Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
ABBY
N ot much has changed in Marein while we were gone, but it feels like everything has changed for us. Shortly after our arrival, and with no sign of Jade, even though he’d said he’d be here, we’re ushered down to what was once Marein’s throne room—and might very well become so again.
If we can get Arabella out.
Quinn ignores the others waiting for us and marches straight to his sister. Rhett tenses defensively beside her, but makes no move to intervene. Quinn could never be a threat to her. “Did you know?”
She stares up at him blankly, but when her eyes flick to me, I know she understands. Even if Quinn is desperate not to see it, I know she knew. I knew it even before we left. When her eyes were pleading with me to visit the Spider. Quinn wouldn’t have allowed it if she warned us, but I’m glad we went. I can live without a finger, so I don’t have to live without him.
He follows her gaze, but then drops it down to my hand. “Did you know that was the price?”
When Kaylee doesn’t answer, I lock my arm with Quinn’s. “She didn’t know, and even if she did, it won’t change anything. We have more important things to discuss.”
I can almost swear the look she gives me is a thank you.
Erwyn clears his throat, which, given the circumstances, probably isn’t the best way to keep Quinn calm. He’s still looking for some to blame. “Tell us what the spider said.”
Before either of us can answer, the heavy door swings wide with a loud thud and Jade strides inside as if this were his throne room.
“Where were you?” I can’t stop myself from asking. He said he’d be here.
“Flying. Did I miss anything?”
“You have no business here,” Merrick says. “This is a council of leadership.”
Is that what this is? My eyes dart around the room and take in the occupants I hadn’t paid attention to. Erwyn and Aurelia both hold leadership roles in Marein. Quinn represents Rosewood. Merrick is Regent to the dragons. Kaylee is the rightful queen of Marein, and Rhett is her mate. Am I here just as Quinn’s mate, or am I representing Lunae?
Jade snorts a laugh. “If you want to tell Inferna that, be my guest.” His eyes find mine, and the warmth I’d seen in them last night has vanished. “If Terranous’ Chosen is a part of this, so am I.” Aurelia gestures to an empty chair, but Jade makes no move to claim it, instead choosing to stand near the door.
With no further objections—at least, by voice—Quinn fills everyone in on our experience with the Spider. They listen intently, not so much as nodding or making a sound of approval for fear of missing a key piece of information.
“It is decided then,” Aurelia says, leaning forward in her chair and reaching towards the map. A finger slams down on the heart of Lunae. “We must retrieve the girl.”
She makes it sound so simple. There will be no walking into Lunae and then walking out again with Arabella. It’ll be a bloodbath. We’d need an army just to get into the city, and every war leads to the death of even more innocents.
I stand, making it clear that what I’m about to say isn’t up for debate. “We do this, but on one condition.”
“You do not give conditions.” The grumble came from Erwyn. Even from across the table, I can see the thirst for vengeance in his eyes. All he wants is an excuse to bring the fight to Lunae and take retribution for the pain they caused him.
“She’s my sister. I have every right to make this call.” She may not be my sister by blood, but we were raised as siblings. Even if we were kept apart and never truly had the chance to learn to get along, she came through for me in the end. Quinn, Kaylee, and I are alive because of her.
“Then tell us, Princess . What is your condition?” That one word is all the confirmation I need to understand my inclusion here. It was never about Terranous or Quinn.
“I’m here representing Lunae, aren’t I? So I’ll represent them. I won’t have my people slaughtered.”
No one dares speak, but the sound of Erwyn’s fist smashing into the table likely would have drowned out any objections. “How dare you speak of sparing them after they attacked us? Twice!”
I’m so used to seeing his rage directed at Quinn that I’m surprised that I’m keeping control of my words. “They had nothing to do with that! Imelda and the Guardians she controlled did. The man I once called father did. Not the people. They are suffering, just as you are. There is no you versus them. There is only us— all of us —against Imelda and that monster she created. Retrieving Arabella will end in a battle, but if we’re to win this war, we need the people on our side.”
I don’t dare break my stare with Erwyn. Not even when I feel something spreading down the bond I share with Quinn. What is that, joy? No—pride.
Aurelia puts a hand on Erwyn’s, signalling that it’s her turn to speak. “And how do you expect us to get them out? Rescuing the seer is bad enough, but evacuating an entire kingdom without the use of force is impossible. And say we accomplish it. Where would we house them? How would we feed them? Marein is not in a position to take in more refugees. We cannot even support ourselves.”
All reasonable concerns, but there are reasonable solutions. “I’m no strategist. I can’t speak for how we’ll get them out, but when we succeed? I can build shelters in the forest. They can hunt. I’m not saying this will be easy, but it’s what’s right. I won’t be the reason more innocent people die.”
She sighs. “We cannot protect them, and if what you say is true, they are in no condition to fight.”
“So we teach them. They’ve been oppressed for as long as you have. Do you not think they share the same fighting spirit as your people? They just need to be given the chance.”
Erwyn huffs. Apparently, it’s his turn again. “Are these not the same people who watched you brutalized in the streets? You would risk more scars for their lives?”
I can’t stop my eyes from flicking to Jade at the mention of my scars. Even that brief moment is enough to register the tightening of his brows as if he’s struggling to remember something. “Yes,” I say, standing straighter. “Wouldn’t you do the same for your people?”
