Page 29 of Stone Sentinels

“Bullshit!”

“I agree with Pyre,” Baron says, predictably.

“Of course you do. The two of you are practically inseparable since we came to The Veil. But this isn’t the time to argue. We need to come up with a plan and attack quickly, before we’re overrun.” I struggle against Pyre’s hold and he releases me from the spell. He repairs the hole in the wall and points to the chair beside the window. I take a seat and try to regain my composure. “You know I’m right.”

“But you aren’t,” Pyre insists.

“Cambion made a mistake, but this isn’t that simple,” Eilish says as she faces me. She juts her chin toward the forest. “He’s bound and held like a prisoner. I don’t think he willingly led them here.”

“None of us knows what happened,” Pyre adds.

I nod and face Dragan again. “We at least owe him the right to explain.”

“He needs to face punishment for his actions,” I demand.

“Do not be so hasty,” Pyre warns. “Theren’s numbers will draw the creatures of The Veil here.”

“What creatures?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Restless spirits, demons, and harpies, to name a few. But we must worry about the dragon most of all.”

“The dragon?” Eilish repeats as her eyes go wide.

Pyre nods. “Wynroth is in his season of slumber, but too many life forces within The Veil will awaken him and—”

“Dragon?” Flumph faints and drops to the floor. Pyre steps over him and shakes his head as he continues explaining the dangers that could happen and are already happening.

Pyre tells us that he senses archers surrounding the cottage. More and more soldiers appear as each moment passes.

Eilish paces in front of the window, appearing unsure of what will happen if she agrees to speak with the Unseelie King. “Would he try to kill me?” she asks.

“Of course,” I start but Pyre stops me and faces Eilish, but he doesn’t say anything.

“I feel... connected to him, somehow,” she says in a soft voice. “I don’t know what it means, but Iwantto go to him.”

Aima nods. She hasn’t been the same since her sparring session with Eilish and keeps glancing down at her arm or hand. Kolvar looks at them both protectively. I walk over to the decanters in the corner of the room and pour myself a drink as Morrigan limps out of her room.

“There are Unseelie outside,” she says. I snort bitterly and toss the contents of my glass down my throat, allowing the soothing burn to slither its way into my belly to loosen the knots that furled when I first saw Cambion.

The others take the time to explain the situation to the Midnight Queen as I pour another drink. Kolvar takes it from my hand and drinks it in my stead. The satyr seems just as put out about saving Cambion as I am.

“They have us outnumbered,” my companion grumbles. “But we have a necromancer. I don’t care if Cambion loses a few limbs in this fight, so long as the good people in here don’t get hurt.”

“They’ll try to bargain. And Eilish shouldn’t be forced to be the one to negotiate,” I say.

“It ain’t our decision,” Kolvar responds. “Theren’s gonna grow impatient and more violent as we delay the inevitable.” He glances over at Eilish then. “She’ll have to talk, but that don’t mean she’ll have to do it alone.”

“You mean Aima should go with Eilish?” I question him. He nods. “Won’t Aima’s presence further anger Theren?”

“I believe he still harbors a soft spot for her.”

“Are they still together now or not?” I demand.

“They aren’t,” Kolvar answers on a sigh, his voice low. I presume he doesn’t want Aima to overhear him. “No matter how much Aima loves him, they’ve been driftin’ apart for a long time,” he continues as his gaze settles on Eilish. Then he looks at me again. “Aima is like a sister to me. I don’t want her goin’ out there anymore than you want your angel goin’ out there, but it don’t change the fact that that’s what’s gotta happen.”

“And will Theren try to kill Aima if she goes to him?” I ask.

Kolvar shakes his head. “Theren won’t harm her, even if he doesn’t feel the same for her as he once did..”

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