Chapter 36
Evangeline
Idon’t remember falling asleep last night.
Zephyr finished pitching the tent—a feat I thoroughly enjoyed watching.
His muscles strained against his tunic as he built our sleeping chambers for the night.
I’ve never been camping, except for the first time I arrived in Mescos.
I’ve never even had the notion to camp, but the moment he rolled out the sleeping bags and called me over, I was all too ready to sleep under the stars.
The sleeping bags were surprisingly comfy, much better than the cots from my arrival. To be fair, their comfort levels are due largely to how uncomfortable I was atop the horse, so everything feels ten times better now that I’m off. Sleeping came easily after that.
I wake to the sound of howling. Long, mournful cries slice through the morning hush, jolting me awake. My eyes snap open, my heart already pounding. Just beyond the thin canvas of my tent, a shadow moves, and I freeze.
The outline is massive. Easily three or four feet at the shoulder, with a hulking frame that blots out part of the rising sun.
Muscles ripple beneath a thick coat of fur, and I can make out the shape of pointed ears and a heavy, wolfish muzzle.
It paces slowly, deliberately, the size and presence of it far too large to be any ordinary wolf. This beast of an animal is terrifying.
A gasp escapes me, and I clutch the blanket tighter to my chest, as if the thin fabric could shield me from whatever waits outside. Beside me, someone chuckles softly.
“Don’t be alarmed. It’s only Alpha King Rip’s wolves. Possibly the alpha king himself. They just arrived. Dragons aren’t far behind them.” Zephyr sits up next to me, calming my fears. I note that he’s fully dressed, meaning he probably got little to no sleep last night, which worries me.
“How long have you been awake?” I ask, my brain spiraling with images of wolves and dragons.
Every time I think I’m used to living in a magical kingdom, I’m reminded of all the creatures that walk amongst me now, and I’m thrown back into a dream-like state of wondering if this is actually real. Will I ever get used to this?
“A while,” he admits but doesn’t elaborate, simply hands me a canteen of water. My stomach takes that moment to growl something fierce. I would kill for some buttery, flaky biscuits and gravy right now.
Zephyr winces, as if my hunger is his fault. “The wolves and dragons attempted to bring food into our land, but as Finnick mentioned, it immediately rotted. I fear we are out.”
I shake my head, not wanting him to worry about me. I’m doing enough of that for both of us. Besides, I can ignore my hunger for now. “It’s fine. I’m not even that hungry,” I lie, grabbing the canteen from him. I take a long drink, leaving a little for him or Finnick before handing it back.
“Alpha King Rip and King Malix will want to speak with us before we begin. Do you feel up to joining us?” he asks. “It’s okay if you want to stay here. I’ll have Finnick stay with you until we’re ready to go.”
I appreciate his offer to stay behind, but I want to go.
My curiosity about what will soon happen will eat me alive and make waiting for him to return unbearable.
Plus, I don’t want to miss a chance to meet a wolf and dragon king.
“I’ll come.” My hands immediately go to my hair.
I’m sure it’s a mess. I could use a bath after a day of travel and sleeping on the floor, but a clean outfit will have to do the trick. “Just let me change first.”
Zephyr nods but makes no motion to leave. He’s seen me naked and spread out for Niko before, and yet this somehow feels more intimate. My cheeks flush as I turn my back to him, stripping out of my clothes from yesterday.
I feel his eyes boring into my back, and I desperately wish I knew what he was thinking. Does he find me attractive like I find him? Does he think of kissing me, of touching my body just as much as I think about doing the same to him?
These are not the thoughts to have right before battle, and yet they play on a loop inside my head.
Once I’m dressed, I turn back around. I don’t realize I’m trembling until Zephyr takes my hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You will be safe, Evangeline. I promise. Nothing will happen to you.”
I can only offer him a weak smile because, in truth, I don’t care what happens to me. I’m more concerned about what will happen to everyone else if I fail. I’m not certain how much longer Niko has, but without this temporary fix, we will lose him for sure. That much I’m certain of.
He and all the other cursed fae—they are my people now.
I may not know them all personally, but they are still mine and relying on us.
I’m their queen, and it’s my job to make things right.
That’s why Ender chose me, the whole reason I’m here.
I got the adventure I always wanted, but I must hold up my end of the bargain.
It’s a small sacrifice for those I love.
“I’m ready,” I say with newfound confidence. “I’m not afraid.” I’m afraid of losing the ones I love, not for what I must do.
Zephyr nods once. Something like pride flashes across his features as he leads me out of the tent.
The sun is just rising, casting a warm light around us, exposing all the new faces at camp.
Most of them are not human-looking. A hulking wolf, two times larger than any wolf I’ve ever seen, stalks back and forth, looking out into a woodsy area as if waiting for something.
There’s more surrounding him, paying us little mind, and they all seem to be communicating with one another. It’s…strange. Surreal even.
The next creature I see stops me in my tracks, stealing a gasp from my lips.
Towering dragons surround us, their massive bodies coiled and sprawled across the earth like living mountains, while a few soar above with wings stretched wide enough to blot out the sun.
Their scales shimmer in dark, iridescent hues—obsidian, emerald, blood-red—catching the light in a way that makes them look forged from gemstones and shadow.
Razor-sharp horns curl from their skulls like twisted crowns, and their eyes burn with ancient intelligence and cold fury.
Smoke curls lazily from their nostrils, and the occasional flick of a barbed tail sends tremors through the ground.
