Chapter Seven
Skylar Cathal
Alright. Shoulders back, chin up, and pretend like I know what the fuck I’m doing.
“You’ve got this, Spitfire.”
I gave his hand an extra squeeze. I was learning, but a war council was foreign to me. Thank the gods I had Daxton by my side.
“I’ve got this,” I repeated, under my breath.
Daxton bent to whisper, “You never cease to amaze me.”
The door swung open to our first war council meeting, and I bravely stepped inside.
The chamber thrummed with a tense energy, a living heartbeat beneath the vaulted ceiling. Ten leaders sat around the table, each representing a different skill set needed in the war to come. High Fae and shifter, warrior and spy, strategist and scout, all gathered.
Daxton and I moved along the edge of the room, every set of eyes following us as we approached our seats. To my right sat the five shifters I had chosen to represent us: Shaw, Magnus, Rhea, Talon, and Neera.
I needed their counsel and support now more than ever.
To Daxton’s left sat his chosen High Fae: Castor, Adohan, Gunnar, Zola, and—most surprising of all—Rhett.
Rhett now sat as the ruler of Aelius, though it was a seat he did not wish to hold. Daxton and Castor wanted to save their friend and ally, but Seamus had said, Do what you must. It was a selfless admission. One that revealed his true nature, finally unmasked by Minaeve’s magic and torment.
“Thank you, everyone, for coming here today,” Daxton said as we took our seats.
Inhaling a deep breath, I said, “We’re gathered to discuss our next steps in this war.”
Castor cleared his throat, already bristling. “Let’s start with this so-called summons from Princess Réalta on behalf of King Taran. They claim peace and that Minaeve has been dismissed from court, but I call bullshit.”
“Peace has never been Taran’s goal,” Magnus added, his eyes narrowing. “For twenty-two years, he’s hunted our people like animals—slaughtered them at our borders.”
“Not to mention the lovely hunters and mages that drove us out,” Rhea said, her tone biting. “If you’re looking for a clear sign of intent, there it is.”
“They’ve hunted us,” I said quietly.
I glanced toward Shaw, someone who truly understood the scale of devastation left behind by the hunters.
“The humans brought this war,” Shaw said, his jaw tight, his muscles coiled with the tension he rarely let show.
“And we’ll finish it,” Zola cut in, her voice smooth and chilling. She twirled a dagger between her fingers, the promise of unforgiving retribution glinting in her eyes.
A twinge of unease twisted in my stomach. My aunt’s words to me at the crossing echoed in my mind. Not all humans are evil.
My mother was one of them.
I was half-human.
“Training will need to begin right away,” Gunnar said. “If the shifters and High Fae warriors pair together, learning to fight as one in their animal forms, I believe we’ll be an unstoppable force.”
Daxton nodded in agreement.
I leaned forward, meeting the general’s hard stare. “What do you need, Gunnar?”
“A point person from the shifters would be great. Someone who’s experienced and can relay your strengths and weaknesses.”
“Magnus will work with you,” I said, turning to my uncle, knowing we needed to prepare for the worst if diplomatic solutions were not in our favor. “Perhaps a round or two in the Ice Gauntlet will be beneficial for training.”
A spark lit Gunnar’s eyes at the mention of the gauntlet, and I found myself wondering which of my pack could beat my time. Twenty-four minutes was no small feat—especially for a shifter with a dormant animal.
Magnus nodded before crossing his arms, leaning back in his seat. “We should convene after this meeting to begin preparations and training schedules.”
“Excellent,” Gunnar said.
“Skylar and I will assist when we’re able,” Daxton added. “Adohan, are you still able to help with training here in the Inner Kingdom, and Skylar’s fire magic?”
“Absolutely,” Adohan answered. “I’d love to see how hot the flames of a phoenix can burn.”
Through our research, Shaw and I discovered that a phoenix could conjure flames so intense they could destroy anything in its path—the eternal flame. Hotter than dragon fire, its heat held no rival.
Adohan was eager to put this theory to the test, but I hesitated at the thought of summoning it, uncomfortable with so much power.
Rhett cleared his throat, drawing our attention. “Aelius is ready with its navy to defend the borders closest to the human lands. With our forces combined with Captain Fjorda and the water nymphs, we have the seas under control.”
That was a relief.
“Shifters can lend their strength along the shorelines and protect the border,” Rhea said with confidence.
“Many of us can move unseen, even in the chaos,” Neera added, her tone unwavering.
My heart swelled with pride at her conviction.
I gave her a half-smile. “I agree. Neera, you’ll organize a scouting party to help keep watch and report any threats. But I don’t want you behind enemy lines.”
“Sky—”
“No, Neera.” I cut in, sharper than intended. “You’re learning. But for now, I want Zola to take the lead on any spy work beyond our borders.”
Neera bit the inside of her cheek, eyes blazing, but she held her tongue.
