Page 141 of Merciless Is My Crown

“In order to keep the population compliant.” Raziel scratched his chin.

“Carex had killed their father to inherit the Fae magic,” Zor pointed out. “Serpens had to devise another way to rule over his people and keep his brother at bay.”

“So he created the army.” Zephryn shook his head, gazing out over the miles and miles of encamped soldiers. “Not magic but every bit as powerful, and capable of killing thousands.”

“In theory”—Cosimo’s eyes landed on me—“I would open the portal. Anaria would summon the magic which would then cross into Solarys.” The astrologer indicated the barren plot of earth. “The magic should rise from this swath, causing a chain reaction that would sweep across the entire realm. The force should be enough to wipe away the wall and unify both realms.”

“The last time the magic was activated by the spilled blood of ten thousand soldiers.” As one, we glanced to the unsuspecting army camped nearby, Zorander’s mouth tightening into a thin line.

“Many are good men with families.” He held up a hand. “Misguided men but not inherently bad. They don’t deserve to become sacrificial lambs.”

“The Oracle also cast some sort of spell, a summoning spell according to Adele,” Tavion reminded us. “Her magic played a part in that resurgence. Let’s hope not anywhere close.”

I closed my eyes, letting the hum from the ward sink into me, weighing the risks. The magic wasn’t inherently bad. The forest had listened to my pleas and helped rescue our friends trapped underground.

Maybe…maybe the magic would listen to me today.

I looked up at Raziel. “Before we open the portal, before we do this, I have to…cross to the other side. Speak to the magic and make a request.”

I knew how foolish I sounded; I didn’t need Cosimo’s eyeroll to tell me what he was thinking.

“Give me five minutes,” I told Cosimo, “or I won’t do this, no matter what we risk by defying the Oracle. We still have two days left, by my count, and if there is a way to satisfy her and save lives, then it’s worth five fucking minutes.”

The astrologer held up his hands in mock surrender, his eyes softening. “Once you’re there, don’t wander far from the wall.” Even as we spoke, the portal flared with light and three…four Fae stumbled through, clothes in tatters, looking shell-shocked.

“Is this…” One of them stared around in awe, mouth falling open when he spotted the army stretching out for as far as they could see. “Is this Solarys?”

“It’s your lucky day. I’ll be your tour guide.” Tavion tilted his head, hand resting on the pommel of his sword as he pointed behind him. “Blackcastle’s that way, about a half day’s walk.” Then Tavion’s eyes met mine and his expression gentled.

“But you look like you’ve been on your feet for days. Deepwood’s less than an hour down that path. There’s a decent tavern called Mossy Mug Inn. Here.” He dug in his pocket and pressed two gold gilder into the male’s dirty palm.

“Enough for two nights. And dinner.”

My heart got even tighter when he added, “The food’s not fancy, but it’s good, and the beds are clean. Get some sleep before you decide what to do next.”

They limped off down the trail toward the tavern where we’d stayed a few weeks ago, then I went back to studying the portal. “You’re a big softie, Tavion Montgomery.”

He elbowed me in the side. “Maybe you bring out the best in me, wife.”

“Hmmm.” I kept staring at that portal, pondering the meaning of inevitability. “Maybe your best was always there and you kept it hidden behind your big, grumpy exterior.” I stepped closer to Raz and took his hand. “Ready to find out what’s on the other side?”

“No,” he said, but then, faster than I could even blink, our feet sank into the rich, loamy soil, acid-green ferns whispering against our thighs and acid green moss coating every surface.

The air here was humid, no trace of cold, dry, stale air from the other side. Instead, our every breath dripped with dampness, moisture brushing my face like a soft caress.

Now that we were here…I drew a deep breath, tasting growing things and burgeoning life.

And even that wasn’t enough to erase the coating of iron on my tongue from Solarys.

“Wow.” I could hardly believe what I was seeing. “This is…It’s like we were gone for a hundred years.”

“It’s not cool, either. More like…” Raziel squinted up through the leaves at the azure blue sky. “More like midsummer.”

The last time I’d been here, Zorander and I stood on a barren wasteland facing Solok and the Mistress, the full might of the Caladrius army at their backs. Ember had been alive, I hadn’t trusted any of these males, and I’d been as powerless as any human. Now everything was different.

“What’s your plan?”

I glanced down at the knife gripped in his hand. “Do you really think that’s necessary?”

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