45. Chapter 45
Chapter 45
Lea
T here was something exceedingly odd about celebrating in the midst of chaos. Wildfires still sparked throughout the kingdom, and their armies were spread to every village to fight them and distribute the moonflowers. She’d been alerted by several tugs on her magic since the soldiers had left, showing her more villages attacked by Alaric. None of those visions had shown him, but somewhere, Alaric was out there, still hidden away and biding his time.
Yet here they were, warm from the wine and dancing, finding joy amidst the chaos. While the ceremony itself had been intimate with only the six of them, they’d invited several others to a reception following Erik and Janelle's vows. Vincent was there, along with Elise and several of Erik's closer friends.
Lea drank wine and ate sweets and smiled—some of which were even genuine—but an undercurrent of worry clouded the festivities. At any moment, everything could change.
While she was somewhat comforted by the fact that she’d been able to take a tiny sliver of Janelle's magic, she still wasn't confident she'd be able to take Alaric’s before it killed her. Sorrow settled beneath her breastbone.
Would Gray forgive her for hiding her plan from him? She had no choice. Evangeline had seen their future—seen them fail each and every time Gray found out what she was going to do. She couldn't tell him, but the guilt still gnawed at her gut, relentless and agonizing. Even if he were to somehow agree to allow her to sacrifice herself, even if he conceded to staying behind, telling him would give Eudora the chance to see what she was planning. Keeping their options open, the possibilities endless, would give her an edge that they couldn’t afford to lose.
They needed every advantage they could find, and so even though it made her constantly feel like she was going to throw up, she had to continue to hide her plan from everyone—Gray, Janelle, Emma…
Emma. Who, as the party went on, seemed to sense that something was troubling her. Every few minutes, Lea’s skin prickled from the sensation of eyes on her. Emma hid her stare when Lea turned around, her brow creased with concern and her cheeks turning red as she realized she’d been caught. But even with her concerned looks and questioning eyes, she didn't pry. Never asked what was troubling her so deeply, as if she knew that their survival hinged on Lea keeping her troubles to herself.
Once again, she was painfully aware of her lack of mate bond with Gray, but in this instance, she was grateful. If he'd been able to feel what she was feeling, it would destroy him. Tears burned the back of her eyes as she realized these might be her final few days with him for quite a long time, but she pushed them down. Those thoughts weren’t helpful or productive. They wouldn’t change anything. But what she could do was make sure she spent as much time with him as possible before she set her plan in motion.
Scanning the room, she found him speaking with Vincent. A single violin played out a slow, soothing ballad that rang out high and clear, making goosebumps freckle her skin. As soon as she found him, Gray's eyes snapped to hers, and he paused his conversation with Vincent, turning and holding out a hand toward her.
They needed no words, their magnetic pull bringing them together in a choreographed embrace. They met in the middle, Lea taking Gray’s hand as he gathered her into his arms, placing one hand on the back of her head and wrapping the other arm around her waist as they began to sway.
“You look like the brightest star on the clearest, darkest night,” Gray said. “Absolutely stunning.”
Lea smiled against his chest. “As you've said several times tonight. But thank you.”
“I’ll tell you a hundred more times. A thousand, if you’ll let me.”
“I wasn’t complaining. You can tell me until your tongue falls out, if that’s what you’d like.” She breathed in his scent, the wind that carries in a rainstorm, committing it to memory. “Is that the most beautiful thing you can think of? Stars?”
“Besides you?” A tendril of shadows reached up and pulled her hair off her shoulder. “It used to be the sunset. But I’d give anything to see the stars right now,” Gray said, pulling back and spinning her in a slow circle, the skirt of her dress flaring out around her legs. “I’d do anything for relief from this heat.”
“Taking off our clothes might help,” Lea teased, pretending to reach toward the top of her dress, and a growl ripped from Gray’s throat.
“Later,” he said, pulling her cap sleeve back up over her shoulder, and Lea laughed at the absurdity of his protectiveness.
From her periphery, Lea saw a shadow swoop outside through a tiny gap between the curtains. Lea turned to look harder, but Gray tipped her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes.
“You enjoy torturing me, don’t you?” he asked, his shadows teasing as they slid against her skin .
“I enjoy everything about you—torturing you.” She reached up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to Gray’s throat. “Kissing you… loving you.”