“Alright, let’s revisit the main concern here, shall we?” Castor drawled. “Are we going to answer this invitation and venture to the human realms? The humans are—”
I rose from the table. “Before you finish that, Castor, need I remind you that I’m also part human?”
Silence engulfed the room.
“Minaeve and her twin did unspeakable things to our people. However,” I paused, drawing on the love my parents held. The kindness my mother must have shown the shifters to have earned my father’s claiming mark. “Not all of them are evil.”
“The humans alive today did not know of Minaeve’s plan,” Daxton said, sensing my inner turmoil. “Those alive during that time have passed on.”
“We don’t know what the current king believes, or what Minaeve and Istar have planned,” I added.
Magnus abruptly stood from his seat. “They’ve hunted us, Skylar. On the king’s orders—for years. Your father, my brother, died at the hands of his men. Julia died…”
My heart ached at the depth of pain reflected in my uncle’s eyes. It nearly broke me. “I know, but—”
“No, you don’t!” Magnus slammed his fist against the table. The crack of his anger echoed through the chamber as his magic flared.
Daxton stood beside me, his power radiating like a storm about to break. His tone was lethal when he spoke, “Sit down, Magnus.”
“I understand more than most what sacrifices have been made.” I reached out, placing a steadying hand on Daxton’s arm, reminding him there was no threat.
“I gave my life to unlock and heal our world. And I’ll do everything in my power to make sure others don’t have to meet that same fate.
That no one else will have to leave their homes, kiss their children and partners goodbye, and watch their blood soak the soil we’re fighting to control. ”
I met my uncle’s stare, unflinching and burning with my inner fire. I was the alpha.
“I know,” I said once more, in a quieter tone. “But I’d like to attempt peace before we engage in an all-out war.”
This could be either the wisest decision of my life or one that destroyed us all.
“At the very least,” Castor said, breaking the silence, “we can learn what forces the humans command and how many we’re up against.”
“He has a point,” Daxton said to me.
“I know. Did you tell him to say that at the meeting?”
Daxton’s mouth curved, the faintest hint of mischief breaking through his otherwise stony expression. “No.”
“Daxton?”
“Perhaps.”
I shook my head, fighting the urge to smile despite the weight pressing down on all of us.
“I’m with Skylar on this,” Talon spoke to the table. “If we can avoid war, lives on both sides will be spared. It’s worth the risk. Peace is worth the effort to try.”
“So, we hope for the best, but plan for the worst.” Castor ran a hand through his hair with a long exhale. “Fan-fucking-tastic.”
I shifted in my seat. “We have to try, Cas—”
“I’m aware,” he cut in. “I just don’t like it.”
“You’re entitled not to favor a strategy,” Daxton said, “but Skylar and I would like us all to come to this decision together.”
“So,” Rhea said, “we prepare for bloodshed. But in the meantime, we’ll what? Play nice?”
My friend always had such a way with words.
“In a way,” I said, leaning into my seat. “No one here has ever seen the human kingdom, correct?”
Around the table, heads turned. And one by one, they shook their heads in silent agreement.
“Exactly,” I said, heart pounding wildly. “We’re blind to our opponent. We don’t know what forces King Taran commands. And, by some divine stroke of fate, if he’s cast Minaeve out of his court and is willing to ally with us, then we stand a chance at uniting against both her and Istar.”
“And if it’s a trap?” Zola asked bluntly, her tone razor-sharp. “What then?”
“Then we gather intel on our enemy and turn it against them when the time comes. Only a small group will answer the summons,” Daxton said, calm like a steady current in a stream.
“Our main forces will remain to train while we sail to Zircon City, and you, Zola, will lead a small recon team that will go north to report the locations of their other forces.”
Talon cleared his throat, leaning forward. “And Gilen?”
The shifters in the room stiffened.
“What about him, Skylar?” Talon asked, the lines around his face creasing with worry. “What are we going to—”
“Leave him to me.” A low growl escaped my throat, leaving no room for argument.
My heart ached at the memory of Gilen breaking the pack bond. It was sharp, sudden, like lightning splitting the sky. One moment, his presence was a part of me, a constant hum beneath my skin. The next, a gaping void replaced where the connection had been.
“So, our high king and the shifter alpha are sailing to the human kingdom to answer a summons. Fantastic,” Castor said, full of dry amusement, breaking my saddened memory. “But before you go, there’s something we need to do. A show of unity before you meet with human royalty.”
Castor grinned, eyes darting to Daxton.
“What?” I asked, arching my brow.
Daxton’s voice dropped as he cleared his throat. “You hold many titles, Spitfire—my mate, champion, alpha, High Queen of the Inner Kingdom. But there’s one title you’ve yet to claim.”
I narrowed my gaze, lips pressing into a firm line. “And what title would that be?”
He chuckled, biting back his grin as he said, “My wife.”