Page 3 of Between Despair and Hope

I saw fire in Emma’s eyes then as her head snapped toward Shivani. “She is not Faxon’s child, which is the very reason he sold her to Declan. I will allow you one more question before I ask you to leave, because I am exhausted, and I’ve been through hell, Shivani.”

“Oh, I have no more questions, but if you think you can just set up your child as heir to the throne, and then—”

“That’s enough, Shivani. You need to go,” I muttered and grabbed her by the arm, tugging her toward the door. Since she wasn’t the queen anymore, it wasn’t as if she could punish me too severely. The queen mother looked down at my hand on her bicep in outrage, planting her feet. Emma stared at the floor, broken and dejected, so I didn’t hesitate. Rainier wouldn’t let his mother speak to his wife this way. “Go back to the palace and stay there.“ I had never compelled royalty before. I wasn’t even sure I was strong enough to do it to Shivani. But when she turned to the door and Mairin let out a snort, we all exhaled a breath and watched her go.

Chapter 2

Emmeline

Three Weeks Later

AsIslammedmyfist down on the table, I noticed the blood on my knuckles with vague displeasure, uncertain if it belonged to me or not. I was about to wipe it away when I saw Shivani’s gaze land on my hand, and I watched her mouth tighten.

Let her see it.

Let her see what her inaction had wrought.

I stared at her, making every bit of my disgust visible, before turning toward the rest of the council. “What more do you want from me? Declan has him at Darkhold. Soldiers saw your king push Declan through the rift. At what point will you act? I am but one person, how am—”

“One person who claims to be the Beloved,” the councilor, Lord Kress, sneered. I saw Dewalt lean forward in his seat out of the corner of my eye.

“I make no such claim.”

“The soldiers from the battle—”

“The soldiers from the battlesaw your king disappear through a rift with Declan. Focus on that,“ I retorted.

“The manner of his disappearance is strange. Declan has not uttered a word or made a demand since Dryul died. It is not in—”

“Sinceyour queenrid us of Dryul.“ Dewalt’s chair made a loud screeching sound as he shot out of it. “You should be thanking her,” he growled. I gave him a tempering glance. We were both on the verge of unhelpful aggression, and I felt the dark tingle of shadows at my fingertips. Shivani had been suspicious about what happened to Rain, all but accusing me of attempting to put Elora on the throne. It was clear she was hesitant to believe my version of events. Though, I found it interesting she hadn’t been so bold as to say those things in front of the council. Perhaps she knew in the back of her mind I spoke the truth. Or, more likely, she feared Rain’s reaction to her treatment when he returned.

“Emmeline, we are gathering information,” Shivani said. “Our spies have not caught sight of him in Darkhold. The general does not want to make a move until we know for sure he’s there. It is unlike Declan not to flaunt.”

“It has been three weeks. If Declan doesn’t have him in Darkhold, it shouldn’t stop us from sending a message. Give me a thousand men. That’s it. Please.” It was the closest I’d come to begging. I couldn’t do this alone. I was powerful, but I needed more than that. Pride and power wouldn’t save Rain. I wasn’t sure a thousand men would be enough, but I’d make it work to get him back.

“And if he doesn’t have him in Darkhold and we start a war, then what? He could be anywhere—from Evenmoor to the countless other strongholds in Folterra. We attack the capital, and they slit his throat in Glenharbor.” Her face was tight, voice clipped. “We have to know his location.”

“I brought you the hands of the man who helped Declan carry him to his ship. I brought you the eyes of the soldier who tied him up. Both men claimed the ship was headed to Darkhold. Why would Declan leave them behind if not to give proof he’d taken Rainier? Short of us laying siege and seeing him in person, what else is there? Give me the men.”

“For now, this kingdom and how it chooses to react is entrusted to me. I am deferring to General Ashmont, and until our spies see my son or hear word, we will wait. Rainier would want me to ensure bringing war to Vesta was the last possible resort.”

Lavenia reached up from her seat next to me and grabbed my hand as it started twitching.

“Does the rest of the council defer to Ashmont?” Dewalt looked around the room, and I watched as almost every set of eyes averted to the ground.

Cowards.

“Cowards,” Dewalt murmured under his breath. I was reminded of how grateful I was for my friends. Dewalt and the others had been with me every step of this. I squeezed Lavenia’s hand as I watched my friend slam back into his seat, defeated. The councilor on his other side stared at him, almost scared. I had to admit, he looked rather fearsome. Once we returned to the palace, he and Thyra had shaved the sides of their heads. Dewalt had long held the beliefs of the old gods in high regard, but Thyra had seen his interest once they freed her and took it upon herself to help foster the beliefs she’d been raised with. So, when they shaved the sides of their heads, it sent a message to those familiar with the practice.

War.

It was clear this wasn’t the first time they’d done it after their tattoos were exposed. They both kept their hair pulled back, putting the illustrations on full display. On one side of his head, Dewalt had a wyvern ingesting its own tail, and the other held a design with words in a language I couldn’t read. I hadn’t yet asked him what they meant. Thyra had twin wolves on either side, both with heads tilted back in a howl. I had found myself staring at them on more than one occasion, letting my mind focus on the intricacies of the ink rather than anger and fear which consumed me.

Thyra had noticed my gaze one night. I’d been lying in bed with Elora while my Second sat by the fire, keeping me company. Keeping guard—of me. Making sure I didn’t try once again to leave for Darkhold by myself. It was difficult to be grateful for someone while resenting them. She’d stopped me on more than one occasion from leaving. In that moment, she’d moved to sit beside me on the bed, quietly telling me about the Mother and her wolves, a story about the old gods I’d never heard before. Elora had smiled in her sleep for the first time as the woman told the tale, and Thyra embraced me in a hug so fierce, I knew she had accepted Elora as part of her little handmade family just as quickly as she’d accepted me. Thyra had been watchful since Rain had been captured, taking my protection as seriously as he would want her to. Dewalt had been just as attentive, if not more so. He tried to get me out of my head but hadn’t been successful.

The door to the council chambers slammed open, drawing me out of my thoughts, and a servant walked in with a small package. He paused, waiting for Shivani to wave him over before he set it down on the table in front of her. He murmured something, gave a quick bow, and left.

“It seems we have a letter from Declan.”

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