Gray’s eyes darkened as he trailed a thumb down her cheek.
“You loving me,” she added.
Emotion bubbled up her throat along with the urge to tell Gray everything about her love for him, to make it entirely clear how she felt, but there weren’t words big enough for the feeling. Not words her tongue could speak out loud.
Gray looked down at her, the absolute adoration in his eyes making her knees weak. A shadow darted again between the small sliver of curtains, catching Lea’s eye, but she ignored it.
“There was never a choice but to love you,” he said, leaning down and brushing a kiss across her lips.
“But there was. You could've chosen to focus on saving your kingdom without the added complications of loving someone. You could've kept your secrets; it would've been easier. But even when I was at my worst, when I was fighting for air and didn’t know who I was, you were there for me. I can’t tell you how much your love has changed my life.”
Gray rested his chin on the top of her head, his swaying slowing until he stopped, pulling back to look at her. “Why does it feel like you’re saying goodbye to me?”
Lea’s stomach clenched, tears working their way up her throat.
“We're going to win, Lea. We're going to defeat Alaric. There's no other option. I won't allow it.”
“I know,” she sniffled. “I know. We have to win. I just needed to say it. I love you, Gray. Forever.”
“And even after that,” Gray said, his expression suddenly serious. He cleared his throat, opening his mouth to speak, but Vincent appeared, interrupting his thought.
Gray stiffened at the intrusion. “Has something happened?” he asked, his voice low.
Vincent shook his head. “Not here. It's about… the soldiers from Hampstead have returned.”
“Right,” Gray said sadly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’d like to speak to them. Lea?”
“I think I’ll stay here,” Lea said, looking over at Janelle, who was beaming up at Erik, who was somehow smiling even harder than her. Gray cupped Lea’s cheek, his eyes full of understanding.
“I’ll be back soon, then,” he said, kissing her softly before following Vincent out of the dining hall.
Pushing the images of another burned village from her mind, and suddenly exhausted, Lea went to find a glass of water. As she neared the window, a shadow once again darkened the crack between curtains, darting back and forth again and again. Whatever it was seemed to be taunting her, waiting for her. It settled on the ledge outside, and Lea squinted again, trying to determine what it could be. It was small, no more than a foot tall—a bird of some sort?
Tap, tap, tap. The shadow knocked on the window.
Lea shook her head. Probably just an animal trying to escape the blistering heat outside. She turned away, but the bird tapped more firmly. Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. A prickle of magic dusted against Lea's skin, and she paused, looking around to make sure no one was watching before slipping toward the window and peeling the curtain back. Only a few inches, not wanting to let more light into the room and bring attention to herself.
Outside on the stone ledge perched a hawk. It was smaller than any hawk she’d ever seen before, with reddish markings on its wings and black circles around its eyes.
Lea bent down to look closer, and it tilted its head at her, meeting her eyes. Once the bird saw her, a small roll of parchment appeared in its beak.
Lea’s heart skipped a beat as it tapped the glass again, and with shaking hands, she cracked the window open, just enough to reach outside. The heat was stifling as the bird dropped the parchment into her open palm.
It was rough; the edges frayed as if ripped from a larger piece, and she turned it over to look for a seal or something to identify the sender, but there was none. Lea looked back to the bird, searching for any indication of who might be responsible for its presence, but before she could search for clues, it opened its wings and took off, gone in an instant as if it had never been there at all.
She moved to close the window, but before it latched shut, a gust of wind blew, slipping under the edge of the parchment and unfolding it in Lea’s hand. Her stomach clenched as her mother’s words clanged around her skull with an intensity that made her breaths quicken. The wind will guide you.
With a quick look over her shoulder to make sure nobody was looking, she snapped the window closed and hurried to the far side of the room by the fireplace, hiding behind the table of small cakes and candies Elise had prepared for the reception.
Lea turned to face the fire, pretending to admire the ornate swirling decorations on the mantle as she peeled open the note.
Lea,
It is at great risk that I write this letter, but I do so in hopes this message can be delivered to you, and to you alone. I met Alaric on the road as he was leaving the palace, and with Gray’s advice, groveled for his forgiveness. The things I had to say about Gray—about you—to convince him of my loyalty still sit thick in my throat, threatening to choke me. But Gray was right. Somewhere inside Alaric is a small boy who has always wanted his parents’ approval and affection.
