Chapter Sixty-One
Saoirse
Saoirse studied the faces gathered around the table. Faces that were familiar. Faces that were alive and well and ready to plan their future.
Future.
The last time they’d gathered, it had been to say farewell. They’d all made a pact to bring Vairik down and fight like hell until the bitter end.
But that end hadn’t come.
Vairik was dead, burning in the deepest parts of hell for eternity, thanks to Ellie. Niall was gone, and the remainder of the Dark Fae had fled across the mountains.
Saoirse glanced toward the beautiful female at her side. Alive. Zylah gripped a steaming mug between her slender fingers, hair still damp from that morning’s shower. She wore Saoirse’s favorite pair of pajamas, the little cacti waving in greeting to anyone who passed.
Neither female had been willing to let the other leave their sight since the battle’s end two days ago.
Zylah had slept in Saoirse’s room, beneath her comforter, in her arms, for two glorious nights.
The pair had simply laid in the stillness, both struggling to absorb the magnitude of everything that had transpired.
They hadn’t even kissed again, but Saoirse certainly wasn’t complaining.
Saoirse placed a hand on the female’s arm and Zylah smiled up at her. This was enough.
To be alive was enough.
Saoirse reclined in her seat, back still aching despite Zylah’s attention. Even runes could only go so far.
None had bothered with formal dress. No one cared at this point, aside from Liam and her brothers.
She looked at Alec, then Rion, then her mother.
Alive.
Her attention drifted back to Rion and Arianna.
They might as well have been gods themselves with the way everyone treated them now.
Their shifts—gods, their shifts had been spectacular.
Rion, her little brother, a dragon. An actual living, breathing dragon.
And Arianna, the queen who had been prophesied to save them all, a gorgeous phoenix with powers beyond anything they could have ever imagined.
Saoirse glanced down at her arm and flexed her fingers. She’d been so sure she’d lost it. Hell, she’d thought she and Zylah were going to die on that field, left as nothing more than fodder for Vairik’s monsters to consume.
Fate had been on their side.
The gods had finally been on their side. Or maybe they’d never abandoned them in the first place.
“Did anyone bring wine?” Saoirse asked, the first to break the silence.
“The sun is barely up,” Alec murmured.
“Your point?”
Rion smirked, leaning back in his chair, his body position uncharacteristically lazy. Saoirse imagined he was still adjusting to the effects of his first shift. Never mind coming to terms with his newfound identity. There was certainly no denying it now.
“The servants are still off,” Arianna said. “But I could—”
“Sit down,” Saoirse said before Arianna could even attempt to rise. “If the queen fetches me wine, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“There were a few who volunteered to make breakfast, it should be here soon,” Alec said.
“And they have wine?”
Another smile from her older brother. “I might have mentioned it.”
“Oh, thank the gods.”
As if summoned, three half-breeds walked into the room carrying plates of fresh fruit, eggs, sausage, and biscuits. Saoirse spotted one with a glorious bottle full of heavenly red liquid. The female approaching set it directly beside Saoirse. An act that had everyone chuckling.
The servant paused before Zylah and bowed slightly before hurrying off.
Saoirse braced herself for Zylah’s judgement.
It didn’t come. She thought back to their kiss on the battlefield, along with the promise that had begged Saoirse to survive.
She would finally get the chance to court Zylah properly.
Because now they had all the time in the world.
They were free.
None waited on formalities before digging in, filling their plates to the brim.
Arianna stared at her food. She didn’t reach for a fork. Instead, she said, “I know a lot has happened.” The entire room paused. “But there are things that need to be addressed.”
Saoirse sighed. “I guess this means we don’t get a reprieve.”
“Not when we’re the ones that have to assign them,” Rion said.
“And this is why I never wanted his job,” she jerked her chin toward Alec.
“I already have a team that’s secured the perimeter,” Raevina said, moving the conversation straight to business. Typical. “We’re monitoring those who come and go, but could use more on patrol.”
The female still possessed an air of authority about her, but Saoirse couldn’t help but smirk at her out of sorts appearance.
Instead of fighting leathers and knives strapped across her torso, Raevina’s clothes were jagged and askew, as if she’d just rolled out of bed without so much as glancing at herself in the mirror.
Saoirse wrinkled her nose. The female could have at least bothered with a shower. It would have been nice to not smell exactly which male had warmed her bed last night. Saoirse glanced over at Talon, then rolled her eyes. The male was practically beaming.
“We’ll find them,” Arianna assured, then glanced at Rion. He offered an encouraging nod that had Saoirse curious. “I know there’s usually a mountain of paperwork, but we’ve officially decided to appoint everyone present as part of our inner court.”
The room froze. Those who’d been lifting food to their mouths slowly put down their forks. Those in the middle of drinking set their glasses to the side. Eyes flitted across the room, soaking in the parties present, processing their comrades. Allies.
A room full of people that would reshape the entire continent.
Avalon and Alec were present; they were a given, considering their station. Zylah’s role was easy enough to figure out. The female had been working as a bridge, filling the gaps between Fae and half-breeds since their time in Ruadhán.
