Page 85 of A Sword of Ice
Because he did.
She tried not to look into his golden, eerie eyes and instead focused on the prince.
“Our people need a royal to save them or they will never follow you in a war. How can you ask us to fight for you, if you aren’t willing to do the same for us?”
Minutes passed and Iona’s heartbeats measured the time. She held her breath, tapped her fingers to her thighs, and waited.
And waited…
And waited…
Finally, Valerio let out the softest sigh.
And Iona knew that she had won.
“Fine,” he conceded, though the word was forced through clenched teeth. “A small one. We will pass by and observe, but not engage.” Shock seemed to ripple through the group. Iona had to admit, beside the elation, she was shocked herself. She wasn’t sure she’d ever convince him. “You better have a fucking plan, Iona,” he growled. “Because I will not lose anyone here for a fool’s errand, and you better pray to Mana that you’re right.”
She fought back the cheer she wanted to scream out. Shula stepped forward, her eyes blown wide and unsure.
“Are you serious?” she demanded, looking between Iona and Valerio. “You really want to do this?”
Valerio looked like he was holding back a snarl. “I gave the order, did I not?”
“I don’t think this is a good idea…” She fiddled with the ends of her hair, pulling and pushing them away from her pointed ears. “The camps are dangerous—”
“We’ll be careful,” Iona interrupted with a sharp prick of annoyance. She didn’t need Shula changing Valerio’s mind after it had taken so much to get him to agree in the first place. She cut the fire Fae a glare.
“It’s too dangerous,” Shula argued, her voice rising to something that sounded similar to panic.
Iona fought not to roll her eyes and let the anxiety take over. She needed to be confident, or else Valerio would go back on his order. The Fae needed this; the Resistance would see the truth soon enough.
“The camps are made of iron. They’ll block your magic—”
“Not ours,” Iona said. “You burned the bars off a cage and melted iron beasts. We are stronger together, and even if we feel weak at first, we will overcome it.”
Shula didn’t look convinced. “Have any of you ever even been close to an iron camp?” When no one answered, she pounded her fist to her chest. “Well, I have! I watched my parents get taken to one. I felt the heat of their ovens. I watched the ash rise in the sky. Do you really want to go through that? Do you really want to take the risk that it could be any of us?”
“Don’t be a coward,” Iona snapped. It was too late to take back her words once they were out. She could see the moment they impacted Shula, and guilt consumed Iona’s whole chest as the fire Fae staggered back.
Nothing hurt her more than to be considered a coward by the rest of the group. If there was one thing Iona had gauged during Shula’s recounts of the events that led her here, it was that she didn’t want to be considered weak. That she wanted to please.
Iona knew how to get her to go on board with just a few words. Even if she felt dirty speaking them.
“Enough,” Valerio growled again. He glared at Shula. “Is everyone going to disobey my orders today? We have things to do. I suggest we all get started.”
* * *
Valerio staredoff into the darkness, his heart pounding up to his throat. He heard Uric’s footsteps and did not bother to turn and greet his friend.
Uric didn’t bother with pleasantries, either.
“You are making a mistake,” Uric said gravely.
He hated those words. Hated how they pierced his chest and made him feel like a failure. He should have been familiar with them already, as his father spoke them more often than not. But to receive them from Uric had its own special brand of punishment.
“Then it will be my mistake to make,” Valerio gritted out.
“You let her play you into making that decision.”
