Page 68 of The Fated and the Damned
“Half a day, maybe. They’ll be here by nightfall.”
“Then we haven’t a moment to lose. We need to prepare our forces, come up with a plan of attack. The women and children will need shelter. And what about—”
I turned, pressing my fingers to her lips, then running my knuckles against her cheek. “It will be okay, Freckles.Wewill be okay.”
Her eyes shone as they searched mine. “How do you know?”
I leaned down, kissing her forehead tenderly before pulling back and gazing into those hazel eyes. “Because we are together and we have the crown. Because I will drive my sword into the heart of any man or monster who would try to hurt you.”
She smiled, cocking her head as she roped her arms around my neck. “You’re kind of sexy when you’re all murderous, you know that?”
I grinned, flashing a dimple for extra measure. “Oh darling, I knew when I first heard you cuss that you were a wild and wicked thing. But this violent delight of yours? You were made for me.” She licked her lips and I tracked the movement hungrily, pressing her to me, my cock swelling at the thought of what that pretty little mouth could do, how badly I wanted her lips wrapped around me.
“My lord and lady,” a guard said, clearing his throat awkwardly. “You’ve been summoned by Lord Sándor.”
A frustrated growl tore from my throat and Kitarni pouted. I pressed a kiss to her throat, licking up the column of her neck and earning a small groan. Chuckling, I turned to the guard. “Lead the way.” In Kitarni’s ear, I whispered, “To be continued.”
She shivered against me, but made no comment as we followed the guard across the ramparts and into the castle, striding quickly down the corridors to a room dedicated for war meetings. A room I hadn’t needed to visit in a long time.
My father sat at the head on the far end, Nora seated to his left and Lukasz to his right. The High Witch of the Red Coven, Aliz, paced the room, her shoulders tight, her hands balled into fists. Iren was also present, and Dominik, clan chieftain and general of the táltosok armies of the western and eastern territories, leaned over the table.
The chieftain was well known for his swordsmanship, having seen his fair share of fights in his fifty odd years. He also had a hot head and hadn’t taken much convincing to join the cause when I mentioned slaying cultists was involved. Just the mention of what Sylvie had done to our scouts back at Kitarni’s village and he’d dived in the deep end of this war.
My gaze roamed over him. He was a wiry man. Plain faced and sour looking, in due part to the scar above his mouth that pulled up his top lip. His peppered black hair was cropped close to his scalp, making his features even harder. At first glance, he didn’t appear threatening—didn’t really warrant a lingering gaze at all—which was more the pity for anyone who underestimated him.
Everyone looked up as we entered, all but my father bowing before us. I looked at Kitarni, assessing her reaction, but gone was the cheeky woman from moments before, her chin high, her face set with determination. My hellcat come to unleash her claws.
“My son,” Farkas said, his brows creased as he tracked my person, no doubt searching for any injury. “You are well?”
It was as much sentiment as he’d allow in a war meeting, but the concern was there, nonetheless. I smiled, pasting an air of nonchalance on my face. “As well as one can be on the dawn of battle.”
In truth, I felt drained. The crown had ripped at my very soul, as if it had tried to suck all my power into itself. Kitarni had been healing me, I knew, but I was tired. So damn tired. What I wanted was to curl up and sleep for days on end, but the people needed the face of their general and my father needed his son.
The lord nodded. “And your mission was … successful?”
Dominik and Aliz studied me curiously, but I shrugged lazily. “On all accounts.”
My father’s face relaxed, some of the tension leaving his shoulders, but he would say no more on the issue. Allies the chieftain and High Witch may be, but we would not reveal our latest asset so freely. The crown would remain hidden in Margit’s secret chambers under protection spells until the time was right, and the only people who knew that chamber even existed were my family.
I turned my attention to the chieftain, eager to change the subject. “What news of your forces, Dominik?"
The clan leader turned, raking a hand through his greying black hair, his scarred lips twisting even further as he scowled. Despite his thin frame, he was pure muscle, his weathered biceps lined with scars. He was renowned for his battle prowess, having defended the north against the Mongolians throughout several campaigns during the wars past. Many other commanders weren’t so lucky to keep their lives.
“My men had some setbacks on the road. Human interference from nearby towns. They have seen the creatures of the Sötét Erdo and they know of Mistvellen.” He growled, sounding much like the wolves we housed in the castle grounds. “Sylvie did well enough to see to that.”
“They plan to attack the city?” Kitarni asked, stepping closer.
The general looked at her sharply. “If not tonight, then on the morrow. My scouts have reported sightings from the north. The castle will be attacked on the northern and southern front.”
Fuck. “Show me,” I said, gesturing to the map laid out on the table.
“Sylvie’s forces approach from here,” he said, jabbing to the south-east of the forest before moving his finger to the north-west. “The humans are bolstering their forces and are expected to attack here.”
“They mean to box us in,” Lukasz said, his brown eyes hard. “Which leaves us two options: we stand our ground and defend on both fronts or send a smaller party to meet them halfway. We risk being surrounded should we stay. The alternative is a considerable dent in our defences.”
“If we attack the humans, we risk the wrath of all humans in the kingdom,” Nora said. “Perhaps even beyond our borders.”
“I don’t think we have a choice, Nora,” my father said, his face grave. “Simply existing, in their eyes, is blasphemy and sin. I will be damned if I let this city crumble because of a small-minded people. We will not attack them unprovoked, but I will not hesitate to kill anyone attacking my city.”
