Chapter 65
Emmeric
During their march towards Athusia, Emmeric was bitter that he could not steal all of Iyana’s time.
He was able to spirit her away into the woods a few times, where they clutched at each other’s skin with a desperation that spoke to both of their anxiety.
However, he could never steal her for very long and their time together was always shorter than Emmeric would have liked.
There were times he wished she was not the Aztia, and he was not the Kanaliza so that they wouldn’t have to attend war council meetings or determine the best way to lose the least amount of lives possible.
Because there would be loss of life, and Emmeric hated seeing the soldiers joking and laughing around fires knowing that not all of them would make it back to their families.
And while he sometimes dreamed of another life for himself and Iyana, there was no way he would trade the bond they had for anything.
Especially because when they were in the middle of a meeting, he could always sense when she was beginning to spiral, and he would send her soothing thoughts.
Or sometimes he’d simply tell her he loved her, just to see her shy smile. She always said it back now.
The days apart from Iyana seemed too long and the nights holding her in his arms too short. Before he was ready, they reached the outskirts of Athusia.
There was an area before the city that was comprised solely of small, rolling hills without any dwellings nearby—a perfect spot for a world-changing battle.
Emmeric had expected to find the full might of the stars awaiting them on the opposite side of the field, but there was nobody.
Not a single star was there to greet their army.
“He’s trying to create panic,” Scuti said when they met in their war tent.
“Rigil does nothing without purpose,” Tara added. “He wants there to be uncertainty. If he makes you wait, he knows the men will slowly devolve into what-ifs and create a general unrest.”
“Is there anything we can do to draw him out?” asked Zane.
The emperor had been getting quieter the closer they got to Athusia, and Emmeric understood without having to ask.
They were returning to his home, where he should be sitting on the throne and defending his empire instead of fighting for it.
Also, Emmeric knew he worried about Talon and all the possibilities that war brought. Em was concerned about the same things.
“We could try waving around one of those powerful objects you have,” Okab said. “See if that lures him out into the open.”
Iyana glanced at Emmeric, her eyes wide.
They purposefully hadn’t told the stars about the artifacts in case they were still working for Rigil and acting as double agents.
They’d taken the risk of trusting them and the small group of stars they’d brought along, but that didn’t mean they had to tell them everything. Okab glanced between the two.
“What? You thought we wouldn’t notice? Those things are practically shouting ‘magic.’ Any star would be able to sense them.” He pointed towards Iyana’s bag. “The one you carry is particularly dark. I’m not fond of the idea of using it, or of Rigil getting his hands on it.”
Well, that’s just fantastic. Iyana rolled her eyes at his thought.
“What about the other one?” Zane asked. “Can you tell us anything about it?”
Okab frowned at Zane’s bag. “It’s less dark than that one, but more…how do I describe it? Turbulent.”
“It’s loud,” Scuti added. “It sounds like agonized screaming.”
“That is not at all concerning news,” Talon said, dryly. “We’re still going to use the box that’s screaming?”
“If we absolutely have to, yes,” Iyana said.
Kaz was jumping on the balls of her feet, an excited gleam to her eye. “I want to see what it does. I say let’s use it, anyway.”
“And this is why you’re not in charge of the artifacts,” her brother, Zahar, said.
The shifter pouted and crossed her arms, grumbling, “I’m trustworthy.” Sekhan snorted, and she showed him her middle finger, which only made the younger Tsenira brother laugh harder.
“So, we should just go wave one of those around and see if Rigil comes running?” Zane asked, getting them all back on track.
“Essentially, yes,” Tara said. “I’d choose the one that’s screaming. He’s more likely to sense it because of how loud it is, and I agree with my brother—I do not want Rigil to get his hands on whatever darkness is radiating from the Aztia’s bag.”
None of what the stars were saying was comforting in the slightest. Emmeric did not want to use the Lurra or Khollo’s Downfall at all if he could help it, but, realistically, he thought they were inevitable.
They debated the merits and drawbacks of luring Rigil out versus waiting for him to make a move, and they all decided it would be better to do things on their terms instead of his.
The plan was disseminated through the camp.
The next morning, Team Save Arinem—plus their extra tagalongs—would try to flush Rigil out.
They’d discuss an option of peace with him, but everyone was prepared for war.
Nobody thought the Alpha would take them up on their offer.
Emmeric and Iyana spent the night wrapped in each other’s arms, memorizing their lover’s face. Emmeric knew they needed as much sleep as they could get for the next day, but he couldn’t bring himself to glance away.
“No matter what happens tomorrow,” Iyana whispered, “just know that I love you.”
Giving her a stern look, he tucked a strand of hair behind her hair. “Don’t talk like that, Mouse. We’re both walking off that battlefield tomorrow.”
