CHAPTER 48
Zarreth
The walk through the crystal halls feels longer this time. Every step echoes off the glassy walls as Frankie’s hand stays locked in mine. Her thumb keeps tracing the same line across my skin, over and over.
Jess and Graven wait near the chamber doors ahead. Her color has returned, along with her attitude, though balancing the portal hadn’t stopped the poison from spreading through her. She’s standing in her classic stance, hands on hips, head cocked to the side.
Frankie leans in, voice low. “I figured the peace between them wouldn’t last long, but I thought it’d at least make it a couple days.”
I chuckle. Peace never lasts long with those two.
“You think this is fun for me? Being your problem?” Jess says.
“You think this is fun for me?” he fires back. “Being stuck with a human I can never get away from?”
“I never asked you to take that potion,” she snaps.
“Trust me,” he huffs. “If I’d known how annoying you were at the time, I might’ve reconsidered.”
Frankie laughs. “You two aren’t gonna last five minutes in the Mortal Realm without killing one another.”
“I’m hoping it’ll only take four minutes to find the cure,” Graven says. “Maybe five, if we trip over the princess on our way out.”
“I’m sure your girlfriends in the coven will have it waiting for you with a big red bow on it,” Jess says. “How convenient the healer we need just happens to be living with them.”
Graven’s nostrils flare. “Yeah. Convenient.”
Frankie hides her smirk, but I don’t bother. They’re exhausting. Luckily, a guard steps out from the chamber doors, gesturing for us to enter before another argument starts.
Frankie squeezes my hand and gives the faintest nod.
“Ready?” I ask.
Her eyes lift to mine. “As I’ll ever be.”
Together, we step into the Queen’s court. Rows of guards and courtiers stand at attention, then their heads bow, hands to their hearts in quiet reverence.
The falkyrie spot us. Their voices rise from the balcony above, laughing, hooting, and chanting, “Desfara! Desfara!” like a battle cry. One of them even whistles.
Frankie flushes. She’s thinking about bolting, I know it. I smile down at her. She has no problem charging into danger, but getting credit for it makes her want to crawl out of her own skin.
The Queen rises from her crystal throne, her gaze flicking between Frankie and me. She lifts her hands, and the room erupts. The fae add their voices to the falkyrie’s thunder, the sound hitting the glass walls so hard it feels like the realm itself is clapping.
The Queen’s voice carries over the noise as she steps down from her dais. “The realms stand because of you.”
I can feel the tremor in Frankie’s hand, her fingers tightening around mine as she makes a shallow curtsey. I stay upright, meeting the Queen’s eyes with a short nod.
Her gaze settles on Frankie, a gentleness in her voice. “You’ve done what no one in either realm could do. You faced the breach and lived. You restored balance when all was lost.”
She reaches for Frankie’s free hand, her pale fingers closing gently around it. “From this day forward, you will be known as the Guardian of the Veil, protector of the passage between realms, keeper of the balance you bled to preserve.”
Frankie blinks, caught between shock and discomfort. “Uh…thank you?” she manages, voice small but genuine.
The Queen’s lips curve faintly as she leans in, her words meant for Frankie alone. “I was wrong to question your judgement. You risked everything to save us. I cannot undo what was done, but I promise you this, my court, my crown, and my realm stand with you now.”
Frankie nods, too stunned to speak.
The Queen straightens again, her composure returning. “And you,” she looks at me, “I’ll admit I was hesitant when I first allowed a demon into my realm. Now I see the wisdom in it.” She gestures to Brynn. “First Commander, if you would.”
Brynn crosses the floor, stopping in front of me.
“The Guard has been without its commander since Kara’s fall,” she says, her voice steady despite the shine in her eyes.
The tears never fall as she stands, straight and unyielding.
“The falkyrie deserve one who can lead them with strength and reason.”
I frown. “And you think that’s me?”
Her mouth twitches, not quite a smile. “Kara did.”
My throat tightens while I shake my head. “I’m not falkyrie. Half your Guard would sooner draw their blades than take orders from a demon.”
Brynn doesn’t look away. “They trusted Kara. Kara trusted you. That’s enough.”
Behind her, the falkyrie move as one. Knees hit the floor as they all bow their heads…to me.
Brynn steps back, and for a moment the hall is quiet again. My pulse pounds as the falkyrie wait on their knees.
The Queen studies me. “You’ve led your own once,” she says. “You know what it means to fight for those who don’t always have enough to fight back.”
“I have,” I nod. “And I do.”
Macen appears in my head. He’s smart and patient, a natural leader. The Recreants did fine without me for the last two decades. They’ll continue to do so. He’s held them together through everything I couldn’t. Maybe with me gone, he’ll finally take the title he’s earned.
The Queen’s voice carries over my thoughts. “Then you’ll understand why this matters. A demon commanding the Guard of Light is more than title or tradition. It's an alliance. Proof that the realms can stand together when the next storm comes.”
I won’t lead them out of convenience. They need to trust me. “Can I have time to think about it?” I ask. “A title is nothing if it isn’t earned. If I ever lead the Guard, it’ll be because they’ve decided I’m worthy of that privilege.”
Silence stretches through the hall until a voice finally rises from somewhere in the line of armored guards. “I’d be honored to fight beside the Emberlord.”
Another follows. “As would I.”
A third joins in, then another, until the falkyrie erupt in cheers. Laughter, shouts, and chants of Emberlord fill the court.
Frankie grins, her eyes bright while I shake my head. I might very well have my hands full.
The Queen lets the noise fall before she speaks. “I believe they already have.”
Frankie and Jess stand locked together, rocking slowly, neither one willing to let go. “I’m gonna miss you so much,” Frankie says, wiping away a tear. “I wish I could go with you.”
Jess pulls back enough to look at her, eyes glassy but fierce. “Don’t you even dare. Those babies are staying right here in the Light Realm where they’re safe and sound.”
Frankie laughs, tears finally breaking free. “Fine, but you better bring me back a shirt that says, My best friend went to the Mortal Realm to find a healer, and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.”
Jess snorts through her tears. “Deal.”
Frankie’s laugh fades into a shaky breath, and for a moment neither of them move. They just stand there, holding on like it’s the only thing keeping them steady.
I’m surprised to find I’m actually going to miss her too. She’s loud, impulsive, and a pain in the ass, but she’s good for Frankie. She loves her in a way I can’t, the way no one else can…Like a sister.
I glance at Graven. “Take care of her,” I tell him, clasping his shoulder. “And, ah, try not to kill one another.”
His mouth twitches. “I can’t make any promises.”