Despite myself, I inch closer to Zephyr.
These are vicious creatures torn from the darkest pages of storybooks, and yet there’s a terrifying beauty in them.
A wild majesty that sends both fear and awe rippling through me.
A part of me wants to reach out and touch these creatures, but another part of me wishes to keep my hand with my body.
“Don’t fear the dragons. They are harmless,” Zephyr reassures.
“Harmless?” an unfamiliar voice snaps my attention to two strange men walking toward us, both led by Finnick, who grins like he’s just unearthed sacred gems and is proudly showing them off.
“My dragons are far from harmless,” the man continues.
This strange man is tall and powerfully built, with broad shoulders and thick, corded muscles that look like they were carved from stone.
His stature is reminiscent of a Viking raider, fierce and imposing.
He’s shirtless, revealing a sun-kissed chest etched with intricate tattoos that snake across his golden-brown skin, each design telling a story in ink and shadow.
The ink contrasts sharply against the warmth of his skin, drawing the eye to every sculpted plane of his torso, from the ridges of his abdomen to the sharp cut of his collarbones.
He’s beyond handsome, in an intimidating sort of way.
“To Evangeline, they are harmless.” Zephyr’s voice takes on a deeper edge, almost challenging. If the man in front of us is insulted by Zephyr’s tone, he doesn’t show it. He simply smirks, as if finding this conversation amusing.
“And to me too,” Finnick pipes in. “I’m basically an honorary dragon, right, Malix?”
The man—Malix—chuckles, and even that sounds menacing. “You have the most important part of a dragon.”
“My bravery?” Finnick puffs out his chest, attempting to make himself appear bigger.
“You have wings.” Malix smirks. Finnick only deflates a little, but soon nods in agreement.
“I brought as many wolves as I can spare,” the second man next to Malix says, just as tall as Malix, with muscles that rival the dragon’s.
His dark hair is pulled back in a knot. “Oziel also gifted a few demons to fight alongside us. He was very specific, though, and said he required a Nephilim in return. Living.”
“He couldn’t be bothered to show up himself, however,” Malix says, clear judgment in his tone.
“We won’t need him. We have enough,” Zephyr says firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
It’s almost as if he’s relieved the demon king isn’t here.
Can’t say I blame him. I only met Oziel for a brief moment, but I’m not keen on seeing him again anytime soon.
Whoever had to marry him must be one strong woman.
Zephyr places a steady hand on my back, grounding me as the two unfamiliar figures glance toward me, maybe just realizing I’m here.
“Malix. Rip,” he says, nodding toward each man in turn. “This is Evangeline. My…” He hesitates, the words catching in his throat as a thick silence stretches between us. I feel the weight of it settle in my chest, heavy and uncertain. After a beat, he finally adds, “My mate’s wife.”
The words land with a hollow thud, and I can’t stop the flicker of disappointment that crosses my face. For his part, Zephyr grimaces as if that wasn’t what he planned on saying, but now it’s out. Both men have clearly heard him.
Despite the lingering awkwardness, I extend my hand to Malix first. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Malix gently shakes my hand. I have the feeling he’s holding back since his grip is gentle in mine. “Malix,” he says in a friendly way before I shake hands with Rip.
“Malix is king of the dragons, and Rip is the king alpha of the wolves,” Finnick explains, clearly excited to be in the presence of two powerful males. No wonder they are intimidating. They are kings of powerful creatures.
“Are your men ready?” Zephyr asks, and the atmosphere shifts. I’m no longer looking at three kings, but rather three powerful soldiers, set to defend their homes and their people.
Rip nods. “It’s been too long since we’ve ripped into Nephilim. Call me sentimental, but I actually miss it.”
“We did a quick check down by the beach. More Nephilim arrived last night. We came at just the right time because it looks like they are ready to advance into fae territory,” Malix says.
Zephyr mutters a curse under his breath. It was one thing to wonder why so many Nephilim had been spotted nearby, but hearing they are preparing to attack our home is something else entirely.
“You have the tonic?” Rip asks, his voice low and urgent.
All eyes shift to me, and I impress myself by not shying away from their gazes. I nod and rest a hand on the small sack at my side. “It’s here.”
“And you know what to do with it?”
Another nod. “Yes.”
“Good,” he says, the single word carrying the weight of everything that depends on this plan.
“Then let’s end this. The faster we take out our enemy, the quicker I can get back to my wife and daughter.” Malix looks over his shoulder at a purple dragon lying in wait. He nods once, but clearly it’s a signal because the large dragon rises, stretching its powerful wings.
“Evangeline must be protected at all costs,” Zephyr says, his voice unwavering.
“I’ll stay by her side,” Finnick volunteers immediately as he lands on my shoulder. “We will get through this. Together.” I feel safer having Finnick with me.
I’m not sure how confident Zephyr is. There’s a hard line to his jaw, but he nods nonetheless, doing little to ease the nerves brewing in my stomach. “Then let’s begin. This ends today.”
And he’s right. This can’t be patched over or delayed any longer. This isn’t a wound that needs a bandage. It’s a curse that must be cut out at the root.
The kings and I exchange a nod, a silent agreement passing between us. But deep down, I know we’re not aligned. We each have our own vision of what “the end” looks like, and none of these men will like what I might be forced to do. Still, one truth binds us together: I have the power to stop this.
And I will.
Like Zephyr said—this ends today. One way or another. I just hope it doesn’t come down to death. Mine, specifically.