Chapter 22
Lana
The distraction worked perfectly.
Not only had Kade eliminated a large portion of the dark ones remaining in Ellevail, but our army now easily marched through the city.
Now, we stood outside the final gates enclosing the palace.
It wasn’t often growing up that my parents closed these gates.
But now? They were locked, covered in chains.
Bushes of thorny shrubs lined the perimeter of the wall, daring anyone to risk its wrath if they tried to climb in.
Andras could try all he wanted to keep us out, but he would not succeed.
I would return to my home through its front door and reclaim it as its rightful heir. There would be no sneaking in through the back or hiding in the shadows.
We split our forces between the front and the back of the palace.
Storm, Jax, Corbin, and Raya took half of the army around to the other side, while Ian, Kade, and I remained out front.
Leif had already returned to the palace, tricking the guards with his fake tattoo to let him through.
Hopefully he’d had enough time to rally those who remained loyal to me and prepare them for the fight ahead.
It was a risky move, but he was determined to gather as many allies as possible.
As our army lined up, Ian soared above Ellevail, surveying the scene from the sky and preparing to report back on his findings. He disappeared from our sight for several long minutes, no doubt alerting Storm, Raya, Corbin, and Jax of what lay ahead.
The evening rays of sunshine slowly dipped below the horizon, and despite the summer heat, an icy breeze swept through the air.
Assessing the entrance to the palace filled me with sorrow.
My family prided ourselves on our gardens; the landscape surrounding my home was always warm and inviting.
Lush and vibrant, Fae traveled from across the kingdom to witness its beauty.
But now? Now it appeared dark and uninviting.
It had lost all its vibrance and what remained was a threatening feeling.
A place I wouldn’t want to be caught in the dark.
Except that was exactly what was happening.
Storm’s fire magic would certainly be useful right now to just burn all these thorny terrors to ash, but it didn’t matter. Fates only knew what they were dealing with. Storm’s group would have to enter through the kitchens and work their way up from the lower level of the palace.
There were only so many places for Andras to hide.
Ian’s hawk form appeared once more and circled above us for several minutes before he descended, landing a few feet away.
Running his hands through his golden hair, he jogged toward us.
“The dark ones are stationed at all the guard posts and remain hidden along the walls of the perimeter. They’re waiting for us. ”
My heartbeat quickened. “We will not go down without a fight.” The magic now coursing through my veins clamored to be released, but I would wait.
I’d hold on to my secret as long as I could, not wanting Andras to have time to further prepare.
He would underestimate me just like he always had.
“The earth Fae can bring down the gate with their magic.”
Kade chuckled. “A wonderful thought, my queen.” His shadows pooled at his feet. “But I think my shadows can unlock those chains quicker than the earth Fae. We can conserve their magic for the battle.”
Ian nodded in agreement. “We want them to hold onto as much of their energy as possible. We likely have a long night ahead of us.” He paused. “Are you sure this is how you want to do this? We could sneak in through our hidden entrances, just like we used to.”
I shook my head. “This is my home—our home. It ends tonight.”
Ian bowed his head. “As you wish it, Your Highness.”
Rolling my eyes, I shoved him in the shoulder before he threw me a wink. “Guards are lined most heavily around the throne room from what I could see through the windows,” Ian said. “That should be our goal.”
I nodded. “On your orders, Captain.” I smiled at my best friend. My rock. He went to step away to voice our plan, but I leaned forward, grabbing his arm before crushing him in a hug. “Let’s win back our home.”
“I love you, Lan,” Ian whispered, squeezing me back just as hard as I did him.
“I love you.”
He pulled away and turned toward our forces. “We march for the throne room,” Ian shouted. “The dark ones are likely stronger there, but we’ll meet them the entire trek through the palace. Work together and stay alert.”
The instructions passed among the front lines of soldiers, on and on toward the back.
Chants rose up, battle cries filled with vengeance echoing throughout Ellevail. Our army stood tall, weapons at the ready.