“Em, we need to be realistic. We’re probably going to—”
Emmeric stopped her from talking by sealing his lips against hers and kissing her languidly.
Clothes stayed firmly in place; he simply wanted to kiss her for a few moments before the nine hells erupted on the earth.
The way Iyana sighed and melted into his body told him that she needed this comfort as well.
Words were no longer needed, and they spent the night trying to stretch the minutes into years. Emmeric couldn’t stop thinking about his future with this amazing woman in his arms, and he was going to do everything in his power to ensure they had that time together.
Eventually, exhaustion overtook them and forced them into a restless slumber. Nightmares plagued both of them, and the sun rose sooner than either of them would have liked.
As the group rode towards the middle of the empty field, the weather was deceptively nice.
Emmeric thought the occasion called for a thunderstorm—lightning striking around them and mud up to their ankles.
But the sun shone brightly, the chill of winter had lessened, and birds chirped in the distance.
The world was in no way prepared for the destruction that was about to be wrought.
When they reached a location that the stars felt was far enough for Rigil to sense the Lurra, but close enough to their own army that aid was not far behind, they all dismounted.
Kaz shifted into her black leopard, and they all flanked Iyana as she held the deceitfully small box in her hands.
Tara and Okab were to one side while Scuti was on the other.
Emmeric was on her right to act as her sword, his weapon already in his hand while the twin blade rested in the scabbard on his back.
Zane stood ready with his bow, and Talon also held a sword.
It only took a few minutes before Rigil and Hadar appeared, along with three other stars.
Thanks to the information they’d received from their allies, Emmeric could identify them easily—Talitha from constellation Ursa, Antares from constellation Scorpius, and Eltanin from constellation Draco. The heads of the four top families.
Rigil glanced around the field, a small smirk playing on his lips. “Well, doesn’t this look familiar.”
Then he cocked his head, zeroing in at the box in Iyana’s hands with a hungry look in his eyes. His shadows writhed and snapped around him, tainting the beautiful day with their darkness. Emmeric took a small step closer to her, ready to block her body with his own if needed.
Iyana calmly replaced the Lurra into a pack and handed it to Zane, who attached it to his belt. Silver flames crackled at her fingertips as she examined the stars standing a mere fifty feet from them. It was too close for Emmeric’s comfort.
“Aztia,” Rigil purred, then made a show of looking over everyone in their party. “Where might your astalle be?”
Tara’s lip curled but that was the only outward sign of anger from either of Altair’s siblings. Okab stood still, an impassive expression on his face.
“Oh, that’s right,” the Alpha continued with a wicked grin. “I killed him.”
A spike of grief and fury flared through Iyana, but she didn’t let any of it show on her face. She pushed the emotions down until Emmeric couldn’t feel them any longer. He stroked a loving hand along their bond, trying to keep her centered and focused.
“We wanted to offer you the option of drafting a truce between the stars and the humans,” Iyana said. She gestured towards the three stars they’d brought with them. “As you can see, we’re perfectly capable of comingling if you’d give it a chance.”
Hadar barked a laugh, and Talitha turned her cold violet eyes to Iyana. “And what would you be offering us in return, little girl?”
Iyana frowned and made a show of thinking it over. “We will graciously allow you to live and stay on the earth. Refuse our terms and I will banish you again.”
Emmeric could have sworn the large, muscular one—Eltanin—appeared slightly nervous at the Aztia’s words. But Rigil only smiled smugly and wound his shadows around his fingers.
“Empty threats will get you nowhere, Aztia. You see, I don’t think you have the slightest clue on how to banish us.
Nor do I think you have enough magic to do so.
So prepare your army. I’m going to spill as much blood as I can before I capture you so that you can see what you’ve brought upon your race. ”
The stars’ leaders winked out of existence.
Emmeric released a shaking breath. That was only five stars, and they were expected to face thousands of them.
Granted, not all of them would be as strong as the heads of the constellations, but it was still a daunting task.
He had told Iyana to think positively, but he was having a difficult time doing so himself.
Tara glanced at her brother. “Were you able to do it?”
A crease formed between the star’s brow. It was still startling how much he looked like Altair. “I was able to take a bit of magic from all of them except Rigil. His shadows formed an impenetrable barrier. But the rest should be at least slightly weaker now.”
“Will they notice you’ve stolen from them?” Zane asked.
“Not until they try to use their magic. They’ll notice their stores are less than before. Nobody else knows I can do that; they thought my only power was to detect magical signatures. It was a closely guarded family secret.”
“For good reason,” Tara said.
Emmeric nodded. Any advantage they could get was one that kept them alive only that much longer. He helped Iyana onto the horse, knowing full well she could do it herself, but he felt the need to touch her. Then, swinging up into the saddle behind her, they rode back to prepare for war.