Farris steps closer and grabs my shoulder, somehow knowing who I’m looking for. “I met with the handler like you asked,” he says. “I illusioned the mixed fae and snuck them out of the castle one by one. They’re in Rue’s old hideaway. Most of them will have to sleep on the grass, but they’re all safe.”
“I hope he brought enough of his elixirs for them to go unnoticed,” I murmur, wondering how he’s going to keep themfrom being discovered.
“I’m sorry, Durin,” Farris says, wincing. “I couldn’t get the lost ones out.”
My stomach tightens, and I lock eyes with Farris, waiting for him to explain.
“They wouldn’t come with me,” he says, pressing his hands together apologetically. “I tried illusioning Kahras to join each one, but they were just too loud, even with the calming elixir. He tried silencing tonics and sleeping elixirs, but nothing worked. The bloodlust is just too strong. We couldn’t get them out, so he stayed behind with them.”
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath.
I hope that the queen forgets about them when we arrive or that Kahras will have come up with a solution by then. “It’s okay,” I reassure Farris, forcing a smile. “We’ll figure it out. How about the servants?”
“They’re good!” he says, perking up with the better news. “They’re with your mother.”
My heart takes the blow hard. My mother has always been nurturing. It’s who she is. Naturally, she’d be the best place for Sarra and Leah. Once this is over, I’ll have to face her and my father. I can’t let the guilt weigh over me right now, though. The reason I pushed them away was to focus on this task. I’ve added a couple of significant distractions since then, but that doesn’t mean I should unbury this one and load it onto my back for battle.
Sashon notices me and quiets the crowd with a loud whistle. I take a moment to admire the army before me–an assembly of strong, determined warriors, each one driven by a fierce thirst for justice. They stand united, despite their differences. The nobles are fueled by hate and arrogance. They work alone. There is no loyalty between them, only selfish ambition.
The magic the nobles hold is daunting, but I believe in thisarmy. The sight of them standing proudly together, along with Daylor’s fierce energy, compels me to step forward and speak.
“Youare the true nobles,” I shout, turning around so I can see each of them. “You should be the ones entrusted with the protection of our realm. When this battle is won, you will reclaim the honor that is rightfully yours. It’s time to cleanse the realm of the filth that plagues it.”
A chorus of growls and stomps fills the air, echoing off the water and the dense trees behind me. I raise a hand to caution them. “But be careful. Keep the list of the nobles and their powers in mind. There are more of us, but the queen chose her nobles for a reason. Wewillfind victory, but it won’t be an easy one.”
I glance over at Trass, standing among the kelpies. “Trass will cast an illusion over us to hide our advance. It should get us close to the castle before they realize an attack is coming.”
Trass steps forward and places a fist over his heart. I return the gesture and look back to the warriors.
“We don’t know if the queen will come out and fight or stay hidden in her castle, letting her nobles do the work. We do know that something is wrong with her magic. She’s weaker.” I look intently at the warriors, urging them to take my next words seriously. “This weakness simply makes defeating herpossible, not easy. Your focus is the nobles. Slaughter them. If the queen does venture out of her fortress, leave her to me unless I tell you otherwise.”
I scan the faces before me, looking for any signs of objection or discontent. All I see is a determined group of soldiers proudly accepting the instructions they’ve been given.
“You carry the hope of your kind’s freedom on your shoulders. Use their faith in you. Trust in your training, trust in each other, and trust fate. Today, we reshape the future.”
Sashon shifts into his wolf form and throws his head back tothe sky. His thunderous howl is answered by the rest of his kind, filling the air with a primal call to battle. The kelpies join in, rearing up on their hind legs and pounding their hooves into the ground. The air is charged with their own kind of bloodlust. This energy is exactly what we need. We’re ready.
Once they’ve quieted down, I pull Farris forward. “This fae will illusion the four of us going after the queen herself. We need to move quickly through enemy territory. We’ll look like nobles, but our uniforms will be off-white so you can easily spot us.”
No fae would notice the difference, but it will be glaringly obvious to the Alphas and kelpies with their keen sight.
Farris has been in and out of the castle enough to create realistic illusions of Nydal and the fallen elementals for us. He makes quick work of casting double-layered illusions over each of us. In seconds, we stick out like harpies in a gryphons’ den. I’m glad he chose Nydal for me. I don’t need the distraction of seeing his disgusting face.
I glance at Vaegon, who’s been quiet up to this point. I nod at the elf, and he steps forward to set things in motion. “It’s time. In a moment, you’ll all appear in the woods near the castle. The battle will begin as soon as you encounter the first noble. Luck and victory to you all.”
I stand with my son, watching as the shore gives way to the thick, ominous forest that sits near the castle. He’s aware of the queen’s formidable power. He knows his magic is modest compared to its source. Yet he stands with his brothers, willing to risk it all for a realm that isn’t their own.
They’re fighting for the innocent. I’m fighting for Rue. But my son also has mates waiting for him to return. They deserve to be fought for just as hard. I will bring their family home just as I will return to Rue.
There will be no sacrifices today.
Vaegon catches my eye and winks at me. I huff a laugh andshake my head while moving to the front of the line.
The kelpies gather in a large wedge formation made of sleek, black bodies with green sashes. The rich brown, deep gray, and striking white coats of massive Alpha wolves weave themselves among the dark figures. More wolves move to the rear to protect the group from behind.
Lucas, Vaegon, Anders, and I stand to the far right, hoping we can slip around the fighting and sneak into the castle. Or sneak up behind the queen herself if she decides to show her face. Trass hurries to the front and turns to face us all. His vibrant pink hair flows like a banner over his shoulders as he raises his arms to do his part.
“I’m creating the illusion of an empty forest,” he says. “You’ll be concealed from the front and sides, but I can’t cover you from the back. Watch closely what’s behind you. You’ll also need to be as quiet as possible, for my illusions cannot muffle sound.”