Kalliah appeared by my side, panting. “Just in time,” she said, drawing her blade from a sheath at her side.
“What are you doing here, Kalliah?” I gasped. “I thought you were staying at Dukes Pub to help with the injured.”
Kalliah chuffed. “There is no way I am letting my best friend fight this battle on her own. This is my home too, and besides now that I know Leif is alive and well, I refuse to be without him any longer.”
I hugged my friend hard. Kalliah had been with me through so much and was one of the only friends I ever had until now.
That was, until I found my mate and those from Mysthaven I now loved like family.
She was right though, and as much as I wanted everyone to be safe and away from this fight, they had as much right to be here as I did. “Together, then.”
She nodded once before standing beside me, dagger in hand.
Kade’s shadows slithered up my leg and formed their protective armor around my chest. It felt like home, and the light within me purred in response.
With my shadow armor in place, Kade sent ribbons of shadows toward the chained gates.
They glided silently along the grass and up the pathway until reaching their destination.
One by one the locks holding the chains in place were released and landed soundlessly on the ground.
“Fates, if you ever heard my call, now would be a really great time to listen,” I prayed. “Please protect my friends, my people. Our world depends on it.”
Even with the chill in the air, a warmth skittered across my arms. The wind danced around me, into my hair, before leaving again to blow across the rest of us. Nature’s embrace, its encouragement. It had to be. I inhaled, readying myself to lead and fight for my kingdom, no matter the cost.
The gates to the palace creaked open and I shouted, holding Apollo above my head, backed by the voices of an army a hundred strong.
We marched up the remaining hill. A rallying cry sounded, and the clang of metal on metal finally filled the air.
The dark ones rushed toward our group of Fae and attacked with a fervor unlike anything I had ever seen before.
Leif was right. These dark ones were strong, faster. Much more like the group we’d encountered in Eomer Forest before the marriage trials.
Earth Fae sent vines to wrap around the legs of the dark ones, tripping them over rocks protruding from the ground. Torrents of wind whipped around us as the air Fae attempted to knock the dark ones off balance. But with each attack, they countered, sending rocks and vines of their own flying.
Everyone around me used their magic in ways I had only dreamed of. The sheer magnitude of what these Fae pulled off when working together astounded me. My light flickered inside of me, pleading for release, but I kept it locked away. For now.
I ran to help one of our soldiers laying on the ground, overtaken by a dark one.
“Don’t expect mercy from me,” the dark one seethed as he inched the dagger closer to the soldier's throat. “Your death is my victory.”
“Not today, asshole.” I stabbed the dark one in the back. An inky mist left his body, but no sense of relief graced his expression as he tipped to the side, rolling once down the hill. Unadulterated anger lined every wrinkle.
There wasn’t time to think about what it all meant. There were more people who needed saving and more evil to kill.
It didn’t take long to dispose of the dark ones in the courtyard, due to the sheer numbers we possessed in our army.
The fighting ceased, but the lawn now looked like a sea of dead bodies.
Some of which were our own. I closed my eyes, swallowing before setting my sights on the palace doors up the winding hill.
Their burial would be another day. Once Ellevail was ours, they would be honored.
“Come on, Little Rebel,” Kade called. “Let’s go take back your throne.”
Vengeance lapped at my mind, surging, fueling my need to win, knowing we were close. “Let’s go.”
Before entering the palace, Ian and Kade instructed our remaining forces to form groups and search the outer hallways and rooms while we focused on a direct route to the throne room.
Walking up the entrance stairs, my pace slowed, breathing in the scent of where I grew up. It didn’t smell the same. It didn’t feel the same.
“Andras,” I bellowed in the hall as I finally made my way into the grand foyer. “Come out, you coward.”
“Come on, Lan,” Ian urged. “We need to keep moving.”
We ran down the halls, getting closer to the back of the palace. We could hear fighting, so the others must be getting close to joining us.
Rounding the corner before the halls closest to my room, a scream caused my heart to stutter.
