Page 33 of The Kingdom of Flames and Ash

We need to find Father so we can talk with him as well.Lira’s cobalt eyes glistened with unshed tears.He needs to hear this from you.

She was right, but there had been no chance I was going to leave Lira in our bedchamber alone and unguarded. I lifted her into my arms and moved toward the open window. “Lira and I are going to find the Seelie king. Please make sure things are handled.”

Caelan nodded. “I’ll head down with the others to ensure the rations are distributed appropriately.”

Without another word, I flew out the window, enjoying the way Lira melted into my arms.

I know fae don’t apologize, but don’t you think you and Caelan need to discuss what just happened?

I smirked and kissed the top of her head.We said everything that needed to be said. We’re fine now.In fact, it was Lira who’d made Caelan understand the issue. She had no clue how influential she was.

Men here make as much sense as the ones on Earth. It has to be due to testosterone.

I had no idea what she was referring to.

My gaze landed on the Seelie king and queen, Brenin, and Hestia, at the bottom of the castle stairs. I headed in their direction, and the four of them took flight our way.

We met halfway, and I could sense Lira’s heart racing with mine.

The king’s face tightened. “Can you take us to the cave?”

I hadn’t expected that, but I nodded. The king had earth power, and he was the strongest of the fae. “Follow us.”

I turned and led them the long way around the castle toward the cave, flying under the jagged mountain peak like theUnseelie who’d headed the attack yesterday. We flew behind the village to where the cave was built into the peak.

The cave had collapsed, and the stone had been piled up on one side. Mushrooms lay crushed or ripped into small pieces all over the ground. The cavern now had only about half the growing space it did before.

“Brenin and I should have enough magic to restore the cave,” Erdan said and gestured for Brenin to follow him.

I landed at the opening and placed Lira gently on the rocky ground. The queen and Hestia landed beside us.

The king and Brenin raised their hands and spread them out wide. The cave took on a faint, sparkly brown glow, but nothing else happened.

“Something isn’t right.” Hestia wrung her hands as the two men continued to channel their magic.

“We aren’t on Seelie land, so maybe their power isn’t as strong.” The queen placed her hands on her hips.

Lira took my hand and kept her focus on her father and dad.

More brown swirls filled the cave floor, and I noticed sweat beading both men’s foreheads. The cave started to shake.

The king gripped his head and stumbled back just as the top of the cave crumbled.

“Father, no!” Lira shouted, flying toward him.

12

LIRA

The world seemed to come into sharper focus as I flapped my wings, ignoring the ache that shot through them as I raced toward Father and Dad. I couldn’t just sit here and let both of them get injured.

A strong gust of wind pushed past, helping me move faster, as Mother used her wind magic, tossing chunks of debris away from both men.

Dad dropped on top of Father, protecting the king, but his face twisted in agony.

Is someone using illusion magic on them?I linked with Tavish, remembering the way illusion magic had worked on me during the gauntlet. Illusions weren’t just visual cues—Unseelie were able to manipulate others into feeling fear by making them hear the voices of people and see things that weren’t there.

I landed beside them, my back spasming.

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