Chapter Twenty
Finnick
The next day, we only leave the bed to clean and eat. I can literally see Kai growing easier in Vale’s presence. They don’t touch each other, but I can just sense Kai relaxing around Vale. Lo can too, I can tell from the looks he shoots Kai.
Ollie was so busy, between us, that she was nearly senseless with pleasure. The satisfaction in her eyes when she looked at us, well. I’d do anything to make my wife that happy.
When the second day dawns, I wake to the orange-filtered light through the drawn curtains, to see Ollie curled against Kai, Vale pressed to her back, his tail wrapped firmly around her leg.
As if he can sense my wakefulness, Lo, behind me, purrs, his arm around my waist tightens and again my mind turns to the same problem I cannot leave alone.
I want Ollie to be mine. Truly mine.
I want a heart bond with her. But I’m so afraid she’d turn me down.
That she’d, rightfully, say no. She said no to Vale, over and over again, after all.
And she was forced into this engagement, this alliance.
She would have never truly picked me. My heart aches.
Why would she have? Why would she agree to a bond with me?
And from the way she tells it, she struggled to accept even the spirit bonds at first.
Kai lets out a tiny snore and Lo reaches from my body to his, to poke him.
“Can’t sneak up on any enemies if you saw logs,” he whispers into my ear as I grin.
Kai rolls into my body and I wrap an arm around his broad chest. He makes a low sound in his throat and tugs me in. I bury my face against his pecs, in his smattering of dark red chest hair. I see Lo’s tattooed hand from the corner of my vision stretch to touch Kai as well.
I breathe in Kai’s smokey cedar scent and a fear hits low in my belly. I am not a trained warrior. And today we must leave for battle. Will we all return?
Squall’s End had been different. We knew there was an impending attack, but Ollie’s harebrained—correctly so—idea had been spur of the moment.
We just did it. I didn’t have time to ruminate on my possible impending death.
Nor did I love them yet. I was half in shock from leaving the life I had finally become one with, had finally found some happiness in.
But now? Now I have time to think about exactly what I could lose.
“Pretty boy, what’s wrong?” Kai rumbles, rough with sleep.
I sniffle as inaudibly as I can as I try to organize my thoughts.
They both wait, silently, but their hands stroke my side.
“I’m worried about the upcoming battle,” I finally settle on.
They both make agreeable sounds.
“You’d be stupid if you weren’t,” Kai says quietly.
I feel Lonan nod. “In fact, I’d be rather worried about your sanity.”
For whatever reason, that makes me laugh. I laugh as they both kiss me, I laugh as I hear Ollie and Vale wake, I laugh.
Being alive feels wonderful.
SNORTS, SMOKE, AND snarls surround us. I turn, taking in the array of dragons arranged on the landing field that we had first arrived at.
Two giant golden dragons rest on their bellies side by side. Around them flit several copper dragons, each perhaps the size of a draft horse. They appear smaller than Vale, who I now realize is on the smaller end of a dragon.
A dark green dragon stomps impatiently, a blonde Fae with a short sword sits perched upon its back.
A shimmery purple dragon, her spine covered in proper spikes, not rounded protrusions like Rowan, lays on her side in the sun, snoring.
Various others, perhaps thirty in all, mill around, most in their fully-shifted forms.
“Ahh, so pleased you could join us, cousins,” Vale lies smoothly in his silky, false voice.
I spin and see them approaching, the pearlescent dragon that is Prince Egan and the Fae with the short black hair, her wings out but otherwise in her Fae form.
“Princess Ilma,” Ollie says shortly.
She smiles winningly. “Princess Oleander,” she greets smoothly, a hint of playfulness in her eyes.
I wonder what happened between the two of them that Ollie dislikes her.
Kai slaps my back and I turn. He places both hands on my shoulders and inspects me.
“Aye, should work,” he mutters. He’s in a dark blue shirt and leather breeches. He has his metal vambraces on his arms, but a heavy leather breastplate rests over his chest and back.
I tilt my head in confusion.
Instead of answering, he grabs something out of a bag and drops it over my head.
“I brought the armorer here one of your shirts and breeches. He had to alter something already started but I think it’ll suit.”
Kai lifts my arm to tie it in place. I blink rapidly, holding back tears. I am a ball of emotions today, I guess.
He passes behind me and smoothly pulls my hair out from under the padded leather. He grunts. “You gotta get this out of the way, it’s a hazard.”
He ties under my other arm as I nod. As he comes around in front of me, he leans in and places a quick kiss on my lips.
I clear my throat as he drops to his knees to tie the greaves on my legs.
“I’ll braid and club it,” I suggest to his sound of approval. “Wouldn’t metal armor be better?” I ask, mainly to keep my mind occupied.
He snorts as he stands. “Heavy, metal armor in a water battle, pretty boy?”
Oh. Right.
“Ollie!” Kai barks as he digs in the bag again.
She appears out of nowhere, wearing those pretty blue breeches, with leather armor covering her thigh to foot, a deep orange shirt peeking out around her upper armor. I raise an eyebrow which Kai catches.
“We had hers made back in Thistle Grove,” he answers.
“And it’s entirely too much,” she responds acerbically but smiling.
Kai leans into her and threads a leather belt around her waist. “A large dagger. Very light, nice balance,” he says firmly as he ties it on.
