Chapter 46
Pressure. So much pressure. It was the second portal they’d gone through after retrieving their companions and the sensations were even more intense.
But then…green grass. Blue skies. Towering trees teeming with insects and bright purple blooms. The smell of lavender. The songs of birds. Dirt rings cordoned off by a stone wall. A pale castle covered in vines.
Ava sank to her knees in the field with a relieved sigh as the rest of the party appeared through the portal behind her. They were back in Monterre.
Home.
The remaining tension left her body when she heard no screams. No sounds of fighting or battles. The castle was intact. From what she could see of town, it was safe. They weren’t there yet. The daemons weren’t there.
Seconds later, someone scooped her up and she met eyes with Casimir. “Let’s get Kai to examine your foot.” He called over his shoulder, “Anyone with injuries, head to the healer’s wing.”
“You’re back!” Fanya’s voice came from ahead. She rushed forward, scanning them until her eyes landed on her brother. With a gasp she clapped her hand over her mouth. “Raine! Your eye!”
“I’m fine.” He waved her off, still exhausted from using so much magic. “What about you? Have you recovered from your injuries?”
“Yes. I’m alright now. You look terrible. You’re pale. And clammy. And you’re going to have an awful scar!”
“You mean a sexy scar,” he attempted to croon, his voice weak.
“Sorry to interrupt, Fanya, but we must get to the healer’s quadrant to rest and recover,” said Casimir.
“Yes. Of course. I’ll go let Pax and Thorne know you’re back.”
We’re going to go hunt, Luna said. We need something more substantial than what we ate in the desert.
The animals took off, disappearing into the woods, and Ava nuzzled into the crook of Casimir’s neck as they headed to heal her foot.
Bathed and changed, Ava sat in the crowded dining hall for dinner. Though exhausted, Jareth had insisted on checking in with his parents, and Ava had made a portal for him to return to Caelestia.
Maeryn, Raine, Gisela and Imsel had napped but were still drained and would need at least another full day of rest to replenish. But it was possible they didn’t even have that kind of time.
There was so much activity around the castle, most of the leaders present to discuss the final plans to banish Andras and take back their world, and the table was crammed with royalty, generals and captains.
Maps were scattered about. Pieces were being arranged and rearranged atop them. Voices reverberated in the large space, discussions ensuing on what the next step should be.
A small feast took up part of the table. Not nearly as much food as they’d typically have, their stores shrinking by the day. Thorne had begun rationing it more strictly in the castle, assuring they had enough for the citizens and the army.
Ava’s throat tightened when she recalled the way the farms had burned not long ago.
“Everyone, quiet down!” Thorne raised his hand from the head of the table, taking the lead.
Silence commenced, aside from the occasional sound of a utensil scraping a plate.
“You have all been updated on who Andras truly is. Ava now has what she needs to banish him.” He gestured to Casimir. “While you were on your mission, I searched for anything else that could aid us, and I went to see the seer in the swamp.”
“And?” Hope bloomed in Ava’s chest that Nelida had some type of insight.
Thorne shook his head. “She had little information, claiming that when the gods interfere, she is unable to use her gift reliably, however she did confirm we’re on the correct path.”
Ava leaned back in her chair.
“It’s time to tighten up our plans,” Thorne continued. “Desmond, are we secure on weapons?”
The advisor nodded, his white hair almost yellow in the flames of the iron chandelier above them. “We have plenty. We also have a significant amount of the specialized arrowheads from Igneothenia.”
“Excellent. Quinn, where are the enemy forces?”
“Just outside Greywood Forest. But there has been no movement for several days.”
Ava frowned. “Why? Are they planning something? Waiting?”
“From what our spies have gathered, they seem to be organizing and rallying more creatures,” Quinn answered.
Aelerion sipped his wine from down the table. “We must regroup and meet them on the battlefield as soon as possible. Before they reach the mountains. We do not want to be trapped between the daemon army and the mountain range.”
“And if we attack now, while they’re resting, we’ll have a greater advantage,” Astrid added.
“We leave tomorrow,” said Thorne.
“But they need to rest.” Ava gestured to Raine, Maeryn and the others. “They spent almost all their magic. They’re drained.”
Raine gave her a sympathetic look across the table. “We’ll sleep tonight. And then again when we make camp. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it. We’ll be alright.”
