Chapter 8
Niko
Coming out from our bubble in the woods, I see the stark reminder of my failure.
Bodies lie motionless on the cold, damp ground.
Not as many as I originally thought, but every death is blood on my hands.
The injured nurse their wounds, and the few healers we have hurry from fae to fae to administer their assistance the best they can, despite being weak and worn down themselves.
Water is passed around, but the food is scarce. Stale bread. Berries. Not enough to curb the hunger or even sustain us for long. Still, no one passes up the meager portions they are allocated out of fear of not knowing when or where their next meal will come.
Those who are able have taken to burning the Nephilim.
The air is thick with decay and burning flesh.
The earth fae are doing their best to mask the scent with florals, springtime rains, and burning logs, but the odor persists.
I shed no tears for the fallen Nephilim or feel an ounce of remorse.
Those creatures want to hurt my family, my people, and my kingdom. I can’t allow it.
I won’t allow it.
I don’t realize I’ve stopped walking until Zephyr’s hand wraps around my wrist. I meet my mate’s gaze.
His normal, intense stare softens as his thumb gently caresses my palm in slow circles.
I don’t need to tell him what’s on my mind.
He knows. Zephyr reads me better than anyone in this world.
Even before the mating bond snapped into place and we could sense each other’s emotions, Zephyr always had a keen eye.
Sometimes I love this about him, but other times, I wish I could keep my burdens to myself.
I know what he’s going to say before he even speaks.
“This isn’t your fault, Niko.”
His words are meant to comfort, but they feel like blades slicing into my skin. “And yet, I still carry the burden.”
“But you shouldn’t.” Zephyr closes the space between us.
His warmth feels like home, and, despite my mood, I gravitate toward him.
“Every single one of those men and women knew death was a real possibility, but they stood with you anyway. These fae believe in our kingdom. Believe in us. Don’t let them see you waver. ”
War is upon us, brewing closer and closer every day. These battles are just that. A distraction to weaken us. To make us look the other way while they plot for control. If Gadreel, the leader of the Nephilim, and his people are successful, every kingdom will either be enslaved or eradicated.
Zephyr isn’t wrong. If my people sense doubt—if they believe I’ve lost faith in our ability to win this war—then we’ve already lost. Hope will wither before the battle even begins.
I sigh, forcing a small smile. “Must you always be so annoyingly right?”
Zephyr’s lips twitch into a smile of his own, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He’s skilled at hiding his fears, but not perfect. A flicker of uncertainty lingers beneath his composed exterior, one I doubt anyone else would notice. But I do. I always notice.
I lean in to kiss him. Just a soft brush of our lips, full of unspoken words and promises. His hand tightens on my wrist for just a moment before he leans into the kiss. If I could stay like this forever, I would. But, unfortunately, we have Nephilim problems on our hands.
Reluctantly, I pull back, just in time to see a green glimmer zip through the trees and land atop Zephyr’s hair. Finnick pants, doubling over with his hands on his knees.
“The…woman…gone…” he squeaks out like his little lungs couldn’t handle how quickly he flew over to us. I know that’s not the case, though, because Finnick is the fastest sprite I know. He only gets tired if he’s exhausted a substantial amount of energy.
“Finnick, breathe. I don’t understand what you’re saying.” That’s when I realize he’s alone. “Where’s Mother?”
Finnick takes another moment before straightening up. The urgency on his face never wavers as he jumps off Zephyr’s head to hover between us. “There was a woman. A human woman! She said Ender brought her here—”
“Ender is here?” I echoed, disbelief tightening my chest. We hadn’t set a date for our human wife’s arrival. Ender only said it would be soon, but I never expected her to be dropped into the chaos of battle. Dread coils in my gut. Did she see the Nephilim? Did they hurt her?
No. If she was with Ender, she should be safe. She had to be.
“No, he just left her.”
Excitement quickly turns to bile on my tongue. A quick look at Zephyr tells me he’s just as sick and angry as I am. “This is the girl with the pans?” he asks Finnick.
“Isn’t that the woman you’re taking me to?” I look between my brother and mate, clearly missing something.
They ignore me, but Finnick nods at Zephyr’s question. “Yes. She’s human, and she’s scared. I left her with Mother, but she ran deep into the forest. She’s a fast little thing.”
Zephyr curses, stealing the words from my lips.
Not only did Ender fucking leave her to her own devices, alone in a strange world, she’s now missing in the forest where Nephilim have been spotted.
One mortal woman cannot defend herself against a powerful foe in an unknown land.
What the fuck was The Guardian thinking?
On top of everything else we’ve had to deal with today, finding my human wife Ender tossed into our land as if she were disposable was not on the list.
“Finnick, take us to where she was. Did you see where she ran off to?” I ask.
“I think we can track her,” he said before taking off.
Zephyr and I exchange a single glance, and silent understanding passes between us before we sprint after my brother.
My queen is out there, alone in the forest. The woman destined to be my wife.
The only person who can help us save my kingdom.
Zephyr may not want to marry this woman, but even he knows just how important she is to the kingdom.
A sharp, searing rage burns in my chest at the thought of Ender, at what he has done. I’ve never wanted to hurt anyone more. But anger won’t help me now. I shove it down, locking it away, but never forgetting.
Right now, the only thing that matters is finding her.