“My people would not have watched.”
Movement catches my attention, and Jade is suddenly hurrying towards me. His expression has softened, but there’s something new there. Desperation. “Can I see them? Your scars. They might… They might help me remember.”
Quinn shifts uncomfortably beside me, and I don’t miss that it’s the first time. Even with Erwyn shouting at me, Quinn’s annoyingly protective side remained dormant. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I know why he’s against this, and it has nothing to do with his feelings about it. I kept my scars hidden from him once, and it took a long time for me to learn to be comfortable with him seeing them. To show them now, in a room full of people, isn’t something I would have been comfortable with a year ago.
But things have changed. I have changed.
“No, they should see the cruelty that’s considered normal in Lunae. The cruelty the people face in addition to their starvation. The reason they don’t fight back—and won’t fight back unless we help them.” I turn so that my back is facing those seated around the table and shift my gaze to Quinn. His are the only hands I want on me in this moment. “Will you help me?”
‘Always,’ he says through the bond as he stands. Warm hands run along my back and across my shoulders before they settle on the lace ribbon that holds my bodice in place. He makes quick work of it, and then lifts the loose fabric of my ruffled white shirt up to my neck so that my entire back is visible.
I’ve never seen the scars myself, but the audible gasps from more than one person in this room are a stark reminder that they must look as bad as they felt each time I’d received them. The only difference is that now I have snaking vines and golden flowers to decorate the mangled flesh. My body has always been a bargaining tool. With it, I spared as many lives as I could because it gave value to mine. Now, perhaps, it can save my people again.
“How many were for me?” Jade’s voice is strained, the arrogance he’d entered with long gone.
I don’t look at him when I answer. “Twenty. No, Forty. Twenty when I stopped your execution, and twenty more when you became a Guardian.”
“Do you remember?” Merrick asks as Quinn lowers my shirt and refastens the bodice. He’d been so quiet until now, but there’s hope behind his words. If Jade remembers who he is, he’ll be less of a threat.
“No.”
My heart falls, just as I’m sure Merrick’s does.
After a long moment of silence, Quinn is the first to speak as he tilts my chin up so that I’m forced to meet his gaze. It hadn’t even occurred to me I’d been staring at the floor. “The people of Lunae have been through enough. We liberate them.” By the look in his eyes, I know he’s not just saying those words for me. He wants this, too.
“That is not up to you.” I’m getting real tired of Erwyn’s objections, but in this room, he has a right to voice his opinions. Just as I have a right to argue mine.
I turn to him, my courage returning. “If you want my help in this war, then it is.”
He scoffs. “You may be Terranous’ Chosen, but we do not need you.”
“The people of Rosewood follow her.” Quinn says, taking my hand in his.
Kaylee stands. “As do I.”
That earns a stunned look from Erwyn. “You cannot mean that! Your place is here.”
“Without Arabella, I am no weaver. No one knows Lunae better than its rightful heir. You would be a fool to disregard her.”
Rhett stands, and for some reason, I know it has nothing to do with Kaylee. “We have a responsibility to save as many as we can. It doesn’t matter whose people they are. I’m with Abby.”
Merrick is next. “I grew up in that city. Although I hold no love for it, the innocents truly are that. We’ll fight, but we’ll only kill those who need to die.” That’s better than I could have expected.
Aurelia rises from her chair, leaving Erwyn the last to be seated. “We will save as many as we can if the opportunity presents itself, but first, we need a plan.”
Quinn leans across the table and slides the large map closer. “When we faced Imelda before, I noticed most of your people fought from the sea and those who fought on land struggled.”
“Your point?” Erwyn growls.
“I was trained for this. If we’re to take the fight to Lunae, I can ready any able sirens to fight on land. In exchange, will you teach my people to swim?”
“Swimming lessons? That’s your idea?” As a general of sorts himself, I can understand his objection. But if I know Quinn, there’s a reason for his madness.
“We’re at a disadvantage here and many of us have never seen the ocean. Swimming can also strengthen us for other forms of combat.” That’s not it at all. A trade like this makes them equals. Erwyn already sees Quinn as an enemy.
Before Erwyn can finish grumbling his agreement, Jade suddenly strides for the door.
“Stop,” Merrick barks after him.
Jade’s feet freeze into place, but it’s clear that it was by his own will. “Is that an order, Regent ?” His laugh masks the sounds of his footsteps as he walks out of the room, undeterred by Merrick’s command. I’m getting really tired of his mood swings.
Quinn doesn’t even seem to have noticed the commotion as he hurdles a question at Aurelia. “We need to start trusting each other. We’ll share our secrets if you share yours. Do you have other influencers?”
“Yes, but none as gifted as Imelda.”
“I’d like to meet them, regardless. The more tricks we have on our side, the better.”
I don’t know why the thought never occurred to me. Of course Imelda can’t be the only siren with powers. Some can heal the body while others influence the mind. If we’re going to do this, we’ll need every advantage we can get.
“I will ask them. You must understand that many still see you as our enemy.”
Quinn hesitates for just a moment before moving for the door and calling back over his shoulder. “Have everyone meet me on the beach. It’s time we rectify that.”