Chapter 32 #2
“I’m bringing him with me. He would be executed if I left him behind. I can’t be a hypocrite. He’s my Omega, after all.”
I understand that.
“Thorn!” Bai launches himself at me, hugging my thigh. Then he glances at Ignatius and puffs out his chest. “Did you see me fight? I used that move you showed me last week.”
Ignatius’ lips twitch. “I saw. Excellent work.”
I frown.
Shouldn’t my Little Bug want my approval?
“I also sang a song about the battle,” Bai proudly announces. “I’ll write one that includes the way that you swept in heroically and won the battle, saving us—”
“Not sure that it went that way,” I break in, my frown deepening. “You’ll only sing anything if you make it through the portal home. Ela?”
“Here, Your Majesty.” Elatha is breathing hard like she’s injured.
Fear races through me. My heart hammers in my chest.
I squint to try and see her more clearly, but she’s not close enough for me to work out whether she’s seriously injured.
Frustrated, I nudge Lanlin.
“She has been wounded in her shoulder,” Lanlin whispers. “But she is in no danger, my sunshine.”
I relax. “Take Bai and don’t wait for me. That’s an order, Ela. Go through the portal with the cadets.”
“Why aren’t you coming with us? I swore to protect you, remember?” Elatha demands.
“I will follow you, right? But I am waiting for my Omega. Freya must be struggling to bring Aurelius back here, and I’m not going anywhere without her.”
“Neither am I,” Lanlin announces. “I would rather be burned up by the sun.”
I wince, knowing how real that threat is after what happened in the arena.
“Go now, all of you. That’s a command from your King.” I tilt up my chin.
“Don’t be long,” Ignatius says, quietly. “We timed this Fallen Rebellion to take place during one of Maximinus’ private meetings with the merchants, from whom he extorts money. Yet there is a good chance that he is on his way back. He’ll know what’s happening. If he catches you…”
“So, stop talking and go.” I shove Bai into Ignatius’ arms.
My heart aches.
Why are my eyes stinging, as Ignatius’ arms automatically lift to clasp around Bai’s shoulders?
I will escape this kingdom too, right? This isn’t goodbye…?
It has to be enough that the featherglass have escaped, even if it destroyed me how few have survived.
My people are slaughtered and scattered.
But I have saved as many as I can.
I lean forward to clasp Ignatius by the back of the neck, and his gaze snaps to mine in surprise. “I won’t forget what you’ve done today. You’re part of the featherglass now, Iggy. You’re Frost Clan — family.”
Ignatius flushes. “I won’t let you down, Your Majesty.”
I stroke my thumb against the back of his neck, before releasing him.
I nod at Elatha.
Then I listen to the march of feet, as Elatha leads the remaining Frost Clan and the cadets out of the study and through into the rose garden that leads up to the North Tower.
Finally, Lanlin drags me to follow them through under the pale moonlight into the now empty rose garden. His moths hover around us both. Their soft wings kiss across my cheeks.
I whistle.
Then I grin, when I hear the flap of wings, and my conspiracy of ravens rise up from the olive tree in the center of the garden. They circle me.
My heart beats fast, imagining my people traveling through the portal back to the Unseelie Kingdom.
Home.
On the Sacred Ash, I hope that the magic is working properly and that they are arriving in the right place.
Wren wasn’t able to promise more than that the portal would open on our land, but not where within the Unseelie Kingdom. We could end up anywhere within my frozen, dangerous kingdom. Unfortunately, there are more dangers in my magical land than our enemies.
I can almost feel the snow on my skin and the freezing breeze on my cheeks.
I wander between the rose bushes, brushing my hand across them. I enjoy the sensation of the soft petals and sharp thorns. Their scent is intoxicating, reminding me of Freya.
I can’t see Lanlin, although I can smell his strong pheromones close by.
“This is where I first met Relius,” Lanlin says, softly. “He liked my rats.”
“That right?”
“He didn’t know that Nebet had sent me here deliberately to gain his attention and favor. I was meant to spy on him and eventually, assassinate him.”
Well, that explains a lot.
When I prick my finger on a sharp thorn, I hiss. I suck my finger, tasting the tangy blood.
“Were you ever his true friend?” I mumble around my finger.
“He was my only friend, until you. Nebet didn’t realize the mistake she was making by allowing me to have a taste of friendship.
Relius didn’t treat me like a monster. He was impressed by my animalism, rather than horrified.
He swore to protect me and hated those who hurt me.
If it wasn’t for him, then I don’t believe that I could love Freya and you as I do. ”
Surprised, I turn to Lanlin, wishing that I could see him and read his expression.
He sounds so bloody sincere.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I owe him a debt that I don’t believe he understands.
