Page 100 of Wrath of the Fae Queen
Keira has primed the city for my arrival. It is clear in the way they recognize her primal form. Many have seen her speak in halls and taverns.
There are pockets of those who remain still among the dancing, cheering people, glaring up at me with the promise of death in their eyes, but they are not the majority, nor are they organized enough to cause me concern today.
I prefer my methods of burning and poisoning insolence out of rebels and ripping apart usurpers,Ezekiel growls in my head.But this…this might work.
It is the closest I will get to a compliment from this dragon king. I know his style. I have fought in just as many of his battles as he has mine.
I let my sword fall dull, stripping the magic from it in my signal, and that sleek red dragon carrying Edmund and Caitlin swings in a sharp circle and flies straight for me. There are matching expressions of grim determination on their faces as their dragon aligns with mine.
“I’m taking my queen to the next prong of our assault and leaving the command of this unit with the two of you,” I yellacross the space between us. “March straight to the palace, but do not engage until I meet you there and give the order. The commanders on the ground know the way.”
My eyes flick down to the regiments of human soldiers from the Appleshield Protectorate army bolstering the ranks of my fae troops. I wonder, not for the first time, if it was selfish of me to bring them here when humans are so despised under Titania’s rule, but from all indications, it is only her inner political circle and the Truth Templars who persecute their kind.
“Good luck,” Edmund growls, looking absolutely feral, like a god of fire. “And Aldrin—you better fucking keep my daughter safe.”
Caitlin scowls behind her father, but her expression softens when it falls on me. “Whatever happens, Aldrin, we are with you.”
We fly across the city, surrounded by a small guard of scales, wings and fae. We repeat our show and speeches at each point of the city we pass, moving between the prongs of our army led by Cyprien, Klara and Cedar, each on the back of a dragon.
I am itching for a battle by the time we near the palace. There is a reason why the people who voted me off my throne now weep at my return. Why so many look at me with such desperation. Titania has abused my people in my absence, and the fact that I wasn’t here to help them makes me sick to my stomach.
I shoot Keira a glance. It is on her face too: the grim determination to make this right.
The army marches on toward the palace and the people follow on their tail to witness a tyrant fall.
If only it were that simple.
Thousands of fae climb the many staircases and spiraling balconies that hug the immense buildings reaching up into thesky. My golden palace is perched at the highest point of the city, adorned with arches, columned porticos and rooftop gardens.
I clutch the spikes that bracket Ezekiel’s spine and brace myself against the assaulting torrent of air as he pumps his powerful wings and we climb to reach that height. Keira pulls in at my side as we crest its peak, standing upon Bartholomew’s back, and we circle around the palace, watching as our soldiers funnel in around its base, filing in from many directions.They left the musicians, dancers and food wagons behind for the second part of our attack.
The first rank of troops craft shields of smooth wood as they approach, slotting them in against each other as they come to a stop in a ring around the foot of the palace, creating a shield wall in the human fashion. More soldiers fall into place behind them, forming a siege of bodies, carrying spears and nocked arrows, a second shield wall protecting their backs.
The others arrive on dragonback, circling menacingly through the air as streaks of red, purple and blue scales against the sky.
“Ezekiel. Allow your dragons to put on a display of their might.” A wicked smile curls my lips as I brace myself.
He snickers.It will be my pleasure to make these fae soil themselves with fear.
Ezekiel swoops low over the palace grounds, then pulls sharply up, spraying clouds of his venom, the green mist hanging heavily in the air. Others release great fiery jets or blue beams of plasma from their throats, illuminating the cloudy sky. One even freezes the air with the blue channels of its breath, making ice rain down over the city. Titania’s guards on watch scream and flee their posts.
I wait, heart in my throat, as we circle and circle, waiting for Titania’s move.
I am counting on her being far too arrogant to hide within the palace walls. There is no way she could allow me such a show without trying to stop it or take the upper hand. Ineedher to react, and react badly, to reveal her true colors to the people. All of this is to justify my eventual assassination of her.
A flurry of activity erupts from the palace.
The doors of the great entrance fly open and thousands of soldiers stream out.They appear on every balcony and in each tower, spewing into the street and creating a barrier of bodies between the shield wall of my soldiers and the palace, leaving a dozen feet between the forces. Neither side breaks or engages in a fight as they stand off.
I fly low over the palace and link my magic into every jade plinth surrounding it, activating a network that runs throughout the city, carrying my royal announcement across the entire City of Vertical Gardens.
“Come out of hiding and face me, Titania!” I roar. “Answer for your crimes. The people see your corruption and call for justice.”
An eerie peal of laughter reaches me first.
She is using the same plinths to amplify her voice.
The ornate doors on the main balcony swing open and hundreds of guards hurry out, taking defensive positions along the railing, pointing arrows above and below. I’m not sure what they think those could do against dragons.
