Page 10 of A Heart of Crimson Flames
“For Olmdere!” they shouted back, touching their fingers to their chests, lips, eyes in prayer before lifting their chins skyward—an amalgamation of the Wolf and human prayers, a prayer for us all.
I stood there, letting their cheers and prayers wash over me, trying not to cry. I felt unworthy of it. I knew I could show no fear, no emotion, just the confidence that we would succeed. Right then, I needed to be the symbol these people were so desperate for, the parent who hid their own fears, the guard dog who protected the flock. But one day I hoped I could be Calla and not just the symbol of the crown. Once wars were won, once borders were safe, maybe then I could find a way to be both true to myself and true to them. But there was still a fight ahead. There could be no room for doubt. I was determined my promises for peace and prosperity wouldn’t be hollow.
“You’re too good at that, little fox,” Grae murmured from the corner of his mouth as we wandered back through the village, shaking hands until the crowds thinned. We arrived back to the awaiting carriage circled by bored-looking guards.
I paused at the open door and turned to Grae. “I think it’s time to send Ora southward,” I said. “If I’m to protect our people without bringing violence to their doorstep, we need the Songkeepers. Ora will do more good helping their sect than comforting me anyway.”
I knew it had been selfish, keeping Ora with me as a courtier when the leader of Galen den’ Mora was born to roam. Sensing how much I needed them, Ora had stayed, holding that space for me with their quiet songs while they recovered from their Damrienn imprisonment. I wanted their counsel—the most well-traveled human to have ever existed, the most magical too. They had insights unlike any others. But Ora was healed now. It was time to let them go.
Grae made a grunt of agreement. “I have been in contact with a fisherman who will give them safe passage to the southof Damrienn to meet up with Sadie and the others,” Grae said. I gave him a skeptical look and he shrugged. “I knew you’d reach this conclusion eventually. Ora is needed with Galen den’ Mora.” He leaned in and brushed a kiss to my temple. “But I didn’t want to rush you, Your Majesty.”
The way his lips lingered on my skin had my eyes fluttering closed. I took a decisive step away and he chuckled.
“We have much to do,” I declared, finally stepping inside the carriage.
“One day,” my mate murmured, “we are going to have a honeymoon.”
I glared at him. “One day, we’ll have the wedding and the fanfare and the time to be just you and me,” I vowed. “But we have to save the continent first.”
Grae let out a slow breath through his nose, one cheek dimpling. “Oh, is that all?”
THERE WAS NOTHING QUITE LIKE THE STEADY WARMTH OF ORA’Shugs. I didn’t want to let go. Salty brine misted the air as the choppy waves slapped against the weatherworn docks.
Ora cupped my cheeks, a smile on their painted red lips. They looked at me like they saw all of me, like they saw who I was and who I would become and were just patiently waiting for me to arrive there myself.
I didn’t want to give that up, the assurance I felt when they were near. But I knew I could do it on my own now. I knew who I was. And as much as I hoped I’d always have Ora’s guidance, the world wouldn’t pause long enough for me to be strong, so I had to be strong now.
“Safe journey,” I croaked, trying to keep my eyes from welling, but I could no sooner cut a river with a sword.
“Be well, my Queen,” they said with a little bow of their head, finally releasing me. “Let us sing a better world into existence.” They took a step back toward the awaiting fishing boat,their eyes dipping to the lightning scars and then back to meet my gaze. “Let us bathe the future in gold.”
I could only nod; any more words would make me blubber. Ora turned and passed their hefty fabric bag to the captain and then took a gruff sailor’s hand to lift their heavy velvet skirts and climb aboard.
Grae was by my side in an instant, pulling me into his broad chest with a squeeze, knowing exactly how hard it was for me to say goodbye.
Ora began to sing as the boat pulled away from the docks. Watching me with a soft smile, “Sa Sortienna” filled the air between us. “Above the golden trees”—a song that meant they would miss Olmdere, that they would miss me. I watched with tear-filled eyes, voicelessly mouthing the words until I couldn’t hear their singing anymore.
Sweet Moon, protect them. I’d paid the captain a sizable amount of gold to steer far from Damrienn shores until they’d passed Highwick and the leering Silver Wolf eyes.
“The Silver Wolves don’t have a naval force,” Grae said in a low, rough voice, reassuring me for what felt like the hundredth time. “If they stick to the horizon, they will be fine.”
“But what if there’s a storm? What if—”
Grae pulled me tight again. “They will make it. Their songs are more powerful than we know. Navin survived falling from the sky with the power of song alone.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed to the Moon Goddess to fight back any storms, to grant that boat safe passage. We needed Ora to be with the Songkeepers, needed their guidance and wisdom to pull them through this war. If they could control a fleet of monsters... It would have to work. After my latest contact with Sadie, I knew the humans of Damrienn wouldn’t survive much longer if we didn’t move fast. The longer Nero gained a foothold in the other courts, the longer he let them unravel into disarray, the easier it would be for him to take the whole continent.
We stood there, wind whipping our hair and salty air lashing our faces until the boat turned into a blur on the horizon. I blinked and blinked, trying to find it again.
Grae let out a long sigh. “One day,” he murmured, kissing my hair.
And I knew all the things he wanted to say before he even said them. One day these goodbyes wouldn’t be so hard, one day we wouldn’t have to fear if we’d ever see each other again, one day there would be peace, one day we’d live in the future I had fought for with all my soul.
“One day,” I whispered back, gripping on to my mate just as tightly.
Briar
I’D HAD A FEELING, A TERRIBLE INTUITION, THAT SOMETHINGwas wrong with Maez, but this... My body was weak with exhaustion as I sobbed, too broken to care if the guards outside my door could hear me. With every gasping breath, the will to live pulled away from me like spoiled meat from the bone. There would be no saving me now. Maez wasn’t coming.
