Chapter 48
Sebastian
The dragons descend.
One after another, they drop from the sky and land in the clearing before the caves. Their wings fold against scaled flanks as riders swing down from their backs.
I stand at the mouth of the cave with Isla’s hand wrapped in mine. Her fingers are cool, and I give them a gentle squeeze.
I pull in a deep breath; my gut is churning.
“It’s going to be just fine,” she tells me. “They’re going to love you just as much as I do.”
I turn to look at her, a smile tugging at my lips. “Hopefully not that much.” I wink, and she giggles.
The sound warms something deep in my chest.
“You know what I mean.”
I do.
I narrow my eyes, cupping her face with my hand. She looks pale, and there’s a tightness around her eyes that wasn’t there this morning.
“How are you feeling?”
Isla wrinkles her nose. “A little nauseous, but I’ll manage.”
“Are you sure, my love?” I squeeze her hand again, studying her face. “You look overly pale.”
“I’m fine. Stop fussing. I’ll let you know if it changes.”
I want to argue, but the riders are already making their way toward us. Orion and Damon take the lead, their strides long and purposeful. Behind them come two others I recognize, but barely. It has been many summers since I saw them.
With my free hand, I raise an arm and wave.
Orion and Damon wave back.
“What do you say we walk to meet them?” I give a small tug on Isla’s hand.
She shoots me a look. “I’m pregnant, not an invalid. Yes, let’s go.”
“I thought I would check, since you definitely look a little pale. If you don’t feel up to it, excuse yourself at any time.” I lean closer, lowering my voice. “You’re growing a princess, which is very important work.”
“Or a prince,” she says out of the corner of her mouth.
“Or a prince,” I agree, smiling.
We start forward together, our pace unhurried.
The clearing stretches before us. Shifterfae line the path, some in their fae forms, others still wearing the shapes of beasts.
A thornback watches us pass, its many eyes tracking our movement.
A pair of hy-weres sit on their haunches near the tree line, ears swiveling toward the approaching kings.
The two groups meet halfway.
Orion reaches me first. His grip is firm when he clasps my forearm, his eyes bright.
“It is good to see you, Sebastian.” He inclines his head.
“And you.” I release his arm and turn to Damon. The Icefae King looks good dressed all in leather.
Isla hugs them both.
“Welcome,” I tell him. “All of you.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Damon says with a half-smile. “Besides, someone had to make sure Orion didn’t get lost.”
Orion snorts.
I turn my attention to the two fae who stand behind them. One is tall and muscular, with bright blue eyes and long dark brown hair. The other is equally imposing, blond-haired with green eyes that study me with open curiosity.
“Sebastian, Isla,” Orion says, “allow me to introduce Xander, king of the bloodfae. Although I am sure you’ve already met each other, Sebastian.”
The dark-haired one steps forward and offers his hand. His grip is strong and measured. “I’ve heard a great deal about you both.”
“Good things, I hope,” I say.
“Mostly.” There’s a hint of humor in his expression, and his mouth pulls up at one side. “I hope you don’t mind, but my wife, Thesha, didn’t make the trip. She will be here for the next one.”
I am sure that they don’t fully trust the shifterfae yet, but all of that will change after their stay, I am sure.
“Of course.”
Isla and Xander shake hands.
“And this,” Damon continues, gesturing to the blond, “is Kian, king of the emptyfae.”
Kian clasps my forearm in greeting. “It is an honor, Shadowfae King.”
“The honor is mine,” I tell him. “Drakar Kilara is waiting for us in the meeting hall,” I tell them. “There are refreshments there, and chambers have been prepared for you all to stay the night.”
“A hot meal and a bed.” Damon grins. “You certainly know how to welcome guests.”
“We try.”
We begin walking, the group falling into an easy formation. Orion and Damon flank me on either side, with Xander and Kian close behind. Isla walks next to me, her hand still in mine.
The path winds through the shifterfae settlement. We pass cooking fires tended by females, their children playing nearby. A group of young males sparring stops and watches us, their eyes wide. A dragon sleeps coiled beside a stone pavilion, its tail wrapped around itself like a cat.
It’s easy to forget, sometimes, that there is still good in this realm. That not everything has been touched by Snow’s darkness.
We are nearing the meeting hall when Isla tugs at my hand, and I slow my pace to match hers.
“I’m going to lie down for a bit,” she whispers.
I stop and turn to face her. Her color hasn’t improved.
“Of course.” I cup her face in my hands and press a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll come check on you as soon as I can.”
“Take your time. This meeting is important.”
“You’re important.” I brush my thumb across her cheek. “You and our little one.”
She smiles, and some of the tension leaves her shoulders. “Go. Make alliances. Save the realm.” She looks past me to the gathered kings and offers an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry to leave so soon. I’ll see you all later.”
“Rest well,” Orion says.
“We’ll see you later, Isla,” Damon adds.
Isla squeezes my hand one last time, then turns and makes her way back toward the caves.
I watch until she disappears inside. Then I turn back to the group.
“Was that a ring I saw on her finger?” Damon asks, grinning. “The one you bought in town?”
I nod. “It took nearly three weeks of asking before she finally said yes. Now I just need to get her to agree on a date for the ceremony.” I roll my eyes.
Orion claps me on the shoulder. “Congratulations.”
“There’s more.” I look at each of them in turn. “She’s carrying my child.”
For a moment, no one speaks. Then Damon lets out a low whistle, and Xander’s eyebrows climb toward his hairline.
“A baby.” Orion’s grin spreads wide across his face. “Congratulations again. Maxwell could use a playmate. Just so you know, it is normal that females feel ill and tired for a while. Maya was the same.”
