Page 78 of Vathia
“Keep him safe. Don’t let him leave camp.”
He nods and disappears without a word, walling off and breaking the connection between our minds.
With a deep breath I focus back on the task at hand. “I apologize. Tensions are high. But back to what I wanted to ask. How many fae have joined this rebellion?” I tilt my head waiting for his response, ready to add his answer to the survivors from Vathia’s army and the surviving new knights of Damorleia. Most of them made it thankfully, yet my heart still aches for the loss of the fae lives.
Evander answers for him. “About five thousand, but they’re scattered all over Damorleia.”
My head wobbles back and forth slowly as I consider his words. “We need a call to arms. Send out the remaining warriors to find them. Tell them to come to Vathia. We are going to need an army while we search for the Soul Stone.”
“If the Lords notice fae traveling here en masse, they’ll begin burning villages to the ground,” Talyn reminds me without hostility, which throws me for a loop. Gears turn behind his gaze like he’s considering my idea. “We would need to get Jesper’s and Killian’s mothers here as soon as possible, and any warriors would need to be disguised as civilians with a non-Skuggi fae with them…” he trails off going deeper into thought.
Dante—one of the males in Evander’s crew—leans back, crossing his arms over his chest. “We can get word to Sabish. The network of rebels she works with is one of the largest. I can blink there and be back within a day with news.”
“Sabish?” I ask.
Evander’s gaze darts to Talyn before meeting mine and for some reason jealousy begins to burn in the pit of my stomach.
“She’s a tavern keep in Allondë. She knows all the inner workings of the underground. She’s a powerful fae and not someone you want to cross, but loyal to a fault and a great ally,” he explains. “Just ask—”
“Enough, Evander,” Talyn seethes.
The jealousy begins to curdle, creating a sour taste in my mouth. Aemon places his hand on my thigh and squeezes, trying to help calm me, but it barely works. Did they sleep together? An ex?
“He doesn’t need two eyeballs,” Nero whispers, but I can’t find his antics funny right now.
Barely holding myself together, I clear my throat. “Do whatever it takes to get those rebels here so we can begin to build up our army again. Let’s regroup in Tiria and evacuate as many citizens to Derfenë as we can. Let’s break for lunch.”
Without another word, I rise to my feet and stride out of the tent for some fresh air.
The sound of boots pounding the ground follows me and when I turn, Talyn is approaching me. I cross my arms and jut out my hip waiting for him to say something, anything, to cure this burning pit of acid in my stomach, but knowing him lately, he’s probably just going to confirm my suspicions. I try not to stare at his broad shoulders or the way his hair is mussed from running his fingers through it a million times. Or how thedragon tattoos along the sides of his skull give him a sense of danger that drags me in.
“What do you want, Talyn? Here to rub your escapades in my face?” I snap.
He sighs and shakes his head. “I know I’m not the most pleasant male, but just believe me when I say Sabish is no one. I’ve never met her until recently, and I have no interest in the tavern owner. She just helped me when I was… in a difficult situation.”
My brow arches. “Okay,” I state before turning away. His words eased the burning pit, but I’m not sure if I believe him.
“That’s it?” he asks. “That’s all you have to say to me?”
I stop but keep my back to him. “I’m not sure there’s anything I can say to you right now, Tal.” The bond pulls in my chest as I continue away, leaving him standing behind me.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
SCREAMS. Heartbreaking screams. They echo through my head and pierce my nervous system. I gasp awake, but as I glance around I realize I’m still indoors but not where I fell asleep, and Jesper is nowhere to be found. The cobbled stone underneath me is cold and damp with moisture from the earth.
Cynder suddenly appears behind me, gasping for air before her eyes clear and she sees me. “Ravina? I mean, Your Majesty,” she corrects before glancing around. “Where are we? I was sleeping, and then I’m here,” she babbles, her eyes wide and curious.
“‘Ravina’ is fine, there’s no need to get all formal on me. As for where we are? I’m not sure, this feels like the dream realm, but different.”
Her eyes appear to double in size before she swallows. “The dream realm? I’m not a Skuggi. I can’t get here. How do you know?” She swallows thickly, paling slightly.
I shrug. “Time feels like it’s standing still here. There’s no noise but something doesn’t feel right. As for why you’re here… I’m not sure. Maybe I accidentally pulled you in? My magick has been growing, maybe this is a side effect from it?” I ponder out loud, slightly concerned. Am I going to be pulling random fae into my dreams? If I do, how do I send them back?
I push the thoughts away. No need to panic about those things right now. “Maybe we should look around?” I suggest. We seem to be underground somewhere in an empty stone room, with a single door that leads somewhere else—hopefully out of here.
“Wait, first can’t you change the scene and get us to somewhere less creepy?” she asks as we clamber up off the floor.
“No. I’m not sure why, but I just instinctively know I can’t. I don’t think this is my dream,” I murmur slowly, coming to that realization. Aemon and I could both manipulate ourdreamscape because it was ours, something we created together; but this isn’t mine, and something or someone is blocking me.