Casimir’s hand squeezed the back of her neck as he placed a plate of food before her. “Eat something…please.”
Trying to shove away the dread, Ava speared a potato and gave Casimir a tired smile.
“We must make our plans for you,” Thorne said, turning to Ava. “You are not to fight in the battle.”
She nearly dropped her fork. “What? Why? I’m strong. I can fight. You aren’t going to hide me away, I—”
“It’s not about that,” he interrupted. “You have to reserve as much of your magic as possible to trap Andras and send him back.”
It would take almost all her energy to defeat him. But for some reason it hadn’t occurred to her that she couldn’t fight. Her task was the most daunting of all. Sending an ancient god back to his realm. She took a deep breath and worried her lip through her teeth.
“You can fight with your weapons if you must,” Thorne added. “But reserve your energy and do not use your magic.”
“Excuse me, but how are you sending Andras back?” Desmond asked. “It’s not as if he’s going to patiently wait for Ava to trap him with the crystal and open a portal.”
“We must lure him to us,” Maeryn said.
“How?” Thalia asked, her long gray hair pulled back from her face.
The volume of the room rose as the debate began on how to get Andras through the portal. Someone suggested attempting to trick him, others argued he was too smart to fall for it. Another suggested making a physical trap with their magic, but someone else said his own powers were much too strong.
Ava tuned them out as she realized exactly what they had to do. What she had to do. She briefly closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“Me,” she whispered.
No one heard her.
“Me,” she repeated, louder.
Still, no response.
She raised her voice again. “Me.”
Every head turned her way.
Placing a hand on the table, she leaned forward. “I’m the bait. That’s the only way it’ll work.”
Casimir tensed.
“And me alone,” she added.
“No,” Casimir and Thorne said in unison.
Raine’s eyes were wide. Even Quinn looked hesitant. But Ava scanned the table and met eyes with Jorrar. He gave her a subtle nod. Yes. That’s what had to be done.
“You are not facing Andras by yourself,” Thorne said with authority, but she could see the fear in his eyes.
Ava held up her hand. “Just…listen. Please.”
He paused.
Ava took a breath. “He’s obsessed with stopping me. Raine, you said the army came here because they thought I was here when we were in Caelestia.”
“That’s correct.”
“Andras won’t be able to resist. Especially if he finds me alone.”
“He’ll kill you,” Raine said.
Ava shook her head. “Not right away. Not if I do this right. He’s cocky.
As far as he knows, we still think he’s a daemon.
Which means in his mind, we believe we can still kill him; that we won’t be making a portal for him.
He’s not impulsive like Deidamia was. He’ll want to taunt me.
Drag it out. That’s his one weakness. Overconfidence. ”
Emotions warred on Thorne’s face. “Do you have a plan?”
“Yes. I just need to be a really good actress.”
Ava walked through the castle, her foot still sore as she searched for Casimir. He’d left the meeting abruptly, saying he needed time to think. She knew he was struggling with the plan. The plan that would put her in harm’s way without any assistance.
And though part of her knew facing Andras alone was the only option, another reason she insisted was that she couldn’t bear to risk her friends.
If anyone else was with her when she tried to face him, she had no doubt Andras wouldn’t hesitate to end their lives.
But if she was by herself…he would not do so immediately. She was sure of it.
Casimir wasn’t in the suite, nor any of the meeting rooms. She’d even checked the barracks. At last, it dawned on her. She knew exactly where he was.
She hurried out of the castle, through the herb gardens, and into the woods.
The stars were out, an owl hooted in the distance, and the breeze rustled the leaves of the trees.
But even though peace resonated around her, there was an air of something else beneath…
fear. As if the forest was holding its breath in terror, waiting to see its fate in the days to come.
And the only person who could determine that fate was her.
Reaching her destination, she stopped and took a deep breath. Parting the branches of the willow tree, she stepped inside.
The glow of butterflies illuminated the space, even more magical and stunning at night. The golden pond shimmered each time a fish darted to the other side, and Ava smiled at the memories this place held. When Casimir spilled his heart out beneath the willow tree.
There he was. Standing with his back to her.
She approached, stopping a few feet away.
Sensing her presence, he spoke, his voice strained. “I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all.”
“I know,” she replied softly.
He was quiet for a long moment before turning around.
“What if something goes wrong?” He ran his fingers through his long brown hair. “What if something happens to you?”