Raevina was the future High Lady of Fiadh. Everyone already planned to unseat their current High Lord given his absence in the final battle. With everything Raevina had told them about the male, his removal would be well deserved.
Saoirse had always served beneath her older brother. Perhaps her role was to remain there. Alec’s council was present, along with Liam and his trusted second. Her mother was here, too, smiling and proud of the next generation that had risen up to defend their world.
Rion was the first to speak. “If it’s all right with Alec, I would like to appoint Liam as the head commander of our military operations.” All eyes turned to the male. He sat a napkin aside. Adjusted in his seat.
“Not just of Brónach,” Liam clarified, his voice a bit disbelieving.
Rion gave him a sheepish smile, the expression one of a boy who’d craved the affections of a friend. “Not just of Brónach,” he confirmed.
No one spoke for a long moment. The argument could have been made that there were plenty of other Fae with more experience, but if Liam was a commander, then he’d have direct access not only to Rion, but to Arianna as well. Which meant they couldn’t risk an unknown person filling the role.
Alec nodded. “I’m sure I can find another to fill the position.” He turned to Liam. “So long as he accepts, I won’t oppose.”
All eyes turned back to Liam. The male licked his lips, then looked disbelievingly between Arianna and Rion. “You’d trust me with such a position?”
“I trust your loyalty to Brónach and to the people of this continent,” Rion said. “I won’t ask you to pledge yourself to me. Your pledge to the people is good enough.”
Liam’s eyes dropped to the table. His brows furrowed. Anyone else would have leapt at the opportunity, but Liam had always been one to take his time and weigh the options.
Liam’s jaw feathered, then the male rose to his feet.
He didn’t limp, but his movements were slower than normal as he made his way around the table.
Saoirse wondered if he felt just as tired as she did, their bodies wrung out, replenished, then wrung out again.
Even after two days, Saoirse’s magic was still sluggish to respond.
Liam paused before Arianna and Rion, who had both turned in their chairs.
Then Liam dropped to one knee, his head bowed.
“I pledge my loyalty to the continent, to the people who call this land home, and to the betterment of a peaceful society.” He paused and looked up, meeting Arianna’s gaze.
“And I pledge myself to the Queen of Alastríona. I vow with my life to serve and protect, and carry out any order she asks of me.” Liam looked to Rion next.
No one missed the way her little brother’s heart leapt.
“And I pledge myself to the King of Alastríona. I vow to always protect his mate and should I ever raise my blade against either of them, may the gods take my soul and cast it straight into the deepest pits of hell.”
Rion stood slowly, Arianna at his side. Saoirse’s little brother smiled gently down at his friend. Saoirse remembered a time when the two had chased one another down the palace halls, playing a make-believe game where Liam was a guard and Rion a High Lord.
But her little brother had become so much more.
Rion reached out a hand. Confused, Liam took it, allowing her little brother to tug his friend to his feet. The two remained close, staring at one another, then Rion pulled Liam into a tight embrace. The male froze at first, then clasped Rion on the shoulders.
They would rebuild. Everything started right here with a strong foundation. And she’d seen no stronger assembly.
“Thank you,” Arianna mouthed when Liam pulled away. Liam bowed again, then ambled back to his chair. He winced upon sitting.
Arianna and Rion reclaimed their seats, then Arianna continued, “There was a human in Levea that I trusted with my life. Her name is Myrna. She and a handful of humans will function as part of a council to represent the humans’ needs as they arise.”
“Myrna?” Avalon questioned. “I should think the role might be given to someone—younger.” He grimaced before clarifying. “She should be allowed to rest.”
“It’s only temporary. Sive is also helping them.”
“Why aren’t these people present?” Raevina asked.
“They’ll be informed of their roles later,” Rion assured. “Both have been on their feet for two days and one has a youngling to attend to.”
Raevina’s jaw worked. “Given that the title of commander has been placed upon someone else, what is my role to become?” Was that jealousy in her voice?
Arianna exchanged a glance with Rion. “I thought that was obvious,” their Queen said. “You’re the High Lady of Fiadh.”
Raevina opened her mouth. Closed it. She looked over at Avalon, then Alec, and finally back to Arianna. The female took a breath, attempting to steady herself. “Not while my father stands.”
“It will be addressed,” Rion stated. A threat.
Though Vairik had ultimately been the one pulling the strings, it was still Fiadh’s High Lord who had commanded the death of Arianna’s mother.
Fiadh’s High Lord who had sent Raevina to kill Arianna.
And Fiadh’s High Lord who had refused to give them aid when the entire world had been closing in around them.
Not to mention the unit of Shadow Weavers that had joined the fray.
But that was a battle for another time.
“Once everything settles, we’ll have the official documents drawn up.” Arianna appeared so confident. “For now, we focus on strengthening our defenses, along with providing housing for everyone who’s been displaced.”
Saoirse grimaced. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but even if we packed everyone together, I don’t think there’s enough room.” They already had people lining the streets, and a mountain of refugees had poured in over the last two days.
Eimear stood, a wide smile plastered across her face. “Sounds like it’s finally time to expand our boarders.” She met Saoirse’s gaze, that same shade of green reflected back at her. “I think it’s time to grow a few more redwoods, don’t you?”