Chapter Twenty-Four #2
“There are others I need to help,” I mumbled, and I took my chance to depart from the medical tent, because I had to get some air. The stars dotted overhead as I sat on the beach, taking a quivering breath.
Holding that baby hadn’t been awkward. It’d felt like the most natural thing I could do.
Perhaps it made me miss Casey. Though I’d never admit it to myself.
“Princess Ava!” I heard Kallie’s brother call for me over the noise of the camp. Kazim rushed toward me with a big smile, still wearing his gory battle armor, with Sigrid following. “I cannot thank you enough.”
He knelt before me, grasping my hand. “You made it so I still have a kingdom to rule over. Word will spread throughout Malovia that Fasva was liberated. The fae now have hope. I am forever in your debt.”
“I didn’t do it by myself.” I clapped my hand over his armored glove. “What’s more important than defeating our enemies is being there to help our friends.”
“Spoken like a true Empress,” Sigrid noted.
Empress. Did people really see me as such now?
“Are you two returning to the palace? I’ll have rooms prepared for you.” Fuck Cameron. He could whine about it, but the newest king and queen of Malovia were my honored guests. It wasn’t like anyone in the palace was going to kick them out even if he said so.
“We’re staying down here with our people,” Sigrid insisted. “They need us, so we won’t leave them.”
“Then I’ll have supplies delivered to you as well. Stay safe, my friends.” I raised a hand in farewell, and the two of them hurried off to keep helping their people, which was exactly how it should be.
Cameron had it all wrong. Rulers weren’t meant to be served, but to serve others. They gave up the best of themselves so their people could thrive. Kazim and Sigrid understood that.
Tonight I’d learned that, too. All too deeply.
I looked around the camp and saw that the majority of my friends were gathered around a makeshift military tent nearby. Chancey was waving me over. I rolled his way. My friends surrounded me, including Kallie, Marcus, Danny, and Abigail.
“Did you see Ivy? Did they get back okay?” I asked.
“They’re already back at the palace. They took out about a hundred Mission members on their own before the whole fight was over.
I had to drag them back through the portal, because they weren’t done.
” Chancey frowned. “Ives isn’t hurt… physically, anyway.
Can’t say the same about what’s going on in their head. ”
At least Ivy had made it out. “Did you check the camp for spies?” I asked, dropping my voice. Nobody needed to overhear this conversation. It was loud in the camp and there was a lot going on, but we still needed to be careful about people eavesdropping.
“We did, and we don’t have great news,” Marcus said, glancing to Chancey.
The angel’s tone was grave as he added, “I think my dad slipped through.”
“Your dad?” My eyes widened.
“Yeah. I got confirmation he was in Fasva and slipped through with the refugees, but if he’s here, I can’t find him. He ran away like a rat to hide.” Chancey spat on the sand.
“Is he on the Warden’s side?” Marcus asked.
“He ain’t on ours,” Chancey said. “My old man don’t like the Warden, but he don’t like us, neither.
He still believes angels should rule the world; he just wishes it was another guy running the show.
I still can’t get the truth outta nobody if he was a soldier for The Mission or a captive like the rest of ‘em. It’s not clear what he’s doing here. ”
“Where do you think he might’ve gone?” I asked.
Chancey snorted. “A bar, probably. He’ll turn up drunk in a gutter eventually, but I don’t want to wait that long to figure out where he’s at.”
“Is he a threat?” Kallie asked.
Chancey shrugged. “Only if he runs his big fat mouth, which he’s good at.
If he does, we’ll have problems, since we don’t know who’s gonna be listening on the other end.
If he struck a deal with somebody to save his own skin and pass information down, the Warden’s basically got an earpiece inside the city. ”
“We can’t have an angel that’s not loyal to us within the shield,” Abigail worried. “We must apprehend him, and fast.”
“I ain’t quitting until I find him,” Chancey promised. “I’ll yank his sleazy ass outta some hole in the wall somewhere, mark my words.”
“I’ll help you,” Danny offered. “It’s a talent of mine to rough up deadbeat dads.”
Chancey and Danny took off together, and Marcus came forward with his hands in his pockets. “Chancey’s dad isn’t the only one that got in. There weren't many, but I’m pretty sure we have a few people here that aren’t supposed to be.”
I rubbed my eyes. “Mission members?”
“Maybe. There are rumors of a group of enemy vampires running around, but there are so many people here that it’s hard to check everybody. It’s going to take days to vet all the refugees.”
