Page 150 of Beneath a Shattered Sky
Predictably, that sets him on the defensive. “If you think I’m discussing our battle plans with him?—”
“He’s on our side,” I protest.
“He’s Elatha’s property,” Drystan snarls. “It would be stupid?—”
“Caed is no one’s property,” I hiss, only to wince as the venom in my tone starts one of the twins crying again. “Sorry.”
Rowena shrugs my apology off and starts to pace, trying to rock the little one back to sleep. A minute later, the boy shifts, and only his mother’s fae reflexes catch him before his tiny,fluffy bird body falls to the ground. It feels wrong to discuss war with infants present, but Jaro continues anyway.
“Caed isn’t relevant to this,” he says, smoothing through the tension. “We need to decide where we go from here. You wanted to focus on Elfhame; that means we need to gather the Spring, Autumn, and Winter armies all in one place, which is a massive feat in and of itself.”
“Don’t forget the Temple Guard,” Bree adds. “Kitarni will have them ready.”
“But Spring and Autumn will be less than happy to leave their border with Summer unprotected, so we can expect they’ll send fewer troops than we need.” Drystan pinches the bridge of his nose, and I check my aura to make sure it’s not leaking free.
Nope. Whatever migraine he’s suffering is entirely the war’s fault, not mine.
“Having Caed here would give us an insight into how Elatha would react to—'' I cut off, breath catching as a familiar fox slinks around the corner of the sofa and presses its body against my leg.
“Rosie?” Jaro asks, but Drystan holds out a hand to silence him.
All of the aggravation is gone from my dullahan’s voice as he explains: “Bram is here.”
Sadness collars me, taking my throat and squeezing until it hurts to swallow. Bram’s silver-and-black fox slips around the legs of the table in front of us like smoke, stopping when he’s directly in front of Roark’s boots before looking back at me.
My power slips forth without a thought, solidifying him until the rest of the room can see him. Roark’s eyes cloud, and he looks away.
“Brother. I got Uther’s message. I’ll be there, as I promised.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, confused. “Uther said the same thing, and I get that it’s something?—”
Bram’s fox jumps, landing on my lap and pinning me with dark eyes full of knowledge. Rising onto his hindquarters, he presses a single paw to my lips.
“I deserve to know.” My words should be muffled, but I’ve lost the hold that kept him physical.
The fox shakes his head. Briefly, I debate ordering him to tell me, but I dismiss it as soon as the thought comes.
Bram is a spirit now, subject to my whim, but he was my brother first. I want to respect that.
It’s why I haven’t summoned him since he died, and why, even though it will kill me, I’ll let him go on Samhain. There’s a line there I don’t want to cross. Cressida’s mother did, keeping her lost loves close throughout her life. It didn’t end well for her.
Plus, I’ve seen the Otherworld. If I fall into the trap of keeping Bram here when he’s not meant to be, I’ll deprive him of the peace he’s earned.
Roark clears his throat, and the fox disappears, fading as it leaps away from me. “I’ll get Rowena and the twins safely secured in our estate to the north, and then?—”
“I’m coming too.” His mate stands, frowning. “Being a mother hasn’t robbed me of the ability to shoot?—”
“My darling,” Roark begins, holding his hands up in a pacifying gesture. “I really think?—”
“If you’re about to tell me that our children can’t lose their mother, I’ll remind you that a father is just as important!” Rowena growls. “And should the Goddess take us both, so be it. They will know that their parents died for the freedom of the realm.”
Jaro’s mouth twists, and I find myself unable to raise my gaze from my lap as my heart gives a solemn, painful thump. “I wouldn’t ask either of you to fight for me.”
I’ve been orphaned twice. First by the mortals I thought were my parents, and then again when I gained and lost fae parentsin the space of a few minutes. I don’t wish that on anyone, especially a child.
“I gave our mother our word that I would remain loyal to my sister’s throne before all others.” Roark gentles his tone. “But my mate didn’t, and she’s still recovering from a difficult birth.”
Rowena grimaces, and I wince on her behalf. “The healers?—”