Her hand goes to the sheath on the belt. “Kai, we’ve been over this. I’m more like to stab myself with a blade than do any good with it. I don’t want it.”
“Not up for debate, princess.”
“Kai, seriously, I don’t need a blade, I—”
“If you weren’t going to be queen, and thus in need of public respect, I’d take you over my knee right here, Oleander, for arguing with me.
We’ve discussed this once and I pinked your little ass for your behavior, if you recall.
I am your ranking officer. Feel free to order us around like your show ponies in the bedroom, but you will listen to orders in battle,” Kai hisses.
His face turns to where Vale has put his large dragon head near them. “You too, you big blue bastard.”
Vale snorts and rolls his diamond pupils.
I didn’t know a dragon could roll their eyes.
At that exact moment, squeals erupt above us. Kai jumps, but I know it’s my griffons, not impressed with being directed to land near dragons.
Twenty annoyed griffons land in quick succession. Four are riderless, but the rest are mounted by members of Misery’s Militia. I see Barak and Faust both sitting easily atop their chosen griffons and I wave. They return it excitedly.
Lilac dismounts smoothly, looking as if she’s been riding griffons since she was a Faeling. She pulls off a leather helm and tucks it under her arm as she crosses to us.
Tazi hops off a deep red griffon and I frown as I step forward to intercept him.
I’m not fast enough though, and he snaps at her. Her small hand swats his beak as she hops away, long blue braid swinging. “Not me, Curt! Bite the bad guys!”
“I picked the biggest asshole of the bunch!” she chirps, a big smile on her face as she lets her wings emerge. “I named him Curt. He’ll attack on his own after I shift,” she declares proudly.
Lilac adjusts her long sword on her back. “We brought your griffons,” she says even as Ollie throws herself at hers.
“That’s my girl, huh, Feather? Easy girl,” she murmurs as she scratches the big tawny griffon.
“What’s the plan, General?” Lilac asks Kai while glowering at Vale, who’s laid down, wings tucked, eyes angled up and watching silently.
At that moment, Lonan and Rowan walk up. Rowan’s ruby red hair is braided into a crown again and she’s in heavy leathers with her wings extended.
Lilac glares at her. “Who is this?”
Before I can answer, Lo does. “Vale’s mom, Rowan. Ollie fucked her,” he offers, voice wobbling with mirth.
Vale lifts his head and opens his jaw with a snarl. I swear the hairs on my arm stand up as some sub-aural vibration leaves his mouth.
Rowan ignores Vale and gives the griffons, and Lilac, a dismissive look. “Princess Ilma, Prince Egan,” she calls.
The pearly dragon, with the now-scarred face from my sweet little wife, hops over, wings stroking down slowly, disrupting the griffons. I shoot him a dirty look as I go to soothe Curt.
The shimmery black dragon, the same size as Vale and the other prince, walks over calmly, glittering wings tucked down.
As I rejoin the impromptu war room in the middle of a landing field, Lonan speaks. I tug my hair over my shoulder and start braiding as I listen.
“Captains Lilac and Tazi will lead the Militia on the griffons northeast, over Homestead Village. My hope is that Engineer Zola has managed to pull off the fake workers’ riot, driving Alder’s men out of taverns, to their boats for safety.
The griffons will sweep low, heading towards the Balfait Highlands.
I’m confident that will lead the armada out of the bay, following them in concern that they are headed for RedWater.
But instead, they’ll turn south around the Monastery Isles, and attack Monkwick from that direction, causing the armada to join the melee.
” Lonan’s eyes sweep over everyone, lingering on Kai.
He continues, “General Kai and I will lead the thunder straight to Monkwick Castle. A small squadron of us will attack the castle; we’re after someone in particular.
Once we’ve captured that person, rain down hellfire.
Kill them all.” Lo looks at Ollie, whose face is a bit green and she gives a tiny shake of her head.
“Half the dragons, led by Lady Rowan, will take the armada once they round the narrows. The other half will be under Prince Vale’s command. Rowan, Vale, you two split up the thunder as you see fit. Kai, Tazi, go speak to the Militia members.
“And remember, this is for the realm. This is for vengeance. An established government cannot be overthrown merely because a family is power hungry. We’ll correct this grievous misstep, and when we hold the throne, we’ll return rights to the shifters of our realm, feed those now suffering due to lack of foresight, and research why the Veil Stones fell. ”
Lonan nods and the group breaks up. I finish wrapping my braid under and tying it as I cross to Ollie.
“Beloved, are you alright?” I breathe.
She shakes her head, her hair tightly braided into two buns. I slip an arm around her waist and she leans against me, burying her face in my neck.
She breathes, “I hate this, I don’t want the servants to die. The seamstresses and stable boys.”
I kiss the top of her head. “I know, Oleander. I understand. We must get Rafe. We must kill the Mother and Father to take out the house.” My stomach turns but I force my next words out.
“Anyone in the way, well... they have to die. We’ll save who we can, once we meet those goals, alright, little wife? ”
She nods, clinging to me as if I was her port in a storm. A crazy feeling overwhelms me, and I damn near ask her for a heart bond right that very moment.
I swallow the words as she pulls away, quickly wiping her eyes.
“You’re right. So is Lonan.” She takes a deep breath. “They have to die. I know that. I guess I wasn’t prepared to see it, is all.” But she nods and I watch her build her walls up.