It is more than simply a blood and horn oath not to betray him that has kept me loyal.
” Lanlin moves closer to me with an uncanny speed, gripping my chin and holding my gaze with his.
“I suffered because I refused to kill him. I would suffer again.”
“I won’t kill him.”
“But will you hurt him?”
I lick over my lips, and Lanlin intently watches my tongue like he desires to bite it. I know that I am manipulating him, but I’m a fae, right?
“This is a reversal of power.” I flinch, as my wings are pressed against the rose bush.
“Aurelius has ruled me for too long. I am returning to my kingdom and reviving my court. But we’re doing this because we don’t want to leave our dragon behind, right?
He’d be in danger. You’re not breaking your oath; you’re saving him.
Also, Freya needs the daft dragon. She needs all her Alphas.
And together, we’re taking back her Fang Kingdom next.
Then we’ll burn this one. Are you all right with that? ”
Lanlin studies me for a long time.
I hold my breath.
“After that, we’ll rescue my twin?” He demands.
Oh, by the holy fae…
“Didn’t I say that?” I hedge.
“Not in so many words.”
To my relief, a sudden meow from behind Lanlin breaks the tension.
“Five! Come to your da.” I duck around Lanlin, avoiding his intense gaze.
Rescued by my cat.
I’d asked Lanlin to summon my cat to meet me here, but cats often don’t reply when you summon them with treats. They are more regal than queens.
“Hey, Five.” I crouch down in front of my cat, and she butts her head against my knee.
“I’m escaping to my kingdom. Remember I used to tell you about it, when I was locked up in the dungeon with you…
? Well, I know that this is your home but…
I still want to offer for you to come with me.
It’ll be dangerous. I don’t know what monsters and battles we’ll face when we travel through that portal but—”
I let out a yelp, when Five launches herself at me, landing on my shoulder. She latches herself in place with her sharp claws. She wraps her tail around my neck, and her heavy weight settles around my neck and shoulders.
“It looks like she has made her decision.” Lanlin grabs my arm and pulls me back to my feet. I reach my shadows up, wrapping them around Five to hold her more firmly onto my shoulder. “Now, I wish for an answer about Laz.”
I pet Five’s head. “We’ll work out what to do about your brother when we arrive in my kingdom.”
Lanlin tilts his head, as I stroke Five. “Aurelius offered for me to bite him in the dungeon. He may not have accepted it yet, but he wishes to be claimed. He bared his neck.”
I chuckle. “I’m jealous. So, the arrogant bastard would have allowed you to bond him. Why didn’t you?”
I study Lanlin, curious. I would have thought that the possessive vampire would have taken the first opportunity to sink his fangs into Aurelius’ throat and mark him as his.
Lanlin glares at me, affronted. “My fangs are loyal only to your throat, Blood Lover. They are yours.”
I open and then shut my mouth.
The tips of my ears redden. “Aye, they are. But you have my permission to bite Aurelius. Bond him. Kidnap his arse.”
Lanlin scrutinizes me, before humming in thought. “As you wish. Where did Freya take our dragon?”
I smirk. “She convinced him to take a romantic stroll outside the palace in the olive groves. She told him that wild wolves needed to feel free.”
“He believed that…?”
“He’d fall for anything that his Omega tells him.”
Lanlin’s eyes light with wonder. “Freya planned this.”
“Of course she did. What, did you think that I schemed all of this myself? Freya is the Queen on this board. She’s the most powerful player. Aurelius keeps thinking that she’s a pawn because he’s an idiot. It is also why he’s going to lose this game.”
“How will she know when to bring him back?”
I wrench my chin out of Lanlin’s grip and point at my snowflake mark. “It’s not only good for kinky fun. It’s also perfect for sending secret signals in an uprising. I have already sent the signal. She is bringing him back here.”
When Lanlin grabs me by the arm and starts to drag me across the garden, I startle. “What are you doing?”
“Foolish fae. You have fought Relius, right? He’s stubborn. You argue with him as you argue with the desert. He won’t simply walk through a portal, and if you think that he is the same as me and will sacrifice himself for Freya, then you don’t understand him as well as I do.”
“I see that look. Who’s dying?”
“No one. But we need to lead Aurelius to attack us.”
“That won’t be a problem.” Aurelius’ coldly furious voice sounds behind me. “What the fuck have you done?”
“Shit.” I spin away from Lanlin. “Run.”
“You had better run,” Aurelius roars. “Bodies of Maximinus’ guards littered throughout my city. Lanlin freed. And look at the fucking state of my study. My papers are ruined.”
I burst out laughing. “I knew that you’d go feral about the papers.”
Aurelius bellows.