“What if Mad Dog got through?” Kallie worried.
“Or Esther.” My guts revolted at the thought of her. They were the only antidemigods left now that we’d killed Deuce and Naya, and we hadn’t been able to locate them during the battle, if they were there at all.
“We’re going to know if Esther and Mad Dog show up, because they’ll start causing chaos right away, but I’m more worried about these vampires.
We don’t know why they’re here or what they’re up to.
” Marcus frowned. “The enemy you don’t know is more dangerous than the enemy you do.
Maybe they just want to hide from The Mission, and from us, but they’re still unpredictable, which means we won’t know what they’re planning until they spring it on us.
Then we won’t be able to do anything about it. ”
“They’re not going to be able to move once day breaks, because they’ll have to hide from the sun. It’s still nighttime, so this is the only shot they have at getting away. Find them,” I demanded.
Marcus and Kallie left to hunt down whoever had broken through. I sank against my chair, and Abigail eyed me. “Empress, you’ve done all you can. You need to get some rest.”
There was that word again. Empress. “I haven’t been crowned an Empress, Abigail. People shouldn’t be calling me that.”
“But you are one all the same, no matter what Cameron says,” Abigail stated.
“Word is already spreading around the city of your great deeds. Even the guards, the servants and the council members within the palace are calling you Empress. People are giving you the title without the formalities of a coronation. There hasn’t been an Elvish Empress in many decades, but your subjects have decided you are one now. Take the title as your own.”
Cameron would probably throw a fit, but I didn’t care. He couldn’t stop it now, especially not if the entire empire had taken to making that my name. “Fine. But that doesn’t mean I can quit.”
“You defeated our enemies, led the fae out of Fasva, and destroyed one of the most powerful demigods in Doctor Taurus’ arsenal. You deserve to rest,” Abigail insisted. “Let your friends handle the remainder of what needs to be done.”
I couldn’t help that my bones were sagging into this chair, every thread of my muscles screaming for relief. I’d pushed myself beyond my limits, and if I kept it up, I’d pass out. “Very well. I’ll leave, but I’m coming back in the morning.”
“It’s nearly morning now, Empress,” Abigail remarked. I sighed.
“Ez,” I called as I passed the medical tent. “I’m going home. You’re coming with.”
“You can’t make me,” he groaned, though I watched him sway on his feet. He was as close to fainting as I was.
“Guess what, people have decided I’m the Empress now, so actually, I can. Get your ass in the car.”
He didn’t protest, because he didn’t have the energy to. He dragged himself to me before placing his hands on my shoulders, a white sheen filling the air. I felt the searing pain in my spine dwindle to an end and the ache in my muscles melt away.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Healing you.” Ez’s eyes narrowed as he worked. A few sweat droplets dripped down his brow.
“You nearly killed yourself fixing Charlie! Stop!” I demanded. I tried to push him off, but his hands stayed put.
“I have time to handle a flare-up. You don’t.” Ez was stubborn, but I felt his fingers start to tremble.
“We both have needs. You have to save what magic you have left for yourself.”
“I can take a week to stay in bed, but there’s no time for you to recover. We all need you at your best.”
The last of his magic faded to a tiny spark. He was completely out. I knew what Ez had given to me. He’d be stuck in bed for days recovering, unable to eat and in unimaginable pain while his magic slowly recovered. This would be the worst of his illness, and he’d done it for me and Charlie.
We didn’t deserve a brother like him. Always, Ez was infinitely good. There couldn’t be a more wholesome soul in all the world.
There was a van waiting for us by the edge of the beach.
Eldin was dutifully there, and she took us back to the palace.
My bones were aching by the time I exited the military vehicle.
I could barely navigate my chair through the gardens, but Ez was worse.
He needed to lean on Eldin in order to make it through the front door.
He’d far past exerted himself, and I was pissed at him for doing it.
“I need to go to the hospital,” Ez mumbled, swaying on his feet.
“Most of the healers are down at the camp, so how do you expect to get any help?” I asked sourly.
“The refugees need their healing magic more, but the nurses can give me fluids, and… electrolytes.” He gagged, turning pale.
“A few months of medical school and suddenly you’re an M.D. Right this way, Doctor Mitoh.”
“Screw you, Ava.” Ez became green, and I was thankful Eldin was so tall and strong. She’d be able to carry Ez if he didn’t make it to the hospital. Otherwise, we’d have to tie him to my chair and drag him behind me.