn, his sisters, and the entirety of the South.

Their king and queen.

Byn cleared his throat, his kingly mask falling back into place as he straightened up, then turned to Teagan.

“I need you and Lychen to go ahead and scout out our side of the border. Find a place for us to set up the army’s camp—somewhere in Wittuck Woods, where they won’t spot us as easily from the sky,” he said. Teagan nodded, placing a fist over her heart and holding it there.

Byn turned to Chess next, making eye contact as he addressed each member. “I need you to get all of the trokavs ready. As many as you can, from any town you can send word to in time. I have a feeling the North will be extra brutal, and we’re going to need all hands on deck.”

Following Teagan’s lead, Chess nodded, then placed his fist over his heart.

Addressing Quinn, Byn said, “Get our armies ready to fight. Armor buffed, weapons sharpened, sun stones charged up—the whole ordeal. We’ll discuss strategy when we arrive at the border.” Quinn mimicked Teagan’s and Chess’s movements.

Turning to Ezra, Byn’s look softened as he took in the male who was as close as a brother.

“Ezra, I know you won’t like this, but I need you to remain here.

Somebody has to keep an eye on Margo in case…

in case we don’t all make it back. The South will need her.

” His voice cracked just a bit as he spoke, but he recovered quickly, clearing his throat.

Ezra opened his mouth to argue, but Byn held up a hand and said firmly, “This isn’t up for debate. Besides, you’re not trained for the front lines, brother. Leave this part to us.” He offered Ezra a smile, which Ezra meekly returned.

“I’ll guard her with my life,” Ezra said finally, dipping his head, then placing his fist over his chest, just as the others had done.

Faster than I could process, Margo pushed herself into the room, obviously having been eavesdropping.

“I want to help! Byn, please !” she cried out, running to him and tugging on his hand.

Byn kneeled down to her level and took her gloved hands into his. The size difference was astonishing—she was so small for her age, yet she had such a big heart, wanting to help her family and friends in any way possible.

“Margo, you have a special mission, one only the best little sister on the continent can accomplish. While we’re gone, I need you to make sure The Haven, Cairnyl, and all the people in it are safe and cared for, alright?” he asked, his voice soft and gentle. “ Can you do that for me?”

She sniffled and wiped at her eyes before any tears could fall. She nodded, then leaned close to his ear and whispered something.

His face lit up as he listened, then he nodded at her encouragingly. “Go ahead,” he said to her.

She suddenly looked sheepish as she stepped into the circle the Valwain had loosely made around the room. We’d all been too anxious to sit down.

Margo pulled the pouch on her hip open and walked up to each and every one of us that were leaving, even Laurence and I, handing us identical, small charms that she’d obviously crafted herself.

The gems and beads were different shades of green, her family’s color, and had a small clasp at the end of them so they could be hooked onto clothing or such.

I didn’t let it go unnoticed how she didn’t allow her gloved hands to make contact with anybody else’s skin. I might’ve asked about it before now, but it seemed like something the Thorntier siblings specifically didn't talk about, so I hadn’t pushed.

Once she handed them all out, she stood close to Byn, handing him his last. Ezra placed a hand on her shoulder, and they shared a loving look full of soft smiles.

Ezra and Margo were the only two not to have received one—likely because they were staying behind.

Plus, Margo already had beads hanging from various places on her person.

“They’re good luck charms,” she said quietly. “So that you all come back.”

I could feel a sharp pang of sadness strike through my chest, and I knew it wasn't only Byn’s emotions, but my own.

Margo had experienced so much more than any eight-year-old should have to shoulder. Tears threatened to well in my eyes at the simple thought.

Everybody gave her their sincere thanks, hooking the charms onto different pieces of clothing or on an earring. I made sure to secure mine onto the lobe of my left ear so it dangled freely.

Byn straightened, clearing his throat, then turned to address Drayven.

“We’re going to need backup,” Byn said to him, some silent understanding passing between the two of them. “Do you think you can get them to come to our aid?” he asked.

Rayven nodded, placing his fist over his heart as he said sternly, “Leave it to me.”

Byn nodded, then said, “Take Willow, my mother’s Titan Wolf. She’ll get you there faster than any other mode of transportation.”

Rayven’s eyes softened just slightly, but it was there.

Next, Byn turned to me, to my surprise.

“Aviva,” he said my name fondly, “I know you haven’t known us all that long, but if you’ll take on the task, I’d appreciate your help near the front lines. You know your father and brother best, what moves they’re most likely to make. Will you help us?” he asked.

I nodded as I responded, “I will. And I know I haven’t trained long, but I want to fight, if there’s no greater need for me. It’s time I faced my father.”

Byn looked pleasantly stunned at my words, but didn’t object, despite the anxiety I could feel radiating off of him at the thought.

I placed my fist over my heart.

Byn turned to Laurence next, then looked back at me. He nodded slightly, giving me the encouragement I needed to address him.

“Laurence,” I said, turning to the older male, our eyes locking as I spoke. “I have a special request of you. But you can say no or back out at any time, without any judgement from any of us, alright?”

Laurence nodded once. “I will accept any and all tasks you ask of me, Your Majesty.”

He placed a fist over his heart, and I mimicked him once again.

Teagan followed suit, then Quinn, and soon every member in the room had their hand over their heart, even Margo—a silent agreement, a promise, a vow.

We all took a moment to look around the room, all of us quietly acknowledging that this could be our last time all together if things went wrong. I didn’t miss the longing look Ezra and Quinn shared as their fingertips brushed, or the terrified look Margo cast Teagan and Byn.

Byn dismissed everybody, each person scrambling to get their affairs in order, knowing we had no time to waste. But before I could exit the room, a large, calloused hand lightly gripped my arm and pulled me to the side.

Turning on my heel, I came face to face with Rayven.

His face betrayed no emotions, and I wondered if he was the first person I hadn’t been able to read.

“We never had a chance to practice your shadow wielding,” he stated, his voice rough.

He placed a small, black leather journal into my hands.

“I’ve written down everything you need to know about the zirilium itself, and how basic maneuvers work.

Take the time to read them. Shadows can be life-saving,” he said firmly, and I knew he meant every word.

I nodded, taking the journal from him and slipping it into one of my many pockets.

“Thank you. I wish we could have had time to practice, but I’ll make sure to go over this as many times as I can before the battle,” I said, my voice sincere.

He nodded, as though reassuring himself more than me.

“Good luck,” he said, then slipped out of the room, starting out on whatever private mission he’d been sent on.