Chapter 46
Aurora
The ride back to the palace is quiet, and Soren seems too distracted by our visit with Isolde to pay much attention to the blurring landscape below Arc’s soaring dragon body.
When we return to the palace, everyone gathers in the dining room for the debrief. Caelum sits beside Camryn, gently stroking her back. She reaches out to me, pulling me to a chair beside her.
“I was so fucking scared you wouldn’t come back,” she whispers as I sit.
I turn to her and give her a soft smile. “I wouldn’t give up that easily.”
Arc sits quietly at the head of the table, while Draven stands like a beautiful statue by the hearth, his dark eyes watching me impatiently.
I take a breath and recount our interaction with Isolde.
Arc is silent and Draven remains utterly still.
Camryn listens with her mouth agape. I give her a sympathetic smile while my stomach ties itself in knots.
For how hard I hoped Camryn would not have a part in this battle, it seems she is right in the middle of it.
“My father knows about Camryn, then?” Arc says, his hands pressed together in front of his lips.
I cast a worried glance at my friend. “Since she first appeared in his dreams, he knows she’s here.”
Caelum looks at the cursed lord. “We have to get her out of here. I can fly her to Ni’haan. She’ll be safe there.”
Camryn frowns and looks at her mate. “And do what? Wait for word that everybody I care about here is dead? Then what? The king would find me, eventually. At least if I’m here, I can help.”
“Camryn,” I plead as Caelum’s eyes turn wide.
I look at Soren for support. He tilts his head. “I have to agree with Camryn on this one,” he says to me. “It’s only a matter of time until the king finds her. At least with her here, there’s a fighting chance we can save her and everyone else in Silverveil.”
I frown. “That’s if we trust Isolde.”
Soren opens his mouth, but he’s cut off by Draven. “She’s telling the truth.”
“How do you know?” Camryn asks.
He strides slowly to the table. “Because the only thing Isolde has ever wanted—more than our cursed lord—is her freedom. Freedom and a family.” His deep blue eyes flicker with orange and gold from the flames in the hearth.
“Before she left, she promised she’d return for me.
And despite her ice-cold heart, I know she meant it. ”
The room falls silent. I weigh his words. On the one hand, I want to see Isolde as good and capable of love. But on the other hand, she has never shown herself to be anything other than selfish and manipulative.
Arc sighs. “Then we will play it safe and prepare for her alliance and her betrayal.” Camryn arches a brow.
“We will warn the rebellion of what’s coming.
Thorn can place the army strategically from Hollowbrook to here.
The rest of us will stay here to wait for the king and end this once and for all. Together.”
I look at the group of fae gathered around the table. If you would have told me a year ago that I would find myself in a fantasy world with a bunch of powerful fae preparing for a battle between good and evil, I’d call you crazy. Yet, here I am.
Maeve skips into the room, Clara shuffling to catch up with her. “Oh, good. You’ve made a decision,” the young girl says with a grin.
Arc shifts forward in his chair. “Do you know something?”
The grin slides from Maeve’s face. “Not yet, but something is coming.” She glances around the room. “We all need to be here.”
Camryn looks at me with a hesitant smile. “At least if we’re going down, we’re going down together.”
I gaze back at my friend. “It looks like you got the adventure of a lifetime.”
Her eyes turn glassy and she looks at Caelum. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Soren and I return to the bedroom and he pulls out the communication device to send word to Thorn. I pace the floor, thinking of our friends not here. When I hear Thorn’s studious voice, I move beside Soren, eager to hear how things are going in the south.
Soren tells Thorn of the plan, and the silver-haired male nods along.
“Two days and we will be ready,” Thorn says.
I peek my head over Soren’s shoulder. “Do you really think everyone is prepared for this fight? What about the travelers? And what of the rest of Silverveil residents?” Thorn’s eyes gaze into mine and his lips twitch as my anxiety rises.
“No need to worry, Aurora, everyone is prepared as best they can. And we aren’t forcing anyone to fight, they are free to shelter in safety. Hollowbrook is nearly evacuated.”
My heart eases a fraction of knowing people are taking precautions.
“I believe we have a good chance of winning, especially if the king only has one ship of creatures. We will have the numbers,” Thorn adds.
Soren slips his fingers into mine and squeezes.
Olin’s chipper voice echoes behind Thorn and I see his bright face pop into the picture. “I thought I saw a glimpse of the glorious Aurora! I need to see that shining smile of yours,” Olin says.
I manage a shaky grin, and Olin’s emerald eyes sparkle, and his smile widens. “There it is! Our dawn’s light,” he says.
I wrinkle my nose. “Ugh. I’m just ready to be on the other side of all this.”
“Ah, not to worry. It’s been a long time since I’ve let the beast out of its cage, and it’s scratching at the gate.” He gives me a wink that makes me chuckle.
Soren grins beside me. “I’m sure he is. I wish I could be there to see their faces when you unleash him.”
I swallow, trying to think of the beast Olin could shift to. I can’t imagine someone as charming as him becoming something so horrible.
Soren’s face turns serious. “Do promise to be careful. No carelessness. We’ll have an upturned realm to rebuild, and I will need all the help I can get.”
Olin puffs out his chest. “Old friend, you know me. The only promise I can make is to be unfailingly ruthless in my protection of our home.” He looks at me.
“And when this is all over, Miss Aurora, we will celebrate with a bottle of my father’s special fae wine.
It’s a family recipe and aged to perfection. ”
I glance at Soren’s scowl. “I prefer my lady to be coherent and sharp,” he says.
Olin swipes at the air. “Ah, you’re no fun.” He gives me another wink that makes me bite back a laugh.
“I can’t wait,” I reply.
Soren gives him a nod. “See you soon, my friend.”
“Until then,” Olin replies before the mirror goes dark.
I turn to face Soren as worry squirms its way up my chest and wraps tightly around my heart. A part of me wishes I could be there to help fight on the front lines with our friends. But I know that would only make Soren worry and serve as a distraction.
He wraps his arms around my back, pulling me to my chest. “It will be alright, My Flame. They know what they’re doing.”
I close my eyes. “Do you wish you were there with them to help fight?” I whisper.
He takes a deep breath and then nudges my shoulders back so he can look into my eyes.
“I have endured a lifetime of fighting, and while my duty as a sentinel doesn’t translate to fighting a war, I do not feel as though I need to battle.
While I love our realm and our people, I cannot deny that ever since I met you, my priorities have shifted.
You come first. And you are needed here, so this is where I will be. ”
Tears well in my eyes, and I tip my lips toward him. He bends to me like a willow in the wind, kissing me softly. “I love you,” I whisper.
“As I do you, My Flame.”