I am safe. At least, for now.
Please listen carefully. Eudora has joined Alaric, and they are watching you closely. But for some reason, thank the goddess, Eudora cannot see you. From what I have gathered, you are blocked from her visions, but only you. It is a small mercy, and I hope it buys you time.
Alaric grows stronger by the day. He hides inside the Wicked Wood, just south of the town of Pontor. Even the demons flee from him, and I fear if you do not act soon, he will find a way to use them against you.
You must separate yourself from the others and find him; use any excuse you can, but you must go alone. As long as you tell no one of your plans, Eudora and Alaric will be caught unaware. Burn this note.
And please, hurry.
Genevieve.
Lea's blood turned to ice as a heavy blanket of emotions settled over her—terror that the time was coming, mixed with relief that one way or another, this would soon be over. Sorrow that she would have to deceive her friends and her mate, mixed with the resolve to do what she had to do to save their kingdom.
Is this why Evangeline’s visions had shown her failing when Gray knew of her plans? Because Eudora wouldn’t see her coming if she acted alone?
The goddess had been very clear; she was the only one who could end this war. It was her destiny to do so. Surely, it was the goddess protecting her now by blocking her from Eudora’s visions.
Or was this simply another trap? Maybe she could tell Gray. Maybe the god of the sun was punishing them, trying to separate them.Lea’s sword warmed on her hip as if telling her she was lying to herself.
She knew the truth. It wasn’t a trap at all. This was the way forward. Alone.
Before anyone could see what she held, she crumpled the letter into a ball and forced it through the shield of air into the fire, allowing the flames to consume the words that had changed absolutely everything.
She’d been working on her plan, but now she had a location. It was time to act.
As if the goddess was listening to her thoughts, another petal fell. Confirmation that the clock was ticking down.
Lea straightened her pristine dress and turned around, plastering a smile on her face as her eyes found Erik and Janelle. She would excuse herself soon; would need to rest for the journey ahead. But she could give them one night of happiness, one night to enjoy each other without the threat of death looming over them. Because tomorrow, everything would change.
A hand on her shoulder made her jump, and Lea turned to find Gray looking down at her, his eyebrows creased in concern.
“Everything okay?”
Lea leaned into him, desperate to feel his touch for as long as she could.
“Fine,” she said. “Another petal fell while you were gone,” she said. His lips pressed into a grim line as his eyes skated across her crown.
“Soldier’s arrived back from Hampstead. It was as you saw—burned to the ground. The same as the other villages.”
“They found nothing new at all?”
“No. Not about Alaric, at least. But the wildfires are somewhat contained at the moment, and they confirmed that several royal army outposts have been identified. ”
Lea nodded, grateful that the soldiers had returned to confirm what she’d seen through their army’s eyes. It was one thing to be able to see what they saw, but without the context, it was hard to have the full picture. They still didn’t know how many soldiers were at each outpost. Or what the closest towns to them were.
“Then that’s where we start,” Lea said, her plan falling perfectly into place.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
Lea sighed, pulling him out of earshot of the others. “We split up. We can go scout the army outposts. Surely, Alaric is at least somewhere nearby one of them. Erik and Janelle can go to one, Thomas another. Once we find out more, we can mobilize the army to join us. Emma can come, bring the potion and take it again, if she’s willing. I think Vincent should go, too. Maybe he can convince some of Alaric’s army to join us. And Tanad. He knows Eudora so well. Maybe he can help us find her. And if we find her…”
Lea trailed off, the seeds planted. Guilt sat heavy on Lea’s shoulders, but it was what had to be done. The more outcomes that were possible, the more confused Eudora would be. Spreading out across the kingdom would muddle her visions, and hopefully, keep her from realizing that Lea now knew where they were.
“We find Alaric.” Gray finished for her, shadows rolling around his feet.
Lea nodded in agreement. “We know where his armies are. That’s so much more information than we had before. He has to be close to one of his battalions. And with the wildfires more contained, we should be safe to travel.”
“Tomorrow then,” Gray said, nodding. “I’ll let the others know. ”
Lea reached out and put a hand on his arm, stopping him. “Wait. Give them a few more minutes,” she said, her heart throbbing with pain. “Who knows the next time we’ll all be together again?”