“The first of many, I hope,” Kian says. “For all of us. The realm needs new life.”
“It does,” I tell him.
There is fear behind his words and in his eyes. I feel it too. This war is far from won. In fact, it’s only beginning. It’s why we’re all here.
We continue walking, and soon the meeting hall comes into view.
It’s the open pavilion built into the mouth of a great cave with the whale bones forming the arching supports. There are furs on raised pavilions, and to the side stands a long table carved from a single piece of dark wood.
Kilara waits at the head of the table, her presence commanding, even from across the hall. Beside her stands Terra, her second-in-command.
We approach, and I make the introductions.
“Drakar Kilara, may I present the Lost Kings. Orion of the beastfae, Damon of the icefae, Xander of the bloodfae, and Kian of the emptyfae.”
Kilara inclines her head, her eyes moving from one king to the next. “Welcome to the Shifter Court. I am glad you came.”
“We are honored by the invitation,” Orion replies. “It’s long past time our peoples spoke.”
“Indeed.” Kilara gestures for us to sit. “Please, make yourselves comfortable.”
We take our places around the table. I sit near Kilara, with Orion and Damon on my left and Xander and Kian on my right. Terra remains standing, her sharp gaze sweeping over us all.
“Before we begin,” Orion says, “I must ask, has Salvorne been found? You’ve spent many weeks searching. I had hoped for good news.” It is clear from the look on his face that he expects to be disappointed.
Kilara’s expression shifts. A shadow crosses her features, and I see the frustration there as well as the pain.
“No, I’m afraid not.” The words come out clipped. “All of my efforts have failed thus far.” She takes a breath. “But I will keep trying. I know he is out there. I know it won’t be long before I find him.”
“We will help in any way we can,” Damon says.
Kilara nods, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.
“I appreciate that. Truly.” She straightens in her seat.
“But there are more pressing matters at hand. I am glad you all came. I want peace between our species. For too long, we have been divided. Suspicious of one another, which has made us weak.”
“On that, we agree,” Xander says.
“Snow has ruled through division,” Kian adds. “If we are to defeat her, we must stand together.”
“Precisely.” Kilara leans forward. “We have much to discuss about preparations. So that once all the Lost Kings are found, we will be ready to mobilize. I know that you have traveled far,” she continues.
“You must be famished. Today is for resting. For getting to know one another. Tomorrow, we will hold a more formal meeting and begin planning in earnest.”
She signals to a group of shifterfae waiting near the entrance, and they begin bringing out great platters of food. Roasted meat, fresh bread, bowls of stewed vegetables, along with pitchers of wine and flagons of ale. The scents that fill the hall are enticing.
“Please, help yourselves,” she says as the platters are set before us.
I reach for a leg of roasted fowl as the others begin filling their plates.
Orion leans closer to me, his voice dropping low enough that only I can hear.
“I have news from the Shadow Court.”
I set down my food and give him my full attention.
“Belen has been made Ruler General,” he continues. “Isla’s mother was stripped of her rank. From what we hear, Snow was not pleased.”
“That’s good news. Belen is fully on our side. This bodes well for us in the war we’re soon to wage.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
I take a drink of wine, considering the implications. Belen in power means we have an ally in my own court. Someone who can feed us information, who can work from within to weaken Snow’s hold.
“Did you manage to carry out the task I asked of you?” I ask both Damon and Orion.
Damon, who has been listening from my other side, nods. “We did. We got word to Julienne at the old hunting cabin. Belen searched the previous Ruler General’s chambers, and they found Tarro’s diary.”
“So it’s done.”
“Both Elistral and Tarro are in the dungeons awaiting trial,” Orion says. “Their treachery has been exposed.”
I sigh, even though I feel no real satisfaction.
“And the other thing?” I ask. “I know I was pushing it.”
Damon reaches for his cup. “Yes. We left coin with the female Julienne for Ferris. The note attached read ‘From an old friend.’”
I smile. Ferris helped Isla escape from the castle. He risked everything for us because it was the right thing to do. He deserves more than a bag full of coin, but it’s a start.
“Thank you,” I tell them. “Both of you. I owe you. I will repay the debt twofold.”
“You don’t owe us anything,” Orion says. “That is what friends are for.”
I nod.
“Can you pass me the ale?” Xander asks Kian.
“For me too.” Terra holds out her cup, and Kian pours.
I push back from the table and stand. “I need to take some food to Isla and check on her. I’ll be right back. If you’ll all excuse me.”
I’m about to stand when magic buzzes through my veins, hard and fierce.
Orion makes a choking noise and stands.
We all stand.
Xander pushes his plate off the table as he does, and Damon’s cup slips from his fingers, wine splashing across the wooden table.
Magic continues to flood through my veins like lightning. It wants to burst through, to explode out of me. I make a grunting noise, doubling over as the sensation intensifies. Every inch of my body thrums with power I have to control.
Kian makes a choking noise.
Orion growls.
I’m sure I make some sort of noise as well.
“What is it?” Kilara demands.
“What’s wrong?” Terra shouts, already on her feet.
I can’t answer. None of us can.
We stand frozen, gripped by an unseen force. My lungs burn. My heart hammers against my ribs. I try to speak, try to move, but my body refuses to obey.
Then, as suddenly as it came, it’s gone.
We sag in relief. Air rushes back into my lungs, and I brace myself against the table.
“What happened?” Kilara tries again, her voice sharp with concern.
Xander straightens. His eyes are wide, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
“Your brother is lost no more,” Damon says.
Kilara goes still. “What?” Her voice drops to a whisper. “That’s… That’s good news.” She looks around the table, searching our faces. “Where is he?”
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