Page 150 of Between Wrath and Mercy

“If they’re not there already, they will be soon. I think the smoke is from the village.” He shook his head, a shudder going through him. “I think they sacked Clearhill.” The Folterrans had sacked their own town, full of women and children. The town that was supported by the money Rain’s soldiers spent. That he’d worked hard to create peaceful relations with. It was left defenseless, its own men forced into the Folterran armies. Had there been men from Clearhill who destroyed their own village? Had the Folterrans protected their women, or were they considered traitors for fraternizing with the soldiers at the Cascade, doing what they could to survive? Rain drew a hand down his face before he looked at me.

“You stay safe in the fort until we get word on where Elora is, alright, Em?” I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off, putting his hands on either side of my face, bending down to meet my eyes. “Look, one of us has to be safe and protected so the minute, thesecond, we know where she is, we can get to her. I have to help lead my men, so you have to be the one who stays safe for our girl. In case I can’t. Promise me.”

I swallowed before nodding, his eyes burning into mine. The fear and love rolling between us almost tangible, I swore I could reach out and grab it. I took a deep breath before kissing him. Desperately. Like it could be the last time. As if, by making this promise with my lips, I was keeping a bigger one. Not a promise that I’d stay safe, but a promise we’d make it through this. We’d survive and find Elora. We’d be a family. We would have everything we should have always had. A life, friends, kindness, love.

“I promise.”

Chapter 48

WhenRainandIopened the rift into the Cascade, we were met with quiet chaos. The courtyard was full of soldiers, all working with purpose. With practiced efficiency, the guard who accompanied us went through the rift, lining up according to Dewalt’s orders. Once the last soldier passed and we followed, Rain pulled me along, nodding to his soldiers already at the Cascade, as we made our way toward a man who was clearly in control—holding command over the organized madness to which we bore witness. He was a bit older, maybe mid-fifties, with a handsome face that looked accustomed to the expression he currently wore, the seriousness of the situation evident by his tight mouth and drawn brows. His sleek black hair was longer, flipping out around his ears, with grey peppering his temples. His cropped and tidy beard was more silver than black, and he met us with purpose, clasping Rain to him and slapping him on the back.

“You’re here early, gerizëk.” His accent was faint, Nythyrian if I had to guess, and his dark brown eyes held more warmth than the smile he gave Rain, tempered by the tick in his jaw and stress etched across his features. “My lady.” The man took my hand and kissed it quickly before dropping it. “Raj Koli, it is a pleasure.”

“Your Highnessis Emmeline’s appropriate address, Captain.” Rain corrected gently, a small smile on his lips as he took in the surprised expression on his captain’s face. “And if anything, you’re the pain in my ass.”

“Forgive me, Your Highness. I’d heard rumors from the men, but I thought I’d have been invited if they were true.” Raj shot a glare toward Rain that I wasn’t sure was as fake as his tone implied. “What do you think?” His eyes twinkled as they met mine. “Who is the true gerizëk?

Rain laughed, and I smiled, quietly taking in their interactions. It almost seemed as if Raj were a mentor of sorts. “I’m sorry, brother. Things have been hectic, to say the least. What are we looking at here?” His tone turned serious, and the captain crossed his arms to match it.

“Twenty boats off the coast, maybe a thousand men. They burned Clearhill, and those on foot set up camp there with what supplies they didn’t burn. Most of the people got out and came here. The elders and the children are in the central keep, and the women have been helping where they can. Two hundred men in Clearhill, all mercenaries from Skos. We’d just had a shipment, so we are prepared for a siege, but I’m worried about what they have on those ships. If they breach the walls, the supplies won’t matter. I figured we’d just hold them off and bunker down in the keep if they made it through. I sent for you, but it appears you got my message before the bird even left.”

As Rain nodded at his captain’s report, our eyes were drawn upward as a screech filled the air, breaking the busy silence. A falcon circled above before it dived down, headed straight for us. Rain threw me behind him and pulled out his sword before the shifter could stand up. This man’s change was almost instant, unlike Aedwyn’s transition I’d witnessed. His dark umber skin was on display as he rearranged his body, so he was on his knees. I recognized him as one of Shivani’s personal guards and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Soren is dead, Your Majesty. Long live the King!”