Kalliah ran toward the fight on the stairs.
Leif looked up, noticing her, and the sight of her charged his movements.
He slammed his blade into the dark one's neck, pushing him forward and tossing his body down the stairs. He didn’t even look behind him to see where the enemy landed, choosing instead to sprint toward Kalliah.
Leif dropped his sword, grabbed her by the face, and kissed her deeply. She jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him back, scolding him and confessing her feelings all at once. It was almost like the two of them forgot they were in the middle of a battle.
“Save it for later, you two,” I yelled, as five more dark ones descended the stairs. “We’re not done here yet.”
Kade rolled his eyes as he sent torrents of shadows up the stairs and ended the lives of the first three. Corbin and Storm, who had come running after the dark ones down the stairs, quickly disposed of the other two.
“Finally decided to show up, then,” Ian said to Storm.
Storm snorted. “Just needed to take a nice little stroll through the gardens first. It was getting a bit boring waiting for you lot.”
Kalliah and Leif returned to my side, holding hands and grinning.
“Ian thinks they’re holed up in the throne room. We go there next,” I insisted.
We moved as a unit down the corridors, carefully making our way closer to our destination.
Corbin, Leif, and Ian had been working together for years.
I had some time with all of them too, but the way we were able to move together, watching each other’s backs and eliminating anyone coming into our path with ease and precision astounded me.
For as much as I’d cursed the Fates growing up, I couldn’t help but wonder if they’d created every moment of my past to lead me to these people. To guide me to right now.
Moments before we reached the entrance to the throne room, the doors slammed open and Casimir appeared with a group of dark ones, ready to fight.
The evil expression on his face sent chills down my spine, his cackling laugh filling the air. Gems glittered on gloves adorning his hands, and he began siphoning magic from a dark one next to him. “Get them,” he yelled to the others as the dark one he’d drained slumped to the floor.
“Not today, Casimir,” I shouted back.
These dark ones were unreasonably strong.
Their magic clearly amplified in some way.
As one approached me, I noticed a gem of his own sewed onto his shirt.
Casimir was siphoning magic from those who had fallen into all the living dark ones, creating a more powerful army.
I shuddered at what that kind of power might accomplish.
Just another reason for this to end now.
Ian and Storm fought back-to-back battling three dark ones, while Kade and his shadows took on two more.
Kalliah and Leif engaged with a dark one behind me. My sole focus, however, was on Casimir. He would die by my hand for everything he did to Ian and for his role in perpetuating the darkness and evil growing in our lands.
Casimir sneered, a hint of fear flickering on his features as if he realized how outnumbered he was and that his dark ones were being overpowered. His face turned ashen. The others were so engrossed in their battles, they didn’t realize he was going to try to run.
Turning away from us, he sprinted down the hall, and I alerted the others, “He’s going to escape!”
Corbin, who stood closest to me, took off after Casimir while I followed in pursuit.
“Come back here and fight me, Casimir,” I shouted down the hall.
Casimir glanced back at us, but instead of fear, his resolve returned, and a smile spread over his face. A second later, pounding feet joined the chase, and more dark ones appeared from a staff door hidden in the wall behind him.
“Attack,” he laughed.
“Go,” Kade shouted from behind me, his shadows lashing out toward the new attackers, buying Corbin and me time to get around them.
We couldn’t let him get away, but Casimir skirted down another hallway. I’d never been so annoyed at how big our palace was until now. Corbin ran faster than me, speeding ahead to round the corner. I was out of breath but remained focused on my target. I couldn’t stop until we caught Casimir.
A dark one lunged at my side, as I dodged his attack, barely rounding the corner without careening into the wall.
An anguished cry filled the air. I regained my footing before stopping short, staring in horror as my weary muscles tensed.
Casimir stood in front of a fresh wave of dark ones.
He looked me in the eye with a wickedly triumphant smile as he yanked his sword from where it gleamed straight through Corbin’s chest.