Chapter 31 Lily
THIRTY-ONE
LILY
Istood outside the castle, on the cracked flagstones with my suitors, my coach and the horses as Keane instructed the remaining servants on how to best secure the summer palace in our absence. Once he was satisfied, he closed the big oak door and hurried to his horse.
“Aren’t you riding with me?” I asked, as disappointment drew tension through me. Our private moment alone had invigorated me and calmed my nerves, but now that it was time to depart, I grew more and more worried over what Riala was doing.
“No, but I will be close at all times, I swear it,” Keane said, before squeezing my fingers gently.
Then darkness gathered like dark clouds on the other side of the courtyard, and Keane leapt in front of me, already drawing his sword. The lords moved equally as quickly, fanning out into a defensive half-circle with me in the center, completely protected.
But it wasn’t Riala who arrived—but Rose, her face paler than normal and her hair askew. King Raith stood beside her, tall and severe and obviously fae, with black hair, gray eyes, and a commanding, powerful presence. I barely noticed him though.
“Rose!” Relief colored my cry and I dodged past Keane as I ran to my sister.
“Lily!” Keane took hold of my arm and held me back. “It could be an illusion!”
“It’s not an illusion,” Raith called from my sister’s side. “We’re truly here.”
“Prove it,” Keane said, brandishing his weapon.
Rose began to speak, though her voice was weak. “When I was six years old, I knocked over a pale blue vase in one of the sitting rooms. Lily lied and said she’d done it to protect me from Father’s wrath.”
“Yes, that’s her.” Not even our other sisters knew I’d taken the blame for that incident. And many others like it. I pulled my sister into a hug, and she weakly embraced me back. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, yes. Just tired.”
Raith wrapped a protective arm around her. He tipped her chin so she met his gaze in the growing dusk. “You’re not fine. You barely got away, foolish, brave woman.”
I clutched my neck, glancing between the two of them. “Barely got away? What happened?”
“Riala has taken over Winton Castle,” Rose said. “She’s holding herself a coronation tonight to declare herself the true Queen of Talador.”
Fear flittered through me, quickly chased out by rage. “She will never be the true queen.” I fought to keep my voice steady in the force of my sudden anger. “She was simply Father’s wife. I am his heir.”
Rose nodded, approval gleaming in her eyes. “She’s holding Jasmine, Violet, and Camellia captive, but I managed to escape with my magic. I went straight to Raith because he can help get you to Winton Castle quickly. It’s your birthright, Lily. You need to save it.”
“What of Iris?” I asked. “Is she well?”
“Yes, she’s fine, although Riala has her surrounded by guards loyal to her.” As she spoke, she slumped against Raith like she could barely hold herself up.
I reached out to her. “You’re exhausted, Rose. Look at you.”
“It’s hard to fight evil and create new life, it seems.” Her familiar grin appeared, but quickly faded away.
Raith took her hand. “You must return to Ilidan immediately and rest.”
Rose furrowed her brow but straightened up. “I’ll do no such thing. You know our magic is stronger when we cast together. I’ll be fine.”
“You have to go back, Rose,” Raith’s voice grew commanding and a little exasperated.
“But this is my family.” The curl of Rose’s lip was familiar. The protest in her tone, too. I’d missed watching Rose’s stubborn streak—and at least it wasn’t directed toward me.
“This is my family too now,” he said, as he placed a hand on her stomach, and then glanced at me. “Our two lines are tied together through blood, and I won’t let anyone take your sister’s throne.”
My heart warmed at his words, even as I was surprised by his sentiment. The cold, aloof Raith had definitely warmed thanks to my sister’s influence. Even so, Rose looked like she might continue to argue.
“Rose, may I speak with you?” I asked.
Keane touched Raith’s shoulder. “Let’s give them some privacy. See if Lily can work some magic of her own.”
Raith nodded and the two of them moved away, while Rose scowled after them. Then she planted her hands on her hips in a position I knew so well. “Are you going to tell me to return home as well?”
“Yes. I agree with Raith.” I took her hands in mine.
“You’ve already done a lot to help us, but you can only come so far on this journey with me.
” Sun and Moon. Just when I needed to hold it together, my voice cracked on the last word.
I shook my head and cleared my throat before forcing a grin that belied my blurry vision.
“Besides, I can’t focus on saving my kingdom from Riala’s clutches if I’m worried about my future niece or nephew, can I? ”
Rose pressed her lips into a tight line, but then nodded. “Very well. For you and for my loving husband I will go home, but only because the pair of you have really given me no choice. I do expect an update as soon as you’ve defeated Riala and saved our sisters.”
I could only hope it all went so smoothly, but I appreciated her confidence in me. “I promise you’ll be the first to know.”
A wash of emotion ran through me as she flung herself at me, pulling me into her arms. “Stay safe, sister. And go get your crown.”
“I will,” I mumbled into her hair.
I released her to Raith, who said his own tender goodbye. Then we all watched as she called shadows to surround her and she disappeared back through the Shadow Lands to Ilidan.
Raith gave me a nod of thanks, and then turned to face everyone. “This is the plan. I shall teleport you in small groups to the forest just outside Winton Castle. You may experience some…discomfort when we arrive, due to the nature of traveling through the Shadow Lands, but it should pass quickly.”
I nodded, even as the plan made my stomach twist. There were so many horrible stories about the Shadow Lands, and about people going missing there and never returning, but this was the only way to get to the castle in time to stop Riala.
“I’ll start with the guards,” Raith said. He and Keane divided the soldiers into groups, so they could position themselves outside Winton Castle and protect the rest of us arriving. Then Raith disappeared in shadow several times as he teleported them over.
Keane turned me away from the others, giving us a discreet moment. “We have to go through separately. I need to be in position to ensure everyone’s loyalty to the rightful queen.”
“I understand. I’ll see you soon.”
He pressed a quick kiss to my lips and walked over to Raith, who had finished with the guards, and now had some of my suitors with him. Keane took hands with Raith, and shadows curled around them. Then they vanished.
Raith repeated the process until only he and I stood in front of the summer palace, and he took my hands. “Are you ready for this?”
I squared my shoulders and took a breath to steel myself. “Yes. I’m ready.”
“I’m sorry I can’t see it through with you, but Riala is my cousin, and she’s also cousin to the High Queen of the fae. I can’t afford to start a war between Ilidan and Korelan.”
“I understand.” Ilidan and Talador had only just ended their long war with the marriage of Raith and Rose. I didn’t want to immediately plunge him into a war with a different kingdom. “Thank you for doing as much as you are.”
Shadows began to swirl around us, and then everything went black.