An intake of breath resounded around us, and Rain’s eyes moved between the shifter and me with a look of surprise on his face. We’d known it was coming, but it wasn’t something any of us expected to happen now.

A ripple of movement caught my eye as the soldiers around us fell down into a kneel, fists on their hearts. Shouts of “Long live the King” echoed within the courtyard, loud and tremendous. My breath caught in my throat as I saw a tear in Raj’s eye as he began to kneel, and a wave of recognition crashed through me. Rain, my Rain, was the King of Vesta. A role he’d hold for centuries, a role he’d been born for. It was the first ascension to the throne in almost a millennium. I let go of his hand, and he stared at me, bewildered, as I sank down onto my knees, fist on my heart.

“No, no, no, no. What did I tell you about kneeling for me? You kneel for no one.” He grabbed my wrists and pulled me back up fast enough I stumbled. He tugged me to his side, arm around my waist, before he shouted in triumph, hand fisted on his heart. “Long live the Queen!”

Everyone in the courtyard echoed him, and I felt nothing but pride coming down the bond. It was surreal. The role I’d never wanted, never prepared for, the role I’d hold by his side. I had no idea what I was doing, but based on the faces gathered around us, we gave them hope. Hope for something different, something better. I spotted Dewalt and Lavenia on the ground not far from us, with wide grins a slash across their faces. I spotted tears in Ven’s eyes, and I wasn’t sure if it was grief for her father or pride in her brother. Dewalt winked at me as Rain pulled me in tight against him, his fingertips anchoring my body to his.

“Now rise, and get back to work!” Rain’s first order as king was followed with expediency. Everyone moved, including the shifter who made way over to us, his nudity no obstacle.

“King Soren died in his sleep early this morning. The queen just missed you and sent me in her stead.” He paused and cleared his throat, looking at me before correcting himself. “I apologize for my error. The queenmothersent me.”

I gave him a soft smile, assuring him I knew he meant no offense.

“She asked me to return quickly, but I can stay if you need me, Your Majesty.” He stood up straighter, rolling his shoulders back, eager to help his new king.

“No, Warric. Go back. Actually, I have a message I’d like you to give her from me, and I do not want you to tell anyone else. If I catch wind anyone other than you or the queen mother knows this information, it is your tongue I will come after first. Understood?”

Rain squeezed my hand, and I looked at him in confusion. What message was he sending? Warric nodded but seemed uneasy.

“I want you to tell her Emmeline’s daughter is my child. By blood.”

I was surprised the shifter’s face didn’t change much with this revelation, though it grew heavy with trepidation. My face, on the other hand, was likely one of shock. I knew we’d eventually have to tell her. But now? Why was everything happeningnow?

“Yes, Your Majesty. Anything else?”

“I’m sure you can anticipate her reaction may not be pleasant. But please make sure to pass on my sincerity and know we will answer any questions she might have as soon as we return.” Warric nodded and was in the air within a moment. Rain turned to me, amusement flickering in my direction.

“She needed to know; best to let her find out when we aren’t there.” He shrugged and let out a quiet chuckle. I didn’t know if I agreed with him, but I wasn’t going to argue. There was no time to argue. Rain needed to be talking to Dewalt and Raj, deciding our best methods of defense. We were vastly outnumbered. Rain had been sending small regiments to the Cascade for the past week, but it was difficult to send them discreetly, so there were still two Folterrans to every one Vestian. We had no idea where Elora was, just that she was likely to be nearby. Was she on one of the boats or being held at Clearhill?

Rain pulled my hands into his and looked at me, pain in his eyes. “She needed to know because Elora is my heir, Emmeline. Since you’re not of the royal bloodline, the crown would pass to her in the event of my death.”

I flinched at his words, the thought of his death something I had no intention of entertaining on this day or any other. Especially not now, as we stood on the brink of a battle where we were outnumbered, and the stakes were so high. He pulled me close and pressed his lips against my temple as he felt what I was feeling, words escaping me as the thoughts ran rampant through my head.

---