Page 30 of Stone Sentinels

“I feel like this is a mistake,” I protest as Aima comes to stand beside us. She gives me a warm smile and her eyes twinkle like black marbles in the faint light cast by the hearth. I can see what Cambion fell in love with, but her beauty seems empty in comparison to Eilish’s.

“It’s all right, Dragan,” she says. “We’ll bring this plan up with the others. If they agree, then we can go from there, but we do nothing without consulting the group. Not after all of this.”

The three of us return to the discussion and learn that Pyre is already sensing the spirits from the mountains drawing toward our borders. Eilish looks afraid for the first time in so long, and I remember that she hasn’t had time to test her new skills against anyone who isn’t part of our group. This will prove to be good practice, if it doesn’t kill her. There’s no telling what tricks Theren has cooked up.

And if Cambion told him of our weaknesses, we’re in deep shit. I can’t help but think of the fact that Kolvar and Aima nearly died to keep The Veil secret and to keep our enemies in the dark, with regard to our plans. And fucking Cambion, who spent a much shorter amount of time with his brother, fucking led the bastard right to our door.

I find myself hating him more than I’d ever thought possible.

***

BARON

The Veil

“He knows you,” I hear myself say to Eilish. I walk to the door where I peek through the crack along the frame. Theren’s soldiers move into position as the two brothers continue their bickering. “I think that's why you feel drawn to him and that’s also why he knew your name and lineage.”

“He spoke my full name and knew my parents,” she says as she looks at me in shock.

I nod as I look at Dragan. “I don’t believe Theren will harm her.”

Dragan looks at me and his expression doesn’t change. “You don’t believe he will butyou don’t fucking know.”

“Eilish talking to him could buy us some time.” I offer.

Pyre looks to Eilish. “Are you comfortable with this?”

“If Baron is right and Theren knows something about what's happening or who I am, then Ineedto speak to him. Alone, so that no one else risks getting captured,” she finishes.

“Absolutely not,” I say as I shake my head. “I remember what happened the last time you were left alone with one of our enemies, and I don’t trust Cambion’s judgement where his brother is concerned. You’re going with someone or you aren’t going at all.”

Aima, Dragan, and Kolvar come to stand beside Eilish and Pyre. I keep my eyes trained on the legion of soldiers just outside. Pyre scratches the back of his neck thoughtfully. “What if we let them come? The creatures of The Veil, I mean. Let the spirits and the demons and whatever else come so that we may have a fighting chance?”

“Wouldn’t that put all of us in danger?” I ask. “Not just Theren and his army?”

“Only if we aren’t careful,” Pyre answers. “If we work quickly and come up with a feasible plan, we may be able to scatter their numbers enough to gain the advantage. One person will have to stay here in the cottage to guard Morrigan and the little fae, of course.”

“I’ll do it.”

My eyes flicker over to Dragan with surprise. The gargoyle never misses an opportunity to fight, let alone fight Unseelie. But I don’t question him—not if he’s willing to volunteer for such a position. Eilish taps her chin absentmindedly until Pyre asks what she’s thinking.

“Maybe Aima and I can approach Theren and Cambion, get them to soften a bit towards us. I might be able to use my seductive abilities on Theren if I’m careful not to allow my hunger to overcome my sense of survival.”

“And the rest of us?” Kolvar asks.

I crack my knuckles and yawn as I stretch my arms above my head. It’s been days since I last slept, and I’m feeling the effects. “Kolvar, you and Pyre can wait inside with Dragan while the two women speak with Theren. When the fighting starts, you aid them. I, on the other hand, will be shadow walking and trying to take out as many archers as possible so I can get into a position where I can watch you from a distance.”

“Observe and distract before the creatures of The Veil arrive?” the satyr chortles. “I like that plan, vampire. You would’ve made a fine mercenary had you not saddled up with this lot.”

I run over to the table and pull one of our maps out. “Theren doesn't know the forest as well as we do. We have the advantage of fighting on our own territory.” I draw a few marks on the map. “He'll most likely have sent scouts to find high ground so he can place the archers here, here, and there. We have to assume whatever isn't covered by the archers will be teeming with foot soldiers.”

Dragan comes to stand beside me. He taps his finger on the map and positions himself to block Morrigan's view. “Once the numbers are scattered, Kolvar, Eilish, and Aima should keep the soldiers contained and occupied. Rev… Baron, you and Pyre should hurry to close as many portals in the area as possible to keep anything from getting in or out.”

“Closing any nearby portals will cause Theren to retreat back through the one in which he and his men came over. Once they're on the other side, we can shut that portal and lock them out,” Pyre says and stares with an arch of his brow. “It could work.”

“Will you be able to wrangle the dragon and other creatures back to their territories?” Eilish asks him.

“With Baron’s help, yes. Though, most of them will return on their own.”

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